Shirley Gregoire McAlpine

Shirley offers over 16 years of experience as a Learning and Development specialist. Her work demonstrates an appreciation of the link between organisational and individual development and improving business performance. Providing a range of strategic management and organisational development solutions she is known as a coach, facilitator, leader and consultant. She has specialised in diversity and equality, leadership and individual development through coaching. She is always intentionally expanding her portfolio.

Shirley provides diagnostic, design, development and implementation expertise to progress change management programmes. Be that organisational, leadership or individual. She has worked with a wide range of organisations and individuals from both the commercial and charitable sector and central/local government, in the UK, Europe and Africa. Her interpersonal skills enable her to effectively manage relationships and have a personal presence that wins credibility throughout organisations from the most senior to the junior levels.

Recent projects have included the design and delivery of KPMG’s diversity programme for Partners called ‘Daring to be Different’, and consultation on a diversity and cultural sensitivity audit of Cadbury’s graduate assessment centre – reviewing both process and content including the competency framework.

She has expanded into the world of film, and has co-produced and directed a childbirth education DVD called ‘Birthwise’, which involves international leaders in this field. This film seeks to inspire and empower women to be informed about their birth choices and to make the most of their experience of giving birth.

For five years, Shirley was an independent diversity assessor for the National Probation Service for the recruitment of Chief Executives, Senior Staff, Board Chairs and community representatives. Her work has included delivering her Gender as Progress programme to the Board of the International Cooperative Alliance - a subsidiary of the United Nations, and a range of diversity interventions with Shell Corporation in Nigeria, Shell Chemicals, Shell Retail and Shell Expro. At Shell, she was one of a small team of consultants/facilitators who delivered the Diversity Engagement Sessions for the top 1000 leaders. She was also one of a team of facilitators of Diversity workshops in the Home Office and DfES. 

Shirley led transformational programmes to large groups of 100 plus people for six years, working to empower people to have the life they want and fulfil their aspirations.  She also facilitated a Leadership programme at Windsor Castle for emerging leaders. Shirley has undertaken work to raise the awareness of the impact of breast cancer in the black community, leading to some fundamental shifts in outreach to this community by mainstream cancer organisations. An independent business consultant over the last 9 years, Shirley brings business acumen, strategic thinking and a commitment to having all her work make a difference.