At the heart of our research lab is a diverse group of scholars, innovators, and collaborators dedicated to advancing knowledge and driving discovery. Our team brings together expertise from multiple disciplines, blending rigorous academic research with real-world impact. Get to know the people behind our projects – their backgrounds, passions, and their unique contributions to our shared mission.
Team
Dr Ke Guek Nee, Director
Dr Ke Guek Nee is the Director of the Coaching Lab and Associate Director of Research for the School of Social Sciences at Heriot-Watt University, Malaysia campus, where she leads initiatives that advance evidence-based coaching practice, research excellence, and industry engagement. She is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology and a trained organisational psychologist. In her leadership roles, Dr Ke contributes strategically to interdisciplinary initiatives that integrate psychology, organisational studies, and professional learning. Her work is centred on translating psychological theory into practical, real-world interventions that enhance individual, team, and organisational effectiveness. Dr Ke is a Chartered Member and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS) and a Master Coach (Practitioner) accredited by EMCC UK, demonstrating advanced capability in executive and organisational coaching aligned with international best practice. She has secured multiple national and international research grants, reflecting the impact and recognition of her scholarly contributions. Her research and professional interests include coaching psychology, leadership development, workplace wellbeing, and evidence-based organisational interventions. She is actively engaged in mentoring early-career researchers and practitioners, supervising postgraduate research, and fostering strong partnerships between academia and industry. Through her academic leadership, research, and professional practice, Dr Ke is committed to creating meaningful impact through high-quality research, coaching, and knowledge exchange.
Dr Lucy Bolton, Deputy Director
Dr Lucy Bolton is the Deputy Director and Teaching Lead for the Coaching Lab and the Global Director of Postgraduate Taught Programmes (DPTP) for Psychology at Heriot-Watt University. Based at the Dubai Campus. she teaches on the MSc Business Psychology and MSc Business Psychology with Coaching programmes and takes a particular focus on Coaching Psychology courses. Lucy also teaches in areas such as talent development, organisational change and research methods. Lucy is a Chartered Psychologist (BPS), a Registered Occupational Psychologist (HCPC) and a Certified Business Coach (AC). She is also a trained Occupational Test User (Ability and Personality) with the British Psychological Society and is certified in Trait, TEIQue and NEO-PI-R assessments. Lucy provides in-house coaching for staff, career coaching for students and corporate coaching through Executive Education projects. Her research interests include socialisation into the workplace, work values and career orientations, as well as coaching psychology topics. She has presented her research at a number of international conferences including the British Psychological Society’s Division of Occupational Psychology, the European Association of Work and Organisational Psychology, Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics, the Middle East Psychological Association and the Academy of Management. Lucy continues to publish academic papers in the areas of business and coaching psychology in regional and international academic journals.
Claire Khalifa
Claire is a Consultant in the Professional & Organisational Development team and is the University lead for coaching for staff across Heriot-Watt, which involves supporting our internal coaching team, leading quarterly CPD events, arranging coaching supervision and so on. Claire achieved a Certificate of Coaching Practice (recognised by the Association for Coaching) in 2014 and is a member of the European Mentoring Coach Council (EMCC). She is passionate about helping her coachees to achieve their goals, working with them to identify their strengths and areas for focus and development. Claire has a supportive and calm coaching style and provides constructive challenge when she feels the coachee would benefit. She works with coachees to come up with their own solutions for reaching their goals, helping them to identify key actions as well as barriers and ways to overcome them. Claire has coached colleagues on a wide range of topics including career progression, work/life balance, improving relationships, enhancing leadership capability and she has also coached around maternity. She believes that coaching is an extremely powerful tool for building greater self-awareness, achieving goals and enhancing confidence and feels so privileged to lead such a valuable service for the University.
Emma Smail
Emma Smail is the Student Wellbeing and Transition Advisor in Student Wellbeing Services and joined HWU in August 2013. Her degree is in MA (Hons) Psychology from the University of Edinburgh. She has worked in advice and guidance roles within further and higher education for the past 15 years. Emma completed her Advanced Certificate in Coaching Practice in 2017 and is a member of the Association for Coaching. She is part of the Heriot-Watt Coaching team who offer coaching to staff across our global community. Emma launched the Student Coaching Service within Student Wellbeing Services in 2018 which is available to students studying at Edinburgh and Scottish Borders campuses. In her current role at Heriot-Watt University she also provides support and guidance to students from widening participation backgrounds and those who are at risk of leaving University. Other responsibilities include the delivery of training and guidance of personal tutors, development of induction programmes, delivery of the Get Ready for Success @HWU programme and developing initiatives which improve student retention.
Dr Dasha Grajfoner, External (Founder)
Dr Dasha Grajfoner, founder of the Coaching Lab, was Assistant Professor in Psychology at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. With a PhD in Psychology (University of Edinburgh) Dasha is a Registered Coaching Psychologist (BPS), Chartered Psychologist, Chartered Scientist, Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Accredited Coaching Psychologist (ISCP)and a Past Chair of the Special Group in Coaching Psychology. Dasha has worked as a Practitioner Coaching Psychologist since 2007, and enthusiastic about building a strong connections between coaching psychology research, practice and teaching.