Skip to main content

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.

Yasushi Igarashi, Impact International
Japan
Yasushi andIgarashi(Yasu)
Safety Quality Controller, Master Coordinator

Before Joining Impact in 2002 I worked as an outdoor guide for nature tourism, kayaking and trekking in the ocean and forest. Using this experience, my strengths are in creating and coordinating programmes that provide learning experiences through outdoor activities. Beyond this role I wear several different hats, such as managing our website and managing H&S. Personally, I love to do challenging journeys by sea kayak and bike in many countries.

Lou McDonald, Impact
UK
Lou andMcDonald
Head of Brand

Sum myself up in a paragraph? There’s a challenge! And maybe a good starting point. I like challenge. I like the challenge of grabbing attention with interesting, useful and relevant marketing. From a new website or re-brand to a sell-out festival, for me it’s all about customer first. I like a physical challenge too, and the challenge of how long I can last without listening to music!

Linkedin Icon
Anthony Cox
UK
Anthony andCox
IT Support

I help to support the entire business with all of their IT related needs. I have had a large passion for all things technology since I was a kid. In my spare time, you can catch me listening to music, on my PlayStation or playing Dungeons and Dragons. 

Linkedin Icon
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
Sara Baranzini, Impact Italia
Italy
Sara andBaranzini
Senior Consultant and Executive coach

I have experience as an HR Manager in multinational and Italian companies, managing L&D, recruitment, employees relations, coupled with across-the-board experience in consultancy projects on those subjects. Since 2013 I have been supporting organisations to change with a focus on learning and development with main focus on leadership, individual effectiveness, business coaching and change management.

 

Linkedin Icon
Yutaka Sugimoto, Impact
Japan
Yutaka andSugimoto(Yutaka)
Chief Glocal Officer

I was inspired by experiential learning on a leadership programme in 1992 and have worked for Impact ever since. Experiential learning and reflection alongside theory and skills input is a platform for real behaviour change for leaders. My passion is building an organisation worth working for and supporting our clients by developing people. I play football and enjoy discussing the match with friends. Drinking beer maybe more important than playing football.

Linkedin Icon
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.

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?

Dan Jones
UK
Dan andJones
Head of Media

I bring my passion for photography and film-making to work, creating people development and marketing films. I like many types of cheese, with my favourite probably being Wensleydale with some sort of dried fruit in it. Sometimes with crackers. And chutney. Maybe a glass of wine… What was I supposed to be writing about again?

Linkedin Icon
Yukiko Asano (Coco), Impact International
Japan
Yukiko andAsano(Coco)
Client Partner

I have worked at Impact Japan since 2015, coordinating the delivery of programmes. I support our consultants and delivery operations. What makes me happy is seeing my colleagues, clients and participants smile, as my job is supporting them. My hobby is collecting Starbucks Coffee mugs from around the world, although I don’t drink coffee personally!

Michelle Dong
China and Hong Kong
Michelle andDong
Senior Consultant

In all my work, I am driven by a profound interest in what moves and motivates people. I believe that everybody can make significant improvements through continuous self-exploration. I deliver individual coaching, workshops and training programs with the focus of increasing the potential of Senior Managers and High Potentials and developing their team leadership skills as well as helping them with behavioural change initiatives which naturally bring along performance improvements. 

Phil Holdsworth, Impact
New Zealand
Phil andHoldsworth
Head of Asia

In the last 25+ years I’ve worked with many great organisations and love being able to bring a breadth and depth of experience to my programs. I currently regularly travel across Asia consulting for clients and looking after our great people. I'm described as an Energiser Bunny, I bring energy into everything I do, even if I'm stepping off a 12-hour flight! I recover by spending time with my family and exploring the wilderness in NZ with a fishing rod.

Linkedin Icon
Geraldina Sordi
Italy
Geraldina andSordi
Consultant & Sales Hub

Since I've joined Impact, I feel like my professional development grew exponentially. I feel very empowered by the company and by the values we bring each day into work. My goal is to learn how to best support our clients in every step of a consulting journey, as well as my colleagues, bringing a real change to the process. As a way to recharge I love to take long walks with my dog. My favourite sport is to hang out with friends, especially if in foreign countries!

Linkedin Icon
Sam Williams, Impact
UK
Sam andWilliams
Business Development

At 21 I had my first day of work at Impact in the stores... I am still making up for everything that happened that week. My passion is in sports coaching and development. My journey with Impact has taken me traveling around the world where I continue to meet and work with many amazing people. I am a big family man, and love surrounding myself with the best of company. If I am not herding terrifying highland cattle, I’ll be playing rugby or baking sponge cakes. 

Linkedin Icon
Erica Partelli
Italy
Erica andPartelli
Senior Consultant and Head of Operations
As a consultant in Impact I like to bring fresh perspectives, energy and curiosity to the problem solving process. With a strong organisational psychology background and an drive for project management, I work with genuine passion for innovation and for the opportunities that the digital transformation is offering. My main passions include travelling, swimming and playing board games.
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
Agnieszka Nowak
Poland
Agnieszka andNowak
Account Manager

After years of being a client and fun of Impact, I became part of this amazing community. My extensive professional experience in HR, across various roles and industries, proves invaluable in conversations with our clients. At Impact, as an Account Manager, I embrace the essence of lifelong learning, discovering something new every day 😊 Personally, I have a passion for traveling, reading, and forest walks.

Linkedin Icon
Charlie Somers Cocks, Impact International
UK
Charlie andSomers andCocks
Senior Consultant and Head of Global Talent, UK

I am passionate and committed to helping others be the best they can be, whether they're senior leaders or young talent. In my Global Talent role I support the recruitment, induction and development of our full time and associate consultants. This fantastic role has allowed me to work with many of our global team since 1992. Despite being old enough to know better I compete as a Master at a world level at Mountain Bike Orienteering and manage the Great Britain team.

Linkedin Icon
Lena Evans
Australia
Lena andEvans
Consultant

I’m a Consultant and Client Lead at Impact, and as a mum I’m reminded daily of what matters most: learning, growing and giving things my best. That’s the approach I bring to my work. Over the past eight years, I’ve had the privilege of working with an incredible team while meeting and getting to know wonderful clients. I support experiences that help people grow, connect and feel seen. I believe in the power of small moments and the ripple effect they create, and I hope the work we do today helps shape a kinder, more purposeful future, especially for the next generation our children will inherit.

Linkedin Icon
Araya Assawapayukul
Thailand
Araya andAssawapayukul
Operation and Programme Manager

Lucky me, I have a job that allows me to be a Human Doing and a Human Being. I love connecting and building relationships with people through my work. I appreciate what I have rather than what I don’t have. Photography has been my passion since I was young! I love capturing people’s expressions, emotions and feelings. I use my photos to tell stories of myself, amazing people that I’ve met and inspiring places that I’ve been to.

Linkedin Icon
Connor Gildert, Sales, Americas
USA
Connor andGildert
Sales Operations Administrator

I work alongside our business development team to ensure we provide quality service to our global clients. I also work closely with our internal teams to help do our bit to help develop the local community. Impact gives me the space to be myself, which usually gets me into trouble...

Linkedin Icon
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
Nao Matsushita(Noa), Impact International
Japan
Nao andMatsushita(Noa)
Coordinator

'Helping People Shine on Their Own Stage' As a restaurant manager, I wanted to create more than just a place to eat. By drawing out each team member’s strengths and aspirations, I saw the power of a team that values individuality. This led me to study coaching. I later realized that growth also depends on the organization, so I now study organizational development. My goal is to help people and organizations grow together, enabling everyone to shine as themselves and fulfill their potential.

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.

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.

2026 Training Industry Top 20 Leadership Training Company
2026 Training Industry Top 20 Leadership Training Company

Impact is a 2026 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 16th consecutive year. 

More about the awards (opens in a new tab)
Chief Learning Officer gold award 2025
Gold Excellence in Partnership Award from Chief Learning Officer 2025

Impact won the gold award at the Chief Learning Officer 2025 Learning in Practice Awards for Excellence in Partnership. This recognises our support of Bristol Myers Squibb in implementing a learning and development programme.

More about the awards (opens in a new tab)