Maria Norris

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT MARIA NORRIS

I’m Maria, a leadership and wellbeing consultant, experienced in COO and Strategy roles, Vice Chair, and Transformative Coach. My career has been shaped by one driving force: a belief that people and organisations thrive best when strategy and humanity go hand in hand.I began my professional journey as a nurse, working in A&E, addictions, and mental health. Those early experiences taught me deep empathy, active listening, and how to stay calm in the hardest of circumstances.From there, I transitioned into leadership, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer for a pioneering wellbeing organisation. In this role, I led strategy, culture, and service development, building innovative models that challenged stigma and reshaped how services worked with the NHS and community partners. I also oversaw evaluation, reporting into commissioners, and embedding lived experience at the heart of service delivery.Alongside this, I serve as Vice Chair of a domestic abuse charity. Here, I bring governance and strategic oversight, contribute to finance and organisational priorities, and champion survivor voice in decision-making.Through my consultancy, The Change Agents, I partner with organisations to strengthen leadership and culture. I’ve designed and delivered ChangeWell and LeadWell, two flagship programmes that have supported 100+ leaders to build confidence, resilience, and clarity in times of change. I also deliver Culture & Wellbeing Reviews, working with organisations to understand what’s really happening for their people and create actionable frameworks for healthier, more effective workplaces.As a Transformative Coach, I work 1:1 with leaders navigating complexity, change, or personal growth. My style is rooted in Carl Rogers’s approach ( human, compassionate, and empowering ) helping people connect back to their clarity and courage.What makes me different is the balance I bring: frontline empathy, executive leadership, governance experience, and a coaching approach that always puts people first. My work isn’t just about delivering outcomes; it’s about creating lasting environments where both people and services can truly flourish