About
Emma Thorp is UK Chapter of ICF’s Associate Board Member leading Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.
A former founder and Chief Commercial Officer, she is now an executive coach and neuro-inclusion consultant, and founder of Thorp Coaching. She supports neurodivergent leaders and different thinkers to understand themselves more deeply, work with their strengths and lead in ways that work with their brains, not against them. Henley-trained, she holds ICF ACC and EMCC Senior Practitioner credentials and an Advanced Certificate in Neurodiversity Coaching.
Emma brings commercial leadership experience, lived experience of neurodivergence and a thoughtful, questioning approach to supporting a more accessible, representative coaching profession where different perspectives help shape how we work.
My Role at UK ICF
I lead the chapter’s work on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging, working with members, volunteers and colleagues to turn that commitment into practical action. This includes understanding members’ experiences, supporting accessibility across chapter activities, and supporting the development of our policies and ways of working that support inclusion. I also help create opportunities for members to learn together and explore what DEIB means in their own coaching practice.
Why I volunteer
I wanted to help represent voices that don’t always see themselves reflected in professional spaces. Coming to formal education later in life has made learning alongside others particularly meaningful to me. I value coaching as a space to understand ourselves more deeply, and volunteering offers a chance to keep learning while helping shape a profession I care about.
Current areas of focus
- Listening to members and understanding what helps or hinders connection and belonging within the ICF coaching community.
- Supporting accessibility and inclusion across chapter activities.
- Creating opportunities for shared learning and reflection on inclusive coaching practice.
