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About us

Meet the team

Impact is bursting with energetic, talented and passionate people who want to make a difference. Our people work from over 30 global locations.

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Yuki Okamoto, Impact International
Japan
Yuki Okamoto(Yuki)
Operation Quality Controller, Master Coordinator, Japan

Since 2006 I have coordinated programme delivery. This involves meeting facilitators and consultants to design great modules, using creativity to ensure participants have profound learning experiences that add value to their organisation. I manage project set up and use technical skills such as abseil belaying. I have a teaching licence to teach PE. Now I enjoy working using my body, so I love to do exercise and jogging, swimming, gymnastics, and most outdoor things!

Lou McDonald Impact
UK
Lou McDonald
Head of Brand

Sum myself up in a paragraph? There’s a challenge! And maybe a good starting point. I like challenge. I like the challenge of grabbing attention with interesting, useful and relevant marketing. From a new website or re-brand to a sell-out festival, for me it’s all about customer first. I like a physical challenge too, and the challenge of how long I can last without listening to music!

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Takuya Inaba, Impact International
Japan
Takuya Inaba(Bacchi)
Coordinator, Japan

Turning 'Wants' into 'Achievements' After graduating from university, I gained experience as a basketball coach before transitioning to human resources and organizational development in May 2023. I did this to deepen my coaching skills and to challenge myself outside of sports. By directly addressing organizational issues and fostering talent within companies, I encounter daily learning opportunities as I strive towards my dreams. To achieve this, I set goals and work towards transforming my 'wants' into 'achievements'.

Diana Fritz, Americas
USA
Diana Fritz
Account Director, Americas

As an Account Director with Impact, I’m able to leverage my ten years of Business Development and Account Management experience.  I thrive in environments where I am able to develop and uncover new opportunities with partners and businesses. Most of all, I am a people person and love building trusting relationships. In my spare time, you will find me spending time with my husband, two boys and our dog.

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Ignazio Raimondo
Italy
Ignazio Raimondo
Senior Consultant and Account Leader, Italy

I deal with account management and sales development for Impact Italia and I enjoy delivering some of our programmes a lot. I am an Impact enthusiast and my brain is always looking for new ideas to bring the value of our fantastic brand to the market. You can find me at the office, on my Vespa on the streets of Rome, on my BMW bike surfing the best routes of the world! Do you want serious and reliable references? Ask my wife and my 6-year old twins.

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Anna Ziółkowska
Poland
Anna Ziółkowska
Head of Design and Innovation, Poland

I am happy to be responsible for creating and implementing new solutions as well as taking care of our clients and delivering adventurous programs. I see my purpose as working with people to help them be more aware of their power and inner wisdom and therefore to make our organisations and communities stronger. I get my energy from time with my gorgeous family, biking, reading in a hammock, listening and dancing to the music.

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Gavin Shaw
USA
Gavin Shaw
VP of Finance, Americas

Leading the US finance department includes guiding my team, considering new ways for increased financial success, keeping the team financially informed and ensuring accurate reporting. I have a business/accounting degree and 15+ years experience as a CPA. I see myself as a finance skilled business partner rather than an accountant. I love spectator sports, food, wine, whisky, binge watching TV, travel, wood burning open fires and being outside in the fresh air.

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Rafal Kamilski, Impact International
Poland
Rafal Kamilski
Operational Manager, Poland

I am responsible for our support team and coordinating the Warsaw office. I project manage, which includes monitoring facilitation, communicating with partners, background logistics and managing course equipment for our fantastic experiential projects. Since joining in 2005 my role has developed through office manager and H&S advisor. I love what I do and the people I work with. Personally, I am getting to know my young son and understand his world. Life is a journey.

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John Scott
New Zealand
John Scott
Consultant, New Zealand

People are at the heart of everything I do and I care deeply about ensuring individuals and teams have the skills, support and temperament to best deal with their future. In my spare time I chair the board of a local art gallery and support the development of our growing community of emerging and successful artists.

 

Hisae Hashimoto, Impact International
Japan
Hisae Hashimoto(Sae)
Learning + People Catalyst, Japan

I provide inspiring opportunities for leaders to explore possibilities in expanding sustainable business and organisational development. As a staff support manager I have been leading operations such as talent acquisitions. Supporting others and organisations to expand their full potential is my passion. I enjoy ensuring we have a unique workplace where we can maximise potential and strengths. I love climbing mountains, hot springs and good organic foods.

David Williams, Impact International
UK
David Williams
The Boss!

I co-founded Impact in 1980 to explore adventure and experiential learning in people development. It worked! We now inspire and develop people worldwide. Shared values, a common purpose and a spirit of adventure bind us together. With over 200 colleagues working in the UK, Europe, America and Asia Pacific, we have a solid reputation for enabling clients to build leadership capacity and navigate complex change. To stay grounded, I rear rare breed cattle and sheep.

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Verity Bellouere, Impact International
UK
Verity Bellouere
Project Manager, UK

I look after clients from tender, right through to evaluation. Three of my four main clients are global, so it’s about managing time differences too. I am the 'go to' person for many other things as I've worked here since 1991. I'm open, honest and always have an opinion! Questions usually start with “you will know...” I like nothing more that being up a hill in the Lake District or French Alps and camping in Cornwall with family and friends.

Clive Barrow
New Zealand
Clive Barrow
Consultant, New Zealand

I’ve had a passion for enriching lives through deeply practical experiential learning, and immersion in adventure around the world for most of my career. As a British Army officer, expedition leader, leadership consultant and executive coach I’ve had the enormous privilege to facilitate learning experiences for others in over 40 different countries. My greatest gift - apart from my wife and kids - doing the work I love!

Maggie Pearce, Impact International
UK
Maggie Pearce
Head of Design, UK

I have a global role around developing and sharing our learning practice, which I combine with designing and delivering some of our more complex client solutions. I have developed and pioneered ‘Solution Mapping’ – Impact’s consultancy framework, and specialise in evaluation strategies, as well as designing leadership action based simulations. I'm Impact’s unofficial Chief Cartoonist and, wherever possible, I use cartoons to bring insights and concepts to life.

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Ryan McCabe, Impact
USA
Ryan McCabe
Consultant, Americas

I’m passionate about learning and helping people get the best out of themselves. I spent over 10 years in Learning & Development with a Fortune 15 company helping develop and deliver programs to Executives, Middle Management, and Aspiring Leaders from all different parts of the business. I believe that understanding and leveraging diversity is one of the biggest strengths of any organization and I really enjoy helping groups work towards that reality. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife and 2 daughters as well as rooting for any and all Philly sports teams. I also have a pretty sweet record collection.

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Daniel Giejbatow, Senior Consultant
Poland
Daniel Giejbatow
Senior Consultant

I have been supporting business development for over 20 years. As a Personnel Director, I was associated with the telecommunications and financial industry, I also conducted mergers and acquisitions of large financial organizations. I am a psychologist and psychotherapist by education and graduated with MBA and AMP business studies. I love outdoor activities, especially in the mountains.

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Simon Wheatley, Impact International
UK
Simon Wheatley
Senior Consultant, UK

Analogue at birth, digital by requirement. I don’t do Facebook, and have nothing to do with hashtags. Is this bio going online? Eurgh! I am an eye-to-eye, face-to-face human being. I elevate small talk to medium talk. Then, (on a good day) to infinity and beyond. That’s my job. Favourite pastimes: Good days. Woodland crafts, festivals, and campfires. Specialist skills: Reading body language; parallel parking.

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Alicja Pietrasz, Marketing Executive
UK
Alicja Pietrasz
Digital Marketing Executive, UK

As a Digital Marketing Executive I am responsible for a broad range of global marketing projects and activities. I believe in Impact's mission, values, methodology and expertise, and I hope that thanks to my work more people around the world will hear about the great changes we make for organisations and their people. I am a nomadic soul and travel often to discover, experience and learn how the world and people differ.

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Adele Blakebrough MBE
Adele Blakebrough MBE
Board Member

I am the Co-Founder of Social Business Trust (SBT), a charity that supports high-potential social enterprises and charities with its group of leading corporate partners. I love my involvement with Impact. It’s an inspirational organisation…. it also helps me to ditch the high heels and get back to nature.

Sara Baranzini, Impact Italia
Italy
Sara Baranzini
Senior Consultant and Executive coach, Italy

I have experience as an HR Manager in multinational and Italian companies, managing L&D, recruitment, employees relations, coupled with across-the-board experience in consultancy projects on those subjects. Since 2013 I have been supporting organisations to change with a focus on learning and development with main focus on leadership, individual effectiveness, business coaching and change management.

 

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Courtney Henderson
UK
Courtney Henderson
Software Developer

I’m Impact’s resident back-end developer; working to build robust, efficient, and reliable systems to underpin our experiential learning platforms. I take pride in collaborating with like-minded individuals who share common interests and values, collectively unlocking each other's full potential. As a Lake District native, I feel a strong connection to the area in which Impact is headquartered and have seen first-hand the local and global effect that Impact achieves.

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Sarah Osteen
USA
Sarah Osteen
Senior Consultant, Americas

I have spent my career exploring, researching, teaching, coaching and practising leadership skills. I love working with individuals and groups to tackle hurdles and develop strategic initiatives. When I am not designing programs, I like to spend time with my son and my husband building forts out of driftwood or laughing with friends in the beautiful pacific northwest.

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Mirko Brinoni
Italy
Mirko Brinoni
Consultant and Facilitator

My career has been very weird and challenging so far. I graduated in industrial chemistry, then worked as a research scientist. In 2014 I moved to the energy field as consultant and account manager in charge of technical trainings and management courses. This job lasted 10 years and made me passionate about human resources management. I joined Impact where I can improve my skills as a trainer and facilitator and cooperate with a real great team.

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Sam Rostas, Impact International
UK
Samantha Rostas
Global Lead

After 10 years leading the UK, I am now in a global role focused on two areas: one leading a people project, the other focused on marketing. I grew up through Impact as a marketer and love the buzz of building business through brand and storytelling. My other passion is the people and culture here, so this is the ideal combination for me. When I’m not working, I love spending time with my family, enjoying the outdoors and practicing yoga.

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