Our trainers
They ask the questions then teach you how to respond.
Our coaches work in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Arabic, Russian and Turkish. Journalists working in other languages are available on request.
Founder
Barbara Gray
Founder, TV journalist and media coach
Based in France
Barbara is a bicultural TV journalist, trilingual in English, French and German, who has lived and worked in Paris for over 30 years. She started working for ITN in the UK, then for ABC News in Paris, and went on to work as a freelance news producer for BBC TV and Radio, Channel 4 News, CNN, NBC and Reuters. Barbara is currently a field Producer for itvNEWS based in Paris.
After hundreds of television interviews in English and French, Barbara moved naturally into media training, teaching senior executives how to handle the media, speak in public and manage a crisis, in France and abroad. She still works as a freelance TV journalist, mainly for British and American broadcasters.
Barbara founded IMT in 2002. The network today brings together journalists and specialists of several nationalities in media training, crisis communication and public speaking.
Languages English, French, German
The team
Six specialists, six areas of expertise.
Emma Robson
Netherlands and Italy
TV journalist, TV producer, media training and crisis communication coach
Emma Robson has over 25 years of experience in media and communications. She has worked as a journalist for Reuters, Bloomberg, BBC radio and television, Dutch television and the UN Development Programme, reporting from 26 countries.
At Reuters Financial Television she covered corporate Europe, interviewing board members and chief executives. In 1999 she won the AEX broadcast journalism prize and founded Media Wise, a pan-European agency specialising in communications, crisis training and storytelling. She holds a BA and an MA in languages from the University of Cambridge.
Languages English, Dutch, French, Italian
Camille Grenier
France / United States
Coach and media trainer, public speaking and on-camera specialist
After training in theatre and audiovisual production in Paris, then in multimedia communication in San Francisco, Camille Grenier gained her first experience of the media, in radio, television, interviewing and audiovisual production. She went on to work as an actress in Los Angeles, where she won several awards for her performances.
Since 2018 she has coached executives, diplomats, professionals and teams in preparing and delivering their public appearances, in French and in English. Her expertise covers public speaking, communicating on camera and media training. Her coaching is built on structuring the message, and on working the voice, the presence and everything that is not said.
Her clients include OpenClassrooms, the French diplomatic academy, the École Normale Supérieure, Leboncoin and Chanel.
Languages French, English
Christophe Thumerelle
France
Profiler, trainer and coach in non-verbal communication
Trained by French and American intelligence services in observing, decoding and analysing body language and voice, Christophe works in France and abroad, mainly with HR and sales teams, where the human factor is decisive.
Since 2017 he has broadened his expertise with neuroscience, psychology, ethology and behavioural science. His programmes cover lie detection, spotting high-risk behaviour, behavioural analysis and profiling.
Languages French, English
Carsten Heer
Germany
Business journalist, bilingual media trainer
Carsten Heer is a highly experienced business journalist and communications specialist. He has worked as a correspondent for Bloomberg Television in London and Euronews in Lyon, and advised The Wall Street Journal on its public relations strategy in Europe. He founded econNEWSnetwork, a media agency based in Hamburg.
A native German speaker, he holds a law degree from the University of Konstanz and is qualified to practise before the German supreme court. On that basis he has built strong expertise in crisis communication, working with specialist law firms to protect the reputation of international companies and their brands.
Languages German, English
Oleg Ilyin
Germany and Russia
Media trainer and communications consultant
Oleg Ilyin is a media trainer and communications consultant with more than 25 years of experience in journalism, strategic communications, crisis communication and executive positioning. He began his career as a political reporter and interviewer, later working in oil and gas journalism before moving into PR and corporate communications.
He has held senior roles at Edelman and BrainBox PR, runs its own consultancy since 2009, and was co-founder of Fluid Collective. Oleg advises executives, founders and communication teams on media relations, public speaking, storytelling and high-stakes communication, and has delivered over 700 of media training sessions for CEOs, spokespersons and senior managers.
His client experience includes Nissan, KIA, Novartis, GSK, Mars, MSD, Total, Sony Mobile, Nestlé, Kimberly-Clark, Haleon, Moët Chandon, Servier, CLAAS, Holcim and many others. Oleg holds degrees in political science and organisational psychology. Russian / English.
Languages Russian, English
Yaprak Özer
Turkey
Media trainer, communications and image consultant, speech coach
Based in Istanbul, the journalist, author and entrepreneur Yaprak Özer has long experience of the media as a reporter, editor, TV producer and presenter. In 2001 she set up her own communications consultancy, now an internationally recognised speakers' agency.
Alongside running the business, she advises company directors and trains them in sustainable communication, crisis management, image building and speech coaching. She writes a column for the daily Ekonomim, belongs to the World Economic Forum's Global Leaders for Tomorrow group in Davos, and has published six books.
Languages Turkish, English
Client feedback
In the words of the people they trained.
Mbarka Zineddine
Managing Director, Académie des Métiers de la Diplomatie
Barbara is an expert in media techniques as well as diplomatic and crisis communication, with over seven years of engagement with our institution. She has trained numerous diplomats and international officials in media practices, including interviews, press conferences, press releases and speeches, as well as in managing communication during crises. Her method, combining theory and practice, enables participants to acquire skills that are immediately applicable.
Trained by Barbara GrayCorinne Jeannin
Open2Europe
I met Barbara through media training sessions she provided for many of our clients, in both English and French. They were delighted by the training and found Barbara extremely professional, efficient and rigorous in substance, and at the same time flexible and fun in her delivery, enabling them to gain confidence immediately. She prepares thoroughly before each session, learning as much as she can about the companies she trains.
Trained by Barbara GrayArnaud Touati
Lawyer
Barbara is a great professional, and a really nice person too. I warmly recommend her services.
Trained by Barbara GrayDr Susanne Bieller
International Federation of Robotics
Carsten Heer's success as press officer established the World Robotics federation as a household name. He is accomplished at working with facts, and his narrative skills as a professional journalist make him a bridge builder between his clients and the media.
Trained by Carsten HeerWolfgang Driessler
Bloomberg Television
Carsten Heer is able to transfer complex issues quickly into easy-to-understand communication. His team work approach contributes to the success of the programmes he supervises at Bloomberg Television.
Trained by Carsten HeerVitaly Bogachenko
Communications and Public Affairs Director
I am pleased to recommend Oleg Ilyin personally as a highly professional advisor, able to deliver complex projects in the field of external and internal communications as well as crisis management.
Trained by Oleg IlyinChristian Stammkoetter
General Manager, Nutricia
As one of the participants, I would note the programme's well balanced concept and structure, as well as the overall delivery style, which created intense and effective training. It significantly helped me and my colleagues deliver well at a corporate event and media briefing.
Trained by Oleg IlyinSomething coming up?
Tell us what you are facing: an interview, a press conference, a board meeting, an ongoing crisis. We will come back to you with a format and a trainer.