Our history

Alison Twist is an experienced HR professional, bringing over 25 years experience to Respect in the Workplace. Alison worked in financial services, aviation and engineering before moving into consultancy and has worked across a range of sectors with organisations of all sizes. Alison led teams of 100 staff as an Operational Line Manager as well as undertaking specialist HR roles.

In 2011 Alison became Director of the Andrea Adams Consultancy. Alison leads a team of trainers, specialising in designing and delivering practical and creative training on bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct and Building Respect in the Workplace.

Alison has conducted over 300 independent investigations, many high-profile and complex. She has become trusted by many diverse organisations to quickly get to the heart of the complaints, unravel the events, and piece together the evidence of a case to arrive at robust and legally defensible findings. Alison acts as Contract Manager for all services.
Alison has an MSc qualification in Strategic Human Resource Management and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Since graduation with a BA (Hons) in Business Administration, Vicki Wright has worked in a range of HR, training and recruitment roles and she brought this experience to the Andrea Adams Consultancy in 2014.  Previously, she worked predominantly in the aerospace sector with a short spell in medical resourcing.  Vicki now has a dual role at the Andrea Adams Consultancy, supporting independent investigations as a Note Taker, and as a Business Administrator supporting the wider company activities.

Denise Mace has over 20 years of experience in HR delivering training and supporting managers in the workplace. She is driven by a fair and pragmatic approach, always working in the best interest of the organisation and its individuals. She has an engaging approach with staff at all levels, quickly building rapport and trust. As a professional leader Denise demonstrates excellent interpersonal skills, establishes relationships and acts as a role model.

Denise has worked in the retail and education sectors before moving into consultancy. She has experience of working in both stable and turbulent business climates across private, public and charity sectors. She is a trustee for a local hospice and a director on a retailer’s Board. Denise joined the Andrea Adams Consultancy in 2011 and has specialised in practical and creative training on bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct and Building Respect in the Workplace. Denise is also an Investigator for the Andrea Adams Consultancy. She was awarded an MBE in recognition of her charitable work. Denise holds a BSc in management studies/operational research, is MCIPD and a trained mediator.

Ian Henly is an HR professional with over 25 years of practice in the field of Equality and Criminal law. Ian’s background is primarily in the Public sector and legal environment with a particular interest and experience in investigating bullying and harassment complaints and grievances.

Ian worked as a Senior Law Clerk in the Crown Prosecution Service, instructing barristers in Crown Court and Court of Appeal on serious and sensitive cases. He led a team of internal HR investigators before going on to manage historic industrial injury and personal injury claims for the Department for Business Innovation and Skills. In 2011 Ian left the Civil Service and began his consultancy career specialising in HR, workplace investigations and training delivery. He works for the Andrea Adams Consultancy as a Trainer and Investigator.

Su Patel has extensive knowledge and experience as a HR generalist with over 25 years of experience in industries including: retail, education, insurance, charity and construction. She is continuously designing and delivering learning solutions and programmes to develop HR professionals and Leaders. Su is also a Coach and Mentor helping HR professionals and Leaders be more confident and credible in their roles. Su is MCIPD and is a published author. (Putting the Human back into HR, Rethink Press, 2018)

Su has led an HR team through organisational and business change in a complex fast paced environment, providing guidance on employee relations cases, ensuring that these were well managed and met the requirements of employment legislation. Su joined the Andrea Adams Consultancy in 2017. She has specialised in practical and creative training on bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct and Building Respect in the Workplace. She also works as an Independent Investigator specialising in examining allegations of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.

Nicola Gardner is a trainer, presenter and facilitator with professional acting experience. Nicola has worked in the fields of recruitment, catering, hospitality, healthcare and the media. Nicola has had featured roles on television. Nicola has led teams of actors delivering training and role plays for corporate clients and has also provided intensive training for front-line personnel in Customer Service Excellence.

Nicola joined the Andrea Adams Consultancy in 2018 and has delivered training in Building Respectful Workplaces, a development programme that empowers organisations to nurture productive environments that are free of negative behaviours such as bullying, harassment and discrimination.

Carol Maund is an experienced HR professional, bringing over 30 years of experience to the training environment. Carol worked in retail, hospitality and telecoms before moving into consultancy and has worked across a wide range of sectors with organisations of all sizes.

Her experience has ranged from operational management through to more strategic roles and employment tribunal representation. Carol joined the Andrea Adams Consultancy in 2016, specialising in practical and creative training on bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct and Building Respect in the Workplace.

Ian Clarke started his career with the health service in medical records before qualifying as a nurse and working in critical care specialities of adult and paediatric intensive care. Ian studied law while nursing and completed his LLB and Masters in Medical Law lecturing and advising on clinical negligence. As an advisor and commissioner of education and workforce development programmes he led and shaped many national projects. Ian is skilled at language and behaviour profiling and supports the development of organisational communication using these skills.

From 2010 Ian has worked independently with various organisations in developing the right culture and behaviours. He designed a tool for measuring care and compassion that can undertake a 360° appraisal of care and behaviours. Ian has worked both nationally and internationally in the public and private sector. Ian is both a trainer and investigator for the Andrea Adams Consultancy and is a qualified mediator.

Quentin Colborn is an experienced HR professional, bringing over 40 years of experience to independent investigations. Quentin has worked in financial services, motoring services, brewing and engineering before moving into consultancy 20 years ago and has worked across a range of sectors with organisations of all sizes. Quentin has fulfilled roles, including Head of Employment Relations and Group HR Director, and has had extensive experience of working with Trade Unions. Quentin has sat as a Non-Legal Member of the Employment Tribunals for 15 years.

Quentin has conducted many investigations across public, private and third sector organisations. Quentin specialises in more complex cases involving multiple respondents and/or multiple allegations. Quentin has managed cases of alleged harassment involving all the categories of protected characteristics, frequently dealing with cases where more than one type of personal characteristic is involved. Quentin is one of Andrea Adams Consultancy’s most senior investigators supporting the Director on quality assurance and contract management. Quentin holds a Masters Qualification in Business Administration.

Matthew is a former Royal Naval Officer and Prison Service Operational Manager. In these roles Matthew experienced a highly operational and diverse career. From 2009 Matthew was Co-Director of a consultancy business, working with his Co-Director to develop a range of services in HR, Investigation, Audit and Governance.

For more than 25 years, Matthew has undertaken a range of workplace and other investigations, covering a wide range of subject matter from fraud, potential criminal matters, governance breaches, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, conduct and mismanagement. Matthew conducts investigations for Andrea Adams Consultancy and is also a trainer.

Howard Smith is an experienced learning professional, with a career spanning over 36 years. He has worked in education, retail, trades union, the merchant navy and community care before moving into consultancy and has worked across a range of sectors with organisations of all sizes.

Howard’s experience ranges from frontline through to management level. Howard joined The Andrea Adams Consultancy in 2018, specialising in practical and creative training on bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct and Building Respect in the Workplace.

Tricia Jephcott is an experienced learning and development professional, starting her coaching career at the age of 15 when she retired from gymnastics. She continued to coach gymnastics to national level for a further 35 years. Tricia then took up a training role for a financial service company, recognised as a world leader in customer services. Following 7 years delivering customer service and management development she began her consultancy career in 2000.

Since this time, she has worked in financial services, telecommunications and a wide range of other sectors delivering customer services and all aspects of management development up to middle management level. Tricia has most recently been involved with the Andrea Adams Consultancy, delivering training on bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct and Building Respect in the Workplace.

Len Ryder has had over 30 years of experience in both the Public & Private Sectors in Human Resources and Business Strategy as well as over 20 years in senior management/director level roles. He worked as a University Business School senior lecturer in Leadership and Management, and was a co-owner/director of a Conflict Management company.

In his role as the director of a Conflict Management company, Len managed its operations and service delivery, working closely with clients in various sectors and organisations on conflict management solutions mainly focusing on bullying, harassment and discrimination. Solutions included investigations, mediation, policy and procedures, and training of line management.

Len also trained investigators and managed their investigations work to accepted standards and customers’ criteria. He has quality checked hundreds of investigation reports and himself has worked on many, mainly senior level and company sensitive, investigations. Len is an investigator for Andrea Adams Consultancy and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Niki Nicklin has worked in a wide range of administration and customer service roles and she brought this experience to the Andrea Adams Consultancy in 2019. Previously she worked for various sectors, including specialist website solutions, medical, education, hospitality and telecommunications.

At the Andrea Adams Consultancy she supports the Director, Operations Manager and Business Administrator and works with the wider team with all financial aspects including invoicing and account enquiries. She is responsible for inputting information into accounting software and tracking income and expenses and collating information ready for VAT submissions. She also assists in resolving account queries and provides management/financial information for forecasts. She is also responsible for creating and keeping the client database up to date.

Tracey Smith has over 30 years of experience both in the UK and overseas working in a variety of roles, including Trainer, Programme Officer for public inquiries, Administrator, Note-taker, Project Manager, Legal Executive and PA.
As an administrator and facilitator of high profile Public Sector events, Tracey has developed good rapport building skills with organisers and delegates to ensure smooth running of events.

Tracey has always been interested in the people to people aspect of her roles and has worked with the Andrea Adams Consultancy for over 10 years. She is passionate about raising awareness of bullying, harassment and discrimination in the workplace, and helping organisations develop a culture of no tolerance to negative behaviours and promoting respectful workplaces. Tracey is a trainer for Andrea Adams Consultancy.

Gill Watcham has over 25 years of experience working in both the Public and Private Sector delivering strategic HR and change management projects, her final directly employed role being the Executive Director of HR in a multi-site further and higher education college. Prior to this Gill worked in local government and housing for 22 years before starting her consultancy career in 2010 working predominantly with private sector clients.

Gill has a Masters Degree in Strategic Human Resource Management, and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and is a pragmatic practitioner. She was a magistrate from 2000 to 2016. Gill works as a trainer and Investigator for Andrea Adams Consultancy. Gill is also a qualified mediator.

Louise Wheatley is an experienced HR and Learning and Development professional with a career spanning over 25 years. Louise spent 10 years as a director of the family business with responsibilities for business development, operations and marketing, and financial management including employee engagement, human resources and customer service.

Louise has worked in financial services, aviation and retail before moving into consultancy and has worked across a range of public and private sectors with organisations of all sizes. Her experience ranges from frontline through to strategic level.

Louise joined The Andrea Adams Consultancy in 2017, specialising in practical and creative training on bullying, harassment, sexual misconduct and Building Respect in the Workplace.

Since January 2020 she also has assumed responsibility for the Operational Management and functions including training, business development, client and associate liaison. Louise holds a Masters qualification in Business Administration and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Geoff is an experienced HR Director, with a track record of over 30 years delivering key people related transformation and change, both from within and as an external consultant. He has extensive experience working across the EMEA region, driving change and providing leadership in complex jurisdictions including UK, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Nordics, Israel and the Gulf countries. Sector experience includes private equity, professional services, engineering / manufacturing and pharmaceuticals, within UK, US and Japanese corporates.

In 2020 Geoff became an investigator and trainer with the Andrea Adams Consultancy, working as part of a team of Independent Investigators specialising in examining allegations of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct. Geoff holds an LLB and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. He is also a qualified mediator.