Bud Development

Everyone that works for Bud has one thing in common: they are energy radiators. Organisational life can drain away your very life force, leaving you flat and exhausted.

Our people have experience, energy and listening ears, but the thing that really sets them apart is the energising effect they have on those around them.

Kate Tapper BA (Hons) PGCE, MBTI

Kate’s talent is getting the best from people. As a facilitator she helps people do their best thinking. As a trainer she inspires growth and learning. As a consultant she liberates ideas and makes them happen. Kate has ten years experience in learning and development, from teaching to organisational change. She is an international conference speaker, most recently presenting in Paris at the OECD conference, Success and Productivity; making your University a great place to work.

Sarah McCowen MA (Hons), DipCAW, MBTI

Sarah’s talent is helping people find meaning in their life and work. She is a professionally trained counsellor and coach with fifteen years experience. As a coach and facilitator Sarah helps people to see past barriers and recognise the wealth of choices they have in any situation. She is a national conference speaker, and is recognised as a leading figure in the development of research staff in the UK.

Alison Bilgin, PRINCE2 Practitioner, MSP Practitioner

Alison’s talent is solving complex organisational problems. With fifteen years experience of project and programme management both in the City and in Higher Education, Alison has a clarity of vision that is second to none. Alison is also a CIPD qualified trainer and has uncanny ability to install project discipline and focused thinking in the most divergent of thinkers.

Catherine Garner MSc, MBTI

Catherine has exuburent energy and a sharp, insightful mind. She has an MSc in Strategic Management and 17 years' experience organising and leading conferences and training events worldwide. She has managed EC-funded research, worked in OD in the health care sector, and has been involved in international voluntary projects. Currently Programme Director with the Leadership Foundation for HE and Associate with Bud Development, Catherine supports a number of universities with their leadership and management development.

Team development partners

Kelly Prosser

Kelly is our resident singer and is the leading light of our ‘Last Choir Standing’ event. She has performed in numerous musical productions and been a soloist at the London Palladium and Her Majesty’s Theatre. Although Kelly undoubtedly has the X factor, she most enjoys working with people and is working towards CIPD qualification in training. Kelly’s exuberant energy and warmth gets the most unlikely people singing and loving it.

Rory Crampton

Forget Handy Andy, meet Handy Ror. Rory is the master craftsman than supports our ‘Scrapheap Challenge’ event. He is an experienced design and technology teacher as well as a skilled professional craftsman. Rory’s practicality and ingenuity is a marvel to behold as he works with teams to create dragsters from bits of wood and rubber bands.

Meet the team