About

Academic Director

A leadership expert, Paul has dedicated the last fifteen years to creating and delivering leadership development programmes.

“I’ve been working in higher education for over 25 years; as a Head of Department, a Dean, a Director of Programmes specialising in leadership development, and now as Academic Director for Invisible Grail. My role involves working with senior leaders on executive teams and with governing bodies.”

“Invisible Grail combines two of my passions: a love of language and writing with a commitment to working alongside leaders at all levels to construct models of practice that are purposeful, truthful and sustainable.”

Contact Paul: paul.gentle@invisiblegrail.com

Susan is passionate about the role of universities in transforming individual lives and positively impacting society. 

Having trained specifically in community psychology, she is now a higher education consultant, specialising in developing effective strategy and delivering change through meaningful and purposeful action.  “I am delighted to be an Associate at Invisible Grail. I believe firmly that as leaders we should be collaborating with others to make a difference, to individuals and to society.” 

Working with colleagues at Invisible Grail to facilitate leader development and impactful practice brings together my experience, expertise and strong commitment to higher education. 

Organisational Development Specialist

Helen is an Organisational Development expert and executive coach bringing 20 years of experience to her work with Invisible Grail. Her career includes 12 years as a senior leader in a Higher Education institution responsible for multi-discipline teams grappling with organisational and leadership development and change.

“I’ve always seen that people – to put it bluntly – are the absolute source of competitive advantage for any organisation: that’s why I’ve pursued a career in organisational development. To put front and centre the importance of people, and to work with organisations to nurture organisational cultures that are relational and engender collaboration, communication and compassion in pursuit of their collective endeavour.

“I believe that tuning into our personal leadership narratives is a powerful part of unlocking untapped potential and building resilience for individual and team performance. I’m delighted to be a part of Invisible Grail, helping institutions develop their organisations and the people in them who play such a vital part in creating and fulfilling their strategic aspirations”

Partnerships Director

Carolyn has held various academic roles over more than 20 years in universities. In 2012 she established a large cross-institutional Academic Peer Learning Scheme which she led until 2019. She was also a founder member of the International Academic Peer Learning Network. She is a Senior Fellow of Advance HE.

“My passion is working collaboratively in educational settings and exploring the frontiers of practice.”

“The commitment of Invisible Grail to enriching the experience of all those inhabiting the university sphere is a perfect match to the HE world of my imagination.”

Contact Carolyn, e: carolyn.gentle@invisiblegrail.com

Creative collaborator

Linda is an experienced leader and facilitator, with a strong background in learning and teaching research and development. A former Dean, Deputy Director and Vice-Chancellor with experience of leading institutions through significant change. 

“I’ve relished the opportunity to lead in senior roles in Higher Education, both in large modern universities as well as in the small specialist sector. What I have learnt is that context is important when developing leadership approaches and my enthusiasm for creative and collaborative approaches helps others to engage meaningfully with change.

“Co-creation is a superpower, one that I’m happy to share with others. Working with people where they are is at the heart of my education and development philosophy. I’m delighted to work with Invisible Grail colleagues to help others deal constructively with challenge.”

Client Relationship Director

Over the last 14 years Phil has worked as a Finance Director in Higher Education leading large scale finance transformation projects and shaping strategic direction. Before this, Phil led a diverse portfolio of strategy and finance roles with Scottish and Newcastle.

“I have been privileged to work with impressive senior leaders in commercial and educational environments and gained valuable experience in change and performance leadership. All of my work has revolved around developing compelling narratives to inspire and engage my colleagues.

“I was drawn to Invisible Grail through my passions for storytelling and helping people to unlock their potential. Education is one of the most positive transformational experiences that we go through and I can now use my accumulated knowledge to help others to achieve more.”

Contact Phil: phil.mcnaull@invisiblegrail.com

Director and Programme Facilitator

Jamie Jauncey has spent the last thirty years helping organisations and individuals to find their voices and tell their stories.

“As a business writer and trainer, personal development facilitator, novelist and musician, every breath I take has something to do with connecting people. I see language and stories as the primary lenses through which most of us make sense of the world. Those lenses needs constant polishing in order that we understand ourselves, organise our thoughts well, and communicate them in a meaningful, human way. Nor must we forget the music to be made with words, its power to reach into people’s hearts. Time and again I’ve seen how a simple story told with a little flourish, a little imagination, can change the way an idea is received.”

Director and Programme Facilitator

John Simmons, through his books and consultancy, is widely considered the leading exponent of more expressive words as an essential element of communication for brands and organisations.

“For many years I worked in international identity companies, including Interbrand, helping organisations of all kinds to communicate more effectively. Increasingly I focused on what seemed to me the neglected aspect: language. Words matter. They are the means to engage with audiences.

“I put my philosophy and practice into books such as The Invisible Grail and creative workshops named Dark Angels (after another of my books). Many people claim that their writing, and even their lives, have been transformed as a result. In recent years I have also had three novels published, most recently The Good Messenger, personal evidence of the power of storytelling.”

Director and Programme Facilitator

Stuart Delves co-founded Dark Angels in 2004 – a decade on, into ‘the daring night’ with Invisible Grail.

“My background is playwriting and I had early success on the Edinburgh Fringe. More recently I have been involved with community theatre, which I find hugely rewarding.

“I now write for businesses and institutions across multiple platforms. From 1990-1993 I was Centre Director for the Arvon Foundation in Devon and since, have consistently developed the residential course model. I believe a day away can prove extremely fruitful and that a couple of days away, in a retreat setting with peers and an inspired programme, can prove transformative.”

Student Client Relationship Director

Rhiannon is passionate about the role students can play in shaping how universities connect with their student body. She is a recent Education graduate from Anglia Ruskin University, and leads on Invisible Grail’s engagement with students and brokering stronger relationships between the student body and university leadership.

“I am a recently graduated education student living in Cambridge, with an interest in how students can find their voice and narrative in universities. Being a Student Consultant for the University’s Teaching Excellence Framework project, I heard a range of opinions from students like myself on how the university succeeds in being inclusive of the wide student body, but also where improvements are needed.

“I was previously Course Representative for two years, being the link between the university and the students on my course. Helping students and universities to communicate and connect is key to building relationships to lead positive change for everyone involved.”

Digital Marketing Researcher 

Cláudia is currently studying for a Masters in Marketing and Digital Business at Universidade Portucalense, in Porto, Portugal.  

She is an industrial designer by training with ten years of professional experience in interior design. Trilingual, Cláudia is at home communicating in Portuguese, English and Italian.  

Cláudia brings to Invisible Grail her design expertise and sensitivity to creating visual harmony. This is combined with a curiosity to build her understanding of how, why and when marketing techniques succeed in the digital settings we inhabit. She also wants to learn more about the practice of growing business by maximising the opportunities online environments offer. 

Claudia is excited to be working internationally, and in an environment which has a very different culture from what she has experienced previously.

David considers himself an experienced polymath having worked in leadership roles at globally leading organisations where his focus has been research, innovation and knowledge exchange. His was until recently Chief of External Engagement at NMITE, the innovative ‘disruptor’ higher education institute newly created in Hereford.

“My previous roles have achieved transformation and change through ambition to be the best, to improve and grow, and to embrace purpose; strategies and plans evolve from this. It’s essential to co-create solutions with the people tasked in delivering them. This involves a critical role for leaders in developing and articulating the vision and reasons for change, recognising this is as much an art as a science.”

“I’m passionate about the enabling role education and skills play in improving life opportunities and career prospects, and innovating higher education to so it remains cutting edge, impactful, and high
quality.”