Deryl Dix

Personal Profile

Deryl is a learning and development professional with an established track record of delivering on wellbeing in the workplace and in leadership development. Deryl works independently as a facilitator, trainer, and consultant.

In addition to working throughout the UK, Deryl has worked internationally, frequently delivering programmes in France, Belgium, Germany, China, India, and Singapore to a wide variety of audiences from many backgrounds and differing industries.

Deryl’s professional experience has included being Director of Family Planning Association (FPA) Wales for ten years and employment at Director level in a further two UK wide charities. In addition, Deryl is affiliated to numerous organisations as an associate.

A clear, confident communicator, Deryl works with sensitivity to support the development of individuals, teams, and organisations. Her general approach can be described as inclusive, enthusiastic, and innovative. With a background in drama and theatre, creative methods are frequently utilised. Deryl is also qualified to teach mindfulness courses and integrates a long-standing interest in mindfulness into all aspects of her work.

Key Skills

Design of learning interventions, Training, Facilitation, Communication, Building Relationships, Developing Self-awareness, Change Programmes, Leadership and management development, Online delivery, Influencing, Mindfulness and Well-being at work, Equality & Diversity.

Background and Experience

Early in her career, Deryl joined Heartbeat Wales (a ground-breaking large-scale public health initiative that sought to reduce levels of coronary heart disease) in a public affairs role. This involved working with the media, community influencers, relevant health professionals such as environmental health teams and directly with the public through events and exhibitions.

Following this Deryl took on her first leadership role for a sexual health agency as director of FPA Wales. Sexual health was not always a popular cause and required a high degree of communication and influencing skills. In this role Deryl managed dispersed teams and formed effective and collaborative working relationships with: Politicians, civil servants, funders, clinicians, media representatives and board members.

Since the successful establishment of her own training and consultancy business, Deryl has designed and delivered numerous development interventions for a wide variety of clients. This has included working with cross cultural groups and senior managers.

The principles of inclusion, equality and diversity are core to Deryl’s personal values. She also has considerable experience in providing training to managers and practitioners in these areas. A recent example is ‘Leading Inclusive teams’ This programme was delivered to managers working across all UK Government departments as part of the CSL (Civil Service Learning) Contract. Separate programmes have also been provided for the Met Office, The Research Councils and HMRC.

At practitioner level she has designed and delivered programmes that focus on service delivery. For example, for mainstream business advisors as part of the Potentia project which aimed to expand and diversify the business community in Wales by increasing the levels of businesses established by people from under-represented groups.

Additionally, many leadership programmes designed and delivered by Deryl include work around inclusion as a necessary foundation for ensuring psychological safety in the workplace. A recent example is a programme for matrons working in the NHS. This is currently being delivered for the Bath RUH and Swindon GWH.

Deryl is a qualified and experienced counsellor and in recent years much of the focus of her work has been around mental health in the workplace. This has included managing stress, mental health awareness and building resilience. In this capacity she has designed and delivered several large-scale programmes for Airbus, IPO (Intellectual Property Office) and CSL (Civil Service Learning).

Deryl’s thesis for her MSc in ‘Mindfulness-based Approaches’ was based on research into mindfulness-based approaches incorporated into leadership development programmes.

Areas of Expertise

Well-being, Stress management & Building Resilience, Mental Health Awareness, Management & Leadership development, Facilitation, Groupwork, Training Trainers, Team Building, Action Learning Sets, Mindfulness, Mentoring, Supervision, Building effective relationships, Developing Self-awareness, Emotional Intelligence, Communication Skills, Assertiveness training, Inclusion & Diversity.

Professional Qualifications, Accreditation

Mindfulness-Based Approaches – Bangor University
Certificate of Teaching Mindfulness in the Workplace – Oxford University
Certificate of Competence in Teaching MBSR – Bangor University
British Psychological Society Licensing Certificates in Psychometric Testing Level A & B plus OPP, Oxford.
INLPTA Certified NLP Practitioner, Cardiff
Intermediate Certificate in Systemic Family Therapy, The Family Institute, Cardiff
Introductory Certificate in Systemic Family Therapy, The Family Institute, Cardiff
Post-graduate Diploma in Counselling – University of Wales
Certificate in Group Relationships and Interpersonal Skills, FPA, London
Ed. (Hons) Drama & Education, - University of Wales

Clients