Routes to Resilience
“Testimonials work great. Showing your reviews in quotes has a powerful effect on customers and makes them trust you.”
Harness the Power of Action Learning
In a time when remote work has become the norm, many professionals are experiencing a subtle yet significant erosion of their development opportunities. The absence of spontaneous interactions, mentorship, and the rich tapestry of in-person connections has led to a sense of isolation and missed opportunities for growth. Many report feeling disconnected from their organisation's culture and find it challenging to access development opportunities remotely. So in-person action learning is what I enjoy most - and have facilitated the ongoing Oxford Women Leaders group for 8 years. I also offer online action learning - mostly through the Clore Social Leadership programmes - but also some bespoke requests from organisations.
Why It Works: The Power of Peer Support
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Enhanced Problem-Solving & Innovation
Immediate feedback and diverse viewpoints spark solutions not easily found in isolation or online. -
Strengthened Communication & Listening Skills
Face-to-face work strengthens essential leadership capacities—especially emotional intelligence and active listening. -
Increased Accountability & Momentum
Being physically present with others deepens engagement and commitment to growth. -
Resilience Through Connection
The experience of being truly heard in a supportive space enhances confidence, purpose, and clarity.
"Joining Oxford Women Leaders Action Learning marked a turning point for me in how I feel about my role. Having that independent space, great facilitation of the action learning set model, and valuable peer support has made a huge difference and I no longer feel stressed in the way I used to about work challenges and our organisation is in such a better place. Katharine Barber, CEO Homestart Oxford
“Testimonials work great. Showing your reviews in quotes has a powerful effect on customers and makes them trust you.”
Currently I am working with Dr Aoife O'higgins offering
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Bespoke Action Learning Sets tailored to your context and
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Reflective Practice Sessions for teams or leader
I became and ILM accredited facilitator of action Learning in 2012 and have facilitated hundreds of action learning set hours since then.
Aoife leads evidence-informed practice at Foundations: What Works for Children & Families. Her career spans direct work with vulnerable families, academic research, and national policy. She trained with Action Learning Associates and brings depth, rigour, and clarity to her facilitation.
"I’ve got so much out of the Oxford Women Leaders group, and that’s really down to Annie. She creates such a supportive space but also knows just when to gently challenge you. I always leave our sessions feeling lighter and unstuck - and often on issues I didn't realise I was stuck on before I started talking!"
Amy Lockwood – CEO Organise. 2025
I have worked with Annie for several years and would highly recommend her as a group facilitator. Her calm and thought-provoking approach to action learning made the experience very meaningful. Jodie Lloyd-Jones (she/her)
CEO - Oxfordshire Youth
“Annie's Action Learning set was without doubt the most effective professional support and development opportunity of my CEO years. With deep wisdom and sensitivity, Annie creates safe spaces for vibrant conversations and learning. No matter how complex or draining the issues I brought to the group, I emerged from each session feeling nurtured, calm and hopeful. The coaching and facilitation tools Annie shared along the way were a bonus that enriched my supervision and support of my teams.”
Tamsin, former Chief Executive of Elmore Community Services and Chair of the Oxfordshire Anti-Slavery Network.