who we are
Meet Ben, John, Roger, Ali & Ben:
Founder and Co-Director, Ben Evans
Ben Evans (Chartered MCIPD. FLPI.) is the founder and a company director of Humantalk Limited. With multi-sector experience in leadership, team, and skills development, Ben has been helping humans make the most of themselves and each other since 2005. His passion is developing people through coaching, training, and learning programmes. Each learning experience is crafted using a multi-disciplinary approach, drawing upon the best that human wisdom and experience has to offer and applied to the unique context of the client. Ben holds two degrees - BA (Hons.) from Exeter, and an MA from Durham University - and his interests include neuroscience, psychology, leadership theory, history, theology and design thinking.
Ben is an ICF certified coach, a registered test user for ability and personality with the British Psychological Society, a certified trainer, and an experienced facilitator (both online and face-to-face). He is a member of both the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development and the Institute of Directors, a fellow of the Learning and Performance Institute, and a registered instructor member and associate of Mental Health First Aid England. As well as people development and performance, Ben also loves watches and motorbikes.
You can connect with Ben via email, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
John Steel is a company director of Humantalk Limited.
A solicitor with more than 38 years’ experience, including over 35 as a partner, until retirement in 2014 from the firm now known as Blake Morgan. John holds two masters degrees from Cambridge and De Montfort University. As a former member of both the Charity Law and Education Law Associations, John has shown untiring dedication to serving the common good. He has served as a trustee for the Shaftesbury Society, Lord Wandsworth Foundation, and St Cross Hospital, Winchester. John continues to serve as a trustee of the Winchester Cathedral Trust. John brings a wealth of experience and insight to Humantalk regarding good governance and strategic leadership, as well as a sharp intellect and a dry sense of humour.
John was a councillor of Winchester City Council for 12 years, leader of the council for 3, and Mayor of Winchester in 2002-3. You cannot follow John on social media.
Co-Director, John Steel
Academic Advisor, Dr. Roger Bretherton
Dr. Roger Bretherton is Humantalk’s Academic Advisor. He helps bring an academic rigor to our work and keeps us up-to-speed on the latest relevant research.
Roger is Associate Professor in the School of Psychology, at the University of Lincoln, an HCPC accredited Clinical Psychologist, an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. He is a leading expert in the field of Character Strengths and Virtues- the positive qualities of character related to psychological wellbeing and effective living. His research team is currently investigating the benefits of humility in leaders, the role of mindfulness in character development, a strengths-based approach to pro-environmental behaviours, the role of wisdom in business leadership and character strengths in entrepreneurs.
Roger delivers coaching, training and keynotes in both the public and private sectors.
What Roger has to say about Humantalk:
Ben and the team at Humantalk take exactly the right approach to leadership and team development. The world needs leaders of character, who inject life, meaning and humanity into the people around them. Leaders like that don’t just get the job done, they promote wellbeing and they last the distance. They also invite the teams around them to connect, thrive and
perform. That’s the kind of leader, and the kind of team, Humantalk inspires us to become.
Consultant, Ali Levell
Ali Levell provides consultancy services for Humantalk, specialising in Mental Health First Aid training. Having practised as a senior midwife in leading London hospitals, Ali has over 15 years of experience in frontline medical work including supporting those displaying signs of stress and poor mental health. She also has extensive training experience and a strong understanding of mental health challenges in a variety of contexts (including charities, and faith-based communities). Ali is passionate about making life saving skills accessible to all, increasing the awareness around mental health, reducing the stigma and equipping people to take care of their own and others’ well-being.
You can connect with Ali via email.
Consultant, Ben Slater
Ben Slater also provides consultancy services, specialising in Mental Health First Aid. During his multi-sector career, Ben has taught and trained over 10,000 adults and young people. Focusing on resilience, capacity, stress management and mental health, Ben has worked within specialist educational, behavioural, and medical settings; with faith communities; and for national sporting bodies. His passion is strengthening communities with accessible, life-saving skills
A previous nominee for ‘Teacher of The Year’, Ben was also awarded the Medal of the Order of St Boniface for services to Devon, England in 2021.
You can connect with Ben via email.
Who else? At Humantalk, we believe you do things better (and do better things) when you work well with others. We are fortunate to be able to draw upon the wisdom, expertise, creativity, and support of our advisory team - a generous quartet of individuals, experts in their own fields of learning & development, educational technology, governance and strategy, and entrepreneurialism.
And finally…we wouldn’t be Humantalk without our illustrations - each one as bespoke as one of our sessions. All Humantalk artwork are originals by Beach. Find out more here , or by following him on Instagram.