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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.

Stephen Smith, Impact
UK
Stephen andSmith
Digital Team

I love the diversity my role brings, I work with many types of organisations and interact with some amazing people. I’m a problem solver and love tinkering with new technology to see what’s around the corner. Outside of work my passion is cycling and enjoying time with my family.

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Ilaria Capogrossi Guarna
Italy
Ilaria andCapogrossi andGuarna
Key Account Support

I had the chance to join Impact Italy in June 2022 Joining Impact has added value to my professional background giving me the opportunity to work with very special collegues in a world company.I support our team and I coordinate the Milan Office.

In my spare time I like to travel to discover new destinations and people. I love animals and sports, especially skiing.

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Jo Appleby
UK
Jo andAppleby
Head of Partnerships

I design projects to bring Sustainable Development Goals to life and get them into every programme we deliver. Globally. Universal in nature and relevant for all, the SDGs tackle the biggest issues facing our planet and everyone on it. I sit on the consultant team, support our Community Action Learning function and the wider and I’m the Impact UK representative for UNGC. I love running in the fells.

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Sabrina Bianchi Impact
Italy
Sabrina andBianchi
Head of marketing and Communication

I joined Impact in early 2022, and it was the best start to the year ever! My commitment is to develop and implement communication and marketing activities to give more and more visibility to the pathways and initiatives we create for our clients. In my spare time, I cheer for Inter and organize dinners and trips with friends and family.

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Tim Lofthouse Impact
UK
Tim and(Lofty) andLofthouse
Support

I support delivery of high quality, safe and challenging programmes and keep the operations infrastructure in a safe and workable condition. I have been lucky to have worked in some amazing places around the world with some amazing colleagues and participants. Working from Base still takes some beating though! When not working I enjoy having adventures with my family, exploring the Lakes and keeping fit by running, climbing and riding my Cyclocross bike.

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Elena Ceriotti
Italy
Elena andCeriotti
President, Executive Coach

Find a job you love and you will never work a single day in your live! I do everything from managing the business, to inspiring people and helping clients to develop as sustainable business in which the quality of leadership is crucial. People describe me as a passionate and fast moving person, able to quickly connect to the culture and the needs of each organisation and to co-design powerful solutions. I love adventure which is about saying “yes” to life.

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Anthony Cox
UK
Anthony andCox
IT Support

I help to support the entire business with all of their IT related needs. I have had a large passion for all things technology since I was a kid. In my spare time, you can catch me listening to music, on my PlayStation or playing Dungeons and Dragons. 

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John Matthews
UK
John andMatthews
Senior Consultant

I bring passion and experience to serve clients in some of the world's most progressive organisations - enabling leaders to perform at their best. I'm told I have an engaging and inquisitive style that connects easily and am particularly effective at getting people to see the wider context. I enjoy adventure and love nothing more than exploring the wilderness with family and friends or tackling an unusual sporting challenge.

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Mirko Brinoni
Italy
Mirko andBrinoni
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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Joe Dickson
UK
Joe andDickson
Business Development Executive

Since joining Impact in 2019, I've had the pleasure of working in the Business Development team, supporting our global BD teams with Lead Management. My passions lie in the outdoors, sports and surrounding myself with great people. Outside of work, you'll find me pottering around the Lake District fells on my mountain bike.

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Ewa Rolley
Poland
Ewa andRolley
GM,

Change is my partner in business and life. “Be better” is my inspiration to continue to grow. I joined Impact 20 years ago and have worked in many different roles as a consultant, general manager, coach and business developer from offices in Europe and Asia. In my current role, I am responsible for supporting businesses in Poland and Central Europe, and I am also co-creating transformation solutions with clients. 

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Vesna Lorenc, Senior Consultant
Poland
Vesna andLorenc
Senior Consultant

I have been supporting people in communication for 20 years. Initially as a consultant and currently as a trainer, coach, and mediator. I am passionate about people and the complexity of human nature, and like to help tame this complexity for a specific purpose. Socially involved, I'm also a mother of three. Between all this, I find balance in meditation, yoga and nature.

David Williams, Impact International
UK
David andWilliams
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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Greg Bartlett
Australia
Greg andBartlett
Senior Consultant

I design, develop and manage solutions for key clients. I am passionate about helping people and businesses be at their best through practical and personal change. I love bringing innovative and challenging ideas to my work. I get my energy from time with my gorgeous family, my exciting work and my personal passion for sport and adventure.

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Shino Takahashi, Impact International
Japan
Shino andTakahashi(Shelly)
Assistant Manager, Human Development

'Making Work Enjoyable for Children' I’ve spent 17 years in retail, gaining experience in sales, customer service, training, HR, and recruitment. This taught me that business growth relies on people’s growth, inspiring me to pursue my own and motivate children. A key moment was a training program at Impact Co. 11 years ago, sparking my passion for talent and organizational development. As a working mom, I focus on balance—committing to work weekdays and spending time with my toddler daughter on weekends. This balance is key. 

Holly Higham Impact International
UK
Holly andHigham
Global Lead, Marketing

My job is to share amazing client stories with the world through integrated marketing campaigns. I love live events and building Impact's community, as well as research and content creation. I live for adventure...and cake!

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Arianna Bianchi
Italy
Arianna andBianchi
Consultant and Facilitator

As a consultant, I hope to be a catalyst for change, helping others to discover what their real needs are. Empathy, curiosity, creativity, organisation and strong sense of duty are the things that most characterise me. I love the adventure and the discovery of travelling, organising outdoor trips with friends in close contact with nature… But also sharing a gin lemon or a barbecue at home is not so bad!

Trudy Bridger, Impact
Australia
Trudy andBridger
Consultant

My role is to build strong, trusted partnerships with clients and help bring our shared purpose to life: liberating human potential and creating organisations that are truly worth working for. I’ve worked across a wide range of roles at Impact, giving me broad experience and a unique perspective on the business. Outside of work, you’ll usually find me out in nature, reading, cooking, or—more likely—chasing after my energetic toddler.

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Nao Matsushita(Noa), Impact International
Japan
Nao andMatsushita(Noa)
Coordinator

'Helping People Shine on Their Own Stage' As a restaurant manager, I wanted to create more than just a place to eat. By drawing out each team member’s strengths and aspirations, I saw the power of a team that values individuality. This led me to study coaching. I later realized that growth also depends on the organization, so I now study organizational development. My goal is to help people and organizations grow together, enabling everyone to shine as themselves and fulfill their potential.

Chiara Fregonese
Italy
Chiara andFregonese
Senior Consultant and Head of Solutions

As a consultant, organisational psychologist, account manager and researcher…I endeavour to encompass all the different aspects of life in the organisation! To me the organization is a magic happening between individuals, groups and their work contexts. I deal with the entire consulting process: from the proposal development, to the client management, intervention delivery and evaluation process. I love the countryside, baking cakes & capoeira!

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Matteo Villa
Italy
Matteo andVilla
Senior Consultant and Facilitator

I joined Impact in 2023 as a senior Consultant, I’ve worked as training and development manager for a major pharmaceutical multinational and at the Business School of the Politecnico di Milano.

Passionate about learning and innovation, I consider it the 'mission' of consulting to transform companies into people centric, innovative and sustainable workplaces.

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Natassja Gale
UK
Natassja andGale
Strategic Designer (Digital Operations)

Bridging future-oriented research, innovation, and design principles and practices, my focus is on optimising our core business through developing and delivering resilient, human-centred solutions. I bring energy, raise questions, push boundaries and break rules. The most vital part of my life is the people within it, as the relationships we hold with one another are everything.

Ava Gayowski
USA
Ava andGayowski
Business development & marketing coordinator

I came to Impact as an Intern in 2023 and here I am again in 2025! That’s because Impact is a great place to learn and the people are even better. Impact’s mission to help people learn and grow is something that resonates with me deeply. My educational background is in mass communications with specialties in PR and advertising. I’m the liaison between our marketing and business development team and my job is to enhance our digital marketing and BD function. In my free time you can find me surfing out on the waves (usually wiping out), horseback riding, or behind a guitar and a microphone. 

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Sam Rostas, Impact International
UK
Samantha andRostas
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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Our awards

Year after year, we continue to be acknowledged for the quality and effectiveness of our partnerships with clients and for our own work on building Impact as an organisation worth working for.

2026 Training Industry Top 20 Leadership Training Company
2026 Training Industry Top 20 Leadership Training Company

Impact is a 2026 Top 20 Leadership Training Company. Training Industry independently assess the training marketplace for top providers. Their Top Leadership Training List, based on capabilities and expertise, includes Impact for the 16th consecutive year. 

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Chief Learning Officer gold award 2025
Gold Excellence in Partnership Award from Chief Learning Officer 2025

Impact won the gold award at the Chief Learning Officer 2025 Learning in Practice Awards for Excellence in Partnership. This recognises our support of Bristol Myers Squibb in implementing a learning and development programme.

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