Meet The Board - Guy Buckingham

Meet Guy Buckingham, the UK ICF's newly appointed Co-President!

As the UK ICF Chapter continues to grow and evolve, Guy's continued dedication to our Board is instrumental in shaping our future.

Here's a closer look at his coaching journey in his own words and more about what drove him to volunteer with the Chapter and to take on his new role.

I joined ICF and the UK Chapter after completing my Barefoot Coaching certification, drawn by ICF’s global reputation and strong local presence. The UK Chapter’s impact inspired me to contribute, leading me to the Operations Director role in 2022—a natural fit given my background in operational leadership.  

Working closely with Laure Fraval in Governance, we developed a strong partnership. When she invited me to step into the Co-President role, I was honoured. Leading one of the largest global chapters with a volunteer team is no small task, but collaboration keeps us balanced and effective.  

My coaching journey started during 20+ years in the military, where leadership, mentorship, and structured coaching shaped my growth. A pivotal moment was a coaching course with the Royal Marines, which set me on the path to a professional coaching career, including supporting injured service personnel and veterans.  

Now, I coach executives across four continents while continuing to support service personnel. My approach balances heart and backbone—creating space for clients to reflect, gain clarity, and make meaningful shifts. Whether coaching a first-time manager or a CEO, I find fulfillment in helping them move forward with confidence.  

My vision focuses on fostering connections, strengthening ICF’s impact, and increasing engagement. I’m passionate about introducing supervision requirements, structured coaching tools for leaders, and making coaching qualifications more accessible. Building a coaching practice isn’t always easy, and ICF has a key role in equipping new coaches with the resources to succeed.  

By addressing challenges head-on, we can strengthen the foundation of our profession and shape its bright future.