Inside Intensive Care: Connecting Across Cultures - Practical Communication Skills for Critical Care Teams

Zanne Gaynor and Kathryn Alevizos

Language specialists, keynote speakers and experienced trainers in clear and effective communication , Co-founders of Acrobat Global

Zanne Gaynor and Kathryn Alevizos are leading experts in clear, inclusive intercultural communication and authors of two Business Book Award-shortlisted books. They are co-founders of Acrobat Global, providing practical training that helps healthcare professionals working in high pressure settings to communicate more effectively in their culturally and linguistically diverse teams. With extensive experience working with NHS Trusts, Training Hubs, GP Faculties, and private social care providers, Acrobat Global is known for training that is insightful, relevant, and immediately applicable. Zanne and Kathryn are also sought-after keynote speakers at healthcare conferences across the UK and contributors to publications including Nursing Times.

acrobat-global.com

training@acrobat-global.com

Melanconia Duval Pazzaglia

Senior Lecturer and Education Lead Critical Care , University of West London and London North West University Healthcare Trust

Melanconia Duval Pazzaglia is a Senior Lecturer Practitioner in Critical Care with over a decade of clinical experience, including specialist expertise in burns critical care. Her career spans bedside nursing, critical care outreach, and practice development, providing her with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and opportunities within the critical care landscape.

Mel is deeply committed to advancing nursing education and embedding evidence-based practice into everyday care. She is particularly passionate about empowering nurses, especially internationally educated professionals, to develop leadership capabilities and achieve greater visibility within their teams and organizations.

Through her work with the Nursing Professional Advisory Group, Mel advocates for inclusive leadership, equitable career progression, and the creation of psychologically safe environments where critical care nurses at all levels can thrive and reach their full potential.

Michaela Jones

Lead Nurse Associate Director and ICS Nursing Professional Advisory Group, Chair

Michaela joined North West London ACC Network as Lead Nurse /Associate Director at the end of January 2024 having spent almost 6 years as a matron at Southampton University Hospital Cardiac ICU. She has worked in critical care for over three decades where much of her career has been at UCLH and Cambridge.

Michaela has always had a passion for education, training, workforce and leadership.

Michaela is an elected council member at the Society and chair of the Society’s Nurse Professional Advisory Group. She is a member of the Critical Care National Network Nurse Leads Forum (CC3N), Critical Care Nurse Education Review Forum, a subgroup of CC3N and a member of UK Critical Care Nursing Alliance.

: @sisterswan