MEET THE TEAM
Our team blends experience in executive coaching, transformation consulting, business and organisational leadership, with psychological training and a passion for human connection.
Garath Symonds
Founder and Executive Coach
Garath is an Executive Coach and Co-Founder at Reconnect. He comes to coaching having been a senior leader in the public sector for more than two decades; experienced in leading large teams, big budgets and major change. A student of systems thinking and systems leadership, he has used these approaches to facilitate ground breaking reforms. He has led organisational change in ambiguous and volatile circumstances and understands the psychodynamics of change leadership first hand.
Garath trained in systems-psychodynamic coaching at the Tavistock Clinic, and is an experienced senior practitioner, accredited by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). Also trained in Advanced Group Facilitation, he is adept at working with teams, helping them make sense of complexity. He has coached internationally with senior leaders across the private, public and social business sectors.
Experienced in leading without answers he has facilitated transformation in organisations, and knows that change starts from within, and our understanding of ourselves. He uses compassion and empathy to build resonant relationships; working with leaders to cultivate the inner resources to lead in uncertain times. If you have somehow lost your way or become stuck in a situation that feels insolvable; Garath’s approach to coaching can help you to grow in awareness of yourself and your system, reconnecting you to your best performance.
Garath Symonds
Founder and Executive Coach
Garath is an Executive Coach and Co-Founder at Reconnect. He comes to coaching having been a senior leader in the public sector for more than two decades; experienced in leading large teams, big budgets and major change. A student of systems thinking and systems leadership, he has used these approaches to facilitate ground breaking reforms. He has led organisational change in ambiguous and volatile circumstances and understands the psychodynamics of change leadership first hand.
Garath trained in systems-psychodynamic coaching at the Tavistock Clinic, and is an experienced senior practitioner, accredited by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). Also trained in Advanced Group Facilitation, he is adept at working with teams, helping them make sense of complexity. He has coached internationally with senior leaders across the private, public and social business sectors.
Experienced in leading without answers he has facilitated transformation in organisations, and knows that change starts from within, and our understanding of ourselves. He uses compassion and empathy to build resonant relationships; working with leaders to cultivate the inner resources to lead in uncertain times. If you have somehow lost your way or become stuck in a situation that feels insolvable; Garath’s approach to coaching can help you to grow in awareness of yourself and your system, reconnecting you to your best performance.
Phil Edelston
Executive Coach
Phil trained at the Tavistock Clinic in systems-psychodynamic coaching. He came to coaching after 20 years of building and growing his own businesses. He Co-founded his first company Mash Staffing, in 2004, just a few years out of University. Mash grew rapidly into a multi-award winning, multinational business with over 150 full time employees working with brands such as Nike, Samsung, BMW and Peloton. In 2020 Mash was successfully merged with Stellar Global and Phil now focuses on his passion of coaching and developing leaders.
As a founder Phil has experienced first hand the challenges we face as leaders within organisations. For his entire career he has had to ask big questions of himself. He has constantly operated outside of his comfort zone whilst dealing with scaling the business, hiring teams and dealing with the challenges that growth brings.
Phil describes this as a journey of self-inquiry and at times vulnerability allowing him to truly understand the steps that help us move forwards. Allowing us to thrive rather than just survive in the workplace. Phil offers his clients a combination of coaching techniques that enable them to help surface the unconscious issues that may be blocking them. Whilst at the same time having had the experience of walking in their shoes at the sharp end of building a company and leading teams.
Phil Edelston
Executive Coach
Phil trained at the Tavistock Clinic in systems-psychodynamic coaching. He came to coaching after 20 years of building and growing his own businesses. He Co-founded his first company Mash Staffing, in 2004, just a few years out of University. Mash grew rapidly into a multi-award winning, multinational business with over 150 full time employees working with brands such as Nike, Samsung, BMW and Peloton. In 2020 Mash was successfully merged with Stellar Global and Phil now focuses on his passion of coaching and developing leaders.
As a founder Phil has experienced first hand the challenges we face as leaders within organisations. For his entire career he has had to ask big questions of himself. He has constantly operated outside of his comfort zone whilst dealing with scaling the business, hiring teams and dealing with the challenges that growth brings.
Phil describes this as a journey of self-inquiry and at times vulnerability allowing him to truly understand the steps that help us move forwards. Allowing us to thrive rather than just survive in the workplace. Phil offers his clients a combination of coaching techniques that enable them to help surface the unconscious issues that may be blocking them. Whilst at the same time having had the experience of walking in their shoes at the sharp end of building a company and leading teams.
Richard Bundy
Systemic Practitioner
Richard qualified as a Systemic Practitioner in 2006 and has worked with international businesses, the public sector and not-for-profit organisations. He holds qualifications in psychodynamic counselling and is adept in enabling organisations to resolve issues and grow.
Richard trained in systemic practice under several world renowned psychotherapists and he now works with groups, sometimes with hundreds of participants to create the systemic awareness that enables organisations to move forward. Richard’s business experience was gained when he formed a boutique tea company supplying Harrods, Harvey Nichols and the Ritz Carlton chain. He also has a passion for music which led him to tour the world with multi-platinum artists as both a musician and a musical director; using his capacity to connect with others to successfully produce several international tours.
Richard’s compassion for people and his skill in psychodynamics enable him to reconnect clients to greater awareness and solve systemic problems within organisations.
Richard Bundy
Systemic Practitioner
Richard qualified as a Systemic Practitioner in 2006 and has worked with international businesses, the public sector and not-for-profit organisations. He holds qualifications in psychodynamic counselling and is adept in enabling organisations to resolve issues and grow.
Richard trained in systemic practice under several world renowned psychotherapists and he now works with groups, sometimes with hundreds of participants to create the systemic awareness that enables organisations to move forward. Richard’s business experience was gained when he formed a boutique tea company supplying Harrods, Harvey Nichols and the Ritz Carlton chain. He also has a passion for music which led him to tour the world with multi-platinum artists as both a musician and a musical director; using his capacity to connect with others to successfully produce several international tours.
Richard’s compassion for people and his skill in psychodynamics enable him to reconnect clients to greater awareness and solve systemic problems within organisations.
Christina Pilkington
Executive Coach
Christina is an experienced and qualified executive coach and organisational consultant, with a leadership background that spans the public, charity and private sectors. She is passionate about seeing organisations flourish and develop. In her 20 years of working in leadership roles, she built organisations from the ground up and led major change programmes in the UK and abroad. Having started her career in corporate finance, working for the Bank of New York and Lloyds, she realised her passion for people and went on to found a charity for people at the margins of our society.
Christina has completed a Masters at the Tavistock Clinic, in Systems-Psychodynamic Approaches to Leadership and Consulting. This approach is central to how she works, as both a consultant and executive coach. She works with leaders to get to the core issues that influence the team and individuals within it. Her clients describe her style as pragmatic, thought provoking and highly effective.
Christina Pilkington
Executive Coach
Christina is an experienced and qualified executive coach and organisational consultant, with a leadership background that spans the public, charity and private sectors. She is passionate about seeing organisations flourish and develop. In her 20 years of working in leadership roles, she built organisations from the ground up and led major change programmes in the UK and abroad. Having started her career in corporate finance, working for the Bank of New York and Lloyds, she realised her passion for people and went on to found a charity for people at the margins of our society.
Christina has completed a Masters at the Tavistock Clinic, in Systems-Psychodynamic Approaches to Leadership and Consulting. This approach is central to how she works, as both a consultant and executive coach. She works with leaders to get to the core issues that influence the team and individuals within it. Her clients describe her style as pragmatic, thought provoking and highly effective.
Sarah Symonds
Reconnect Co-ordinator
Sarah’s role is to connect! She leads on team communications, coordinating our associate network, improving the client experience and the organisation of programmes. She understands coaching because she is a coach: A Licensed Career Coach Practitioner and qualified Executive Coach and Mentor (ILM 7), she knows the business and is able to join the dots for the team. Sarah also holds a Foundation Certificate in counselling and a degree in Business Administration, augmenting interpersonal skills with commercial savvy.
As a former business owner, she co-foundered a contemporary online florist. It was in this role that her talent for elegantly curating products emerged. Sarah’s eye for design, commitment to improving the client experience and ability to connect people, brings the coordinating capacity that makes our business run more smoothly.
Sarah Symonds
Reconnect Co-ordinator
Sarah’s role is to connect! She leads on team communications, coordinating our associate network, improving the client experience and the organisation of programmes. She understands coaching because she is a coach: A Licensed Career Coach Practitioner and qualified Executive Coach and Mentor (ILM 7), she knows the business and is able to join the dots for the team. Sarah also holds a Foundation Certificate in counselling and a degree in Business Administration, augmenting interpersonal skills with commercial savvy.
As a former business owner, she co-foundered a contemporary online florist. It was in this role that her talent for elegantly curating products emerged. Sarah’s eye for design, commitment to improving the client experience and ability to connect people, brings the coordinating capacity that makes our business run more smoothly.
