Meet the Team
Gary Walpole
BA (Hons), PgD HRM, PgD SSRM, MBA, Director ION Leadership, Swansea University
Gary has twenty years' experience in business and education, with fourteen of these in Higher Education institutions and the remainder in the private sector working as a recruitment consultant and in sales positions. Gary is a Leadership and Management pracademic with an outstanding record of leading new ventures and large projects. He is passionate about organisational development through the development of leadership and management skills and has a proven track record of designing, developing and delivering leadership and management programmes and initiatives.
Gwenllian D Owen
Project Leader, Bangor University
Gwenllian Owen is Project Leader of ION leadership and successfully led the LEAD Wales programme for five years at Bangor University. Gwenllian has worked in a variety of business support roles for organisations such as CELTEC, ELWa, Menter a Busnes and Menter Môn and has a breadth of experience of working with SME’s in Wales over a number of years. She also has experience of running her own business and still assists with business planning and financial aspects of the family Town Planning Consultancy. Gwenllian is a Director of Llangefni Social Enterprise with specific responsibility for developing the Business Group for the town.
Kim Talbot
Leadership Development Specialist, Swansea University
In her twenties Kim had experience of co-establishing and running two successful businesses in diverse sectors before moving into a number of management roles in businesses across Wales and the South West. During this time her passion for supporting the development of others became an increasing priority as she began to recognise the value of leading and working with teams who had a growth mind-set.
Jill Davies
Leadership Development Specialist, Swansea University
Jill has held management roles in major UK organisations and has been involved in training and development for over 20 years. She has worked with over 100 SMEs giving practical help and advice on running their business, managing and developing their staff and is a registered Investors in people specialist. She is also Chair of Governors at her local Primary School.
Tony Burnett
Leadership Development Specialist, Swansea University
Tony has over 30 years experience in leadership and senior management roles in the UK and Brazil. He has started and developed businesses, programmes and projects in public, private and third sector organisations including Coca Cola Schweppes and the British Council. Tony’s “know how” and experience includes business operational leadership, teacher and educational management which he feels contributes massively to his involvement in the ION Leadership programmes.
Clare Phillips
Finance Manager, MAAT, FCCA, MBA, Swansea University
Clare is a qualified accountant and has over 20 years experience in audit and accountancy both in the public and private sectors. She has also tutored accountancy degree at Swansea University in the past and is passionate for people to achieve their full potential.
Linda Porter
Operations Officer, Swansea University
Linda brings extensive experience in operations management and has in depth knowledge in implementing processes and procedures. She is PA to the ION leadership Project Director.
Charlotte James
Project Assistant, Swansea University
Charlotte provides administrative support to the Leadership Development Specialists at ION Leadership. After graduating from Swansea University with a degree in psychology, Charlotte went on to gain administrative experience working for a tech-start-up company.
Mannon Briggs
Project Assistant, Bangor University
Mannon has over 12 years’ experience working within a University environment. She has worked on the LEAD Wales programme and has a wealth of knowledge in event management. She is also Treasurer for Bethesda Cricket Club.
Ceri Jones
Director - Research, Engagement and Innovation Services, Swansea University
Ceri holds the position of Director of the Research, Engagement and Innovation Services.
He directs the Business Development, IP Commercialisation, Research Support and European Funding operations of the University and has extensive experience in research and innovation and a strong understanding of the link between business and academia.
Ceri was Assistant Director of the University’s Knowledge Exploitation Centre, Acting Head of the Research and Innovation Office and Deputy Director of Research and Innovation before taking up his current role. He has been the driving force behind a number of the University’s strategic business projects including; LEAD Wales, Dragon Innovation Partnership, Enterprise Europe Network, Knowledge Exchange Wales, A4B and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships. With significant experience in the area of entrepreneurship and SME engagement, Ceri is passionate about the role that Universities can play in the development of the knowledge economy.
Ian Rees - ION Steering Group Member
Chair - Wales Management Council
As a ION Steering Group member, Ian gives strategic direction to the ION programme.
Dr Garry Reid - ION Steering Group Member
Director Research & Enterprise - Bangor University
As a ION Steering Group member, Garry gives strategic direction to the ION programme.
Dr Gareth Griffiths - ION Steering Group Member
Director of PG Programmes - Bangor University
As a ION Steering Group member, Gareth gives strategic direction to the ION programme.
Ieuan Wyn Jones - ION Steering Group Member
Director - Menai Science Park
As a ION Steering Group member, Ieuan gives strategic direction to the ION programme.
Mike Learmond - ION Steering Group Member
Senior Development Manager - FSB North Wales
As a ION Steering Group member, Mike gives strategic direction to the ION programme.
Adam Fairbank
Marketing & Delegate Recruitment Manager, Swansea University
With nearly 20 years marketing experience, Adam joined the ION team in 2018 as strategic marketing lead. With responsibility for the marketing and recrutiment of all our courses and events, Adam is also responsible for increasing our brand awareness. A University of Glamorgan and Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) graduate, Adam has previously worked in the private sector and most recently worked in the public sector for over 15 years.
Rob Basini - ION Steering Group Member
FSB Development Manager (South Wales)
As a ION Steering Group member, Rob gives strategic direction to the ION programme.
Brian Pigott - ION Steering Group Member
Director & General Manager, Macro Cable Management
Brian is an ex-ION delegate.
As a ION Steering Group member, Brian gives strategic direction to the ION programme.
Ali Sparkes - ION Steering Group Member
Owner, The Health Dispensary
Ali is an ex-ION delegate.
As an ION Steering Group member, Ali gives strategic direction to the ION programme.
Kathryn Roberts
Learning & Development Officer, Bangor University
As a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (FCIPD) Katy has over 25 years of HR and Leadership Development experience gained within a number of leading UK and international organisations. Having begun her HR Career within the retail sector for Safeway, Makro and House of Fraser, Katy took on more Senior and strategic HR and Leadership Development roles within the Finance sector for Citigroup and Bank of America (MBNA), heading up the Employee Relations, Associate satisfaction, Reward and Recognition teams. Katy was a founding member of the European Diversity Council for Bank of America (MBNA).
Pauline Bowe
Learning & Development Manager, Bangor University
Pauline has over 34 years’ experience in both public and private sector organisations in a variety of roles including supporting and developing people. As a Member of the British Psychological Society and Principal Practitioner member of the Association of Business Psychologists, she has coached and mentored senior leaders and facilitated leadership and coaching courses to level 7. Her specialisms include Mental Toughness and 360 feedback competency frameworks.
Suzanne Parry Jones
Programme Manager, Swansea University
Suzanne gained 25 years’ experience in a variety of business sectors including advertising sales, recruitment, and medical sales before qualifying as a coaching psychologist and launching her own business as a coach and leadership development specialist. Bringing a wealth of commercial acumen to the role, Suzanne is passionate about people and enabling them to develop fulfilment in their working lives and she strives to empower teams to work towards their goals.
Kaye Harris-John
Recruitment Officer
Kaye joined the team in February 2020 as our Recruitment Officer. Kaye has over 20 years Business Development and Recruitment experience, is a Big Ideas Wales Role Model, a Business Wales Mentor and also runs her own Business Consultancy.
Kaye was an Institute of Directors ‘Director of the Year’ finalist in 2019 and the Women in Business Awards ‘Best Networker’ in 2019.
Kaye has developed an extensive pan-Wales, cross-sector network of business owners and leaders. Her ability to build lasting relationships with a varied client base has enabled her to have a broad view of training and development needs. As a Champion for Welsh Business from the get-go, Kaye is a positive addition to the award-winning ION program.
