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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.

Itsuyo Watanabe(Barbara)
Japan
Itsuyo andWatanabe(Barbara) and
Director, Brand Enhancement Department

As a consultant, I like Impact's programmes because every one of our projects could make the participants think deeply about their issues in the workplace, and move forward for their business success. I am excited when exploring a solution for my clients' current and future business challenges. Besides my job, I like cooking, travelling, fine arts, musicals, Japanese KABUKI, opera etc.

Shiwali Daryapurkar
USA
Shiwali andDaryapurkar
Program Manager

I enjoy using my strengths in operations management to bring organisations into the chaos and to connect people with resources. I look forward to supporting the team from behind the scenes to execute the programs successfully and meaningfully. In my personal time, you will find me traveling, cooking, event planning, reading, and involved in theatre and film productions.

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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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Alissa Joy
UK
Alissa andJoy
Project Manager

Programme Coordinator at Impact. I am based in the Windermere office (UK) and joined the company in 2021. 

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Courtney Henderson
UK
Courtney andHenderson
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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Andrew Robinson, Impact International
UK
Andrew andRobinson
IT Manager

I work in our busy IT department, helping with all things technical. I have often been referred to as a “Button Manager”, if it's got a button, then I manage it! I enjoy working in IT as it allows me to interact with every part of our business all over the world. I am a keen cyclist and enjoy working in our HQ in the English Lake District, a great place for outdoor adventures. I have worked for impact for over 15 years and am very proud of all that we achieve.

Naoshi Kimura (Woody)
Japan
Naoshi andKimura(Woody)
Manager, Client Success Department

Over 10 years of experience in retail industry, I experienced various roles, managing some stores as a store manager, executing retail strategies as a retail manager, and an internal trainer in the organizational change project, planning, making, delivering the programs to the managers and staffs. I am very much interested in “people change” so very happy to work at Impact to build my career as a professional of people and organizational consultant.

Yoshinobu (Hosshan) Hosoki, Impact International
Japan
Yoshinobu andHosoki(Hosshan)
Manager, Business Consulting Department

Being a manager of the delivery team in Impact Japan, I have been putting great effort and energy into realising our “Re-Born Strategy” from the delivery quality aspect. For my leadership style, creating trust is the most important factor. I support my team by creating trusting relationships, and as a facilitator, I use this quality to create a completely safe and open learning space in programmes. I love having a good time with people, drinking and karaoke.

Caroline Airey
UK
Caroline andAirey
Board Member

I joined Impact back in 1998 as a Management Accountant, and I am passionate about using financial information to inform and drive both short-term decision making and longer-term business strategy. I love living in the Lake District and exploring the surrounding lakes and mountains!

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Kathyann Waple Impact
UK
Kathyann andWaple
Head of Digital Transformation

I am all about meaningful relationships. I’m good at detail but love the big picture. Business strategy excites me and implementation more so! My role is to head up our digital strategy and take Impact’s experiential face to face practice in to the digital world, strengthening our blended programme work and building digital solutions that serve our clients’ needs in these times of exponential change. I’m a daughter, sister, aunty, wife and mum. I adore sport and adventure, especially cycling, snowboarding, swimming and surfing.

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Claire Hewick, Impact
UK
Claire andHewick
Support

I was an associate for Impact for 21 years before becoming part of the full-time team. I love the sense of fun, friendship, camaraderie and the way Impact works. Oh, by the way I’m on the Technical Support Team – ropes and boats, programme design and logistics and lots of other things too. I love my job, get loads of out of it, meet lots of amazing people and learn new things all the time – how lucky am I?

Lou McDonald, Impact
UK
Lou andMcDonald
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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Hanna Świątkowska, Account Manager Director
Poland
Hanna andŚwiątkowska
Account Manager Director

For over 20 years I have been on the path of exploring and connecting the world of business and personal development. I work with people and organisations from the perspective of their potential, possibilities and needs. I support change in organisations and accompany transformations. My role at Impact Polska is Account Management Director and Senior Consultant… AND I LOVE IT!

Marta Lamberti
Italy
Marta andLamberti
Senior Consultant and Facilitator

Hi! I am an occupational psychologist, coach and trainer! I have been working for over 20 years to help companies develop and enhance their greatest capital, their people! I met Impact many and many years ago, and I am still proudly part of it! In my spare time I am a theatre actress, a traveller, but above all... a mum!

tonka watson
New Zealand
Tonka andWatson
Senior Consultant

As a former client, I jumped at the chance to work with Impact in 2002 and pursue my passion for inspiring others to realise their potential. I’m an avid reader and love to incorporate my learning into the leadership development programmes that I deliver; recent topics of interest include applied neuroscience & gender dynamics. Dogs feature widely in my life outside of work.

Anna Ziółkowska
Poland
Anna andZiółkowska
Senior Consultant

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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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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Mark Sanders, Impact International
UK
Mark andSanders
Head of Operations

I manage equipment, projects and vehicles at our HQ. I have a certificate of competence in the inspection of personal protective equipment for adventure activities, level 3 qualification in transport managers professional competence and IOSH managing safely certificate. My sense of humour helps me to cope with a job which is at best dull. Playing guitar with the infamous Impact band "you get what you pay for" is simultaneously the moment I'm most and least proud of.

Stella Privitello
Italy
Stella andPrivitello
Senior Consultant and Executive coach

I am an enthusiastic trainer and consultant, keen on applying theory, practical application and innovation to the development of others. I have been working in the learning and organisational development since 1996 and joined Impact in 2019 as account, lead designer and facilitator. I pride myself on my original, inclusive and enthusiastic style.

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Adele Blakebrough MBE
Adele andBlakebrough andMBE
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.

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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Adele Tattersall, Impact International
UK
Adele andTattersall
Project Coordinator

I support the set up and administration related to the end-to-end implementation of client solutions in the UK and worldwide. I am an organised and passionate team player and I enjoy working as part of the various Client Service Teams who manage our clients. Not originally from the Lake District, I feel very lucky to now live and work in such a beautiful place in the UK. I love spending time with my friends and family and keeping fit.

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

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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Gavin Shaw
USA
Gavin andShaw
VP of Finance

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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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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