We are a small team of public speaking coaches and team trainers and we equip speakers to make positive change through engaging and effective communication. We have had the privilege to work with the UN, the Labour Party, leaders in health, finance, tech and many CEOs!
OPG was founded by Octavia Phoebe Gilmore, who assembled a top team of experts to help speakers express themselves to the best of their ability, to ensure maximum impact.
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Francesca O'Connor
COMUNICATIONS TRAINER & EXECUTIVE COACH
Fran is an experienced leader and entrepreneur, who's been helping people land their point for almost 20 years. She's worked at some of the world’s most prestigious international PR agencies and has helped grow multiple businesses from the ground up. A qualified executive coach and public speaking trainer, Fran helps individuals and teams to communicate with confidence and flair.
Fran says, “it’s about developing the self-awareness and skills needed to land a point - even under pressure. Whether it’s a big presentation or a difficult boss, working with me can help you to unpick what's getting in your way, so you can back yourself and make the most of every moment.”
“I couldn't recommend Francesca enough! Having her as a coach and mentor has completely revolutionised my relationship with public speaking, making me more confident, memorable, effective and even allowing me to enjoy the spotlight. She is a wonderful teacher, who gently pushes you out of your comfort zone sharing clear feedback and encouragement throughout the process.” - Guilia, head of customer innovation
“She was able to challenge me, and my thinking, in a constructive way and meant that with the right practice and preparation I felt that I could show up to any scenario and create the impact I wanted.” - Charlie, Founder
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Connor Maxwell
COMMUNICATIONS COACH, CLASSICALLY TRAINED ACTOR & FORMER INFANTRY OFFICER
After education, Connor joined the British Army and commissioned from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst before enjoying an active military career. He subsequently left full-time service to train as an actor – not exactly a well-trodden path!
Bringing together these pathways alongside real life experience, Connor helps people to improve their ability to express themselves effectively and not stand in their own way.
"Connor was quick to understand my needs and the lessons progressed positively and quickly. He is clear and methodical in his approach but friendly and easy going in communication. I would recommend!" - Ms. BC, a VP for a major investment bank
Connor loves bringing out the potential in those he works with. “It’s incredibly rewarding to see things clicking into place and seeing someone come out of their shell. The amazing variety of clients is also amazing, I never know who I might meet on the other end of a discovery call. From professors to students, lawyers to performers – it goes to show how important the skill of communicating still is in this day and age!”
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Liz Peters
IMPROVISER, AUTHOR & TRAINER
Liz trained as an actor and improviser, and is an award-nominated performer who has been appearing on stages around the world for over 20 years. A certified Embodied Facilitator - working with the body-mind connection - she combines her expertise to foster confidence, creativity and communication skills in others.
Liz is the author of the book ‘Own It! How To Boss Your Fears, Free Your Voice and Inspire The Room’, as well as narrating the audiobook, and has delivered numerous tailored training and coaching experiences for organisations and individuals.
Her great pleasures include eating, laughing and being underwater, though not all at same time - that’s not wise!
“All the participants had gained enough confidence to stand up in front of the invited audience and deliver their pitch succinctly and with great enthusiasm. This is one of the best workshops I have witnessed and I would recommend everyone to have a go!’ - Ruth, Project Director
‘Liz Peters is terrific: Energetic, personable, supportive. The workshop included numerous useful tips and techniques to boost confidence on or off-stage.’ - ‘Confidence and Presence' attendee
We feel privileged to unlock voices, and to empower those voices to share their big ideas.
The backstory
Alongside working as an actor, Octavia produced corporate videos. Whilst interviewing leaders about their organisation she noticed something: some senior individuals could easily translate their eloquence and charisma on camera whilst others met significant challenges in presenting themselves and their message. Some would grow tense, freeze and stumble. Others would sweat, trip over their words and want to repeatedly start over again. The problem was not only nerves, but often a lack of constructive preparation. It was through this experience that she identified a passion and commitment to help people optimise their presentation skills.
We use speech every day so the idea of practising and preparing for speaking simply doesn’t occur to some of us. To others the prospect of practising for speaking publicly is anxiety producing in itself, and is therefore avoided.
The thing is, you don’t become great at anything without doing it, lots of it. You don’t improve at anything without identifying your issues around it and working through them. Speaking is just the same.
Anyone can be a great speaker but it takes work, practice and a little guidance doesn’t go amiss either! Learning new skills and techniques as well as developing your natural strengths can greatly improve your communication, career and personal life.
Working as a producer has taught Octavia that even people at the top of their game can struggle to communicate effectively. She discovered that the skills she had gained as a professional communicator could be harnessed to help others.
OPG was founded to help people perform to the best of their ability, to connect with coherence, charisma and confidence.
Meet our founder
Octavia’s career, has been full of twists and turns. Through OPG Coaching Octavia found a way to use everything she’s learned along the way to support others.
Octavia holds a first-class degree in Philosophy, Religion, and Ethics from King’s College London, where she focused on applied ethics and earned the Shelford Prize for top performance in her department. During her time at university, she discovered TED Talks, which sparked her interest in public speaking and led her to volunteer as Partners Coordinator for Students For Happiness. This role involved organizing discussions on happiness and well-being, giving her the chance to work with some of the best speakers in the field. She learnt that sharing a powerful idea with clarity and authenticity can change how people think and act, leading to meaningful change in the world around us.
After university, Octavia trained as an actor at ArtsEd, one of the UK’s top drama schools. There, she learned not just to act but to connect with an audience authentically. As a professional actor, she has toured nationally and internationally, appeared in films, and even done a few commercials—you even might have seen her in a Sofology ad, no, she’s not Owen Wilson, Helena Bonham Carter or a sloth! Octavia has performed in leading improv companies, bringing improvised ‘Shakespeare’ plays and musicals to audiences around the UK and beyond.
Octavia is also a writer and storyteller. She co-wrote the sellout show “Catching Up,” which received a London Transfer after its success at the Edinburgh Festival. She’s written, directed and performed comedy shorts, that have featured in the British Comedy Guide. She taught creative writing for several years and has worked as a copywriter for companies including the BAFTA award-winning History Bombs.
She loves dancing. Octavia, believes freeing the body is the best way to free the mind.
