G. Rhydian Morgan, Founder 

A student of, and graduate in, the disciplines of Theatre Studies, Philosophy, Modern Languages, and Law, Rhydian is a member of the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn, a Life Member of the Oxford Union, and faculty member at the World Debate Institute, based at the University of Vermont, and the Asian Debate Institute, in Korea. He has also taught at numerous international debate academies across the European continent, focusing particularly on the Balkan region. He has worked as a consultant for a number of years, concentrating on training and development programmes for individuals and corporations, as well as providing academic courses in Communication Theory at a number of universities.

A proficient and experienced debater and coach, with significant success in both roles at an international level, he has spent the last few years developing courses in speech and communication skills, with a focus on critical thinking and argumentation, for high school and university students in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa. Rhydian draws on his training as an actor and barrister, together with his studies in the fields of rhetoric and the psychology of persuasion, to deliver the highest quality training in effective communication.

To contact Rhydian directly, please email grm@styluscommunication.com

  Gavin Illsley, Senior Consultant

A European debating champion, Gavin Illsley is at the forefront of modern competitive debating. His reputation as a powerful speaker is further demonstrated by his appearance in the prestigious Worlds Masters Final, his ranking as the Best Speaker in England (2007), and in numerous other titles and competition final appearances across the world. He has coached winners of World, European, and national titles from many countries in Europe, including England, Scotland, Germany, and the Netherlands, and has served a period as Director of Coaching at the prestigious Oxford Union Society. Also a world renowned judge, he has judged finals at two World Championships.

Added to this, Gavin also has a strong theatrical background, and has spent the last 5 years working with improvisers from many different countries. In his time he has worked on some of the most exciting innovations in Oxford theatre, directed a sell-out improvisation show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and an improvisation show described by The Observer as one of their ‘highlights of the summer’. Joining the Stylus team in early 2009, Gavin has quickly established himself as central to the success of the business, and continues to develop new, exciting, and influential courses and programmes for the company to offer.

Gavin can be contacted directly by email at gavin.illsley@styluscommunication

  Ross Reid McGuire, Consultant

Ross is a recent addition to the Stylus team, joining at the beginning of 2010. A graduate of University College Dublin, Ross has enjoyed considerable success in debate as a speaker, judge, and most recently as a trainer, both at home and further afield. He has recently returned from a running a programme in Doha, Qatar, working for the Qatar Debate Foundation, and was one of the top-ranked judges at the World Universities Debating Championships held in Antalya, Turkey, where he judged the Grand Final.

Renowned as one of the most stylish, humorous and entertaining speakers of his generation, Ross is a welcome addition to the Stylus team, and promises to bring with him interesting and exciting new perspectives for our clients.

Ross's direct contact address is ross.reid.mcguire@styluscommunication.com


Josh Martin, Senior Consultant, Stylus USA

Josh Martin has years of experience in a broad spectrum of communication related industries. He has studied and taught interpersonal communication skills, with an emphasis on instructional communication, in academic, corporate and athletic environments. Josh has done work in the past for a wide variety of governments, organizations and corporations, including the California State Senate, Macau Department of Education, Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, University of La Verne, Colgate University and the United States Professional Tennis Association.

The time Josh has spent working with representatives in both State and Federal legislatures has also equipped him to offer expert guidance to those in the political realm. He serves as a valuable resource for those looking to hone their ability to present themselves in the most persuasive manner possible to potential constituencies as well as function proficiently in confrontational settings such as public debates or town hall meetings.

Josh has put these talents to the test in the competitive world of debate, achieving great success at both a national and international level. He was a Worlds Masters Finalist in 2010, the United States National Champion in 2007, and has been the top rated judge from the United States for the past three years in a row at the National Championships. He now works with teams across the globe, having trained students from over 8 countries.

Josh can be reached directly at josh.martin@styluscommunication.com


  John Patrick, Senior Consultant, Stylus USA

John Patrick is a faculty member and debate coach at the University of La Verne in Southern California, USA. He teaches courses in intercultural, interpersonal, group, and organizational communication as well as courses in leadership, persuasion, and communication theory. He is a student of and graduate in the disciplines of speech communication, mass communication, and culinary art, and is currently reading for his doctorate in organizational leadership. In addition he has worked in the fields of journalism, public relations, public education and the private nonprofit sector.

An experienced debater and coach, John has coached debate at both the University of La Verne and California State University, Fullerton. John has experienced great success in United States’ debate circuit, routinely breaking as a judge at the US Universities National Debate Championship and US Universities National Debate Open, which he also won as a debater in 2006.

John's email to reach him directly is jfp@styluscommunication.com


  Alice Finlay, Consultant,  Stylus USA

As a professionally trained actress, Alice has been taught by some of the world’s finest vocal and acting tutors. A graduate from the world’s oldest Conservatory for the Arts, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Alice has been performing publicly since the age of two. After completing extensive training, she was invited to join in to the school’s selective theatre company to complete at least a season of professional works. Prior to this, Alice was a student of acting, musical theatre, and theatre studies at Pendleton College, the UK’s number one college for Performing Arts training. She has had 8 years of intensive voice training, which still continues today.

Upon graduating high school, she considered studying Medicine, and maintains a keen interest in scientific study and developments. She has been working first- hand with the public for a number of years, in a range of fields, and with a wide scope of people. Her public speaking skills gained from the stage were put to use in a practical commercial environment, and she has enjoyed terrific success with customers, employees and employers alike. With such diversity of experience, Alice is skilled in personal engagement, and brings to Stylus further expertise in voice training and speechmaking.

Alice is currently based in Los Angeles; her direct contact address is alice.elizabeth.finlay@styluscommunication.com


  Cristina Patiño, Senior Consultant, Stylus South America

Currently reading Political Studies at the Universidad Central de Venezuela, Cristina started her career in public speaking and representation early. Already at the age of six, she had a 'minor career' in the defense of children's rights reaching Congress as a congressional vice-president and meeting with the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias in 1999 to convince him to take into consideration ongoing problems with children's rights that eventually became the LOPNA (Organic Law for the Protection of the Child and the Adoloescent). After, as a high school student, she participated successfully in model United Nations and as a university student became a succesful debater in Latin America, achieving top awards both in team events and as an individual speaker in several tournaments. She won in both categories in the last international university debate tournament held in Caracas in 2010.

As a part of AUDAS (the university debating society) Cristina has had the opportunity to get the best training in Latin America as well as participate in the International Debate Academy Slovenia for the past two years. She has also had the chance to develop her skills in training and judging, teaching debate to both children and adults, with teaching underprivileged children her most rewarding experience yet. To fund her studies, Cristina already teaches private classes in English, Spanish and French language skills, and is able to teach communication skills in Spanish, English, French and Italian. She is currently learning both Portuguese and German.

Cristina will be starting full-time operations in Venezuela from 2012, but you can contact her now at cristina.patino@styluscommunication.com


  Marko Cirovic, Senior Consultant, Stylus Europe

Marko is a graduate of the University of Belgrade and a proficient and successful debater. He is a welcome addition to the team and comes to us to head operations for Stylus Europe, based in Belgrade. If you wish to contact Marko directly, his email address is marko.cirovic@styluscommunication.com


The Rest of the Team

The Stylus Team consists in addition of a network of top debaters, judges and coaches across Europe, many with proven ability in English as a Second Language training, and the facility to provide training in a number of languages. Currently, we can provide debate, public speaking and communication training in English (including English as a Second or Other Language), French, Dutch, Italian and Spanish, and have access to German, Russian and Turkish speakers (as well as other languages - please ask us if your required language is available) and debate experts should that be required.

For any particular or special requirements, please contact any member of our team by emailing information@styluscommunication.com, and we will be happy to discuss your needs, and the options available.