Our people

Dr Sabine Dembkowski is a trusted board advisor who has worked with and alongside companies listed on the FTSE and DAX, global organisations and leading Private Equity and Professional Service firms. Her research into board effectiveness has been peer-reviewed and published internationally.

With a PhD in business management Dr Sabine has established two successful businesses, The Coaching Centre and Better Boards. Alongside her academic qualifications and business acumen, Sabine is also a trained Executive Coach and certified to perform a wide range of psychometric tests.

In her own words she is “Driven by a passion to get down to the nuts and bolts and create real, long-lasting change in organisations”

Alan Connolly is an experienced leader in product and technology development. With over 18 years experience in the sector, he has helped grow businesses from start-ups to global groups. This enabled him to work across multiple markets including the UK, Germany, Australia and US, with different local approaches.

His previous posts have also exposed him to multiple technologies and software languages, enabling him to develop quick problem solving skills and the ability to lead large, agile, multi discipline development teams, resulting in user focused software products.

Alan strongly believes that simple and intuitive technology is the key to building successful businesses and keeping customers happy. Which is precisely what he aims to deliver for Better Boards.

David Press brings nearly three decades of experience in governance recruitment to his board advisory role. Widely respected within the governance community, he has worked closely with Company Secretaries and governance professionals at all levels, supporting the evolution of the function across listed, private and international organisations. As founder of an award-winning specialist recruitment firm, which he scaled and successfully exited to private equity, David has played an active role in elevating the profile of the governance profession through industry initiatives, thought leadership and long-standing market engagement. His insight and sector relationships will support the company’s continued innovation and growth in key markets.

Lan O’Connor brings decades of experience in strategy and transformation. Lan served as Chief Transformation Officer and a member of the Group Executive Committee for the €12bn+ Capgemini Group, where she orchestrated a comprehensive strategic revitalisation across global operations. She successfully navigated complex negotiations while spearheading critical decisions on organisational restructuring, investment priorities, and market positioning. Her roles have involved integrating major acquisitions and launching new global business lines. As a Crown Representative in the Cabinet Office of the UK Government, Lan served at the heart of government, overseeing commercial relationships with selected strategic technology partners.

Carolyn Ferguson is Group Company Secretary of The Go-Ahead Group plc, with over 19 years of board governance and pensions experience. She became a Non-Executive Director of Better Boards due to her belief in the unique data-driven approach of Better Boards, that puts development of the board at the heart of the process and equips them to deal with whatever challenges they may face.

Carolyn has a proven track record of working with boards to the highest of ethical and professional standards, supported by robust corporate governance principles.

A qualified coach and mentor, Carolyn is also a member of ICSA’s Mentoring Community, where she supports students as they go through their professional qualifications