Our team

Sara Swords

Sara worked for Oxfam GB as Learning and Development Manager and as Deputy Director in the Humanitarian Department. She has continued her international work since becoming an independent consultant in 2001. She uses her understanding of the principles of dialogue and systems thinking to align individual efforts to organisational contexts and builds up confident leadership capability through structured coaching conversations. This is significant across the world where confidence, competence and a robust toolkit of models and tools enables effective localised growth and performance.

Sara is a qualified advanced practitioner in executive coaching (EMCC level 7).

Sara’s website.

Ben Emmens

Ben is an experienced management consultant, specialising in leadership, organisational development and people management issues. He has more than 20 years experience of working in senior management and leadership roles in the ‘not for profit’ and private sectors, and encompassing a range of disciplines from marketing, human resources management, learning and development through to international operational management. Ben is currently a Director at the Conscious Project – a non-profit organisation that provides consultancy services and coaching to organisations committed to social change. Prior to the Conscious Project, Ben was Director of HR Services for People In Aid, now the CHS Alliance. He is the author of ‘Conscious Collaboration’.

Ben’s website.

Rajan Rasaiah

Rajan established his coaching practice, verve&values coaching, in 2009. He works with a diverse range of staff based in the National Health Service, INGOs, Charities and Housing Associations both in the UK and overseas. His earlier career roles spanned the fields of community engagement, grant-making, social enterpreneurship and leadership development. In addition to a Postgraduate Diploma in Voluntary Sector Administration, he completed an 18 month International Coach Federation (ICF) accredited coach training programme before establishing his practice. With relevance to the Coaching Story approach, Rajan has a Masters degree in Professional Writing.

Rajan’s website.