Meet the Team: Marshall ACM
David Marshall - Founder and Chief Executive Officer
David Marshall was formerly Head of Research at Penna Consulting PLC, and project managed all online services and e-learning. He has project managed over one hundred online diversity training projects and enjoys discussing the challenge of raising equality awareness in such diverse sectors as local government, NHS, higher education, engineering, banking, legal, insurance and the arts - all require a different implementation plan and he is able to share this experience with clients.
He manages all day to day operations at Marshall ACM and uses his project management background to ensure that client projects arrive on budget and on time. He also spends a great deal of time visiting clients and organisations interested in our work, running demonstrations and giving practical advice on how organisations can implement effective e-learning.
He also maintains all links between Marshall ACM and our strategic partners and this involves the formulation of a number of social enterprise projects in 2007.
David studied History and English to post-graduate level at University of Sussex, retains an interest in ancient history, foreign travel and is a long suffering Tottenham Hotspur season ticket holder.
David Allgood - Business Development Manager
David Allgood has worked as a Business Development Manager in the Business Education and HR Consultancy environments for the last 15 years helping corporate, public sector and educational establishments align their people development needs with their strategic objectives.
Working with Bedfordshire LSC he became one of the first Investor in People Advisers and consequently became one of the first Personal Business Advisers at Bedfordshire Business Link. At this time he graduated from the University of Luton with a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Studies in 1997.
Subsequent roles working for the Institute of Directors, FT Knowledge, Edexcel and Pearson VUE involved working across diverse sectors including national and local government departments, NHS, higher education, banking, insurance and manufacturing.
He has been involved in developing e-learning and blended training solutions for the last 8 years and was instrumental in developing and launching Edexcel's online qualifications. Most recently he was involved within providing online testing and assessment solutions for major institutions, banking and insurance organisations whilst at Pearson VUE.
As Business Development Manager he will be responsible for advising both prospective and existing clients across the UK about the scope and capabilities of the expanding range of Marshall ACM e-learning products and services.
Vispi Baria - IT Manager
Having completed a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science in 1992, Vispi joined IBM UK working in the Application Development team helping to build a global email exchange system. He then joined the International Petroleum Exchange designing and developing electronic trading systems using various technologies. He then became involved in the management of a small team of developers at the Investment bank Goldman Sachs. As a hands-on development and project manager he continued with the technical development of software systems, including web based applications within the Asset Management division. Vispi joined Marshall ACM in August 2002, and takes responsibility for the technical development of Marshall ACM applications.
Philip Johnson
Having completed a BA in History at the University of London, Philip spent over five years at the London Stock Exchange where he oversaw trading in exchange-traded derivatives leading a team of over 50. He then became a headhunter working on senior-level assignments in the financial markets in the UK, Europe, United States and Japan specialising in Corporate Finance and trading markets. Philip joined Marshall ACM in 2004 as a Principal Consultant.
Mannie Kusema - Director of Equality and Diversity
Mannie joined Marshall ACM in March 08 as their Director of Equality and Diversity.
His previous role was at Eaga plc where he was part of a senior consultant team providing E & D services to various client organisations, particularly in response to all their equality impact assessment needs. Before that he was with the Higher Education Sector's Equality Challenge Unit, and had formerly spent 15 years working with the Commission for Racial Equality (CRE).
In this role he provides our clients with advice, assistance and support that they might need with not only their general equality and diversity requirements but also and especially, with all their organisational practice impact assessment needs.
Jeremy Loader
Jeremy has been working in the financial services industry for over twenty-five years. He manages all print materials for Marshall ACM clients, including our increasingly popular Diversity workbooks. He also runs the office at Talbot Yard answering all administrative queries for clients.
Michael Moran - Non executive Director
Michael Moran is Chief Executive of Fairplace PLC. Michael's background is as a Human Resources professional having worked in the National Health Service, Insurance, Commodities and Derivative industries. He is a frequent commentator in the press/media, which includes a range of topics on "successfully managing your career". Most recent media mentions have included New Statesmen, Financial News, Executive Grapevine and HR Business, to name but a few. Michael is known as a thought provoking speaker in the HR industry. He advises on strategy and business development for Marshall ACM.
Wendy Pitches
Wendy is Executive Assistant to David Marshall, and co-ordinates all customer service at Marshall ACM. Wendy is a link with all clients and our development team, and updates all clients on a monthly basis with the updates we have created for their e-learning programmes.
Meet the Team: Consultants
Ann Allcock
Ann is a public sector equality and diversity expert who started her career in London local government in the mid 1980s, where she worked initially in equality practitioner roles. Subsequently she worked in diversity strategy development roles for a number of universities. Her pragmatic approach comes from hands-on experience of developing initiatives and dealing with equality and diversity casework, and an understanding of both the tensions and the value that diversity can bring.
Ann has worked as a consultant and trainer since 1998. She advises on legal compliance, develops policies, conducts research, undertakes inclusive consultation on equality and diversity issues or with specific target groups, produces assessment and benchmarking tools, carries out 'health checks', and designs and delivers a broad spectrum of equality and diversity-related training and development. For example, Ann has recently developed a diversity audit tool for course team leaders at an FE college, conducted a cross-organisational equality review for a major national charity, developed and supported implementation of a whole-institution equality Equality Impact Assessment framework for a university, and delivered equalities training to an NHS Trust Board and senior team.
Ann has worked with Marshall ACM since 2005, developing and supporting the production of equality and diversity courses.
Nicole Banerji B.A. (Hons), M.Sc., C Psychol., AFBPsS.
Nicole is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist with 20 years consultancy experience.
Nicole specialises in assessment and development and also has a wealth of expertise regarding diversity and fairness issues in organisations. She has developed several methods of assessing diversity competence and was a major contributor to the CIPD published toolkit "Tools for Managing Diversity." Nicole works with a wide range of clients both public and private sector. These include: banks, charities, government departments, telecoms, pharmaceuticals, manufacturers, utilities, universities, local government, healthcare, security services etc. Her approach is flexible and positive combining focus on best professional practice with an understanding of different organisational cultures. Nicole works with a wide range of people from front line staff to Board Members.
Nicole is a full member of the Division of Occupational Psychology within the British Psychological Society (BPS). She holds Level A and Level B Certificates in Occupational Testing and was a Consulting Editor on the recently published "Review of Personality Assessment Instruments (Level B) for use in Occupational settings" (BPS).
Paul Creighton, CPSYCHOL, MSC, BSC.
Paul Creighton is a Chartered Occupational Psychologist specialising in assessment and development with particular interests in diversity. Paul has over 12 years experience in business psychology consulting, both as in-house and external consultant, and has worked in Europe, Nigeria and Bangladesh. Paul began his career lecturing in Psychology before moving into Occupational Psychology working for the Cabinet Office supporting the Civil Service Fast Stream selection process. He then moved to Pearn Kandola, a consultancy specialising in diversity, assessment and development, for 4 years before becoming a freelance consultant. Paul has considerable experience in the design of assessment processes and tools advising a range of organisations including Governments, multinationals and UK public sector.
Paul has designed and delivered courses in Diversity Awareness and Fairness in Selection for Assessors. He has also carried out research in the area, has presented to conferences and co-authored a chapter on 'Gender Issues in Employment Selection'. He has audited assessment and development processes in relation to Equal Opportunities and diversity. He is currently also an external examiner to the University of Hertfordshire (MSc in Occupational Psychology) and an Associate Lecturer with the Open University (Psychometrics: Selection and Assessment).
Will Parkes
Will has over 20 years experience across a range of public and private companies, both in this county and abroad, and has occupied a number of senior positions both as line and functional manager.
As the Equalities Manager for the London Fire Brigade he was responsible for the development, introduction and evaluation of equality and diversity policies, and for pioneering a range of supportive training initiatives to raise awareness for both operational and administrative staff.
For the past seven years Will has been working as an independent consultant specialising in anti bullying/harassment procedures in the workplace. During his career he has developed and delivered awareness programmes to a range of organisations including fire services, colleges, local authorities and the Royal Mail Group.
Brian Roberts MA
Brian has worked in the public sector for the last 25 years, in a variety of managerial roles, on both operational and support functions. These include managerial posts within Diversity and Equality, Human Resources, and frontline service delivery to the public. As Diversity and Equality Manager for a large public organisation he was instrumental in introducing new Bullying and Harassment procedures; developing and delivering Diversity and Equality training sessions to managers and staff; conducting outreach work with the local community; and equality proofing policies and procedures.
He has first hand knowledge of introducing Diversity and Equality initiatives into the workplace and has gained valuable practical experience of engaging with managers and staff to ensure that those initiatives are successfully implemented.
Brian recently gained a Masters degree in Public Services Management at the University of York, where he completed a dissertation on service delivery to language minorities.
Ruth Sandford-Smith (DIP PSYCH, MSC)
Ruth Sandford-Smith has worked in the field of Occupational Psychology for 8 years. She studied at Nottingham University and it was here, as part of her MSc that she undertook a thesis examining fairness in selection and development opportunities in a large public sector organisation.
Ruth worked for Pearn Kandola, a consultancy specialising in diversity, assessment and development, for 3 years before becoming a freelance consultant. She specialises in selection, assessment and managing diversity and has worked in a wide range both public and private sector organisations, e.g. Civil Service Selection Board, Department for Education and Skills, Department for Work and Pensions, Northern Ireland Police Service, Ford Motor Company, Hitachi, Lloyds TSB, Northern Trust.
Ruth has carried out research in the area, e.g. with the DfES, focusing on equal opportunities for people with disabilities at different stages of a selection process. She runs a range of courses covering Diversity Awareness, Cultural Awareness, Dignity at Work, Disability Awareness and Diversity Strategy Development.
Ann-Marie Sheridan
Ann-Marie Sheridan provides Consultancy, Facilitation and Training to organisations from public, private and non-profit sectors.
Academically, Ann-Marie holds a BA, PGCE, CTP, MA, and ALCM. Ann-Marie was employed by Middlesex University as a researcher, where she wrote and co-authored several pieces of work.
Ann-Marie is passionate about making the multifaceted areas of Diversity and Equality in the workplace, accessible. She uses a 'common-sense' approach in her design and delivery, demystifying what has become in some organisations a complex management process.
Ann-Marie's aim is to support her clients to understand the benefits that the diversity of staff and clients can bring to the companies performance, development and sustainability. She also supports employers to avoid Employment Tribunals by complying with Equalities Legislation and making the most from their diverse staff.
Frank Ritchie
Frank worked in education and in local government for over 20 years as a management training consultant. Based in Lockerbie, Frank facilitates diversity workshops and awareness seminars for a range of Local Government, NHS, Charity and Housing Organisations throughout Scotland.
His pragmatic approach to helping employees change attitudes of discrimination and prejudice when looking at the six strands of diversity, assists organizations comply with their statutory obligations.