Testimonials

Jo is an excellent EDI Trainer. I was impressed not just her knowledge about domestic violence in the LGBT community, which is extensive, but also by her depth of understanding of the impact and by her empathy.

 

She is an excellent communicator and importantly, non judgemental.

I found our sessions honest, informative, engaging and open. There wasn’t a topic we couldn’t discuss. Ive really learnt a lot. Thanks Jo.

 

Councillor Alison Thomson

Brighton & Hove Council (Labour Group)

January 2024

 

 

I’m really excited to share how amazing Jo has been in helping us boost accessibility, equality, diversity and inclusion (AEDI). She has truly been a game changer for us!

 

From day one, Jo showed she really got AEDI. She took a deep dive in to our policies, and practices, pointing out exactly where we could improve. Her advice wasn’t just smart- it was practical and perfectly suited to what we needed.

 

What really sets Jo apart is how well she really connects with everyone. She ran sessions that were not only informative but also super engaging. People felt comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences which made the whole process even more impactful.

 

Jo has been fantastic with our staff networks. She offered great advice and support, helping these groups become stronger and more influential. Thanks to her our staff networks are now key players in our diversity strategy making sure everyone’s voice is heard and valued.

 

Jo’s enthusiasm for equality, diversity and inclusion is truly inspiring. She is committed to making real, positive changes and it shows in everything she does.

 

If you are looking to ramp up your AEDI efforts and give your staff networks a real boost, I cant recommend Jo enough. She is knowledgeable, dedicated and just a jot to work with.

 

Quarina Sultana

Head of Digital Engagement / Cochair of BAME Network

RNIB

May 2024

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Jo is brilliant to work with, not only because of her extensive and robust knowledge of all things EDI, but also her experience in designing D&I interventions that are going to be fit for the context they are in. I would also go to Jo to check I’ve got my D&I facts right. She keeps up with all the developments across government, legislation, culture and media.

 

As well as having the subject matter expertise to design programmes of training, I’ve co-delivered D&I training with Jo and witnessed her skills in action. She can hold the room’s attention and maintains a good balance of creating a welcoming, non-judgemental space for learners with confidently challenging unacceptable behaviour and views. Jo has a knack for nudging people out of their comfort zone so they can learn and grow in their D&I knowledge.

 

Amy Potter

Diversity and Inclusion Professional

Innovate UK KTN

May 2024

 

 

Jo is an amazingly talented person on many levels including her skill knowledge and practice as a coach and ED&I specialist.

 

As a member of the OD Academy, we invited jo to share her EDI specialism as part of our seminar and masterclass series. This session created a lot of interest amongst our members and was both enlightening and thought provoking in how it challenged mindsets and behaviours.

 

Jo holds a learning environment and space for people to explore, reflect and corral their feelings and thoughts. She has a great style and approach which is friendly, yet adult and collaborative. This engendered trust, respect, honesty and promoted engagement and an understanding, beyond what was expected by many to be the case.

 

I would highly recommend Jo as a coach, facilitator and consultant and importantly as a role model with great expertise, empathy and compassion as a brilliant human-being.

 

Steve Benfield MODA FCMI FIC

Partner & Founder of the Organisational Development Academy

May 2024

 

 

I have worked with Jo a number of times over the last two years and she consistently finds new and engaging ways to share her knowledge, increasing individuals, leaders and Boards understanding and competence whilst advancing organisational inclusive, accessibility and diversity approaches and strategies to create great places to work in a supportive, positively challenging and thoughtful way.

Jo also offers coaching and mentoring, I have recommended a number of colleagues who have personally and professionally benefitted from wellbeing and career coaching with Jo.

 

Kerry Eldridge FCIPD MODA

Senior People and Transformation Leader, CPO/ HRD, Trustee and Business Owner

April 2024

 

 

I have known Jo for 10 years, having initially met her when we were both in professional roles. I was so impressed by her intelligence, compassion and integrity that I asked her to provide coaching for me once we were no longer working together.

 

Throughout the past decade Jo has provided coaching that has been pivotal to my progress in my career and has protected my mental health. Her non-judgmental support in times of crisis and at crossroads in my professional career has been invaluable. I have felt genuinely valued for being myself and she has been able to remind me of my skills and resources when I have lost sight of these.

 

Jo is my go-to person for all matters concerning equality and diversity and I’ve also used coaching as a safe place to examine whether there are any unconscious biases in my own practice, which is an added dimension -feeling safe enough to discuss my self doubt. In relation to intersectional perspectives, Jo has taken on the role of ‘critical friend’ as well as coach, to keep me questioning and evaluating my practice and my personal values.

 

Jaci Quennell

Social work consultant and psychotherapist

June 2024

 

 

Jo was responsible for the design and delivery of a really success Diversity Mentoring Programme at Brighton & Hove City Council that she managed almost single-handedly. Her expertise in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion is considerable and she was able to get buy in from a range of staff and managers by addressing the key issues for them. Feedback and outcomes from participants were very positive and she has since designed similar programmes for other organisations.

 

Jo’s interpersonal skills are very well developed including her ability to influence and coach senior managers. She is a real EDI expert and can apply her knowledge to develop solutions for the different issues that we face in organisations.

 

Mary Evans

Head of OD and Learning, Human Resources & Organisational Development

East Sussex County Council

June 2024

 

 

Jo and I have been working together since late summer of 2018, after she submitted a proposal as a prospective external consultant and trainer. We have been exploring the details around the delivery of a mentoring programme on behalf of BHCC; which is aligned to a current leadership and culture change programme, and how we could deliver and support managers and staff in a sustainable approach over the coming 2 years.

 

Prior to this I have known Jo for over 5 years as a colleague and mentor. She designed and delivered a progressive, award winning diversity mentoring programme for Brighton & Hove City Council; I was one of the diversity mentors and I also worked alongside Jo as a training

consultant responsible for the effective alignment of the development approach and our management development offer.

 

Jo became my mentor for over a year; which really supported my impact and presence in my working life: I was subsequently appointed to 2 promotions as a project manager, and then as an organisational development consultant. Jo supported my development by providing

really effective challenge and insight underpinning my organisational and people skills in a politically charged environment.

 

Jo would be a credit to your organisation. She’s capable of implementing and leading on cultural change if you have the appetite and can bring people along with her due to her inclusive leadership style. She is able to inspire and challenge the existing culture, engaging with staff at all levels and aligning your organisational drivers with tangible performance

outcomes.

 

She has an engaging training style and a wide knowledge on equalities and inclusion that the audience can’t help but go on the journey with her. Increasing the participants knowledge in equality, diversity and inclusion issues within your organisation as well as addressing issues of inequality and unconscious bias whilst doing so.

 

I believe that it is a great loss to BHCC that we are not in a position right now to take Jo’s proposal forward.

 

Amanda King

Consultant – Learning & Organisational Development, Council Wide Learning & Organisational Development IHR&OD,

Brighton & Hove City Council

July 2019

 

 

Jo Harvey-Barringer, as part of her work at the council, managed the council’s diversity mentoring scheme from 2005 to 2016. In delivering this work, Jo would recruit, coach and provide continuous development to mentors. The scheme was a real success and was well received by staff across the organisation and the various workers’ forums.

 

Using her extensive knowledge and experience of coaching and supporting LGBT employees, Jo designed and delivered the diversity mentoring scheme to an extremely high standard – taking what started as an LGBT scheme across other protected characteristics. Jo demonstrated excellent creativity, determination and collaboration skills working with each of the workers forums to ensure the scheme was bespoke to their staff needs.

 

The evaluation of the scheme was very positive, not only for the mentors and mentees but also the local authority in terms of reducing disputes between staff and formal proceedings initiated. Jo was dedicated to the scheme and worked determinedly through many challenges to ensure there was buy-in, and to address the budget issues in establishing the scheme in a difficult financial climate.

 

The scheme is still remembered by staff that were around at the time and its good reputation has stood the test of time. We are now looking at re-introducing something along similar lines which is testament to the good work done by Jo.

 

Alison McManamon, Head of HR & OD

Brighton & Hove City Council

July 2019

 

 

I took part in the Diversity Mentoring scheme which was supported by Jo. The scheme was one of the most impactful initiatives the Council introduced in supporting diversity. Many employees, in particular those from LGBT and BME background, have stated how helpful they found it.

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Jo was instrumental in making the scheme a success. She was very approachable, supportive, very practical and never lost sight of the ultimate objective of what we were trying to do. I was supported in mentoring someone with special needs; something completely outside my professional or personal experience, but I was able to get help, support and guidance from Jo. She played a central part in the process and I was sorry to see her go.

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Abraham Ghebre-Ghiorghis
Monitoring Officer, Executive Lead Officer (Strategy, Governance and Law)

July 2019