Rick Hughes, Deputy Chair and Journal Editor

Despite being the Managing Director of a 'dot com', I am also the Senior Partner of the Calma Partnership (www.calma.co.uk) an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) provider, offering a unique and dedicated people-support provision for companies throughout the UK. I have extensive EAP experience as a Clinical Manager, Business Development Consultant, Account Manager and Psychotherapist with some of the world's largest EAP providers. Advanced by a recent MPhil, I am a strong believer in the creative evolution of counselling service providers to meet the real needs of people-support and people-development in organisations. I joined ACW (in 1996) because, as a member-led body, I believe we have the collective potential to make a significant and lasting impact on life at work.

Contact: 0141 204 5864 or rickhughes@calma.co.uk

Barry McInnes

I have been on the ACW Executive since 2000 and was Chair of ACW between 2001–2004. I'm committed to developing counselling at work as a distinct sector, and am keen that ACW develops a credible external profile and an internal structure that supports the needs and aspirations of its members. I work as a freelance consultant specialising in service quality and outcomes development, and provide supervision and mentoring for service managers to support this. Prior to establishing myself in the consultancy field I was Head of Counselling for the Royal College of Nursing, a post I held for eleven years.

Contact: 01273 681509 or barry.mcinnes@virgin.net

Paul Barrett

I am currently the manager of HSBC Bank’s EAP and Trauma services, whom I joined in 2001. Prior to that I managed OASIS, a London based staff support service within the NHS, where I worked for 15 years. I have an MSc in Organisational Behaviour/Psychology and whilst my role as a manager makes me primarily responsible for counselling interventions with individuals, I am especially interested in the ways in which counsellors can make a contribution at an organisational level. I am strongly committed, as are all at ACW, to making counselling services an indispensable feature of all good workplace environments.

Contact: 020 7599 3645 or paulbarrett@hsbc.com

Elspeth Schwenk

I am a BACP Accredited Independent Counsellor and Supervisor with a particular focus in developing systemic approaches to the needs of both client and company, especially in the area of re-integration after long term absence. I have also established a specialisation in both 1-1 and group workplace counselling supervision. Exploring the scope of portfolio/affiliate work prompted me to begin a Doctoral programme researching systemic workplace counselling, the multi-tasking roles and the need for career development for workplace practitioners.

Committed to the development of workplace counselling and practitioners, I joined the ACW Executive to promote workplace counselling both within the organisational setting and through the development of training and professional development opportunities.

I believe ACW has a pivotal role in promoting not only best practice in workplace counselling, but also by offering a platform for systemic and strategic integration of practitioners within the workplace.

Contact: 07976 221855 or elspeth@schwenk.me.uk

Shirley Cullup

A BACP accredited counsellor, I originally found my way into counselling from a career as a Human Resources manager with a major brewer. I am now self employed, with over 12 years experience of counselling in the workplace. I was elected to the ACW Executive in June 2002. I enjoy the challenge of moving workplace counselling forward. The various activities of ACW are a great platform for networking both personally and from a corporate aspect. I now have a small private practice in addition to providing outplacement counselling, trauma debriefing and EAP work.

Contact: 01844 281671 or cullups@btopenworld.com

Geoff Holmes

I have joined the ACW Executive in the past year and have found an opportunity, through this group of motivated practitioners, to explore more effective ways of supporting counsellors in the often isolated role of ‘the counsellor’ at work. Feedback from the membership has given some clear pointers as to what our remit should be. As Clinical Director of an Employee Assistance Provider, Care First, I bring valuable experience of working with counsellors, both employed and self-employed, and of helping organisations to find solutions in providing appropriate support to their staff.

Contact: 01452 623200 or geoff.holmes@care-first.co.uk

Kevin Friery

I am Director of Counselling for EAP-provider Right Corecare, having been in post since 2001. Having worked as a manager in the Public, Private and Voluntary sectors, I bring a varied experience to ACW. I have established and managed Primary Care Counselling in the NHS, and have used CORE in a number of settings. I am a BACP-registered Counsellor and Trainer, but also have a background as a Behavioural Psychologist. I am particularly interested in the development of better training for Counsellors to enable them to engage in the complex contracts that can exist in Workplace Counselling settings, and am involved with ACW because I am keen to see it becoming a strong voice to represent this particular aspect of the Counselling profession.