Decades of experience in the field
Our expert faculty of course leaders, trainers, tutors and coaches are all senior hands-on PR and media professionals. We have all lived and worked the topics on which we train.
Accredited Trainer Programme
The Pinnacle Accredited Trainer Programme and provides assurance that your trainers is a proven subject experts as well as an inspiring course leader. Accredited Pinnacle trainers must have at least 15 years’ experience in the field and must be active and innovating in their subject area. We reject around eight applicants for every trainer who successfully joins the Programme.
Trainer profiles
Adrian Wheeler
Adrian is a senior international PR director. As chairman of GCI Europe, he was instrumental in developing a 28-office EMEA network with 53 multi-country clients including Dell, BA, Novartis and Eli Lilly. Adrian is a member of the Vice-Chancellor’s Communications Panel at Cambridge University.
Duncan Farmer
Duncan is an experienced print journalist specialising in finance, business and property. Duncan has written for a wide range of newspapers including The Daily Telegraph, Daily Star and Sunday People, The Sunday Times and the Mail on Sunday.
Elsbeth Smedley
Elsbeth is a senior international PR director with more than 17 years’ experience working both for agencies and in-house. She has managed campaigns at national and international levels across all PR disciplines. Elsbeth is a former head of the PR division of Edelman Public Relations Worldwide’s Brussels office.
Greg de Polnay
Greg has been an actor, director, voice coach and presentation trainer for 35 years. He has trained at the highest level including senior executives at major companies, and prominent celebrities. Greg is a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) and the Institute of Training and Occupational Learning (iTOL).
Philippa Taylor
Philippa is a senior PR professional with more than two decades of experience. Before joining Pinnacle in 2007 she worked for top London PR agencies such as Good Relations and Ketchum. Philippa’s experience spans all major PR disciplines and industry sectors.
Jenni Perry
Jenni is a senior PR strategist with extensive experience in UK national government, working with Ministers and advising senior members of the British royal family. More recently Jenni was UK head of PR for Pfizer.
Lionel Zetter
Lionel is a well-known international communications and public affairs expert, a former President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, and author of “Lobbying: The Art of Political Persuasion”.
Dr Paul Marsden
Paul is a leading international expert in online communications, social media PR, digital marketing and engagement on the Web. Ex-AstraZeneca and a prolific blogger, Paul has led a number of high-profile published communication research projects including at the London School of Economics.
Zena Martin
Zena is an international marketing communications expert with more than 20 years’ of experience in U.S., Europe and Middle East. As a senior director with Hill & Knowlton in London and Managing Director of two PR agencies in the UK, she has managed multinational campaigns across all PR disciplines.
Jon Worth
Jon is a leading online communication expert and blogger with broad experience advising corporations, brands, politicians and governments on digital engagement. Jon was recently voted as one of the top five most influential European bloggers and is regularly cited as a thought leader in the political blogosphere.
Kelly Freeman
Kelly is a senior government communications expert with 25 years’ experience across four UK government departments and Ministries. Kelly is a former Master of the Guild of Public Relations Practitioners.
Petra Harmer-Shrowder
Petra is an international communication expert with 20 years’ experience. While working for Burson-Marsteller, she represented major international brands and events including The Asian Games Doha, Dow Chemical, Metito Overseas, Starbucks, QNB and The Royal College of Surgeons. Petra holds an MBA in marketing.
Philippa Barton
Philippa is a senior events management specialist with more than a 12 years’ experience, including eight years at Goldman Sachs. She has managed $20 million event budgets, directed large teams, and handled high-profile speakers including royalty and top politicians.
Roger Hayes
Roger is a senior international communication professional. He is a former head of PR for Ford of Europe, EMI Music, and Director General of the British Nuclear Industry Forum. Roger has worked extensively as a communication adviser to governments and multinationals in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Veronica Scheubel
Veronica is a prominent international expert on corporate social responsibility. As head of Community Involvement at Nokia she developed and managed the company’s global community involvement program with implementation in more than 20 countries.
Dr Richard Margrave
Richard is a senior communications consultant and political strategist. He served as a communication adviser at Ministerial level and later taught media management and journalism at British and American universities, including the University of Oxford. Richard has a PhD from the London School of Economics.
Philip Dewhurst
Philip is a senior international communications director with more than 30 years’ experience. Philip is a former head of public affairs for Gazprom and BNFL, and UK CEO for Weber Shandwick. Philip has been President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and Master of the Guild of Public Relations.
Felice Hawley
Felice is a versatile editor, writer and broadcaster with in-depth experience of economic and business news, including more than a decade covering European financial markets. During a 15-year career at CNN, she helped create and produce “World Business Today”, the award-winning, live, daily, half-hour financial and business news programme.
Roberta Rossi
Roberta is a senior international communication adviser and media relations specialist. She served as the U.S. government press officer for reconstruction in Iraq, in Kabul as a senior communications advisor, and previously with USAID and the World Food Programme. Roberta began her media career in London with the U.S. broadcaster NBC News.
Gareth Harding
Gareth is an experienced international journalist and communications trainer. After graduating from the London School of Economics he served as a political advisor and speechwriter in the European Commission and Parliament, then turned to reporting on EU affairs for the European Voice, Time Magazine and other media.
Noelle Knox
Noelle is a journalist, writer and trainer with more than 20 years’ experience, including at The New York Times, The Associated Press, Bloomberg and USA Today. Her career in journalism has taken her to dozens of states and nations. Noelle currently writes on EU issues for Europe-wide news network EURACTIV.
Isabelle Leonard
Isabelle is a senior communications consultant with more than 18 years’ experience across multiple nations, sectors and industries. Her specialties include strategic corporate communications, crisis and issues, environmental PR, media relations and financial communications. Isabelle speaks fluent French, English, Dutch and Spanish.
Lian Verhoeven
Lian is a corporate communications consultant and public relations trainer with over 15 years’ experience including seven years at Belgacom, later becoming External Communications Manager and official spokeswoman at InBev. Lian has extensive experience of stakeholder communications and is fluent in Dutch, English and French.
Amy Johnson
Amy is a senior PR professional with more than 15 years’ experience in consumer marketing, corporate communications and public relations. She has directed multinational campaigns in the United States and Europe, and worked with three top-ranked agencies across many countries and industries: Porter Novelli, Weber Shandwick and Hill & Knowlton.
Suzanne Smith
Suzanne has over 15 years international experience in communications and public relations consulting and training. She specialises in social media, corporate messaging, storyline development, creativity, internal communications, crisis communications, media training and presentation training. Suzanne has advised global brands including Nokia, ViaMichelin, Telefónica, IBM and Xerox. She is fluent in English and Spanish.
Julie Garman
Julie has worked for 20 years in communiations and public affairs, starting inside the U.S. Congress and later in the European Parliament. She has experience as a journalist, as a senior policy adviser on public affairs, and as a guest lecturer on lobbying in the EU, environmental policy and various business issues.