Our People
Gareth Whalley
Gareth is our Founder and CEO. He has spent over 20 years in generalist and specialist HR leadership roles in UK and multinational organisations, including Procter & Gamble, IBM, The Coca-Cola Company, and Levi Strauss & Co.
He has developed deep expertise across a wide range of HR disciplines, including Shared Services management, HR transformation and consulting, HR business partnering, change management and communications, Total Rewards design and delivery, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) leadership. Building connections to enhance workplace experiences has been a consistent, central theme throughout his career.
Gareth is principled and values-driven, a strong connector and relationship builder, a safe space, a wellbeing advocate, and is determined to help people not take everything so seriously. He is based in the North East of England.
Our Associates
Becky Hewson-Haworth
Becky has worked at the heart of reward and reward communications for over 20 years. Known for cutting through complexity, her unique skill set is a vital component to ensuring reward is clear, actionable and engaging - helping to ensure strategy lands and sticks.
Blending deep reward expertise with strategic, values-led messaging, she’s delivered work for some of the world’s biggest brands. Projects include turning complex topics - like short- and long‑term incentives, pay equity and total reward - into narratives people understand, trust and act on.
Located in the South West of England, close to Bristol, Becky loves nothing more than pottering in her garden and walking her tri-pawed dog on the beach.
Shaheen Akram
Shaheen works at the intersection of culture, inclusion and social impact, helping organisations align purpose with strategy. As a senior culture and DEI leader, she advises executives on integrating DEI, ESG, safety culture, and regulatory expectations into governance and operating models that deliver credible outcomes for people and communities.
Recognised internationally for her work in equality, diversity and inclusion, her approach is shaped by extensive experience gained across different industries, sectors and countries, and by a longstanding commitment to accountable, values‑led leadership.
Lynne Fawcus
Lynne is a People & Culture professional with over 25 years’ experience supporting organisations to create environments where people and performance thrive. Her career spans senior HR leadership roles across multiple sectors, including Philips, Co-op, Cooplands and Nobia, giving her a broad, practical understanding of how culture, capability, and commercial outcomes connect.
She moved into consulting to bring her expertise in HR, transformational change, coaching, and leadership development to individuals, teams, and businesses seeking to grow with clarity and confidence. Known for her ability to keep things simple, challenge the norm in a constructive way, and cut through complexity, Lynne focuses on empowering people and enabling growth at every level of an organisation.
Whether partnering with leaders on strategic change, developing people frameworks, coaching emerging talent, or facilitating team development, she brings a grounded, human, and forward‑thinking approach that helps organisations move from intention to impact.
Lynne is based in the North East of England with her crazy cockapoo, Zak.