Our Team
At Living Systems, we’re a collective of leadership experts, organisational psychologists, facilitators, coaches, designers, and immersive learning pioneers—brought together by a shared mission: to help people and organisations thrive in complexity.
Blending insight, creativity, real-world experience and human-first approach, we design and deliver transformational development programmes that help leaders, teams, and organisations thrive in complexity.
Ian Byrne,
Founder & CEO
Complexity thinker. Leadership pioneer. Human systems expert.
Ian doesn’t just help organisations change—he helps them evolve. With a foot in the boardroom and a heart in human systems, Ian blends decades of senior-level transformation experience with deep psychological insight to guide leaders through complexity, uncertainty, and meaningful change.
As the founder of Living Systems, he works with boards and senior teams to spark strategic shifts, grow Collective Intelligence, and shape cultures that actually work—for people and performance.
Ian holds an MA from Oxford and an MSc in Complexity Science and Organisational Transformation. He’s also a trained Gestalt psychotherapist, which means he’s fluent in the complex, brilliant world of group dynamics, leadership development, and the art of real human connection.
In short: Ian helps leaders see more, sense more, and do more—together.
Helen Franklin,
Leadership Development & Psychology
Relational strategist. Leadership coach. Presence catalyst.
Helen helps leaders show up—not just with skills, but with soul. With over two decades of experience as a coach, facilitator, and organisational consultant, she designs leadership programmes that go beneath the surface—transforming how people relate, lead, and collaborate in real time.
A qualified Gestalt psychotherapist with a background in acting (credits include the West End), Helen brings a rare mix of psychological depth, embodied wisdom, and creative spark to her work. With a diploma in Organisational Change and a Master’s in psychotherapy, she knows how to create spaces where insight turns into impact.
Her superpower? Helping leaders tune into themselves and each other—building the kind of trust, presence, and courage that teams can feel.
Elen Davies,
Team Development & Culture Change
Culture Shaper. Team Whisperer. Collaboration Architect.
Elen helps teams click—not just on paper, but in real life. With over 15 years of experience working with executive teams and leadership groups, she knows what it takes to shift culture, spark collaboration, and boost performance without losing the human touch.
Trained in NTL, Gestalt, and somatic approaches, Elen brings a rare blend of depth and practicality to her work. Whether she’s unlocking feedback cultures or untangling cross-functional chaos, her strategies are grounded, results-driven, and always people-first.
A founding force in Living Systems’ Collective Intelligence approach, Elen helped shape its philosophy from the ground up—and continues to bring it to life through transformative experiences like Starship Academy.
She’s the one you want in the room when things get complex—and the one who’ll help your team find clarity, connection, and momentum.
Jenny Mackewn,
Whole Systems & Transformation
Systems change agent. Complexity translator. Regenerative leader.
Jenny doesn’t just think in systems—she feels them. A leading voice in whole-system transformation, complexity theory, and Gestalt psychology, she’s spent her career helping organisations and communities navigate deep, lasting change. With one foot in academia and the other firmly in the real world, Jenny brings both rigour and heart to every conversation.
As a psychotherapist and programme leader at Schumacher College, she’s all about translating the beautiful, tangled principles of living systems into practical, human-centred approaches to resilience. She previously led the MSc in Complexity and Transformative Leadership at Metanoia Institute (part of Middlesex University), and continues to shape the conversation on what meaningful transformation really looks like.
Whether she’s guiding a roomful of leaders or holding space for systems to shift, Jenny helps people see the bigger picture—and step into it.
Adam Kotz,
Immersive Learning
Storyteller. Shape-Shifter. Immersive Guide.
Adam turns development into drama—in the best possible way. A seasoned actor with a career that spans the National Theatre, RSC, Cheek By Jowl and the West End, Adam brings a deep well of theatrical craft to his work with Living Systems.
You might’ve seen him on screen in The Last King of Scotland, Nightwatching, Touching Evil or Torn. But it’s in the training room where his true magic unfolds—using immersive role play and storytelling to challenge assumptions, shift perspectives, and unlock real human insight.
Offstage, he’s also a passionate musician, happily switching between guitar, banjo, and mandolin—because one creative outlet just isn’t enough.
When Adam’s in the room, learning comes alive—and transformation feels like a story you want to step into.
Rob Thurner,
Digital Strategy Partner
Digital innovator. Strategy builder. Connector of ideas and execution.
Rob plugs the future into the present. As a strategist, digital innovator, and founder of consultancy Burn The Sky, he brings a bold dose of experimentation and tech-savvy thinking to the world of leadership and organisational development.
Partnering with Living Systems, Rob helps organisations not just keep up with change—but get curious, get creative, and get ahead. From American Express to GSK, HSBC, John Lewis, O2, PwC to global agency networks like Dentsu, WPP and Omnicom, his client list reads like a who's who of businesses ready to shake things up.
Rob’s magic lies in fusing strategy, mindset, and emerging technology to unlock momentum—supercharging Living Systems programmes with new energy, fresh perspective, and just the right amount of digital experimentation.
Rosie Rycroft,
Operations & Client Delivery
Integrator. Organiser. Powerhouse behind the scenes.
Rosie is the quiet force that keeps everything humming. From first hello to final handshake, she makes sure every Living Systems programme flows with clarity, care, and precision.
With over 20 years’ experience in marketing and ops leadership—at tech heavyweights like Informix and Ascential—Rosie knows how to keep complex systems running without a hitch. Her superpowers? Sharp instincts, calm confidence, and the kind of behind-the-scenes magic that turns good experiences into great ones.
She’s the operational backbone of our work: keeping the wheels turning, the dots connected, and our clients feeling fully supported every step of the way.
Lana Rose,
Head Of Marketing
Brand Storyteller. Marketing Alchemist. Creative in the wings.
Lana doesn’t just market—she connects. As the creative force behind Living System’s marketing, she blends bold ideas with sharp strategy to tell stories that land, stick, and spark real engagement.
From websites to social feeds, emails to ad campaigns, Lana has the whole digital sphere covered. She’s a master of multi-channel magic—combining data-driven thinking with heart-led storytelling to craft narratives that feel as good as they perform.
A certified yoga teacher and psychotherapist-in-training, Lana brings a rare kind of depth to her work—infusing every strategy with creativity, psychology, and a deep sense of community. The result? Marketing that doesn’t just sell, but resonates.
She’s the one making sure our voice is clear, our message is human, and our impact runs deeper than just clicks.