Biographies of the congress speakers, symposia chairs, and workshop trainers.
Speakers
Nikki Ayles MSc, MAPP, AssMISCP, FPPG has a passion for helping people to achieve their potential and thrive, and designs and delivers capability development programmes using positive psychology principles and brain-friendly techniques. Learning is therefore interactive, coached, deep, experiential, personalised, applied and ‘sticky’. Nikki designs and delivers positive psychology based interventions – workshops and coaching programmes – which promote individual and employee wellbeing, flourishing and resilience – and hence increase productivity, collaboration, ability to cope with stress and adversity, creativity, job and life satisfaction and many other health benefits. These programmes can be delivered across private and public sector teams and organisations and with individuals, and can be tailored to suit the dynamic needs of these different audiences. With a strong background in brand & marketing management and senior leadership within multinational companies.
Joanie Connell, PhD, helps leaders and organizations turn technical expertise into business success. An organizational consultant, author, and leadership coach with more than 20 years of experience, she works with executives, entrepreneurs, and technical professionals to strengthen leadership, build high-performing teams, navigate growth and change, and improve collaboration across functions. A former engineer, she brings a unique ability to bridge technical and business perspectives. Joanie is the author of Consulting to Technical Leaders, Teams, and Organizations: Building Leadership in STEM Environments and Flying without a Helicopter: How to Prepare Young People for Work and Life. She holds a PhD in psychology from UC Berkeley and a bachelor’s in engineering from Harvard, and is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association (APA) and is President of the Society of Consulting Psychology (Division 13 of the APA).
Dr Gisele Dias is an Associate Professor in Psychology and Neuroscience at UCL Institute of Education, a Chartered Psychologist, Coaching Psychologist and Fellow of the International Society for Coaching Psychology. Her work focuses on translating insights from neuroscience, mental health research and coaching psychology into practical support for parents, educators, leaders and professionals working with families. Her specialist interests include emotional regulation, anxiety, wellbeing, parent–child relationships, resilience and the role of connection in supporting healthy development. She is a qualified Positive Discipline Parent Educator and co-founder of Pint of Parenting, a public engagement initiative that brings evidence-informed parenting conversations into informal community settings. Through workshops, talks and consultations, she supports parents and practitioners to move beyond quick-fix behaviour strategies and build greater confidence, cooperation and connection within families.
Dr Liory Fern-Pollak is an Associate Professor in Cognitive and Educational Neuroscience at UCL Institute of Education, where she leads the MA/MSc Educational Neuroscience and the MSc Developmental and Educational Psychology. She previously served as Academic Head of Learning and Teaching in the Department of Psychology and Human Development. Her work spans neuroscience, psychology and education, with particular interests in reading and dyslexia, self-esteem, and the application of psychological and neuroscientific evidence to education and parenting.
Liory is also a Chartered Psychologist, qualified Parent Educator and group facilitator. Through her practice, Parenting with Brain & Heart, she provides consultations, workshops and professional development for parents, educators and schools, integrating educational neuroscience with Adlerian psychology and Positive Discipline. She supports parents across childhood and adolescence, including families navigating ADHD and other developmental and parenting challenges. She is also co-founder of Pint of Parenting, an initiative that brings evidence-informed parenting conversations and practical tools into relaxed, accessible community settings.
Rachel Gellett
Rachel Gellett is a Family Coach at Hackney Local Authority, dedicated to providing 1-to-1 and group coaching opportunities to families with children who have special educational needs. With a focus on impactful interventions, Rachel is keenly interested in developing the evidence base for successfully working with families and communities to improve outcomes.
Dawn Gosden
Dawn Gosden is a dual chartered coaching psychologist and occupational psychologist, an associate fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a registered psychologist with the Health Care and Professions Council (HCPC). She is also a BPS registered applied psychology practitioner supervisor and an accredited coach and coach supervisor with the International Society of Coaching Psychologists (ISCP).
Aaron McEwan is a coaching psychologist and globally recognised thought leader on the future of work, workforce transformation, and human capital strategy. With more than 25 years’ experience advising organisations across Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Middles East, Aaron helps business leaders navigate the profound changes reshaping work, leadership, talent, and organisational performance. Aaron helps leaders navigate the profound changes reshaping work, leadership, talent, and organisational performance. As former VP of Research & Advisory for Gartner, Aaron provided strategic advice to global HR, technology, finance, and supply chain functions for the world’s largest organisations and led Gartner’s rapid response research team tasked with identifying and preparing for future disruptions. He works at the intersection of business strategy and people strategy, helping executive teams respond to changing workforce expectations, demographic shifts, and the rapid emergence of disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence. His work combines evidence-based psychology with deep commercial and HR expertise, translating behavioural science into practical strategies that help organisations build leadership capability, strengthen organisational culture, and prepare their workforce for the future. Aaron is widely recognised for his ability to bridge the worlds of psychology, business, and technology, making complex ideas accessible and actionable for leaders.
Dr Siobhain O’Riordan PhD CSci CPsychol FISCP MIHPEHon is Chartered Scientist and Chartered Coaching Psychologist. She is Course Co-Director on the stress management and coaching programmes and a trainer at the Centre for Coaching. She is an Honorary Member of the Institute for Health Promotion and Education, Fellow of the International Society for Coaching Psychology and Accredited Coaching Psychologist and Supervisor. From 2013-2015 she was Editor of the International Journal of Health Promotion & Education. Currently, she is Founder Chair of the International Society for Coaching Psychology, Editor of the International Journal of Coaching Psychology, Consulting Editor of The Coaching Psychologist and Editor of Coaching Psychology International. Her other roles include supervising doctorate students at the Wales Academy for Professional Practice and Research, University of Wales Trinity Saint David where she is a Research Fellow. She has published research and practice papers and her latest book is Introduction to Coaching Psychology (2021, with Palmer).
Prof Stephen Palmer PhD CPsychol CSci FISCP Accred is a Chartered Scientist, Chartered Coaching Psychologist, Registered Health Psychologist and APECS Accredited Executive Coach and Supervisor. He is President and Fellow of the International Society for Coaching Psychology, Vice President and Honorary Fellow of the Institute for Health Promotion and Education, former President and Honorary Fellow of both the the International Stress Management Association (UK) and Association for Coaching. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Royal Society of Biology. He is former Co-Editor of International Coaching Psychology Review, former editor and now Consulting Editor of the International Journal of Health Promotion & Education. He has written/edited 60 books including How to Deal with Stress (with Cooper), and Handbook of Coaching Psychology (with Whybrow). His university posts include being Honorary Professor of Practice in the Institute of Management and Health at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Adjunct Professor of Coaching Psychology, Aalborg University, Denmark, and Co-ordinating Director of the ISCP International Centre for Coaching Psychology Research. Previously he has been a Director of the Coaching Psychology Unit, City University London; Honorary Director of the Coaching Psychology Unit at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil, and BABCP London Branch Co-chair. He is a Director of Studies and supervisor of PhD students at UWTSD.
Ashley Rinnger
Ashley Ringger is an international coaching psychologist, EMCC coach, and CIPD professional development expert, Ashley Ringger helps individuals and families navigate pivotal life transitions. Integrating neuroscience, cognitive behavioral coaching, and positive psychology, she views her work as essential preventative mental healthcare—building resilience before crisis hits. Ashley specializes in supporting individuals through complex family, career, and fertility journeys, including infertility and parental transitions. Drawing on decades of international experience across higher education, corporate settings, and private practice in the USA, UK, and Switzerland, she serves on the board of the Swiss Society for Coaching Psychology (SSCP) and advocates for stronger family support systems.
Dr Rachael Skews PhD is a coach, workplace psychologist, behavioural scientist, trainer, speaker, author, supervisor and advisor. She is an internationally recognised subject matter expert in acceptance and commitment coaching. Rachael is the founder of Cognus Consulting, which provides training in acceptance and commitment theory (ACT) in the workplace and in coaching. She is a registered supervisor with the BPS, specialising in acceptance and commitment coaching. In her commercial career, Rachael has successfully developed both traditional and technology-delivered psychological interventions. She has extensive experience consulting with clients from industries across the private, public, and charity sectors. She is a chartered psychologist with the British Psychological Society, an accredited coaching psychologist with the International Society for Coaching Psychology, and a Fellow of the Centre for Evidence Based Management.
Dr Vince Szekely is a coaching psychologist, organizational psychologist, leadership coach, and university lecturer who has been training and mentoring coaching psychologists for two decades. He is among the first generation of coaching psychologists and a founder and president of the Hungarian Association for Coaching Psychology, as well as the founder and associate president of the Coaching Psychology Section of the Hungarian Psychological Association. Vince promotes the education of coaching psychology in academic settings. He was the first to deliver university courses in coaching psychology. He developed and implemented successfully the highest-level academic postgraduate programme for psychologists, leading to a specialist degree in coaching psychology. His research interests focus on facilitating identity work in organizations. Additionally, Vince is a seasoned executive and team coach with over 2,000 hours of coaching experience.
Christin Tan is a Chartered Coaching Psychologist and a Registered Organisational Psychologist in the UK, Europe, and Singapore, with more than 20 years’ experience across different industries and sectors, including banking and financial services, logistics, high-performing education and sports, non-profit, and government. Graduated with an MBA (Entrepreneurial Management), MSc (Occupational Psychology), and book author to ‘Entrepreneurial Personality for a Sustainable Competitive Advantage’, Christin is passionate to promote and advance coaching psychology, organisational psychology, and entrepreneurship psychology in Asia Pacific. She is currently serving as Chair of the SPS Coaching Psychology SIG, Committee Member of the NZPsS CPSIG, and Associate Editor of the Coaching Psychology International (peer-reviewed journal). Christin is also serving with the Association for Coaching APAC Leadership Team, and leading AC’s Supervision and Professional Reflective Practice in South East Asia. She is a Registered and Approved Supervisor in the UK and Singapore.
Diana Aguiar Vieira is a Psychologist, coach, and Associate Professor with Habilitation at the Porto Accounting and Business School (ISCAP), Technical University of Porto (TUP), Portugal. Founder and coordinator of the Coaching, Career, and Personal Development Unit (2011-2018) and the Alumni Office (2012-2018), both at ISCAP. Founder of the ICAReAlumni community (https://icarealumni.com/) and former Pro-Rector of TUP (2013-2018) for the Alumni Strategy, Consulting Editor for the International Journal of Coaching Psychology and the European Journal of Applied Positive Psychology”. She developed the Coaching Skills Self-Efficacy Scale (CSSES; Vieira, 2011) and her research on coaching has been guided by the Self-Efficacy Coaching Model. Her site (www.beyou-bemore.com) aims to share the psychological knowledge with the general public.
Dr. Qing Wang is an educational psychologist, chartered psychologist, accredited coaching psychologist and a passionate lifelong learner. She completed PhD from University of Bristol and currently works as Associate Professor in Educational and Coaching Psychology at the School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University (ECNU). She established Educational Coaching Research Group (ECRG) at ECNU focusing on coaching psychology research and practice in the field of education. She is Fellow of International Society for Coaching Psychology (ISCP), Associate Fellow and Chartered Psychologist of British Psychological Society (BPS) and Member of International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP). With a genuine interest in coaching psychology for learning, she explores, designs, delivers and evaluates coaching models and approaches with teachers and students in secondary schools, medical schools, vocational schools, universities and in parents’ education.
Dr Anna Navin Young is a coaching psychologist, researcher, educator, and facilitator whose work spans time awareness, positive psychology/positive health, and neurodiversity. Anna is a chartered psychologist with the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI). She is chair of the PSI’s Division of Coaching Psychology. In addition, Anna lectures on the postgraduate programmes in Applied Psychology (Positive and Coaching Psychology, Work and Organizational Psychology) at University College Cork, Ireland.
Working across educational, organizational, and community spaces, Anna supports individuals and groups through coaching, workshops, and training focused on leadership and talent development, time awareness and time management, the enhancement of health and wellbeing, and overall personal and professional growth. Anna practices from an integrative coaching psychology approach. She has worked across the United States and Europe.
Anna regularly contributes to the development of the field of coaching psychology through peer reviewed publications, workshops and presentations at national and international conferences, training coaching psychology students, and community of practice and policy development through her work in the Psychological Society of Ireland. Currently, Anna works as a psychologist at Dyslexia Ireland, running their Adult Dyslexia Coaching Service to support adults with dyslexia in the workplace and further/higher education