John West-Burnham is a well-respected and experienced teacher, writer and consultant in educational leadership. He is a senior visiting research fellow at the Centre for Educational Leadership, University of Manchester and a senior research adviser at the National College for School Leadership. Max Coates is currently programme director of 'Working Together for Success' at the London Leadership Centre. He is also a regional facilitator for the National College for School Leadership's (NCSL) New Visions Programme for early headship. Other areas of work include mentor coaching, learning and motivation.