FIONA HOWARD
Facilitator
Registered Clinical Psychologist
Fiona brings 30 years’ psychological experience to Umbrella: “I have always been drawn to positive psychology, and finding strengths-based ways to help people flourish in challenging workplaces. Whilst I love psychological theory and research, my clients have taught me that this needs to be communicated in a way that’s inspiring and practical and, I believe, available to as many people as possible.”
Fiona has been a clinical psychologist for more than 30 years, initially in adult mental health and addictions services, and then for most of her career she led the University of Auckland clinical psychology intern programme, teaching and mentoring trainee psychologists, and managing stakeholder relationships. There she specialised in positive psychology, managing stress and wellbeing, professional supervision, leadership, addiction, and motivational interviewing. She has researched and published in the areas of professional supervision, leadership and developing resilience in the workplace. Fiona has been a frequent presenter at workshops and conferences both locally and internationally.
Alongside this, she has run a psychology practice providing therapy to people with relationship, mental health, wellbeing, or addiction issues and professional supervision to a variety of health professionals and teams. She has also had many years of experience on executive committees and boards of trustees and has led teams and groups through organisational change and challenging times.
Speaking about her interests, Fiona says, “How we build our resilience and wellbeing whilst we navigate busy and demanding lives and careers has become a core driver of my work. People often give their all to their work – and when appropriately equipped, we can grow and thrive at work. It’s a win-win situation for both the employer and the employee. I enjoy working with people on this journey, helping them gain insight into the psychological skills and knowledge that supports their wellbeing and professional development.”
Need a speaker?
Contact Umbrella for an inspirational speaker on mental health, practical tips and solutions for improving employee wellbeing and healthy workplaces. Our presentations and keynotes are often described as a conference highlight.