UK Coaching Solutions Board

Michael has considerable financial and commercial experience gained in both the private and public sector. A chartered accountant, he has over 30 years’ experience in a wide range of organisations, ranging from a founding partner in a start-up sales promotion agency through to senior financial and operational roles in complex global financial services organisations.

In addition, he led the Commercial function within NHS Digital before acting as an advisor to the Council of Health Insurance in Saudi Arabia. 

Michael brings extensive financial expertise, governance, organisational change and transformation skills. Since 2019 he has been a member of the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and is Chair of their Members Board. 

Michael is a strong advocate of the critical role of coaches in helping individuals realise their true potential. He has a keen interest in a wide variety of sports and is an Honorary Steward at the Wimbledon Championships.

Katie has served on the board of UK Coaching for 3 years, is on the Nominations Committee and a director of UK Coaching Solutions.

Katie is a digital product leader with over 20 years’ experience shaping and delivering customer-focused technology in fast-growing organisations such as Amazon, WorldFirst and BeautyPie. She began her career in corporate finance before moving into product leadership, where her work has centred on using technology to help organisations scale, transform, and better serve the people who rely on them.  Alongside senior in-house roles, Katie has also provided product consultancy and advisory support to growing businesses. 

She is deeply committed to supporting leaders and teams, working now as an executive coach and offering her time as a mentor through One Million Mentors.

Katie is a keen spectator of sport at a grass-roots level and has witnessed in her children, the impact and power of sport and great coaching.

Committees: Nominations Committee and a Non-Executive Director of the UK Coaching Board. 

Nicola has over 20 years’ experience within a variety of education contexts, spanning higher education, general qualifications and vocational, technical and professional qualifications. Her interests include assessment validity within a professional body context, accessibility in qualifications, and engaging with the learner experience of assessment.

She is the Qualifications and Assessment Director and Responsible Officer at the Chartered Insurance Institute, overseeing the development and review of qualifications for insurance and personal finance professions and leading the quality management of the awarding organisation. She is also a trustee of the British Accreditation Council. She holds a PhD in Classics from the University of Reading and a Postgraduate Certificate in Educational Assessment and Examinations from the University of Cambridge and Cambridge Assessment, as well as professional qualifications in financial services, risk and project management. 

As an avid enthusiast for sports and fitness, she is a member of running and martial arts clubs and is currently undertaking sports coaching qualifications.

Nicola is the UK Coaching Solutions Board's Senior Independent Director.

Karim Harbott is a non-executive director, board advisor, and executive educator with deep expertise in strategy, AI governance, and transformation. He works with FTSE-250 boards, executive teams, and government organisations to strengthen governance, responsibly oversee digital disruption, and achieve sustainable competitive advantage. 

With a career spanning more than two decades, Karim has led transformation and innovation programmes at McKinsey, Barclays, and Lloyds, and advised leaders in financial services, technology, and the public sector. He is a fellow of both the Institute of Directors and BCS, and a faculty member at the IoD, where he teaches the Strategy for Directors and Leadership for Directors modules. 

Passionate about sport and sports coaching, Karim is a former professional tennis player, holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a master's degree in innovation and entrepreneurship. He is the author of the best-selling book The 6 Enablers of Business Agility: How to Thrive in an Uncertain World, widely used by boards and executives globally, and he writes AI in the Boardroom, a newsletter providing practical insights for directors navigating the risks and opportunities of AI. 

Karim is the UK Coaching Board's Senior Independent Director, the Board's Cyber Security Champion and is a Non-Executive Director of the UK Coaching Board. 

Committees: Finance, Audit & Risk and Nominations.  

Chris is a Board Advisor, Growth Consultant and Non-Executive Director, helping leaders in the Marketing sector to grow successful business by sharing the experience he’s gained over the past 25 years.

Chris spent 10 years helping grow Search Laboratory into one of the UK’s largest independent digital marketing agencies with over 150 staff across offices in Leeds and Austin, Texas, and ultimately leading the company to its acquisition by Havas Media Network in 2022 during his time as CEO. 

Before moving into agency leadership, Chris spent 15 years working in senior commercial roles in the UK, US and Europe, implementing sales and marketing strategies that have delivered millions of pounds of revenue growth. 

As a keen cyclist, runner and occasional triathlete, Chris strongly believes in the positive impact that sport can have on both physical and mental wellbeing.

Ben has worked in digital and technology for over 20 years. Before joining UK Coaching, he worked for global organisation Aalberts Industries in technology, supply chain, logistics and distribution.

Ben has overseen the technology strategy for UK Coaching Solutions for eight years.

Ben has a BSC (Hons) in Systems, Analysis, and Design from Leeds Beckett University and lives in Leeds with his wife and two children. 

He enjoys holidays and travel and is a keen football fan.

Other roles:

Director of Technology – UK Coaching Solutions

Executive Director (ex-officio capacity)