Our Founders

Who we are

Founded by two sisters from Scotland, Natalie Van Der Heim and Nicola Barry, Kinspire Consulting Group brings over 20 years of combined global HR and coaching experience to organisations across the Middle East and beyond. With deep expertise in industries ranging from oil and gas, energy, renewables, healthcare, AI, tech, professional services, and law, they partner with leaders and teams to unlock potential, strengthen culture, and drive sustainable growth.

Natalie and Nicola blend international perspectives with practical, results-focused strategies, guiding individuals through career transitions, supporting leadership teams, and fostering high-performing cultures. Based in Dubai, their mission is to inspire meaningful, measurable impact for organisations and the people within them.

Natalie Van der Heim

Co-Founder and Executive Coach

Natalie brings 13 years of experience in HR, recruitment, and people development, with a passion for helping individuals and organisations thrive.

She is a certified and accredited coach, with additional qualifications in psychometric assessment tools and Mental Health First Aid. Natalie holds a BA (Hons) in Management and Marketing, combining strong commercial insight with a deep commitment to unlocking human potential and driving organisational success.

Her career spans the UK, Singapore, and the Middle East, partnering with organisations to drive people development, talent strategy, and cultural transformation. She has supported industries ranging from Legal and Professional Services to Oil and Gas, Healthcare, and Start-ups, each offering unique challenges and opportunities.

Natalie has led teams in high-risk environments such as Iraq and Afghanistan and now works with clients globally from her base in Dubai, helping leaders and teams achieve meaningful, measurable impact.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barrynatalie/

Nicola Barry

Co-Founder

Nicola is an experienced HR professional with over a decade of expertise across the GCC and UK, spanning diverse industries including Energy, Hospitality, and Tech start-ups. Her cross-sector experience has enabled her to build a versatile and commercially grounded HR skill set, with a strong focus on talent development, organisational strategy, and effective people management.

She holds a BA (Hons) in Human Resources and is an ICF (International Coaching Federation) accredited coach, allowing her to blend strategic HR leadership with coaching-led development to support both individuals and organisations in achieving meaningful growth.

As Co-Founder of Kinspire Consulting Group, Nicola is passionate about helping organisations unlock their potential, strengthen leadership capability, and build high-performing teams. Known for her pragmatic and results-focused approach, she delivers solutions that are impactful, scalable, and aligned with each organisation’s unique culture and goals.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolabarryy/