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. He is passionate about organisational development through the development of leadership and management skills and has spent the last ten years designing, delivering and managing organisational development programmes and projects.

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. When she has a spare moment, Gwenllian enjoys travelling around the UK and Europe in her motorhome with her husband!

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.

Tom Barham

Leadership Development Specialist, Bangor University

Tom has over 20 years experience of working with the business community in Wales and England, developing and managing partnerships, income generation, responsible business programmes and learning and development activities especially with social enterprises. Tom has led pan-European learning projects including the Menter Iontach Nua Interreg project at Bangor University, and was previously Income Generation Manager for North Wales Police and Deputy Director of Business in the Community Wales. Tom has recently established his own social enterprise helping people with dementia through digital life stories. He lives in Ruthin with his wife and two sons.

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 20 years experience in leadership and senior management roles in the UK and Brazil. He has developed programmes and projects in public, private and third sector organisations including Coca Cola, Schweppes and the British Council. Tony’s “know how” includes teacher and educational management training which he feels will contribute massively to the 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 D. James

Project Assistant, Swansea University

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.