Author list

Stephanie Davies is recognised as one of the UK's leading voices in the psychology of laughter and humour. She has over ten years' experience of developing interventions that have been applied in a wide variety of settings dealing with complex public and mental health issues and building teams in high profile organisations. She is an award-winning stand up comedian who has worked with world-renowned Dr Patch Adams exploring the relationship between health, humour, community and the arts.

Read The Independent's article featuring Stephanie's Laughology.

Laugh your way to the top - an article by The Positive.

Have you heard the one about the laughter workout? - an article from the Daily Express.

Laughology: A little funny business - an article from The Independent.

Click here to read Stephanie's blog post on the World of Learning 2020 website.

Andrew has a background in language teaching and a degree in Philosophy and Social Anthropology, the combination of which have sparked his passionate curiosity into the part that language plays in the development of thinking. Having joined The Philosophy Foundation in 2009, Andrew quickly invested in their ethos, striving to encourage young people to think philosophically.

Read this article featuring Thoughtings on The Guardian Teacher Network.

Debra Kiddtaught for 23 years in primary, secondary and higher education settings. She is the author of three previous books - Teaching: Notes from the Front Line, Becoming Mobius and Uncharted Territories - and believes more than anything else that 'the secret to great teaching is to make it matter'. Debra has a doctorate in education and co-founded and organised Northern Rocks, one of the largest annual teaching and learning conferences in the UK.

View Debra's profile in Schools Week, October 2014.

Click here to listen in on Debra's podcast with Pivotal Education on 'teaching, learning and politics'.

Click here to watch a video interview with Debra as part of The Education Foundation's series of Education Britain Conversations.

A highly experienced communication expert, Karen Dempster is co-founder of Fit2Communicate, a Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communications and a certified DISC personality profile practitioner. She is passionate about raising the standard of communication in all schools in order to support better student outcomes. Prior to 2015, Karen spent 20 years in marketing and communication roles. She is also a professional photographer and lives in Surrey with her husband, son and collection of pets.

Click here to read Karen Dempster’s blog.

Lucas Derks has worked as a psychotherapist and coach for twenty years, focusing on social cognition and relational issues.

Dr Ian Devonshire is a neuroscientist and lecturer who has spearheaded a range of innovative, inter-disciplinary research projects involving universities, schools, private companies, charities and the government. Ian has worked in research laboratories at the Universities of Oxford and Sheffield and is currently based at Nottingham University Medical School whilst also holding an associate lectureship at the Open University. 

Colin Diamond, CBE has worked in education leadership for over 40 years. In this time, he has held two Director of Education posts as well as working as a Senior Civil Servant in Whitehall. In 2018, Colin took up post as Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Birmingham. Mindful of his childhood in Liverpool, he is passionate about inclusion and social justice. He also plays in bands and supports Liverpool FC.

David Didau is Senior Lead Practitioner for English at Ormiston Academies Trust and a freelance writer, blogger, speaker, trainer and author. He started his award-winning blog, The Learning Spy, in 2011 to express the constraints and irritations of ordinary teachers, detail the successes and failures within his own classroom, and synthesise his years of teaching experience through the lens of educational research and cognitive psychology. Since then he has spoken at various national conferences, has directly influenced Ofsted and has worked with the Department for Education to consider ways in which teachers' workload could be reduced.

Read this article on the 3 reasons why you need to buy The Secret of Literacy.

Read this article on David Didau's journey to becoming an edu-sceptic in Schools Week.

On this episode of the Mr Barton Maths Podcast, Craig Barton speaks to David Didau.

Click here to read David Didau’s blog.

Armando Di-Finizio has, over the course of his career, taught in seven schools in deprived areas of London, Bristol and Cardiff. With a guiding conviction that every child can go on to flourish in life, Armando has successfully led three schools from being among the lowest performing in the country to achieving outcomes well above expectations. Armando’s innovative practices have been successfully applied in the many schools he has worked with and supported over the years.  

Robert Dilts has been a developer, author, trainer and consultant in the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) - a model of human behaviour, learning and communication - since its creation in 1975 by John Grinder and Richard Bandler. A long time student and colleague of both Grinder and Bandler, Robert also studied personally with Milton H. Erickson, M.D., and Gregory Bateson.

Robert is the principal author of Neuro-Linguistic Programming Vol. I (with John Grinder, Richard Bandler and Judith DeLozier, 1980), which serves as the standard reference text for the field, and has authored numerous other books on NLP. Changing Belief Systems with NLP (1990) and Beliefs: Pathways to Health and Well Being (with Tim Hallbom and Suzi Smith, 1990) describe his work in changing limiting beliefs and creating functional belief systems. Tools for Dreamers (with Todd Epstein and Robert W. Dilts, 1991) and Skills for the Future (with Gino Bonissone, 1993), explore the applications of NLP to managing and enhancing creativity. Effective Presentation Skills (1994) covers the key skills necessary for successful public speaking. Strategies of Genius Volume I, Volume II & Volume III (1994-1995), apply the methods and distinctions of NLP to model the thinking processes of important historical figures including Aristotle, Sherlock Holmes (a.k.a. Arthur Conan Doyle), Walt Disney, Wolfgang Mozart, Albert Einstein, Sigmund Freud, Leonardo da Vinci and Nikola Tesla. Dynamic Learning (with Todd Epstein, 1995), explores the development of effective strategies for learning and teaching. Visionary Leadership Skills (1996), studies tools and skills necessary for 'creating a world to which people want to belong.- Tools of the Spirit (with Robert McDonald, 1997), explores how NLP principles and processes may be used to encourage and enhance spiritual growth and development. Modeling with NLP (1998) covers the tools and skills for modeling the behavior of exceptional people, illustrating the application of NLP modeling procedures to the study of effective leadership ability. Sleight of Mouth (1999) describes the set of verbal reframing patterns he developed to conversationally influence beliefs. The Encyclopedia of Systemic Neuro-Linguistic Programming and NLP New Coding (with Judith DeLozier, 2000) provides a comprehensive overview of the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, including its wide range of applications, techniques and influences. Alpha Leadership: Tools for Business Leaders Who Want More From Life (with Ann Deering and Julian Russell, 2002) describes a new model of leadership that captures and shares the practices of effective leadership, offering approaches to reduce stress and to promote satisfaction.

Robert's more recent books include From Coach to Awakener (2003), which provides a road map and set of toolboxes for coaches to help clients reach goals on a number of different levels of learning and change and The Hero's Journey: A Voyage of Self Discovery (with Stephen Gilligan, 2009), which encourages you to embark on a path of learning and transformation that will reconnect you with your deepest calling, transform limiting beliefs and habits, heal emotional wounds and physical symptoms, deepen intimacy, and improve self-image. And published in October of 2010 is the long awaited NLP II: The Next Generation (with Judith DeLozier and Deborah Bacon Dilts). This book reviews the new developments which have enriched the field of Neuro-Linguistic Programming since the publication of NLP Volume I. During the last 30 years, NLP developers and practitioners have expanded the boundaries of NLP, creating a new generation of models and applications.

Robert is also a co-founder (with Tim Hallbom and Suzi Smith) of the Institute for Advanced Studies of Health (IASH). Established in 1994, IASH is a non-profit organization which supports research and networking relating to the application of Systemic NLP methods to the area of health. As part of this mission, IASH provides administration for The NLP World Health Community and Health Certification Training. IASH maintains an international directory of certified NLP Health Practitioners.

For information regarding training opportunities contact:

In the USA:

NLPU
Tel: +1 (831) 438 8314
www.nlpu.com

NLP and Coaching Institute
Tel: +1 (801) 277-2014
www.nlpca.com

In Latin America (Mexico) CMPNL
www.cmpnl.mx ph. 52-33-3615-8447

In Europe: Coaching Plaza
www.coachingplaza.com - ph. 31-010 227-0667



View Robert's seminar schedule: http://www.nlpu.com/NewDesign/RBD_Itinerary.html

A teacher and educationalist, and former co-owner and director of Pivotal Education, Ellie Dix has been obsessed with board games from an early age. Ellie firmly believes that board games have positively influenced her ability to solve problems, manage failure and experiment with multiple paths to success ' and she now puts her teaching skills, understanding of behaviour and experience with gamification to use by helping parents to introduce board games to family life.

Hear Ellie talk about her book below and visit Ellie's You Tube channel to find out more about her work.

Fortunes, not Feuds: 7 essential tips for playing board games with family'

13 ways playing board games benefits your child'

The Parenting Show Episode 141

Click here to read Ellie Dix’s blog.

As a teacher, leader and teacher trainer, Paul Dix has been working to transform the most difficult behaviour in the most challenging urban schools, referral units and colleges for the last 25 years. In addition to working directly with schools, Paul has advised the Department for Education on the Teachers' Standards, given evidence to the Education Select Committee and done extensive work with the Ministry of Justice on behaviour and restraint in youth custody. Paul is a leading campaigner for the #BanTheBooths campaign (www.banthebooths.co.uk) and is a member of both the IntegratEd Reference Group and the Ethical Leadership Group.