Rachel Houghton

Rachel is an EMCC Accredited Coach (Senior Practitioner) and independent partnership and network consultant, with 20 years’ experience in the humanitarian, international development and UK charity sectors, including at leadership level. Her work spans leadership coaching and collaboration, helping individuals and organisations navigate complexity with clarity and purpose.

As a coach, Rachel supports individuals, senior leadership teams, and Boards in exploring their identity, direction, and leadership style. Many come to coaching with big questions about their impact and future, seeking deeper self-awareness and confidence. A central theme in her work is resilience: helping leaders build emotional agility to thrive in uncertainty and change.

Rachel believes that coaching is more than skills and strategy; it’s about inner transformation, anchoring in values and purpose, and embracing both challenges and opportunities for growth. The most powerful insights often emerge from difficult conversations, leading to deep personal and professional growth.

As an Accredited Partnership Broker, Rachel also specializes in fostering collaboration through networks, partnerships, and consortia. Her expertise lies in convening and strengthening multi-stakeholder initiatives, connecting diverse organisations to address shared challenges, and providing guidance on strategies, governance and partnership development. She is passionate about leveraging collaboration as a force for systemic change.

Rachel has worked with a wide range of organisations, including local and international NGOs, UN agencies, research institutes, and government departments. Committed to diversity, continuous learning, and reflective practice, she strives to build strong, inclusive teams.