About Tanya

COACHING FOR CHANGE

I’m Tanya - a change-maker, problem-solver, and passionate advocate for those who help others.

After 25 years as an aid worker, I’ve seen it all. From the front lines of humanitarian crises to the complex pressures of large HQs, I know what it’s like to give everything to a cause—only to face burnout, feel undervalued, and wonder what comes next.

I retrained as a transformative coach. People like you - those who are dedicated to making a difference - deserve support too. Whether you’re starting out in the field, a seasoned professional, or someone ready to make a change, I’m here to help make that journey feel easy, straightforward, and even fun.

I’m lucky to live on the UK’s south coast with my therapy dog Peanut. She’s great at lifting spirits, just like me!

Where it Began

I’ve never quite fit in. School, corporate jobs, traditional spaces - none of them felt right. But that didn’t bother me. I always knew I was different, with a dream to make a difference.

As a teenager, I volunteered at a Romanian orphanage, which gave me my first real insight into humanitarian work. A year later, I had the chance to work alongside Mother Teresa in Calcutta. Those experiences made it clear that aid work was the path I wanted to follow.

My Frontline Work

When I began working as an aid worker in Kosovo in 2000, I finally found my people. I belonged—while still being an outsider in the world around me. It was exhilarating and incredibly rewarding.

Over the next 25 years, I worked across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe and America—an incredible chapter that gave me a deep understanding of the humanitarian sector from every angle.

I've worked as both a generalist and a specialist, at all levels, across NGOs, the UN, the Red Cross, government agencies, and beyond. I know the challenges of navigating high-impact environments firsthand—the pressure, the burnout, and the sense of being stuck. My coaching helps you cut through the noise, regain your direction, and build a sustainable, fulfilling path forward.

My transition to coaching

After years of giving it my all, I hit a wall. I wasn’t alone—friends and colleagues were burning out too, feeling lost and unsure of what’s next. I knew I had to do something.

So I became a coach. To help people like you - those who give so much of themselves - find balance, clarity and a path forward that feels right.

Having received coaching myself, I know it works and opens new doors.

In getting to the root of my own patterns and blockages, the coaching I received has enabled me to put the mechanisms in place to transform both my professional and personal life in a way that has been true to my values.

I hope it helps you as much as it helped me.

Podcast Episode

Coaching uncovered

To hear more about my transition from aid work to coaching, my style, strengths and vision, listen to my podcast on Spotify where I was interviewed by Julie Crabb.

Education & Experience

  • Animas Centre for Coaching 

    Accredited by the International Coaching Federation

  • Country Director, Adviser, Head of Department and Inter-Agency Coordinator.
    Extensive field and HQ experience working with diverse teams in challenging environments, providing strategic guidance, coordination, and leadership.

  • London School of Economics and Political Science

    1996 - 1997

  • Keele University, Staffordshire, UK

    1992-1996

If you’re feeling stuck, exhausted or unsure about what’s next, I’m here to help. Change is possible -
as is a life that works for you.