Philip Newsome graduated with honours from Leeds Dental School in 1976. After a number of years in general dental practice he returned to academic life at Leeds before moving to the University of Hong Kong’s Faculty of Dentistry in 1986. His time is now divided between private practice, writing and speaking engagements. He holds an FDS and MRD from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and is on the UK and Hong Kong specialist lists for prosthodontics. He also has an MBA from the University of Warwick Business School and a PhD from the University of Bradford Management Centre. In 2013 he was awarded an honorary Fellowship of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (UK) for his contribution to the profession. Chris Barrow has been active as a consultant, trainer and coach to the UK dental profession for over 20 years. Naturally direct, assertive and determined, he has the ability to reach conclusions quickly, as well as the sharp refl exes and lightness of touch to innovate, change tack and push boundaries. As a speaker he is dynamic, energetic and charismatic. Chris spent the fi rst 17 years of his working life in the corporate sector and followed this with 26 years of self- employment. The different dynamics of both worlds have given him the valuable gift of knowing how to operate – and communicate – in both. In 1987 Chris was active in the establishment of the Institute for Financial Planning, an organisation representing the fi rst fee- based fi nancial planners; Chris specialised in working with small businesses. In 1993 Chris decided to make the transition to business coaching and became one of the fi rst UK students at Coach University, from where he graduated as a certifi ed coach. Recognising the opportunity in the dental profession, 1997 saw the creation of The Dental Business School and the development of a 12- month business coaching programme for dental practice owners and their teams, delivered to over 400 UK dental practices in the following 10 years. In October 2008, Chris became Director of Private Sector Development at Integrated Dental Holdings Ltd and now acts as an occasional Non- Executive Director for dental corporates as well as continuing his freelance consultancy work for corporates, primary care trusts and independent practices. His main focus now is on connections, a privately owned company that specialises in training, consultancy, coaching and mentorship in independent dentistry and also takes minority equity positions in private practices.
