Meet the team that help you experience challenge-based learning
“The quality of the faculty in the debriefs and group discussions is where the real value in this experience is”
- Dr Mark Knights, Consultant Anaesthetist
Introducing our Guides
Dan introduces you to the team and gives you an overview of our approach.
OUR GUIDES
Name: Abi Cooper
Background: Circus and Performing Arts. Operations Management for International Humanitarian Social Circus Projects. Aerialist Performer. Lead Aerial Coach. Flying Trapeze Catcher.
About: Abi is insightful, intelligent, and always brings a fresh perspective to learning. She always offers you such a different angle and uses language that is jargon-free and sure to resonate. She never imposes or tries to dominate your conversation and is a true ‘free spirit’ that adds value and a wonderful energy to any encounter you have with her.
Coaches: Personal and team development. Communication strategies. Creativity and mindset. Understanding and building team cultures.
Name: Dan Cooke
Background: Teacher. Fire Service. International Disaster Response.
About: Dan is a born leader who sees the leadership qualities and potential in others. Hugely inspiring and unfailingly optimistic, he brings out the good and positives in any situation. He purposefully employs an unconventional, creative, and fun approach to learning to help challenge your thinking and reflections on what you have learnt, always with intent of getting the best out of you.
Coaches: Clarifying Purpose. Boosting Belonging in Teams. Personal and Team Resilience.
Name: Dr Sarah-Louise Weller
Background: Banking. NHS. Academia. International Rescue.
About: Sarah-Louise embodies and delivers the Dark Swan philosophy through employing skilful curiosity, openness, and her guidance to help you discover honest truths about yourself. Her quiet, friendly demeanour belies a steely determination and ‘can-do’ attitude, and her considered delivery never fails to enlighten and bring you to a place of greater understanding.
Name: Pete Culley
Background: Defence and National Security. Cyber Operations. Risk Management
About: With a naturally curious disposition, you always come away from a conversation with Pete reenergised and learning something new about yourself. His commitment to helping you continually learn and develop perfectly complements his desire to understand what really matters to you. He quickly tunes into your thinking and expertly guides you to go wider, deeper, and further on your learning journey.
Coaches: Courageous confrontation. Self-reliance and resilience. Cutting through complexity.
Name: Steve Eaton MBE
Background: former UK Special Forces. Performance Coach & Consultant.
About: Steve is extremely humble considering his impressive background and you’re always richer for being in his company. He generously gives you the benefit of his experience and knowledge to enhance your time spent with him as your Guide. An attentive listener, allied with an innate ability to ask you the right questions at precisely the right moment so you get a deeper sense of understanding and insight.
Coaches: Personal Resilience. Career Transition.
Name: Rach
Background: Athlete. Human Performance. Medicine in arduous environments. Security in Women’s Sport.
About: Any event that has Rachel in the team is better for it. She has a real gift for bringing out the best in those around her. A real achiever, but hugely self-effacing and modest with it. A champion for women smashing the ceiling in all aspects of life, and especially where men dominate. Not afraid to raise difficult conversations and help you hold a mirror up to you when required.
Name: Nick Borritt
Background: Royal Marines. Fire Service. International Rescue.
About: The room always lights up when Nick walks in. With his infectious smile and charm, you can’t help but warm to him. In the Fire Service people use to say “Every Watch should have one”. Unfortunately, there is only one Nick Borritt. His positive energy is infectious, and he has a natural gift for making you feel psychologically safe whenever you’re in conversation with him.
Name: Andy Whitehouse
Background: Military. Training. Field Operations. Corporate Real Estate. Facilities Management.
About: Optimistic and calm, you’re always in safe hands with Andy. He helps you to see the bigger picture along with any ‘moments that mattered’ that you may have missed. Andy brings a highly relatable human touch whenever you work with him, and you’ll always come away better for being in his company.
Coaches: Personal and Career Development. Building High-performing Teams. Mental Resilience and Recovery.
Name: Dave ‘Jacko’ Jackson
Background: Royal Marines and UKSF. University Lecturer. Security Advisor. Youth Development Leader.
About: Jacko is the very definition of still waters running deep. He is one of life’s truly nice guys. Dedicated, resourceful and a great member of our team, he possesses vast experience which you will always want to benefit from. Empathetic and an excellent coach, he quickly builds trust so that you quickly discover more about yourself - you won’t even notice!
Coaches: Personal & Team Resilience & Development. Leadership Development. Effective Communication.
Name: Martin Phillips
Background: Journalist. Author. International Rescue.
About: Martin is a hugely talented and experienced team member. His naturally enquiring mind help you build greater self-awareness by taking you to a much deeper level of reflection and understanding. He will challenge your thinking in a constructive and positive way, and his ability to connect with you will boost your confidence and inspire even greater development.
Coaches: Media Crisis Management. Understanding the Media. Getting your Message into the Media.
Name: Al Humes
Background: British Army. Defence Rehabilitation. Cultural Reviews - Chair. Independent L&D Consultant.
About: Quiet and thoughtful, Al guides the strategy and team with a reassuring calmness. The glue that holds the team together to ensure they deliver the best learning experience for you. His skill as a proactive listener and observer of people perfectly complements his love of coaching that always inspires you to grow and develop in the areas you want help with.
Coaches: Helping you Become a Better Listener and Truly Connect with People.
“I learnt more about myself in 48 hours than in all of the courses I've undertaken since I started my career”
- Maria Higson, Director of Transformation and Delivery - South East London Integrated Care System
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