Author list

Dave Whitaker is an Independent Thinking Associate and the Director of Learning for the Wellspring Academy Trust. As a former executive principal of social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs special schools and alternative provision academies, he now has responsibility for several such academies across Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. He is also a founding member of the Headteachers' Roundtable think tank and is a regular speaker at conferences, as well as being an active campaigner for educational change.

Kirsty White is a psychology graduate from Cardiff University and is trained to teach in both further and secondary education. She began her teaching career at Monmouth Comprehensive School and has recently returned to further education. She has experience of working with individuals with mental health and personality disorders, and has a keen interest in the fields of clinical and forensic psychology.

Chris Whittaker is an experienced teacher of German and French. He has been a head of department and has always sought innovative and engaging ways to improve teaching and learning. He currently runs First for Languages, which delivers a range of services to businesses, individuals, examination boards and schools. He is also a senior examiner for a number of qualifications including GCSE German.

Dr Ann Williamson has been a General Practitioner for thirty two years and has used hypnosis for more than fifteen years to help her patients deal with stress and anxiety and to help them facilitate change in how they live their lives. 

She is an accredited member of the British Society of Clinical & Academic Hypnosis, a certified NLP Master Practitioner and has had training in brief solution oriented therapy and other approaches.

She has been involved for many years with teaching Health Professionals how to use hypnotic techniques both for themselves and within their own field of clinical expertise.

She runs stress management, personal development and brief psychological interventions workshops on request, as well as seeing private clients for therapy. 

She has also lectured at Manchester, Chester and Salford Universities.

She has written three books: on stress management, smoking cessation and on brief psychological interventions in clinical practice. She is also co-editor of A Handbook of Contemporary Hypnosis.

She is also a Reiki Master Trainer and has an interest in creativity and exploring one's emotions through the arts.

After spending 10 years teaching in secondary schools in Lincolnshire, Phil Wood moved into higher education, first at the University of Leicester, and now as a Reader in Education at Bishop Grosseteste University, Lincoln. He is an active researcher focusing on educational change, currently exploring complexity informed approaches to education, and the nature of teacher workload.

Click here to listen in on Phil's podcast with Pivotal Education on How to Train, Retain and Research'.

Click here to read Phil Wood's blog.

Wyatt Woodsmall, PhD is certified by the Society of NLP as a Master Trainer and Master Modeler. He is a pioneer in applications for modeling excellence, having done it both in government and in the private sector, and continues to be actively involved in ongoing modeling projects and related training.

Peter Worley BA MA FRSA is co-founder and CEO of The Philosophy Foundation, President of SOPHIA, and an award-winning author and editor of books about doing philosophy in schools.

Peter is resident philosopher at 4 state primary schools in Lewisham, visiting philosopher at Wellington College and Eagle House School, and a Visiting Research Associate at Kings College London's Philosophy Department. He has delivered training for philosophy departments across the UK, including Edinburgh, Warwick, Oxford Brookes and Birmingham Universities.

He talks, presents, writes and gives workshops about philosophy in schools and The Philosophy Foundation's work - but importantly continues to work in the classroom which is the inspiration for his pedagogy, philosophy in schools practice, theory and writing.

The Philosophy Foundation.

Thoughtings and The Philosophy Shop on The Guardian Teacher Network.

Peter Worley: It's About How You Think'

Ben Wright is head of the history department at a large secondary school in Cornwall and is passionate about developing thriving teachers, especially during those pivotal PGCE, NQT and RQT years. Ben has completed an MA in education and strives to embed a research culture in schools. He has delivered workshops, has presented widely and, together with his Thrive co-authors, regularly contributes to the popular blog Thrive in Teaching.

Peter Young studied Psychology at the University of Hull, researched brain function at Adelaide University and studied Drama at the Flinders University of South Australia. He is an innovative thinker, with a talent for making connections between different forms of knowledge, and identifying underlying patterns, metaphors and stories. Peter is a creative and humorous writer with an extensive knowledge of NLP, psychology and drama, who is able to explain complex ideas in a clear language.

Paul Z Jackson is an independent training consultant with a wide spectrum of clients in both the private and public sectors. He has worked as a print journalist, senior producer for BBC Radio Four, lecturer at Bath Spa University College, and teacher at the London Actors Centre.

Click here to read Paul Z Jackson’s blog.

Genie Z Laborde PhD, is an internationally known communications consultant to major corporations and government agencies. She is a partner in the international communications firm Grinder Laborde Associates and has many years of experience leading seminars for executives in business and government.

Click here to read Genie Z Laborde’s blog.

Psychologist Bernie Zilbergeld was a leader in the field of human sexuality and a beloved sex therapist and educator for over 25 years. He wrote the bestselling book, Make Sexuality, and its successor, The New Male Sexuality, which still stands as the "bible" in this field. Through his lectures and presentations on various aspects of sexuality, as well as courses for professionals and lay people alike, Dr Zilbergeld made a huge difference in people's lives. Dr. Zilbergeld was a popular guest on hundreds of radio and television shows including Donahue, Oprah, Today, Charles Grodin, CBS Morning News, and Sonya Live.