Edward Kellow

Business Skills Trainer

I am a highly creative, energetic and outcome focused trainer, facilitator and coach, specialising in leadership, communications, and change. I have over 20 years’ experience of designing leadership programmes and workshops for public and private sector organisations including the British Council, the British Glass Federation, IUCN, Centerra Gold, Newmont Mining, Oxford University, the Sustainable Development Commission, UNDP and UNEP. In 2012, I designed a course on Sustainable Cities for Rio+20 that won the international public vote for the best learning event.

One of my strengths is that I am able to communicate and connect with participants from different sectors and cultures. I make concepts and tools accessible and relevant to the group and their context. I create memorable learning experiences that develop skills and knowledge, and foster a greater sense of shared purpose and values.

A former intelligence officer, I have sold shirts at Harrods, supported HIV/AIDS volunteers in East London, and set up an innovative greetings card business, Twisted Yarns. A graduate member of the CIPD, in 2013 I completed the Advanced Practitioner Diploma Programme at the Academy of Executive Coaching (AoEC).

I pay attention to:

• Listening carefully to my clients’ needs and work with them to plan the best possible learning solution
• Creating a collaborative learning environment where participants can listen and be heard
• Engaging participants in different ways so that they feel able to share their experience and knowledge with each other
• Selecting practical tools and techniques that participants can take away and use
• Delivering blended learning programmes that may include e-learning, skills based learning, project and challenge based learning, coaching, and Peer2Peer learning.
• Planning events systematically, and I will depart from the plan when my intuition tells me that the interest of the group lies elsewhere
• Encouraging participants to have fun while they are learning.

Specialisms

• Advocacy and influencing skills
• Communication and presentation skills
• Good thinking and decision-making
• Leadership and self awareness
• Management  and team development
• Negotiation Skills
• Planning and strategy development
• Stakeholder and community engagement
• Trainer the Trainer

Testimonials

“Edward is a very inspiring, creative and resourceful trainer. He is able to make a group of people who do not know each other feel comfortable quickly and then able to engage them at a deep level. He challenges your ideas, makes you dive into yourself, establishes linkages between people, and does this with lots of creativity, fun and reflection. Edward creates a positive learning environment that guides people to reach their full potential, and to achieve their goals.” Marco van der Ree, Chief, Partnerships Division, United Nations Volunteers (UNV)

“Edward’s contribution to help shape the format of the MSc in Sustainable Urban Development, at the University of Oxford has been excellent. He addresses leadership in a clear and direct way, showing students how the knowledge that they are developing in sustainable urbanism can be implemented in the work place, and applied to their own professional career strategies. Edward brings his own original enthusiasm, engagement and leadership skills very carefully, but effectively, to both class room and work environments.”

Dr David Howard, Programme Director and University Lecturer in Sustainable Urban Development, Kellogg College

“It was always a pleasure working with Edward. He was a good listener and responded quickly and positively to any changes in requirements. He responded very effectively to learners needs and was very inclusive, never alienating anyone even where groups were sometimes quite disparate and challenging. . I think I speak for many of the young people who were trained by Edward between 2008 and 2011 as part of our global project when I say he was an excellent motivator who demonstrated a sense of ‘can do’ in everything he did and without doubt helped many find their potential” Christopher Palmer, Deputy Director, British Council Saudi Arabia

“Edward Kellow provided a two day training for FELM’s (a Finnish NGO) executive staff on advocacy and communications skills. The course was tailor made for our needs. We appreciated his ability to listen us and plan together a workshop that met our needs. The group was inspired and motivated after the training. Edward was excellent at engaging individuals and coaching participants through positive feedback. Kristiina Rintakoski, Director for Advocacy, FELM

“Edward helped us to plan and organise the workshop. He drew on his immense facilitation experience to draw up a targeted agenda which controlled the crowd, provoked discussion in key areas, helped stakeholders to participate fully and allowed us to record the information we required. He advised us on stakeholders, was flexible enough to accommodate changes to the agenda. During the event Edward managed the group skillfully. He promoted an atmosphere of goodwill and collaboration, and supported internal staff in managing difficult stakeholders.”  Valli Murthy, Environmental Policy Adviser, British Glass Manufacturers’ Confederation