ABOUT US

Trainers

Our trainers are all [insert 2-3 sentences about what’s important to transformations about the trainers they choose and rely on].

  • Phil Thomas

    Phil Thomas, from the UK, is the Founder and Director of Transformations, has over 20 years of experience in cross-cultural mission, developing godly leaders. He also co-founded Real Hope, a social enterprise helping refugees secure fair jobs, and enjoys mentoring Christians in starting transformational projects. Phil holds an MA in Leadership in a Complex World from Redcliffe College.

  • Stuart Aitken

    Stuart Aitken, from the UK, has over 18 years of experience in cross-cultural mission, including training pastors in Ecuador. Since 2019, he has been the Trainer and Developer for Transformations Leeds, co-leading the God’s Apprenticeship Programme. Stuart holds a BA in Biblical and Cross-Cultural Studies from All Nations Christian College.

  • Dr. Weyoms

    Dr. Weyoms, from Nigeria, began her career as a pediatrician before shifting to environmental education, water sanitation, and earning a PhD in public health. She empowers young people through her YouTube channel, Moments with Dr. Weyoms, and her publication, The Growth Mindset Journal.

  • Hilary Kemp

    Hilary came to the UK to study Law in 2010. She's led a number of multicultural church small groups and is one of the Transformations speakers on our Explore International evangelistic course. She's had a varied career including being a pianist, setting up her own business and working as a kitchen designer. She is passionate about caring for Christians a broad spectrum of spiritual needs.

  • Wendy Wairimu

    Wendy, from Kenya, seeks to be a transformative agent, shaping culture and public policy. She is passionate about defending those who can't defend themselves (Proverbs 31:8-9) and advocating for change, particularly in the area of finance and policy. She studied an MSC in Environment and Development at the University of Leeds in the UK and now works as an Environmental, Social & Governance Analyst in a tier one bank in Kenya.

  • Elon Sooknanan

    Elon currently works in his home country of Guyana as the Head of Department forPublic Infrastructure, Transportation and Tourism at the Environmental protection. He is also an Academic Chair, Board member and part time lecturer at the Government Technical Institute in Georgetown Guyana. He has an Msc in Water, Sanitation and Health engineering from the University of Leeds (UK) as well as an MBA from Osmania University, Hyderabad (India). 

    Elon says the Transformations training he received was “spiritually rich, rewarding and refreshing” helping him to “create a spark and leave a mark.”  He is therefore a keen advocate for Transformations ministry.    

  • Desire Sengoga

    Desire, from Rwanda, is currently working as a water partnership specialist for the United Nations Development Programme Resilience hub in Nairobi, Kenya. His role co-ordinates projects in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia. Over the last 10 years he has worked mostly in international development, providing technical, policy advisory and capacity development services. He obtained an MSc in Water, Sanitation and Health engineering from the University of Leeds in 2019 as a Chevening Scholar.  

    Desire developed his understanding of Christian leadership through the training from Transformations and is keen to pass this onto others. He is married to Noella and has a son Nziza.

  • Cathy-Joan Palmer

    Cathy-Joan has more than 40 years of experience in international student ministry in various voluntary capacities. Originally from the USA she has lived in the UK for nearly 35 years now.  However she still remembers what it is like not to understand how things work and how hard it can be to make friends in a new culture.  She has been a TEFL teacher, a graphic designer and raised a cross cultural family with her British husband.  She is passionate about supporting people cross culturally during times of transition.

  • Candida Ferreira Powell

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Coaches

Our coaches are all [insert 2-3 sentences about what’s important to transformations about the coaches they choose and rely on].

  • Geoff Ashton

    Geoff Ashton, our lead coach, is a professional coach with over 10 years experience helping people think clearly and make better decisions. He is a former Chair, and Director, of Coaching York (a social enterprise of over 70 coaches).

    He has coached university lecturers, CEOs, faith leaders, and public sector managers.

  • Phil Thomas

    Phil Thomas, founder and Director of Transformations, has over 20 years of experience in cross-cultural mission, developing godly leaders. He also co-founded Real Hope, a social enterprise helping refugees secure fair jobs, and enjoys mentoring Christians in starting transformational projects.

    Phil holds an MA in Leadership in a Complex World from Redcliffe College.

  • Stuart Aitken

    Stuart Aitken has over 18 years of experience in cross-cultural mission, including training pastors in Ecuador. Since 2019, he has been the Trainer and Developer for Transformations Leeds, co-leading the God’s Apprenticeship Programme.

    Stuart holds a BA in Biblical and Cross-Cultural Studies from All Nations Christian College.

  • Shirley Stackhouse

    Shirley is an experienced leader, mentor, and coach.  She has over 20 years experience in building and leading diverse teams through change and growth. She has held roles in operations, customer service, and data/AI implementation for tech companies.

    Throughout her life, Shirley has worked in a cross-cultural context. Born to Japanese Brazilian parents and raised in Brazil, she lived in the United States for over 15 years before moving to the United Kingdom in 2010.  Shirley has a passion for seeing people become more like Jesus through discipleship and leadership development.  

    Having coached informally Shirley is now currently pursuing formal training in Executive and Leadership coaching, with plans to earn ICF credentials by the end of 2025.

  • Dr. Weyinmi Erikowa-Orighoye

    Dr Weyinmi is experienced in empowering young people in the areas of leadership, social impact, careers and spiritual life.  She has coached and mentored emerging leaders, led personal development workshops for international students and has an online platform called Moments with Dr. Weyoms.

    She is currently an Associate Lecturer in Healthcare Management in the UK.  She enjoys mentoring public health professionals assisting them with their research methodology, scientific writing and dissemination of impactful research.  Dr Weyinmi is also the Director of Programs for a sustainable development NGO (CMADI) and the Vice Chair of an environmental NGO (IMEET) both in her home country, Nigeria. 

    Her Christian faith inspires her drive for meaningful change and she is a trustee for Transformations.

  • Jacqui Miller

    Jacqui qualified as a coach in 2014 gaining an ILM Level 7 in Executive Coaching & Leadership Mentoring. She has worked in the National Health Service developing and delivering both coaching and mentoring for senior managers.  She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development (CIPD)

    She serves as a licensed Church Minister in the Church of God of Prophecy and has trained workers for overseas mission with the Baptist Mission Society.  

    Currently she works for Development Associates International (DAI) UK as the regional lead for the Midlands UK.  This includes leading on coaching development for DAI nationally.  Jacqui also facilitates training for people from many different countries on servant leadership, conflict management, strategic planning and culture, ethnicity and diversity. 

  • Rhoda Wu

    Rhoda is highly experienced in people development and training in the charity sector.  She has coached and mentored many project leaders empowering them to further their work in the community.  Her role as a ‘Learning and Development Officer’ in a local charity has included leading Myers Briggs Team Days, as well as providing training and strategic planning advice.  

    Rhoda is a Myers Briggs Type Indicator Qualified Practitioner, Approved Trainer in Investment in Excellence and STEPS (The Pacific Institute) and has received training in Spiritual Direction.   Rhoda, from the UK, has a degree in Chinese and Linguistics and has experienced living abroad in China. She is currently a freelance charity consultant.