Surya has extensive experience in working with executive and senior leadership in the public sector, civil service and higher education and she has excellent verbal communication skills to support this work. Surya is adept at building relationships with set members, understanding the skills and knowledge of individuals and how those skills/knowledge play into complex organisational settings.
An experienced creative facilitator and training consultant Surya has an academic background in law, social policy and creative training. Drawing on her skills as a narrative coach and professional storyteller Surya adds a new dimension to her work as a training consultant and emphasises the importance of narrative in her leadership and organisational development work. Surya is also a founder member of the Centre of Narrative Leadership.
Outside of AL facilitation, Surya is a speaker and has contributed to BBC radio programmes and brings to conversation a fluency and warmth that facilities rapport, trust and depth of communication.
An experienced action learning facilitator Surya delivers sets for Arts Council England, Cultural Cooperation and the Clore Social Leadership Programme and has worked extensively with BAME leaders. She has delivered virtual action learning sets to leaders across the globe as part of a wider British Council Cultural Leadership International programme.
Surya is skilled in the art of listening and the practice of insightful questioning. She believes she brings to action learning a level of observation, clarity, empathy and authenticity that encourages a group to hone their practice of listening and questioning. She is particularly adept at creating atmospheres of trust and openness and bringing cohesion to diverse groups of people. Her experience of working with hard to reach and marginalised groups is reflected in her list of customers.
Surya’s recent customers include the Hayward Gallery, Southbank Centre, Southside Young Leader’s Academy, Great London Authority, Lyric Theatre, Sure Start in Newham and Greenwich, the Museums of London and Docklands, Street Cred Women’s Business Centre, Lambeth Educational Action Zone, Camden Library Service and Kirklees MBC.
