IOIC Festival: North.

David Cooke

Change and Engagement Lead, Home Office

David started his career as a financial services journalist, editor and copywriter before working for seven years as a communication consultant for a large US-based pensions and benefits provider. Since joining the Civil Service in 2009, he has had stints at UK Border Agency, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Home Office, where he has headed up HR communications and led on numerous corporate internal communications campaigns. He has worked closely with several Permanent Secretaries on their internal communication and has a particular interest in the role of internal comms professionals in supporting leaders to engage effectively with their people.

Accredited by the International Association of Business Communicators, David has also been on the editorial board of the Government Communication Service’s IC Space. Outside of work, he is a keen musician and tennis player and speaks French and Spanish.

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Jo Hall

Internal Communication Consultant and Coach

Jo Hall is an Internal Communication Consultant and Coach with over 20 years' experience in employee communication, global leadership and change management across pharma, finance, tech and digital industries. She is a Fellow of the IOIC, a Lead Trainer and Assessor for the Advanced Diploma, and designs and delivers the IOIC's Measurement & Evaluation course. 

Jo holds an MA in Internal Communication Management and is co-authoring a book with Anthony Monks on Measuring the Impact of Internal Communication, due for publication in May 2027.

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Timandra Harkness

Writer, broadcaster and presenter

Timandra Harkness is a writer, broadcaster and presenter of shows including BBC Radio 4’s FutureProofing and BBC Radio documentaries Data, Data Everywhere, and Divided Nation.

She has written for publications including the Telegraph, Guardian, Sunday Times, BBC Focus, WIRED and the New Statesman. She was resident reporter on all eight seasons of social psychology series The Human Zoo, and is regularly asked to comment on science, technology and statistics in the news.

Timandra’s book Big Data: does size matter? was published in 2016, with her second non-fiction book, Technology is Not the Problem, published in 2024. 

After performing improvised and stand-up comedy, she formed the first comedy science double-act in the UK with neuroscientist Dr Helen Pilcher. She co-wrote and performed Your Days Are Numbered: The Maths of Death, with stand-up mathematician Matt Parker. 

Timandra is a member of the Royal Statistical Society Council of Trustees, and chairs the editorial board of their journal, Significance.
 

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Andrea Law

Founder, Enthuse Communications

Andrea Law is the founder of Enthuse Communications, the internal communication consultancy she set up over a decade ago. She has spent more than 25 years in business communication and has seen what happens to a culture, and to business performance, when an organisation gets it right with its people.

Fourteen of those years were spent in-house at Warburtons, Britain's biggest baker, and at the Co-operative Group during its year of crisis, reaching thousands of colleagues spread across bakeries, depots, shops and offices.

Andrea now uses her award-winning expertise, and her enthusiasm, to help organisations engage workforces split across shifts, sites and supply chains. Clients range from Kellogg, the MND Association and Nuffield Health to Cadent Gas, the University of Warwick and Wernick Group.
 

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Samantha Lubanzu

Speaker, Coach and Author

Samantha Lubanzu is a multi-award-winning HR and inclusive leadership strategist, keynote speaker, coach and best-selling author with 20 years’ experience in global HR.

A TEDx and keynote speaker, she helps organisations move beyond tick-box approaches to inclusion, embedding ED&I into culture, leadership and business strategy.

A former Chair of CIPD Manchester and trustee of WeMindTheGap, Samantha brings practical insight and experience to internal communicators seeking to challenge constructively, influence leaders with confidence and become more persuasive strategic advisers on inclusion and organisational change at scale.

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Anthony Monks

Communications Leader and PR Director

Anthony Monks is a communication leader and PR Director with 15+ years’ experience across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, including the NHS. 

He specialises in internal communication strategy, leadership communication and impact measurement, helping organisations understand how communication influences behaviour, confidence and trust. Anthony holds a Master’s degree in Internal Communication Management.
 

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Jon Salthouse

Behavioural Economist and Founder, Prologue Communications

Jon is a behavioural economist and founder of Prologue Communications. 

He helps complex organisations adopt new ways of working by applying behavioural science, change management and creative communication. 

Jon and his team partner with HR, Communication and Transformation teams at organisations including Aldermore Bank, UK National Nuclear Laboratory and the Medical Protection Society. 

Outside of work, Jon is a keen gardener and cat-dad to his Bengal called Rose.
 

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Jennifer Sproul

Chief Executive, Institute of Internal Communication

Jennifer is responsible for the leadership of IOIC, the only independent professional body solely dedicated to internal communication. IOIC is the voice of internal communication, setting standards for more than 70 years through qualifications, career development, thought leadership and best practice.  

Prior to joining IOIC, Jennifer has worked for over 20 years in professional associations, most recently as Strategic Marketing & Sales Director at the Market Research Society, developing and leading on activities across marketing communications (both internal & external), careers, membership, professional development and publishing. ­­­

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Sonia Squires

Head of Communication, Citizen Housing

Sonia is Head of Communication at Citizen Housing. Sonia started her career in higher education where she worked with under-represented groups, supporting young people to achieve their potential. She then found her calling with internal communication, working for the NHS, AQA and most recently social housing.

Sonia’s passion is supporting leaders with their communication so that they develop a greater connection with their teams. Her MBA dissertation  focused on the importance of leadership in employee engagement and the significant impact it has every day.

In her spare time Sonia is dancing in the kitchen with her two young daughters and cheering on Derby County.

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Dominic Walters

Leadership Communication Specialist and IOIC President

Dominic is President of the IOIC.

He has specialised in leadership and line manager communication and development for over 25 years. He has worked in senior ‘in-house’ roles and as a coach and consultant in the UK, Europe, Asia and the US, supporting leadership teams across a range of sectors.

He has also featured in print, podcast, TV and radio promoting effective leadership communication. Dominic has worked with leadership teams in finance, pharmaceuticals, engineering, healthcare and public sector.

Dominic is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, and past national Chairman, Governance Adviser and Fellow of the Institute of Internal Communication. He has developed the audiobook, ‘Leading Inside Out’ in conjunction with IOIC.

 

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Alex Wilson

Enthuse Communications

Alex has a broad range of communication experience having worked agency-side, as a freelance consultant and in house for nine years at The Co-op. At Enthuse she has worked with clients on change, internal communication and employee engagement projects in sectors spanning Utilities, Hospitality, Manufacturing, Retail, Healthcare and Higher Education.

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