Meet the Team

Ceri Jones

ION Leadership Programme Director & Director - Research, Engagement and Innovation Services, Swansea University

Ceri holds the position of Programme Director of ION Leadership and 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.

Suzanne Parry Jones

Project Lead & 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.

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.

Vichy Bevan-Jones

Leadership Development Specialist, Swansea University

Vichy has worked in the private sector as a Marketing Manager mainly within the construction industry, working alongside large companies such as DeWalt and Travis Perkins designing promotions and branding initiatives. Her specialty was branding and brand enhancement, and has provided consultancy support to various businesses across South Wales to increase brand recognition and development. She recently worked with her husband in their IT business which provides ICT support to SME’s across South Wales. During this time Vichy completed her NVQ assessor award, leading her into the further education sector working for Coleg Sir Gâr as an assessor for ILM. Vichy has spent 3+ years in Coleg Sir Gâr straddling both apprenticeships and further education delivering ILM and teaching Essential Skills Qualifications.

Andrew Veevers

Leadership Development Specialist, Swansea University

Andrew has 20yrs + experience working in learning, talent, training, and development working with brands such as Selfridges, Scope, 2 Sisters Food Group, Williams Medical Supplies, Bupa, PCI Pharma and Dreams. These roles included everything from administrator to Director, an amazing journey that gives Andrew a great foundation for ION. We are also sure that all of our delegates will benefit hugely from Andrew's knowledge and experience.

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. 

Shelly Evans

Executive Business Coach, Swansea University

Shelly has been coaching since 2006 and an Executive Business coach since 2015. With over 15 years of coaching experience, Shelly has worked across most sectors including health, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, education, sales, and marketing. Shelly has worked with clients from most European Countries, as well as the UAE, Japan, China, and Australia.

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.

Kaye Harris-John

Business Development Manager, Swansea University

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.

Sibil Grunlarvilfan

Project Assistant, Swansea University

Sibil is a Project Assistant, supporting the delivery, operations, and compliance verification functions of the team. Sibil joined ION after recently spending 3 years working in the Legal department at Amazon in Luxembourg.

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.

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.

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.

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).

Debbie Green - ION Steering Group Member

Chief Executive, Coastal Housing

As an ION Steering Group member, Debbie 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.  

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.  

Ian Rees - ION Steering Group Member

Chair - Wales Management Council

As a ION Steering Group member, Ian gives strategic direction to the ION programme.  

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.  

Dr. Siwan Mitchlemore - ION Steering Group Member

Senior Lecturer in Business & Management - Bangor University

As an ION Steering Group member, Siwan gives strategic direction to the ION programme. 

Emma Dunbar - ION Steering Group Member

Head of Engagement, Innovation & Entrepreneurship - Swansea University

As an ION Steering Group member, Emma gives strategic direction to the ION programme. 

Stephen Jones - ION Steering Group Member

Senior Lecturer, Management School - Bangor University

As an ION Steering Group member, Stephen gives strategic direction to the ION programme.

Lorraine Hopkins

Programme Manager, Bangor University

Lorraine's career began as a researcher within a multidisciplinary team of economists and psychologists commissioned by the Health & Safety Executive to identify a statistical value of life. Lorraine then turned her hand to establishing the first North Wales regional office of the charity of Arts & Business Cymru, an organisation that partners business with the arts for mutual benefit, and she is currently a non-executive trustee of the arts organisation Articulture, who promote outdoor arts in the creative economy. In 2011, Lorraine joined the family business in Home Improvements based on Anglesey, with responsibility for finance and HR. As Co-Director she was responsible for a team of 25 who developed a high growth company that became a market leader in its field. Throughout her varied career, Lorraine has continued to teach adults returning to learning at night school and most recently consolidated her experience, qualifying as an Executive Coach. It was her passion as an Educator that returned her to academia and to take a post with the ION leadership team at Bangor University.