Introducing our delivery team - in their own words!

In the week that we announced that our leadership programmes will be fully-funded until the end of August 2021, we thought it might be a nice idea to introduce you to our delivery team. The people who will support you to become an extraordinary leader.

So here they are, in their own words:

Pauline Bowe (MsC, Bsc (Hons), FAETC, DIT, DCH, MBPsS, PPABP, MInst.Lm, RQTU) (Bangor)

Well, I didn’t do so well at school, plenty of effort but didn’t get very far! However, when I stepped into the world of work-based learning as a trainee hospital dental nurse 36 years ago, where theory and practice were mixed together with a healthy dose of reflection, I developed a thirst for knowledge and became a lifelong learner, including becoming a Business Psychologist and Mental Toughness Specialist. I have also recently embarked upon a PhD!

I think it was my own early experience that placed me on a path of supporting others to be the best they can be, ranging from working with young people through to Chief Executive level in a variety of sectors.

Passionate about people rather than things, if I won the lottery I would still probably drive around in an old banger and keep whippets and cats! I did join a sailing club once but was put off a little by capsizing the boat on my first trip when I was getting out and having to drive home sopping wet! I am an amateur astronomer but as we mostly have cloudy skies the telescope is gathering dust in the corner!

Working for ION leadership in North Wales I have been amazed at the talent and world-class businesses that are established around the area and it’s an honour to support those to grow and develop using leading-edge experiential programmes.

Tony Burnett (Swansea)

I feel privileged to be with ION Leadership. It is rewarding to contribute to educating influential people. Asking leaders to explore themselves, how they lead others and more importantly change the organisations they work with to become more effective.

I was born and brought up in Durham and I am an avid Sunderland football fan. I left Grammar School at 16. I gained experience in management and experiential learning when I started my professional life with Coca-Cola Schweppes in London. I quickly developed from a delivery driver to a senior manager. I was supported to study Business & Finance at Kingston University, learning which I regularly transferred into my working life.

I lived in Brazil for 12 years. I started as a teacher with the British Council. I became a teacher trainer and eventually founded an education centre which taught English, trained teachers and offered executive education. I love music, food, football and people. Brazil offered all my passions and I met Pele! I speak Brazilian Portuguese.

I returned to the UK in 2002 and after leading an educational business unit in Oxford for 2 years, I settled in Wales. Initially, I managed a strategic project, before joining the LEAD Wales team at Swansea University. I am proud to be involved in influencing business growth and regional development through executive education.

Jill Davies (Swansea)

Following a successful career in retail and distribution management at Mark's and Spencers plc, I have over 25 years' experience running my own training and development business including 15 years working on Welsh Government Business development projects. I am an experienced and adaptable professional, able to provide practical help and advice to support business and leadership development.

As an Investors in People specialist and an assessor for Princess Royal Training Awards, I have the opportunity to see and share best practice across a wide variety of sectors. I am also Chair of Governors at my local primary school enabling me to "put into practice what I preach".

For the last 6 years, I have thoroughly enjoyed working as part of the LEAD Wales / ION Leadership team at Swansea University, writing and delivering leadership development activities, coaching and supporting over 800 delegates. It gives me great pride that I have played a part in seeing delegates grow and achieve both as individuals and in their business.

Shelly Evans (Swansea)

For the past two years, I have worked with ION Leadership at Swansea University as the team Executive Leadership Coach. I have worked within the learning and development sector for twenty-five years, designing and facilitating training, coaching and leadership development.

As an experienced Coach, I have worked with senior managers of UK PLC, SME and sole traders from most sectors within the UK including third sector and NHS. I have a wealth of experience working with individuals and organisations to attain individual, team and organisational goals.

In my early career, I worked in financial and technology organisations and had the opportunity to work overseas. I have previously run my own business(s) so I appreciate from personal experience the challenges leaders face. Over the past twenty years, I have facilitated training for multi-cultural organisations and clients from UAE, China and EU.

Gwenllian Owen (Bangor)

I’m the Senior Programme Manager of ION leadership and the 20Twenty Business Growth Programme and successfully led the LEAD Wales programme at Bangor University between 2010 – 2015.

I have worked in a variety of business support roles for organisations such as CELTEC, ELWa, Menter a Busnes and Menter Môn and have a breadth of experience of working with SME’s and Large organisations in Wales over a number of years. I have experience of running my own business and assisted with business planning and financial aspects of the family business, Owen Devenport Ltd until very recently when the business was sold. I’m a Director of Llangefni Social Enterprise with responsibility for developing the Business Group in the town.

I’m an experienced Action Learning Set Facilitator and Coach and have worked with numerous businesses on the leadership programmes at Bangor University since 2010. I have supported and helped Business Owners, Directors and Senior Managers in leading the growth of their business and developing their confidence and leadership skills.

I’ve spent a large proportion of my early career working in Local Authority both at Gwynedd County Council and the Isle of Anglesey County Council. I’ve spent time working with Community and Town Councils as the North Wales Development Officer for One Voice Wales, facilitating meetings, offering guidance and delivering training courses to Community and Town Councillors.

Outside of work, I enjoy walking, (some) running, cycling and motor homing. I’m a founder member of Adlais, a mixed voice choir based on Anglesey which has seen numerous successes in competitions and events since 1991!

Katy Roberts (Bangor)

I live on the beautiful island of Anglesey (Ynys Mon) in North Wales in a 200-year-old farmhouse, which I have renovated along with a holiday barn (which I also manage) over the last 6 years. I live with my husband who is the area director for HSBC Liverpool and my 2 children Isabella and Henri, along with 2 dogs, 8 Shetland sheep and more spiders, mice and wildlife than I want! I moved back to Anglesey 6 years ago having spent a number of years living and working in Jersey, Guernsey, Chester, London and Cardiff. I love island life, so we were pleased we could return home to Anglesey.

I am a HR Business and Leadership specialist passionate about helping individuals and businesses to grow and develop to their full potential. Providing practical coaching and support drawing upon my 25 years of HR, leadership, learning and development experience at a senior level in both large and small companies, such as Citibank, Bank of America, House of Fraser, Makro and Menai Holidays. My passion also involves me as a CIPD fellow mentoring young people getting into work. I love paddle-boarding, walking and wild swimming and have recently become a Tropic Skincare ambassador.  My lockdown legacy will be learning to use Zoom and not breaking it!

Kim Talbot (Swansea)

AKA-Professional Dot Joiner! Having partnered to launch 2 businesses before 30, (Theatre & Costume Design and Gourmet Delicatessen), looking back, I can see my 1st real passions emerging. Creativity, change, learning from doing and new experiences and the initial crazy thrill of being your own boss.

Almost 2 decades of Management, Retail Buying, Business Development and HR roles within more formal environments spanning retail, manufacturing, banking and a not-for-profit institution followed (seeing the change theme here?). Throughout, I continued to learn from experience, but truth be told, rarely from any quality experiences of being trained.

Good fortune and hard work led me to Lloyds TSB, where through designing a customer service programme for our internal teams, I recognised 2 more passions, customer service and people development-helping other people to perform better than they ever thought they could.

I call myself a Facilitator, not a Trainer. I seek out information and ideas, collaborate with others, mix them with my experience and partner with delegates to learn what they want to learn.

Why PDJ? Because I have built an extensive network of connections and see and encourage opportunities for collaboration everywhere I go.

Loves? Life, The Sea, Learning, Collaborating & Laughter.