Building crisis capability before you need it.

Sean Ryan

Strategic Communication, Leadership & Reputation

Sean is a senior communications consultant who helps organisations build trust, strengthen reputation and communicate effectively in complex and fast-moving environments. He advises senior leaders on communication strategy, stakeholder engagement, organisational change and executive communication, helping organisations navigate challenges while maintaining confidence among key audiences.

With more than 30 years' experience across journalism, communications and international organisations, Sean has a deep understanding of how leaders can influence perceptions, shape organisational narratives and engage stakeholders. A former senior editor at The Sunday Times and communications leader at Save the Children, he combines strategic perspective with practical advice that leaders can apply immediately.

Sean supports organisations across the public, private and charitable sectors on reputation management, leadership communication, organisational positioning and change programmes. He is particularly skilled at helping leaders communicate with clarity, credibility and authority when the stakes are highest.

Dafydd Jones

Strategic Communications, Reputation & Public Affairs

Dafydd is a senior communications adviser with extensive experience helping organisations navigate complex stakeholder environments, protect reputation and communicate effectively during periods of change and scrutiny. He has advised at the highest levels of government, providing strategic counsel to Prime Ministers, Cabinet Ministers and senior officials, and has led communications functions across the public, private and charitable sectors.

Combining political, corporate and media expertise, Dafydd helps organisations develop communication strategies, engage stakeholders, manage issues and respond confidently to high-profile challenges. His experience spans reputation management, crisis communications, public affairs, organisational change and executive counsel.

Elisa Colton

Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Communications & Change

Elisa helps organisations communicate complex issues in ways that build understanding, trust and support. With almost 20 years' experience in journalism and communications, including senior roles with the BBC and Al Jazeera, she brings deep expertise in audience engagement, stakeholder communication and strategic messaging.

She advises organisations on communication strategy, organisational change, stakeholder relationships and reputation management, helping leaders develop clear and persuasive narratives that resonate with internal and external audiences alike. Elisa is particularly skilled at supporting organisations through periods of transformation and uncertainty.

Paul Brennan

Senior Journalist Tutor

Paul has more than twenty years' experience as a journalist across print, radio and TV. Over the years, he has worked across regional and network newsrooms for the BBC, ITV and Five News as a reporter, producer and presenter. Paul’s interviewees have been as diverse as Nobel Prize winners to Big Brother “celebrities”. As a news correspondent, he covered countless general elections, floods and major trials and helped his evening magazine programme secure an RTS Award for news coverage - twice. Away from live television and the studio sofa, Paul has a wealth of experience in media training and presentation skills coaching. He works with public, private and third sector clients including global CEOs, politicians, academics, health and education leaders and international diplomats. This includes crisis simulations, key message management, studio exercises and speech writing.

Victoria Smith

Media and Communications Course Director

Victoria is a Sony-award nominated TV, radio and print journalist with a background at Euronews, ITN, the BBC and The Associated Press. She was the UK correspondent for Euronews TV, reporting on news and politics and has interviewed everyone from Prime Ministers to pop stars. Victoria was the welfare correspondent for BFBS (British Forces News TV and radio) where she made films about life after conflict. She was a regular presenter for the channel’s flagship programme, and continues to report on a range of stories. For radio, she was the afternoon newsreader for Classic FM, and a senior producer for Vanessa Feltz and Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2. She also presented her own radio series on LBC. Victoria has written for the Times, the Telegraph and Time Out.

Mark McQuillan

Senior Journalist Tutor

Paul has more than twenty years' experience as a journalist across print, radio and TV. Over the years, he has worked across regional and network newsrooms for the BBC, ITV and Five News as a reporter, producer and presenter. Paul’s interviewees have been as diverse as Nobel Prize winners to Big Brother “celebrities”. As a news correspondent, he covered countless general elections, floods and major trials and helped his evening magazine programme secure an RTS Award for news coverage - twice. Away from live television and the studio sofa, Paul has a wealth of experience in media training and presentation skills coaching. He works with public, private and third sector clients including global CEOs, politicians, academics, health and education leaders and international diplomats. This includes crisis simulations, key message management, studio exercises and speech writing.