Rachel Cashman is a coach and facilitator known for building trust and navigating complexity in high-stakes environments across government, healthcare, defence, and the life sciences. Described as a “Fearless Facilitator”, she supports leaders to steer through the most complex people dynamics, contentious policy issues, and increasingly polarised public and organisational debate. She creates the conditions for honest dialogue, helping boards, governments and clinical leaders address difficult issues and make decisions that withstand scrutiny. Her approach combines strategic insight with deep human understanding, qualities honed through lived experience and an unwavering commitment to courage, integrity, and clarity in leadership. Pivoting into psychotherapy, Rachel's research ready evidence focused private practice will be launching in 2027 to compliment her existing work providing psychosocial training, facilitation and research on the relationship between pain, trust, and the mind-body connection, with a particular interest in how people make sense of pain, recovery and being believed.
Born into a travelling circus in Australia and raised in Edinburgh, Rachel’s unconventional upbringing shaped an early commitment to advocacy and integrity. At sixteen, while working in a nursing home for people with Alzheimer’s disease, she confronted poor practice directly, a formative moment that set a lifelong standard: leadership is the line between harm and dignity.
That conviction led her into community activism and social care, working in drug rehabilitation units and homeless shelters, before broadening into roles that spanned government, defence, healthcare and the life sciences and frontline political environments.
Whether in Edinburgh shelters and rehabilitation centres or more latterly briefing Ambassadors and Defence Attachés for deployment, the constant has been a commitment to building trust, navigating complexity, and equipping people to face challenges with clarity and courage.
Over the last two decades Rachel has advised some of the largest material and life sciences companies, charities, Government departments and public sector bodies and led national public programmes worth billions in the NHS, working at the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, where she established the Academic Health Science Networks and the national NHS Genomic Medicine Centre infrastructure. She is often asked to step in when systems are faltering.
Rachel is also the co-host of the Fearless Diversity podcast, a rapidly growing series exploring the most challenging conversations in modern workplaces and public life. Blending psychological-safety science, behavioural insight and real-world leadership experience, the show helps leaders contain complexity, protect people, and navigate uncertainty with confidence. Her presence on the podcast reinforces her reputation as a trusted, principled, and balanced voice on culture, risk, and human behaviour.
Rachel Cashman
Founder of Survive and Thrive, the Fearless Facilitator Method® and Pukka People®
ADHD, Autism, Burnout and recovery, Chronic illness and pain, Hormone health, Identity and self-worth, Leadership and performance, Life transitions, Menopause, Mindset, Nervous system regulation, Neurodiversity, Organisational psychology, Parenting and family, Wellness, Workplace wellbeing
Adults, Corporate professionals, Education professionals, General public, Healthcare professionals, Legal professionals, Men, Midlife adults, Women
Collaboration (partner / co-create), Corporate / workplace, Media (interview / commentary), Panels / webinars, Podcast guesting, Retreats (lead / contribute), Speaking (events / keynote / panels), Workshops / training, Writing (contributor / author)
Rachel Cashman is a coach and facilitator known for building trust and navigating complexity in high-stakes environments across government, healthcare, defence, and the life sciences. Described as a “Fearless Facilitator”, she supports leaders to steer through the most complex people dynamics, contentious policy issues, and increasingly polarised public and organisational debate. She creates the conditions for honest dialogue, helping boards, governments and clinical leaders address difficult issues and make decisions that withstand scrutiny. Her approach combines strategic insight with deep human understanding, qualities honed through lived experience and an unwavering commitment to courage, integrity, and clarity in leadership. Pivoting into psychotherapy, Rachel's research ready evidence focused private practice will be launching in 2027 to compliment her existing work providing psychosocial training, facilitation and research on the relationship between pain, trust, and the mind-body connection, with a particular interest in how people make sense of pain, recovery and being believed.
Born into a travelling circus in Australia and raised in Edinburgh, Rachel’s unconventional upbringing shaped an early commitment to advocacy and integrity. At sixteen, while working in a nursing home for people with Alzheimer’s disease, she confronted poor practice directly, a formative moment that set a lifelong standard: leadership is the line between harm and dignity.
That conviction led her into community activism and social care, working in drug rehabilitation units and homeless shelters, before broadening into roles that spanned government, defence, healthcare and the life sciences and frontline political environments.
Whether in Edinburgh shelters and rehabilitation centres or more latterly briefing Ambassadors and Defence Attachés for deployment, the constant has been a commitment to building trust, navigating complexity, and equipping people to face challenges with clarity and courage.
Over the last two decades Rachel has advised some of the largest material and life sciences companies, charities, Government departments and public sector bodies and led national public programmes worth billions in the NHS, working at the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England, where she established the Academic Health Science Networks and the national NHS Genomic Medicine Centre infrastructure. She is often asked to step in when systems are faltering.
Rachel is also the co-host of the Fearless Diversity podcast, a rapidly growing series exploring the most challenging conversations in modern workplaces and public life. Blending psychological-safety science, behavioural insight and real-world leadership experience, the show helps leaders contain complexity, protect people, and navigate uncertainty with confidence. Her presence on the podcast reinforces her reputation as a trusted, principled, and balanced voice on culture, risk, and human behaviour.
Background & Qualifications
Masters Diploma in Healthcare Management,
BACP, BACP Accredited, Diploma, Other
Collaboration, Corporate, Media / PR, Podcast, Retreats, Speaking, Writing
0-2 years