Skip to main content
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.

change
Steven Nishida
USA
Steven andNishida
Senior Consultant

A lifelong passion for learning and leadership brought me to Impact, and I couldn't be happier with my decision. As a designer, facilitator, and thought partner, I embrace a scholar-practitioner mindset, running to the issues and engaging others with clarity, empathy, and authenticity. My favorite activity of each day is laughing, playing, and making up bedtime stories with my kids. They're hilarious!

Linkedin Icon
Aidan Keough
Australia
Aidan andKeough
Senior Consultant

I help people gain insights into themselves and their team so they can improve as individuals and work more effectively together. As a facilitator I create the right learning environment and work alongside participants providing a balance of challenge and support. I bring over 20 years of senior leadership experience. I love learning, the outdoors and am fascinated with horses. I live on a small farm with my wife and two teenage children, and a herd of horses.

Linkedin Icon
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?

Yoshinori (Kite) Kaino, International
Japan
Yoshinori andKaino(Kite) and
Chief Executive Officer

I am responsible for “Re-Born Strategy” in Impact Japan, I am passionate about developing people and our organisation by executing all Re-Born strategic agendas. As a facilitator, I love creating and sharing the precious moments together with executives and managers who are reflectively asking themselves what leadership they would like to realise in their life/work. What I love most is drinking after working hard to make effort in realising my vision.

Linkedin Icon
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.

Lucy Gardner
UK
Lucy andGardner
Project Coordinator

As a Project Coordinator, the main focus of my role is to help organise and set up a variety of global programmes as part of the Project Management team. My favourite way to spend my time outside of work is travelling to different places and countries, and after moving to the Lake District a few years ago, I love being based in such a beautiful place every day!

Linkedin Icon
Hannah Irwin - Impact International
UK
Hannah andIrwin
Assistant to The Boss

I support the CEO in an exciting and super varied role - from Board meetings to barbecues and everything else in between. An Impacter since 1999, marketer and mum, I have a need to be outdoors every day - no matter what the weather! For me, Impact is a unique place where people matter and my work and life can intertwine through flexible working and trust.

Linkedin Icon
Akira Matsumoto (Mikey), Impact International
Japan
Akira andMatsumoto(Mikey)
Facilitator

With nearly 18 years in the retail industry, I held roles such as sales, store manager, trainer, and area manager. These experiences taught me that when people grow, organizations grow. Supporting others made me reflect on my own growth and whether I still had something to offer. To challenge myself, I moved into a new industry. Now, I work to create training experiences that resonate emotionally and leave a lasting impression—while continuing to grow with my clients. 

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.

Caitlin McAlister, UK
UK
Caitlin andMcAlister
Business Development Executive

As a Sales Professional with extensive knowledge of account business development and client relationship management, my passion lies in building great relationships with clients and really getting to know them in order to create customised solutions that help them to achieve their goals. Outside of work you can find me in the gym, or walking the beautiful Lake District fells with my camera in tow.

Linkedin Icon
Abi Black Impact
UK
Abi andBlack
Project Manager

As a Project Manager I am responsible for the end-to-end implementation of our client solutions by managing and coordinating the client service teams. During my time at Impact I have worked with a broad mixture of clients and participants ranging from graduates to senior leaders. In my free time I enjoy spending time in the Lakes, planning my next holiday and spending time with friends and family.

Linkedin Icon
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.

Linkedin Icon
Goran Kelecic, senior consultant
Poland
Goran andKelecic
Senior Consultant

I like to do meaningful work, working together with clients to create something new and deeply valuable. The areas of change where I feel I contribute the most with my skills and strong business background are leadership development and agile transitions. I like to challenge myself in many ways, my favorite challenge is climbing high ice covered mountains.

Simon Brown
UK
Simon andBrown
Accountant

AKA Bloodaxe. I am an accountant at Impact. When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family, cycling and heavy metal. Not all at the same time, though – that’d be dangerous.

Jon Hall Impact
UK
Jon andHall
Head of Consulting

I've enjoyed more than 11 challenging years of international work with senior leadership teams; designing & delivering innovative programmes; managing global delivery teams and coaching individuals. I'm known for an insightful and engaging style and love working in the moment with a courageous approach to challenging interventions. I love relaxing with my wife, watching my daughters perform (singing or horse riding), or sharing outdoor adventures.

Linkedin Icon
Manny Larenas
USA
Manuel and(Manny) andLarenas
Senior Consultant

I am devoted to applying theory, practical application and innovation to people development. As a lead designer and facilitator with 10+ years of experience, I deliver custom client solutions globally. My insatiable curiosity stays satisfied by reading, researching and exploring the world. I love the culinary arts, and although I enjoy cooking, my passion is simply being the consumer of freshly made, delectable dishes. 

Linkedin Icon
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.

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.

Linkedin Icon
Sam Parkin
UK
Samantha andParkin
Credit Controller

I'm part of the UK Accounts Department and I'm responsible for issuing all of Impact's sales invoices both electronically or by post in a multitude of currencies sent to our clients all over the world. I work closely with lots of my colleagues both here in the UK and overseas. Out of work I enjoy spending my time cycling in the beautiful Lake District Countryside, walking and spending time with family and friends.

 

Gabrielle Thorpe, Impact
UK
Gabrielle andThorpe
Project Manager

After living in France and working in the ski industry for 13 years, I decided to move back to the UK, joining the Impact Project Management team. I work on several major global client solutions across industries such as insurance, pharmaceuticals, sportswear and automotive. I build strong working relationships, both internally and externally, to support teams through solution design to delivery.

Vicki Percival Impact
UK
Vicki andPercival
Account Manager

My role is to create and sustain positive client relationships and ensure the successful implementation of global programmes. I work in partnership with my clients to develop customised solutions using our innovative approach to leadership. After living in different parts of the world, I love being back in the Lakes. I spend most of my time indulging in great food with friends and exploring the beautiful place I get to call home.

Linkedin Icon
Verity Bellouere, Impact International
UK
Verity andBellouere
Project Manager

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.

Tony Ren, Impact
China and Hong Kong
Tony andRen
Country Manager

Having worked at Impact's UK HQ and Tokyo office, I have been heading up Impact China and developing new business in China and Asia Pacific since 2009. As a professional consultant, I have over fifteen years of management experience covering strategic planning, organizational effectiveness, business development, and worldwide operational excellence. I am extensively involved in the development and delivery of talent development projects at all levels of organisations. 

Linkedin Icon
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.

Leadership

The leadership playbook: executive summary

Get hands on with our interactive leadership playbook, shaped by 45+ years' experience working with some of the world's biggest organisations.

Read the article

Leadership
News

2025 Training Industry Top Training Companies Lists: Leadership Training 

Training Industry, known for its independent and rigorous assessment of the training marketplace, has recognized Impact as a Top 20 Leadership Training Company for the 15th consecutive year.

Read the article

Change
Innovation & Creativity
Leadership

C-level leaders on navigating complexity

Discover what it means to lead in today's global business environment through our insightful eBook.

Read the article

Emerging Talent
Transformational Leadership

Frontline leadership program for Orica

A 12-week blended program combining facilitated experiential learning with practical self-led activities, designed to help frontline leaders develop foundational and

View Case Study

Change
Digital & Technology
Leadership

Podcast: Is BANI the new VUCA? with Jamais Cascio

Jamais Cascio created the BANI framework in 2018 and six years later, Impact is the first UK/US based organisation to invite him to speak about it. In this podcast we explore what BANI is and how...

Listen to the Podcast

Change Management
Transformational Leadership

Empowering transformational change through leadership with Charter Manufacturing

Charter Manufacturing’s multi-award-winning programs have produced leaders who are enabled to be agile and lead transformational change.

View Case Study

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.

2025 Training Industry Top 20 Leadership Training Company
Top 20 Leadership Training Company 2025

Impact is a 2025 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 15th consecutive year. 

More about the awards (opens in a new tab)
AITD 2025 award finalist
AITD Excellence Awards 2025

Orica's Frontline Leadership programme has been shortlisted in the Best Leadership Development category of the AITD Excellence Awards 2025 (Australian Institute of Training and Development).

Read the case study (opens in a new tab)