Who are Bird?
We’re not-for-profit sector experts in resilience.
We are a team of expert coaches and facilitators. All of us have first-hand experience of the not-for-profit sector.
We are highly trained in helping individuals and organisations to find strengths, learn resilience skills, think deeply about your work, and find practical, effective solutions to your challenges.
From personal experience we know well how tough the sector’s challenges are, and how seriously this affects the wellbeing of your teams. We’ve been there too.
“Thank you for a most wonderful session, for so generously sharing your wisdom and knowledge and for creating such a supportive and safe environment for us to be in. It was the lift we all needed. Thank you for making such a big difference to our team at a time when it was most needed.”
Norah, Director, Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre
What are we like to work with?
We are down-to-earth, warm and human. We wear our expertise and experience lightly, but don’t be fooled – we’re thoroughly professional and will help you find the most effective and practical way for you to work through your challenges.
“The webinars linked in really well with the individual coaching sessions I am currently attending with Bird. They helped me increase my resilience as well as enabling me to look at things from another perspective, giving me greater confidence in my professional and personal life. The mentors were extremely welcoming and easy to talk to and I learnt a lot from the sessions.”
Webinar attendee, SATEDA
Who do we work with?
Our clients come from across the voluntary sector, from international aid organisations to local health charities, some large, some small. We love them all.
We work with individuals, teams and whole organisations. We can create a crisis coaching package of two emergency sessions to support your CEO when the unexpected happens, and we can give you a year of webinars to build every staff member’s resilience, team by team. Whatever you and your organisation need, talk to us and we’ll create the support that will make the most difference.
our clients
Let’s work together
Meet the team
Agnes Otzelberger
Facilitator
Agnes says
“I help people in the beyond-profit sector keep their spark in this mad, relentless world by helping them better understand and manage the emotional toll of their work.
“I love working with people who show up for the world they want. And I’m passionate about connecting people with resources that can really help them tap into their personal power, resilience and wisdom.”
Agnes spent more than ten years working in the not-for-profit sector and in international development, with a focus on climate change and social inequality. Among others she worked with CARE International, Action Against Hunger, Oxfam GB and the Nature Conservancy.
She is a trainer and researcher supporting overwhelmed, burnt-out or demoralised change-makers in finding their resilience, power and wisdom.
Agnes holds an MA in Development Studies, and a Certificate in Compassion-based Therapy and Social Transformation from the Nalanda Institute of Contemplative Science. Agnes also has training in non-violent communication and in Peter Koenig’s ‘Money Work’ – a coaching and group work approach intended to liberate vision, creativity and connection.
Beatrice Hackett
Coach and Facilitator, CPCC ACC
Beatrice says
“It matters deeply to me to support those in the non-profit sector to build their capacity to take care of themselves whilst celebrating the amazing contribution that they make to the fabric of our society.”
As an experienced charity professional, Beatrice combines her coaching training and charity masters with a knowledge and understanding of what working is the sector is like on the ground. She specialises in organisational and individual transition, resilience, approaching work and life through values and (re)discovering what fulfils us.
Beatrice has delivered Bird training and coaching to many organisations including Citizens Advice, Cruise Bereavement, British Red Cross and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Beatrice is an Accredited Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and a Member of the International Coaching Federation. She also holds a MSc in Voluntary Sector Management from The Centre for Charity Effectiveness at Bayes Business School.
Catherine Callender
Coach, ACC
Catherine says
“I understand the impact of giving so much while we’re running on empty, and have experienced the fallout that can happen from giving out and not putting back in. People in the not-for-profit world go into this work with passion, energy and the best intentions. I feel passionate about offering staff the undivided attention that they give willingly and compassionately to others.”
Catherine has 15 years’ experience in helping professions, including mental health, substance addiction, and life, career and wellness coaching.
Catherine has over ten years experience in the not-for-profit and public sectors, in the areas of drug and alcohol addiction and criminal justice and volunteer management. She’s worked with a number of organisations that include: Change Grow Live, Westminster Drug Project, Turning Point and The NHS.
Catherine is a certified and ICF Accredited Coach as well as a Mindfulness Facilitator and an EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Practitioner.
Corrina Gordon-Barnes
Coach, CPCC
Corrina says
“I help people in the beyond-profit sector to feel more confident and empowered in their roles. Some key specialisms are: how to manage time, energy and workload effectively, how to have difficult conversations, how to grow in resilience, and how to overcome internal limitations. People are then able to see their contribution towards the most meaningful goals of the organisation.”
Corrina Gordon-Barnes is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), trained with The Coaches Training Institute (CTI) and accredited through the International Coach Federation (ICF). With 17 years’ experience and thousands of one-to-one coaching hours, she is skilful at helping people identify and reach their goals, resolve dilemmas, and have the greatest impact. She’s worked with CAFOD, Clore Leadership, The Samaritans, Oxfam, Shelter, DASU, The Kite Project, and the NHS.
Corrina is an experienced trainer and an expert facilitator of The Work of Byron Katie – a powerful method of inquiry-based stress reduction. Corrina’s background is in teaching, having trained at Cambridge University. She lives in Cambridge with her wife and children.
Elloa Phoenix Barbour
Coach and Facilitator
Elloa says
“I love supporting people to carve out space for conversations about self-care, resilience and your relationship with yourself and those around you. In such a maniacally busy world, and particularly for people working in the not-for-profit sector, carving out deliberate time like this feels absolutely vital.”
With thousands of hours of teaching and facilitating experience, Elloa is a skilful, engaging and dynamic facilitator who coaches with the whole person in mind. She emphasises the importance of balancing deep insight with committed action. Elloa creates a safe space where people can explore challenging questions and allow breakthroughs to occur.
Elloa has a background in business development, teaching and communications in multiple sectors. She has been a coach since 2014.
Elloa has a Masters in Consulting and Leading in Organisations: Psychodynamic and Systemic Approaches from The Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. She holds a Diploma in Transpersonal Counselling Psychology from the Clearmind International Institute (Distinction). She also holds a Life Coaching certificate (Distinction).
Dr Gemma Houldey
Facilitator
Gemma says
“I love engaging with so many different people who are passionate about the issues they work on and committed to change both within themselves and in the wider world. Their dedication is inspiring!”
Gemma is a specialist in stress and wellbeing in the aid and development sector, with over 15 years’ experience working on human rights and conflict programmes for international non-governmental organisations including Christian Aid and Amnesty International, and civil society groups in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Uganda and Tanzania.
For Bird, Gemma delivers workshops on psychological safety and resilience, drawing on her experience and her doctorate in International Development, for which her research focussed on stress and wellbeing in aid workers in Kenya.
She is committed to creating compassionate workspaces, encouraging inclusivity, and addressing destructive organisational cultures.
Graham Russell
Coach and Facilitator, CPCC
Graham says
“Many of the clients at Bird care deeply for others – often with an unintended personal cost. I love being able to support these amazing people to use more effective tools at work and to bring more nourishment into their life.”
From training volunteers with Samaritans and Street Team, to coaching executives at public sector bodies and global corporates, Graham has an immense breadth of experience as a trainer and coach.
Accredited in Coaching, Co-Active Leadership, Executive Coaching and The Leadership Way with CTI. Accredited in Organisational and Relationship Systems Coaching with CRR Global. Accredited Trainer of Belbin Team Roles.
Hannah Massarella
Coach, Facilitator and Bird CEO, CPCC
Hannah says
“I set up Bird in 2014 after burning out from my role in the not-for-profit sector. I wanted to create something that would support others doing challenging work and so Bird was born. I’m incredibly proud of what we have created, it feels so fulfilling to be able to provide support to those who are doing such vital work in the world.”
Hannah has worked for two domestic violence charities, delivering front line support to survivors of abuse. Hannah has extensive knowledge and experience across the not-for-profit sector as through her work with Bird she has supported individuals and teams from over 100 organisations.
Hannah is a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach and has a Graduate Certificate from Birkbeck University in Mediation and Conflict Resolution.
She is committed to supporting the whole not-for-profit sector to thrive and be a place where those who work within it, and those that benefit from it, feel fulfilled, energised and empowered.
Jo Martyn
Assoc CIPD, QTLS – Trainer and facilitator
Jo says
“I am passionate about creating learning environments in which people can explore, positively challenge each other, grow, develop and flourish into all that they – and their organisations – can be.”
Jo began her 16-year career in the voluntary sector on the frontline in homelessness services and women’s services, providing support, advice and advocacy. Jo discovered a love of teaching and learning in these roles, and made the move into learning and development full-time in 2014.
Jo facilitates sessions for both workers on the frontline and for operational, senior and executive leaders. Her areas of interest and expertise are equality, diversity and inclusion; and mental health, wellbeing and resilience. Jo is founder and facilitator of urban hikes for mental health, based in London.
Jo is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), holds a Professional Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) and is a Qualified Teacher of Learning and Skills (QTLS).
Lisa Westbury
Coach, CPCC, ORSCC
Lisa says
“I help people to feel confident and resilient in their career and wider life. My focus is on coaching women to build clarity about what they want, overcome the obstacles and difficulties that get in their way and try out new ways to make more of a difference at work.
“I feel really privileged to work with such a wide range of women, in different roles and from different backgrounds and with unique experiences. What they share is a desire to help and make things better, and it feels really amazing to have the opportunity to support them.”
Following leadership roles in communications at The Home Office and National Housing Federation, Lisa retrained in coaching in 2010 and has worked with arts organisations, international charities like Greenpeace and public sector bodies like National Crime Agency.
She is a Member of the Association of Coaching, and a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation. She holds Certificates in Organisational Relationship Systems Coaching (ORSCC) and Co-active Coaching (CPCC) and is a Firework career transition practitioner.
Michaela Horan
Coach and Facilitator, CPCC
Michaela says
“I love to help those who help others – to (re)connect them with their deepest held values, to celebrate the multitudes that make them who they are and heighten their awareness of their own brilliance and resourcefulness.”
As a qualified social worker, Michaela brings to Bird extensive experience of working with social work students and newly qualified practitioners, whose work often places huge demands on their resilience. She has a strong focus on reflective learning, building resilience and promoting value-based approaches to work.
Michaela has delivered resiliency training to many Bird clients including ACEVO, WaterAid, Farleigh Hospice, Touchstone, Teenage Cancer Trust, Kent & Medway NHS Trust, British Sociological Association, UK Touth and Wrap.
Michaela is an Accredited Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), a Member of the International Coaching Federation, and a Registered UK Social Worker.
Naomi Ward
Coach and Facilitator, ACC, CPCC
Naomi says
“I love meeting extraordinary people. Every time I meet a new client, I am amazed by their stories, their purpose, their motivation, their gifts and the impact they have every day. It’s rewarding to reflect this back to them because it’s easy for them to forget how awesome they are when they’re a bit lost in busy, challenging circumstances.”
Following seven years as a project manager in the fast-moving digital sector, Naomi spent 12 years teaching English in secondary schools, including six years as Head of Communications Faculty at The Charter School.
Since 2014, Naomi has focussed on coaching and training, specialising in support for the education, charity and museums sectors. She delivers one-to-one leadership coaching, personal development programmes and resilience training. She is an expert in managing relationships and stakeholders in complex change projects. Clients include leaders and managers across the sector, NHS bodies and local authorities.
Naomi is an ICF Accredited Coach (ACC) and a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC).
Nathalie Britten
Coach, PCC, CPCC
Nathalie says
“I always look forward to speaking to my Bird coachees. Holding a mirror to their brilliance and having them see how brightly they can shine is why I love this work!”
Nathalie is a passionate leadership coach who works with clients across the commercial, public and not-for-profit sectors, including IMD Business School (where she is a member of the executive coaching team), The Queen’s Nursing Institute, Scotland, The Marketing Academy, and The Prince’s Trust. She especially loves to work with executives as they step up into more senior roles, and with first-time managers who are making the transition from team member to team leader.
She brings a straight-talking yet supportive curiosity to her work with Bird’s clients. Her goal is to allow people to grow their leadership skills through better awareness of themselves and the impact they have on their teams, colleagues, management and other stakeholders.
Nathalie is a Professional Associate Certified Coach with the International Coach Foundation, a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach with the Coaches Training Institute, and a Licenced Firework Career Coach with Career Shifters.
Natalie Sutton
Operations Lead
Natalie says
“I get a buzz out of finding solutions, working out ways to make sure we’re connecting with our clients in ways that work for them and spreading the Bird word as far and wide as possible.”
Natalie is Bird’s Operations Lead, liaising with our clients to find out their webinar and coaching needs, supporting them through their experience with Bird, making sure the Bird team have what they need, keeping our resources and social media channels up to date, and generally organising us behind the scenes.
She is an accomplished HR and change professional who has led change projects at the Metropolitan Police and British Red Cross that affected thousands of staff and volunteers. She volunteers herself with Hackney Tree Musketeers and Get Loose Foods, putting into action her commitment to working for climate, environment and food action and sustainability.
Natalie holds a CIPD Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management and is an APMG Change Management Practitioner.
Zelah Senior
Coach and Facilitator, CPCC
Zelah says
“I particularly love working with people working on the frontline, providing services to the most vulnerable people in society. They’re the kind of people who don’t generally have access to high-quality coaching and who get great benefit from it.”
Zelah has over 20 years’ experience of coaching and facilitation. Resilience sits at the core of her work to support people to lead themselves and others in a way that empowers everyone to reach their full potential.
After starting out as a corporate lawyer, Zelah spent much of her career living and working in countries recovering from conflict, developing the capability of not-for-profit organisations and government institutions. Over the last 25 years, she’s worked with a wide range of organisations providing support to some of the most vulnerable people in society.
Now based in Brighton, Zelah is known for the lightness, warmth and wisdom she brings to her work. She’s a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach, an Executive Coach and a graduate of the Co-Active Leadership Programme, trained by the Coaches Training Institute. She’s also an Organisational and Relationship Systems Coach, trained by CRR Global, an End of Life Doula and a Mental Health First Aider.