PACT - Key Persons
Alana House recipe book Love, Trust, Hope published and Alana House coffee created with Anonymous Coffee and Girls Gotta Run
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Board
- Lead Trustee for Justice
Anthony became a barrister in 1966 and for the last 20 years has been a circuit judge trying cases in the criminal and family courts. He has lived in the Thames Valley area since 1973 and is married with three children and, so far, four grandchildren. He had served on his PCC, Deanery Synod and Oxford Board for Social Responsibility.
He has been a PACT trustee since December 2013. " During my 47 years practicing in the law I have been convinced that a secure and loving home is the first essential for ensuring that all children have the best start in life and are able to face the future with confidence. I hope to play my part with PACT in helping children and carers to achieve this."
Qualifications MA Oxon
Job Titles:
- Lead Trustee for Digital Development
Bob has spent more than 20 years in commodity trading with director experience across multinational and start-up companies in the US and the UK. In 2019, Bob co-founded a film production company based in Los Angeles, creating great stories across film, television, and digital channels. In addition, he is involved in a variety of different projects ranging from sustainable food brands to energy market disruption technologies.
Bob lives in Berkshire with his partner, Lisa, and their two children who were adopted through PACT.
Courteney was originally from the Midlands before being adopted and she now lives in Berkshire with her family and two dogs.
She studied and achieved her Level 3 Diploma in animal management and went on to get an FdSc in animal behaviour and welfare.
Courteney currently works at a children's theme park and joins the trustee board as a young trustee to gain further understanding of all aspects of adoption. In addition she is able to provide valuable insight from her own experience into what it is like for the adopted child growing up in that environment.
Her hobbies include walking, reading, playing video games and spending time with her dogs.
Job Titles:
- Non - Executive Director
- Lead Trustee for HR
Dean originates from Aberdeen, where he worked as a police officer after completing his university degree in 1997. He was regularly frustrated in that role as he wanted to do more to be supportive to families and children who needed help and the system didn't seem to have the resources to assist. Dean then spent 15 years in the corporate world as an HR Director working and travelling across 30 countries.
In 2011, Dean established an HR advisory company which he ran until 2021 when he became Chair person. The now employee-owned company supports over 800 clients and Dean has worked with many global and local charities to help them strategically engage and retain their people.
Dean is also a non-executive director in the tech space, supporting the company to scale by creating a world class culture.
Dean has a 20 year old daughter and he lives in London with his partner George and their 18 month old spaniel. Dean has several friends who are single parents and he is proud to be able to be a support for them and to play a big part in their children's lives.
Dean brings his HR and organisational experience to PACT which he believes ‘is an essential organisation to give families and children the best chance possible in life' which he is extremely passionate about.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Head of HR, Facilities and IT
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel
Deborah joined PACT in 2011. She has almost 30 years experience in HR, working primarily for organisations in the higher education and social housing sectors, including 10 years with A2 Housing and 10 years at Royal Holloway College, University of London.
Deborah is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and completed the CIPD Certificate in Employment Law, Relations and Practice (Merit) in 2011.
She has two children and enjoys exploring the outdoors, travel, running and taking on new challenges.
Ed is originally from Riga, Latvia and currently lives in London. He has been in the UK for the best part of 10 years and studied at the University of York and the University of Padua in Italy as part of his ERASMUS exchange programme.
Ed is a CIMA qualified accountant and has spent the last seven years in various finance roles, including financial reporting, business partnering and FP&A. His current role is in the financial services sector, working as an FP&A Manager in the largest private-sector pension scheme in the UK.
He has been involved with charitable organisations mostly in a fundraising capacity and is looking forward to his role as a trustee at PACT.
In his free time, Ed enjoys playing football, cycling, running and snowboarding.
Job Titles:
- Head of Marketing and Communications
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Journalist
Emma trained as a journalist and worked on local and regional newspapers for nine years. She has worked in the charity sector for 20 years and held PR, events management and fundraising positions at two national charities before coming to PACT as a fundraising manager in 2008. As the department grew she took over the management of PACT's communications and marketing team.
Emma lives in north Hampshire with her husband and two children and outside of work she enjoys running, fitness, baking, reading and being a part of the organising committee of her town's annual music festival.
Qualifications: NCTJ NCE in Newspaper Journalism.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Head of Communities
Kathryn joined PACT in 2013 having worked for more than 20 years in both the statutory and voluntary sector. Previous roles include social worker in safeguarding teams, managing a young person's homeless hostel and providing early intervention support to families, all of which built a passion for empowering women and children to reach their full potential.
In her spare time Kathryn likes to run, walk and travel whilst also raising two teenage boys (which in reality means most of her spare time is spent washing dirty rugby kits, being an unpaid personal Uber service and pretending to be interested in Youtube and computer games!)
Qualifications: BA Psychology, Sociology and Social Anthropology, DipSW and MSW
Job Titles:
- Lead Trustee for Marketing
Kim is committed to using business as a force for good: she has spent more than six years on the board at Ella's Kitchen, previously as head of making friends (marketing director in grown-up language) and recently as head of making deals (commercial director). As a passionate B Corp, the certification means that Ella's Kitchen meets the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.
Kim said: "I am very impressed with PACT's ability to combine professionalism and passion to support families. I am looking forward to bringing my expertise from business and creating a strong brand to support PACT's future development".
Kim previously worked in the consumer products division at L'Oreal in national account manager and marketing roles.
She lives in Oxfordshire with her husband and two children and enjoys running and cycling to explore the countryside.
Job Titles:
- Lead Trustee for Safeguarding
- Member of Greyfriars Church
Liz originates from the seaside town of Bangor in Northern Ireland but has lived in the Reading area for 23 years. She is married to Justin and has two teenage children.
Liz qualified as a social worker in 1989 and since that time she has worked in a number of local authorities in various roles within children's services.
She has specialised in child protection and safeguarding and currently works as a designated officer, managing allegations for a local authority in Berkshire. Over the years she has also been involved in both placing children in care and reviewing the care plans for children in care and is aware of the need for children to have permanency and for his to happen in a timely way so that they are not drifting in the care system.
Since moving to Reading, Liz has been an active member of Greyfriars Church in Reading town centre and has been the safeguarding officer for the church for the last 6 years. This role has also led to an opportunity for Liz to do some freelance work for the Oxford Diocese Safeguarding team.
Liz said; "I have been aware of PACT as an adoption agency for many years as a result of working locally and since applying to be a trustee, I have been impressed by the range of other work PACT does to support children and adults in the community… I am really excited about getting involved as a trustee for PACT".
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Adoption Service Director
Lorna has worked in children's social care for the past 32 years, including as a social worker in four different local authorities within Berkshire. Before joining PACT in October 2018 she had worked as assistant director for children's services within Berkshire.
Lorna's roles have covered child protection, youth offending and children in care, but her passion has always been to ensure that children have a future where they can grow and flourish.
Lorna is married to Ian and they have two teenage children, who they adopted through PACT several years ago. She enjoys going to the theatre, having friends round for supper or walking their dog Nelson in the woods near their home. She is also an active member of Greyfriars Church in Reading.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Senior Management Team
- Assistant Adoption Service Director
Mandy qualified as a social worker in 1994 and prior to this worked in residential homes for adults and children with learning disabilities.
Once qualified as a social worker, she worked in a local authority for 19 years, initially working in child protection and with children in care. In 1998 she moved into the areas of fostering, adoption and kinship care, working as a social worker and then a manager.
In 2013, Mandy joined PACT where she focused on adoption, initially as a senior social worker and then as a team manager soon after. Mandy is a parent to two children, one adult and one almost! She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, eating out, going to the theatre and walking in the local area.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant
- Member of the Senior Management Team
Natalie has been with PACT since 2012 as the executive assistant to the CEO and the senior team. Natalie also supports the chair and board of trustees.
Natalie keeps a tightly running ship for us and also has a wealth of experience and knowledge, having previously worked as a PA across the voluntary sector for 13 years.
Natalie studied for a degree and masters in theatre studies. The arts make up a big part of her free time, whether it's watching plays, going to gigs or exhibitions. She also loves to travel as much as possible with her partner Dyson. When she does put her feet up at their home in Caversham she dedicates her time to looking after their cat, Tilly - and trying not to buy too many dresses.
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Chief Executive
- Member of the Senior Management Team
Natausha became CEO for PACT in April 2021. She originally joined PACT in June 2013 as head of communities, becoming director of business development in 2015. In 2018 she took on the role of chief operating officer with a broad portfolio including finance, business development, innovation, marketing and communications, digital services and fundraising.
Her skillset gained through her experience in the commercial and charity sectors enables her to drive, support and improve business and service developments and to identify opportunities for innovation. She is motivated by empowering people to help themselves, with a passion for improving the outcomes for vulnerable women, families, children and young people.
She is married with two teenage children and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, music and time in the great outdoors walking with her dog.
Qualifications: Mont. Dip. Early Years 3-6, Certified Prince 2 Practitioner, CTI Co-Active Coach
Job Titles:
- Head of Finance
- Member of the Senior Management Team
Nick joined PACT in 2010. He has more than 30 years' experience working 19 years for a local firm in audit, eight years in industry and now for PACT. Nick is a chartered accountant and is a Fellow of the Institute.
Nick has three children. He was once very much involved with the speedway side in Reading, wrote for a local paper and even had a hand in managing the side - and hopes very much the sport will return having ended in 2008. Nick also is an avid new music fan.
Job Titles:
- Director of Business Development
- Member of the Senior Management Team
Phil joined PACT in 2021 and has nearly 15 years' experience of working in the charity sector. Phil is passionate about making a positive difference to society.
He has formerly been the CEO of a small local charity and has also worked in a school and the prison service. Phil brings knowledge and experience in fundraising, contract and people management, business growth and relationship building.
Phil enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. He has a background in art and design, enjoys attending events and being outdoors. Phil's main hobby though is taking on walking challenges and has completed many bespoke adventures such as walking across Wales in a day (42 miles), walking the 18 miles of Chesil Beach and completing the three peaks challenge!
Qualifications: BA (hons) 3D Design and level 4 & 5 in Leadership & Management with the ILM.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Board
- Vice Chair and Lead Trustee for Organisational Development and IT
Philip is the operations and commercial director of a company that develops resilience in the cyber and cybersecurity market. He has more than 30 years' experience leading and motivating teams to maintain and grow businesses that need to adapt quickly to changing requirements.
Philip lives in Berkshire with his wife and his son, who was adopted through PACT. He has three older children who are now all adults and have ‘flown the nest' and through which he has his first grand-daughter. Having adopted through PACT, Phil wanted to give something back to the charity that gives so much to others; both through adoption and their work with on community projects.
Job Titles:
- Lead Trustee for Communities
Rev Judith Sumner was ordained in 2016 and is an associate minister at Reading Minster. Before ordination, she was a primary school teacher and has experience in mental health chaplaincy.
Judith's faith is deeply rooted in inclusivity and a commitment to each and every person's value and worth and as part of the Minster team, she has responsibilities for safeguarding and pastoral care.
She said: "Through my role at the Minster, I have recognised the importance of charities who support the most vulnerable in Reading. I have worked with PACT, particularly Alana House and seen the difference they can make and it is a great privilege to have become a trustee."
Judith and her husband Andy have grown up children and a dog and have lived in the Reading area for 30 years.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Board
- Lead Trustee for Adoption
Stephanie lives in South Oxfordshire and is married with two daughters and five grandchildren. At various times she has been a member of her PCC and Deanery Synod, run a youth group and children's church, and been the administrator for the Anglican church in Versailles.
After living in Brussels and Paris where she worked as a journalist and was a board member of the British School of Paris, Stephanie returned to the UK and qualified as a social worker, working in hospitals and the community. She then became a GP practice counsellor following which she qualified as a psychotherapist. She was a member of the board of her professional association, chair of their training committee and she currently sits on the National Ethics Committee Psychoanlytic section of the UK Council for Psychotherapy.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Executive Board
Wes has more than 40 years of experience working in social care, primarily in services for children and young people as a qualified social worker.
He worked for many years in local authorities including Luton, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire as the head of services and was director of services for children and young people at the NSPCC until 2011.
He has a special interest in the support of vulnerable children and families and in safeguarding which included chairing a local children's safeguarding coard and being a board member of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Service (CEOP).
Wes chairs the Hertfordshire Adoption Panel and, having been adopted as a child, has a lifelong interest in and commitment to the role of adoption in transforming the lives of children.
He lives with his partner in Woburn and has two grown up children and grandchildren who live in the USA. Wes is a keen long distance walker, sailor, trombone player and fly fisherman and loves to travel.