My career has mainly been within the charity sector, focusing on marketing, communications and engagement. I thoroughly enjoy sharing good news, helping people tell their own story and changing public perceptions. I have been fortunate to use my skills and experience to help organisations grow, develop and reach a wider audience. I thrive on organising public events that help promote a cause or campaign. Most notably I was heavily involved in the centenary of the First World War commemoration events, working at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

My academic career has been focussed on the social implications of military history. My post grad thesis was on the community and media perceptions of the women serving in the Queen Mary Army Auxiliary Corps during the First World War. I also gained a teaching degree, which gives me an excellent grounding on how to support adults in learning new skills in order to reach their full potential.

I currently live the ‘good life’ on rural Exmoor in Somerset, and I can happily see my hometown, Barry in South Wales across the water from where I live. I spend most of my free time going walking and camping with my cocker spaniel, Pippa. When I can, I travel, whether that’s wondering around a historic monument in Italy, walking the Camino de Santiago, or most likely walking a military war cemetery and doing research.  

For the last 20 + years I have worked across both the public & private sector in leadership, project management, community engagement and business relationship roles. I have qualifications in business, training and counselling and have been extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity of being part of and leading some amazing teams over the years.

My most previous role before joining SSAFA in 2004 as a volunteer, was as a Senior Project Manager with Dell Computers, where I worked for 12 + years with a variety of teams across many locations.

For the last 18 months I have held the role as the Ayrshire Branch Chair, a role I have found enjoyable and challenging in equal measures. 

​Originally from Glasgow, I now live in beautiful Ayrshire with my husband Gary (RAF Regiment veteran), and our 2 cockapoos. ​Outside work, I enjoy spending time with my family, touring the UK in our motorhome, French Martinis and walking – though not necessarily in that order

After over a decade working in the photographic and advertising industries, I made the leap into the charity sector, driven by a passion for mental health and grassroots action. I have since worked across community development, volunteer coordination and local engagement. I quickly found that working directly with people to build networks of care and support was where I felt most at home.

Before joining SSAFA, my most recent role was for the charity Rethink Mental Illness as the Community Group Development Officer for the Southeast.

Originally from London and in the process of moving to Cumbria, I currently live in Margate with my partner Karin, our 14-month-old son and a very chubby little bulldog. Outside of work, I’m usually chasing my son around a soft play centre, out camping with the family or cooking something up in the kitchen.

I’m Chris. I began working in community engagement over a decade ago in the NHS, working with patients, carers and partners on a variety of issues from GP appointments to children’s services and dementia. I bring a strong track record in building relationships between organisations and the communities they work with.

This has involved leading on large scale public consultations as well as managing teams of volunteers to promote mental health awareness, including the formation of an armed forces network to achieve this. I’m passionate about creating positive collaborative environments which can really make a difference. Prior to working in communications and engagement, I was a project manager and a lecturer in further education.

I live in Faversham in Kent, with my partner and 2 daughters. When I’m not at work, I enjoy playing Football or Judo and generally keeping myself active. I currently coach an U10 girls football team. I enjoy traveling on adventures, whether that’s camping or wildlife safaris in South Africa.

I have been in the role of community Engagement Manager for Wales for 18 months. I started when the post was new and part of the NDP trial which meant I had the great job of developing not only the role but also the creation of community engagement within SSAFA. I feel extremely privileged to be part of that initial role and work. My area has now expanded, and I also cover ROI, NI and overseas which is something I am really looking forward to. I am excited about the future of community engagement with a full team and additional support to develop community engagement further.

Previously to coming to work for SSAFA I spent 18 months as the Operations Manager for a logistics company. However, my true back ground is the 20 years I spent in nursing before that. I worked in both Cardiff and Newport in various wards and community teams. I worked my way up to a band 6 deputy team leader. I was also an RCN representative and did lots of work around policies within the trust.

During my time nursing I also served with 203 (Welsh) Field hospital as a member of the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC). I did a tour of duty in 2013/2014 where I was part of a team of different specialities who went to teach the Afghan soldiers how to look after their wounded. I worked in their field hospital just outside of Camp Bastion helping them set it up and utilise the facilities they had as well as teaching them medical priorities, wound management and what to do in case of emergencies.

Outside of work I spend most of my time with my dogs going on long walks and getting out in the countryside. I have a lovely Beagle called Lois and a Jack Russell called Bruce. I am also a keen gardener, although all my veg always dies before I eat it. I like nothing more than wrapping up and doing a jigsaw puzzle when the weather is not suitable to be in the garden.

Born and raised in Lincolnshire, I spent a decade living just over the river in Yorkshire before returning to sunny old Lincoln, where I’m now happily based. My career has taken me through some truly unique and challenging environments - from owning and running pubs to working in a high security psychiatric hospital, where I managed the legal detention of patients and supported some of the country’s most prolific offenders. I’ve also worked in prisons, courts, secondary schools, and law firms, and I’m a qualified counsellor, which brings a grounded and empathetic approach to my work.

I’ve been involved with SSAFA for around five years, starting as a volunteer Caseworker, before joining the East Midlands Regional Hub team. For the past 18 months, I’ve been proud to serve as the Community Engagement Manager for the Central Region. What began as a role focused on the East Midlands has recently expanded to include the East of England and West Midlands, and I’m excited to see what new challenges and opportunities this brings.

Outside of work, I volunteer as a Samaritan and enjoy getting creative through papercutting and pyrography - crafts that keep my hands busy and my mind calm.