Elizabeth English, BA Hons, MPhil, DPhil (Oxon)
Founder and Director of Life at Work
Specialisms: Nonviolent Communication, Focusing

Elizabeth founded Life at Work in 2003, when she became internationally certified with the Centre for Nonviolent Communication (CNVC). She is now also qualified as a Practitioner of Focusing with the British Focusing Teachers' Association. Her background in Nonviolent Communication™ (NVC) gives her a special interest in communication, ranging from conflict resolution to team-building and stress reduction. Drawing on the insights of Focusing and over 25 years of Buddhist meditation practice, Elizabeth also works as a coach and mentor, and acts as a consultant for mediation and reconciliation issues. She is active in both professional and personal contexts with leaders, managers and teams, and with individuals. Her consultation and training style is notable for her warmth and positive engagement, and for her acute and insightful approach. Prior to becoming a consultant, coach and trainer, she worked as a university lecturer, researcher and author in the humanities.

Annie Rankin, MA
Specialisms: Nonviolent Communication

Annie has worked in communications for 20 years, initially as a journalist and writer for 10 years in the UK national press; then as Director of Communications for an international charity. Now a certified trainer in Nonviolent Communication™, she leads professional trainings in communication, conflict resolution, team-building and stress reduction for organisations such as the NHS, schools and charities. She also runs communication courses for personal development, as well as working throughout the UK as a coach and mentor. She lives in Somerset with her partner, where she also writes, teaches meditation & leads retreats.

Gina Lawrie, BA, Psychology, CQSW
Specialisms: Nonviolent Communication, Open Space Technology, Gestalt

Gina is an organisation development consultant with over 20 years experience in all sectors with individuals, teams and whole organisations. Gina's current focus is helping people bring their whole selves; mental, emotional and spiritual, to their work and contribution to collaborative partnerships, creativity and great performance. She brings a background in psychology, social work and management development and draws on a range of approaches including Nonviolent Communication™, Gestalt, complexity theory and Open Space Technology. Gina works with the Centre for Nonviolent Communication in training and assessing new trainers. She works internationally with leading private and public sector organisations. Her co-developed, innovative learning materials are now translated into 7 languages.

Rüdiger Jansen, MA
Specialisms: Metaplan, NLP, Myers Briggs Type Indicator

Following a career in music and university lecturing, Rüdiger became a management trainer and consultant in 1979. He worked first as an independent partner (Impuls - Analyse. Beratung. Training), and later as founder and director of his own Management Training company (Do Evolution Seminare und Verlag GmbH). His experiences encompass a range of high performance German companies and multi-national multi-utility providers (including Allianz, Hypobank, VGH, and RWE group). He also works voluntarily for various non-government organisations in India, and mainland China.

His qualifications include Metaplan (group facilitation), NLP (Master Practitioner), and the licence for application of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI Step 1).

Tara Vandana Bsc, SRD, Dip Ad Diet Practice
Specialisms: Myers Briggs Type Indicator

Tara is a skilled and experienced coach, trainer and facilitator who has worked in the NHS for twenty seven years as a Clinician (AHP), Senior Manager and Workforce Development Lead. She has worked effectively with Individuals, Teams and Multi-Professional Networks at all levels in Acute, Primary Care, Mental and Public Health as well as within an SHA. She is passionate about enabling people to develop personally and professionally, so that services truly benefit patients and their carers.

Michael Chaskalson, MA
Specialisms:Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction

Michael’s experience of business began in 1980 when he founded Windhorse Trading, a highly-successful, innovative fair-trade company. He now specialises in Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction, holding a Master's degree with distinction in mindfulness-based clinical interventions. He designs and runs Mindfulness for Coaches for psychologists and mental health workers in the NHS, and for university postgraduate counsellors, and also works as a personal coach at senior executive level. His published works include ‘Mindfulness and Money’, and he lectures on the London Business School's Senior Executive Programme.