Hello, I’m Anne.

Originally from Guildford in Surrey, I am a registered nurse by background, having trained at the University of Liverpool in 1995 and learned to speak fluent ‘scouse’ along the way. I spent eight years working in the NHS and overseas in Australia and New Zealand, specialising in anaesthetics and recovery nursing. Following my travels in 2000, I returned to the UK and worked as an anaesthetic nurse in the operating theatres at The Hammersmith and Charing Cross Hospitals.

Around this time, my interest in a military career was sparked. I joined the Honourable Artillery Company in London as a reservist and became one of the first women to pass the arduous HAC recruits’ course, although it was second time lucky! Having decided that green wasn’t really my colour, I left my NHS career in 2003 and joined the Royal Air Force, as a full time nursing officer.

My RAF career saw me deploy operationally to Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, where I coordinated the aeromedical evacuation of sick and injured British and allied troops, all within high-pressure, dynamic and high-risk environments.

One of the highlights of my time in the RAF was working as a leadership instructor at RAF College Cranwell, facilitating and developing officer cadets through their training. What I loved most about the work at Cranwell was being able to get creative in helping students understand and learn new subjects through coaching, facilitation and practical experience. This is something I bring through to my work with PPWD today.

My time at Cranwell also sparked a deeper interest in leadership theory, and I went on to complete a Master’s Degree in Leadership Studies as a result of this experience.

My remaiming time in the RAF centred around roles in patient safety. This included being the patient safety lead for UK Military Search and Rescue, as well as a pivotal role as Clinical Quality Manager at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. During this time, my knowledge and skills in human factors, were further developed when I became a Human Factors Facilitator, endorsed by the Military Aviation Authority.

In 2022, I left the RAF and furthered my coaching skills, becoming an Emotions, Mind & Energy Coach with Authentic Living, based in the USA. I set about developing my own coaching business, initially focusing on career transition coaching, and more recently co-founded Wingspan Leadership Ltd with a fellow RAF veteran, supporting leadership growth and improving assertiveness and communication for women in leadership roles.

As an associate with PPWD, I bring together my knowledge and experience from safety-critical environments, including healthcare, aviation and military operations. Through coaching and facilitation, I help make human factors and psychological safety feel practical, relatable and relevant to people working in other high-risk industries.

Aside from my professional life, I am married to Chris and we have two children, 2 dogs and 3 cats. Having spent three years living in Canada on a military exchange, we now live in a rural village in Rutland and I volunteer my time as chairperson for our community shop. I have a passion for the outdoors, especially when it involves walking in the Lake District or alpine skiing in the winter, and I love being on or in the water, either paddle boarding or swimming.

Education

• Masters degree in Leadership Studies (Merit)
• Bachelor of Nursing degree (Hons)
• Registered Nurse (Adult)
• Registered Health Visitor
• ENB 998 Teaching and assessing
• ENB 182 Anaesthetics and Recovery practice

Training and Development

• EME Coach
• MAA Human factors Facilitator
• ILM Level 5 certificate in coaching and Mentoring
• ILM Level 5 in Leadership