Biographies

After a varied and extensive career in Organisational and People Development within both the public and private sector, Shona Mitchell founded Peoplematters in 1996 (www.peoplematters.co.uk). 

Shona has an extensive track record of working with clients on a range of strategic human resource initiatives.  Much of her work centres on improving business performance through HR strategy development, top team and leadership development and one to one coaching and she has a particular interest in emerging leadership theories, emotional intelligence and NLP.

Her particular skill of inspiring trust and building relationships with clients ensures a climate of collaboration that guarantees success and produces measurable results.  She holds a Masters Degree in Human Resource Development and is qualified to administer and provide feedback and coaching in a range of psychometric instruments. 

Shona's latest venture involves taking a group of Executives from Scotland to Northern Kenya to learn alongside a group of local community conservancy managers.  Shona  wants to offer participants an insight into different worlds and give them the opportunity to share knowledge and expertise.

Shona is also Chair of IOD Fife Branch and a Board Member of Cumbernauld Theatre.

Ken Hames (www.kenhames.com) is one of the country's leading motivational speakers focusing mainly on leadership, attitude and competence training. He provides a fascinating insight into pressure, survival, teamwork and motivation. His presentations bring strong evidence of best practice in difficult and demanding circumstances. His main effort is to promote development, provide motivation and give inspiration to leaders and managers.

Ken served in the British Forces for 25 years and is one of the elite British Officers to have worn the red beret of the parachute parade, the green beret of the Royal Marines and the sand beret of the Special Air Service. His military experiences have taken him world wide and included eight tours of Northern Ireland at the height of the troubles. He was also at the liberation of Port Stanley in the Falklands and served in the SAS in the first Gulf War after commanding Britain's anti-terrorist team for one year.

His television career has focussed on bringing challenging contemporary social issues into the public eye.   Recent documentaries have included the BBC ‘Beyond Boundaries' and ‘Mission Africa'. 

Alan McCafferty obtained a degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering in 1988 and then joined British Petroleum in their North Sea and Petrochemical operations. He achieved chartered status in 1993 and went on to form his own engineering consultancy company.  In 1997 he identified an opportunity and formed an Indian food development and sales company, India UK Ltd.  Within 18 months, this company was supplying Indian snacks to all Asda stores, UK wide.  He accepted an attractive offer for his company in January 2001.

After India UK came ADDER International Ltd, a digital CCTV systems builder with a strong emphasis on the export market.  When it became apparent that this business was not going to fulfil its potential he decided to look at other opportunities.

While building his property and lease management business, Balmore Estates, and providing ‘troubleshooting' assistance to a number of companies he secured the acquisition of McCowan's Ltd, the confectionery manufacturer (May 2003). After two very challenging years at the helm of McCowan's it was evident that the business required additional funding. With the inherited debt burden plus additional unforeseen debts, such as a £1M pension deficit, it became apparent that new funding would not be possible. He appointed the receiver in March 2005 and helped secure a new buyer one month later. He left the business in May 2005.  

He is now working on a number of new projects from established businesses to start-ups. He is mentor to a number of businesses including ID Inquiries, a private investigation, surveillance and employee vetting company.

Alan has been described as a serial entrepreneur.  He is a strong people person and is keen on the ‘it's got to be fun' principle.  He is ambitious, competitive and has great enthusiasm for business.  He enjoys the management and team building aspects of business and finds the psychology of business fascinating.