Board of Trustees

In 2009 Karen was the first coach from outside North America to serve as president of the International Coach Federation. Before serving as 2009 ICF President, she served as  President of the International Coach Federation Australasia (2005), Secretary/Treasurer of ICF Global (2007) and President-Elect of ICF Global (2008).

She has 16 years of successful experience in coaching, training, facilitating and consulting. She has worked in both the private and public sector.

Karen is a facilitation and coaching professional: she is a leader, a leadership and team coach and a trainer of coaches. She is Director of Coaching for Coachbroker Pty Ltd, a company that matches quality coaches with the corporate world.

An engaging presenter on all aspects of coaching, interpersonal and team communication, Karen's coaching, facilitation and training skills are based on a sound knowledge of change processes, human behaviour, communication and group dynamics. She notices where a group (or an individual) is, in terms of commitment and involvement throughout a process. Karen is able to show empathy and manage emotions (both her own and those of the individual and/or group members). She believes that skilled coaching and facilitation contribute to the overall improvement of insight, understanding and ability to work toward a preferred future.  In addition it builds individual capacity to work constructively through conflict, which has flow-on benefits in all spheres of organisational and private life.

Karen values how her profession calls on her to continue her own learning - as a professional and as a person.

Diane Brennan, MCC
Since the year 2000, Diane Brennan, MBA, MCC, has been engaged as an independent coach and consultant. She interacts with organization leaders, physicians and business owners as an individual and team coach. Her expertise in this capacity has involved her in disciplines as varied as performance management, leadership development, conflict resolution and process improvement. A key strength exhibited throughout her professional career has been her ability to bring people together, to help them gain perspective, build successful relationships and achieve results.

Diane served as the 2008 President of the International Coach Federation (ICF) and the 2009 President of the ICF Foundation. She has been an ICF member since beginning her coaching practice. She was the driving force behind the founding of her local chapter in Tucson, Arizona, serving as the chapter's first president in 2001. Diane served as the co-chair of the ICF Regulatory Committee (2003-2004) and was elected to the ICF Board of Directors in 2004. As a member of the ICF Board, Diane has had the opportunity to work with coaches around the world, and has had the singular experience to observe coaching at various stages of development and presence.

A Master Certified Coach with the ICF, Diane received her initial training at Coach University. Her continual pursuit of advanced education opportunities led to a certification in Evidence Based Coaching from Fielding Graduate University. She serves as Curriculum Consultant for the year-long Evidence Based Coaching Program at Fielding Graduate University.

Diane is co-editor and contributing author of the book, The Philosophy and Practice of Coaching: Issues and Insights for a New Era by John Wiley and Sons, Inc. (www.practiceofcoaching.com) She is a graduate of Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania with a master's in business administration and has been honored with the designation of Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives. Prior to coaching, Diane spent over 20 years in senior management, executive and clinical practice positions within private and publicly traded healthcare organizations.

Paula Cushing
Paula is Director of Sales Learning within IBM's Center for Learning and Development, a position she has held since 2008. In this role, Paula and team are transforming IBM's sales learning strategy by developing and deploying innovative learning solutions that are broadening and deepening the expertise of IBM's 38,000 sellers, accelerating their productivity and enabling them to deliver exceptional client value and grow profitable revenue. In addition, Paula is a member of a select team of executives who pioneered a cultural transformation focused on Sales Eminence, to reinvigorate IBM's venerated sales culture by ensuring that every seller develops and continually improves skills and expertise that are valued in the marketplace and by IBM's clients.

Throughout her IBM career, Paula has been focused on selling, sales leadership and IBM's seller community. She joined IBM in 1985 as a Systems Engineer and Sales Representative, supporting large banks, financial institutions and insurance companies. She has held various positions within IBM's Sales and Distribution business group, including Sales Leader, Marketing Strategist, and Operations and Strategy Executive to Sector General Managers. Paula joined IBM's Management Development organization in 2003 as a Leadership Consultant, prior to being promoted to Manager, Global Management Development Programs. While in that role, Paula orchestrated the design of IBM's Coaching Strategy and associated development offerings. In 2006, she was named Director, Sales Learning Global Engagement and Deployment, while holding a leadership position in IBM's Client Value Initiative, which, among other things, identified new client buying behaviors and resulted in a new selling methodology being adopted by the company's sellers.

Silvia Tassarotti, MCC
Partner of TCP Italy, Tassarotti has been a professional coach, trainer and consultant to major companies for more than 15 years working internationally. With a strong business background earned across Europe, her passion is providing effective coaching and training, successful strategic change and leadership programs linked with social, business and personal benefits. She holds an MBA in human resources management from City University Business School of London, where she is visiting Professor in Organizational Behavior and Change on the same master.

She has published several books, enjoys public speaking and has been a presenter in Italy and abroad. She is Past President of ICF Italy, and Program Director of the Italian Diploma in Advanced Executive Coaching (ACTP). She is passionate about making the difference in the world through coaching and works with international NGOs to develop CSR projects and peace making initiatives. She also works with global institutions which support peace and sustainability in order to create a stronger bridge with the corporate world.

Sir John Whitmore
Director

Sir John Whitmore is Executive Chairman of Performance Consultants. He is a pre-eminent thinker in leadership and organizational change and works globally with leading multinational corporations to establish coaching management cultures and leadership programmes. He has written five books on leadership, coaching and sports, of which Coaching for Performance is the best known having sold 500,000 copies in 17 languages. 

Honoured with the President's Award by International Coach Federation, rated as the Number One Business Coach by the Independent newspaper,  Sir John is is one of the leading figures in the international coaching community with activities and operations globally. Sir John founded Performance Consultants with partners David Hemery and David Whitaker after originally forming The Inner Game in the United Kingdom following a period of studying and working with Tim Gallwey and Bob Kriegel in the United States. They were the first to formulate the coaching processes and create experiential learning to overcome the inner obstacles to human potential and high performance such as fear, doubt and limiting beliefs

Past ICF Foundation Board Members

2011
President: Karen Tweedie, PCC
Director: Diane Brennan, MCC
Director: Sylviane Cannio, MCC
Director: Paula Cushing
Director: Ruth Ann Harnisch
Vice President: Janet Harvey, MCC
Director: Beverley Wright, PCC

2010
President: Karen Tweedie, PCC (Australia)
Past President: Diane Brennan, MBA, MCC, (USA)
Director: Sylviane Cannio, MCC (Belgium)
Director: Ginger Cockerham, MCC (USA)
Director: Ruth Ann Harnisch (USA)
Director: Ed Modell, PCC (USA)
Director: Silvia Tassarotti, MCC (Italy)
Director: Barbara Walton, MCC (USA)
Director: Beverley Wright, PCC (USA)

2009
President: Diane Brennan, MBA, MCC, (USA)
President-Elect: Giovanna D'Alessio, MCC (Italy)
Director: Sylviane Cannio, PCC (Belgium)
Director: Ginger Cockerham, MCC (USA)
Director: Ruth Ann Harnisch (USA)
Director: Barbara Walton, MCC (USA)
Director: Beverley Wright, PCC (USA)

2008
President: Kay Cannon, MCC (USA)
Treasurer: Karen Tweedie, PCC (Australia) 
Vice President: Ginger Cockerham, MCC (USA)
Vice President: Barbara Walton, MCC (USA)