ASPERGER - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Centre Manager of the Charing Cross Centre
Andrew Good Andrew is the Centre Manager of the Charing Cross Centre in Norwich where AEA is based.For 29 years he worked as an Anglican priest. He ran a Retreat Centre before his current post. He has lived in Norfolk since 1991.
Job Titles:
- Founding Member of the Board of Trustees of the Then Asperger Norfolk
Ekkehart Staufenberg (MD) Ekkehart works as a neuropsychiatrist in the NHS. He has a clinical, research and personal interest in autism.
Fiona Gullon-Scott has been researching and working clinically with Asperger syndrome and autism for over 25 years, initially undertaking a PhD with Prof Simon Baron-Cohen, then later working at the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge for over a decade. She recently relocating to the North East where she is a Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at Newcastle University, but also acts as an Honorary Senior Lecturer for the Tizard Centre, University of Kent, teaching into their autism undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Clinically she works right across the age-range, but has developed a particular specialism for assessing women and girls, and now receives referrals from across the country and even internationally. Her current passion is in helping to fight for the autistic voice, to challenge stereotypes and implicit and explicit biases, particularly relating to negative experiences with professionals or Local Authorities that can result from poor understanding of Asperger Syndrome and autism. Her interest in working with Asperger East Anglia started around 15 years ago when she first became a Patron, and it is wonderful to return actively to this role and to be able to support such a fantastic, proactive and inclusive charity.
Jeremy Elliott Jerry is the current Chair of AEA. He is semi-retired having worked in oil and gas finance with Amoco and then BP for 37 years. He joined AEA in 2007 as Treasurer. He has no direct connection with AS or Autism but has come to learn that our support for our client group, their families and carers is invaluable.
Marcella founded Asperger Norfolk in 1998, which was then renamed as Asperger East Anglia (AEA) in 2004 as we expanded our area of activity. She continues to support the charity as Founder and Life President
Norman Lamb has been an advocate for Asperger East Anglia and our clients for many years. He was the Liberal Democrat MP for North Norfolk and educated at Wymondham College, Norfolk and the University of Leicester, where he studied law. He has held various positions in the Liberal Democrat party including Shadow Secretary of State for Health, 2006 to 2010. Outside politics he worked for Norwich City Council as a senior assistant solicitor before joining Norfolk solicitors Steele and Co, where he became a partner and Head of the firm's specialist Employment Unit.
Thecla says "I have been employed by AEA since September 2009. Prior to this, I worked as a mental health manager for another local provider that helped people with mental health issues enter employment. I have always felt a calling to help people reach their potential and passionately believe that independence is the key to opening up many life opportunities. I feel inspired by those who want to help themselves despite their disability and working with people with Asperger syndrome has allowed me the opportunity to be creative across all projects which the charity provides and to help those who want to be helped. Seeking, securing and sustaining employment is quite a challenge for those with autism so with my past experience of employment support and looking at ways in which the charity can be self sustainable, the Beccles Employment and Training Project was created. The project houses our workshops which provide a positive work experience for those we support while raising an income from the sales of refurbished donated goods. This Beccles project has thrived since 2014 with the help of people with autism, each workshop having grown from a micro business into a very successful small enterprise of which I am extremely proud."
Norfolk born lawyer, William Armstrong was Coroner in Norfolk for eighteen years, has always had a passionate interest in protecting and advancing the rights of those living with any form of mental disorder or disability. He practised as a Solicitor for over thirty years when one of his principal specialisms was the law relating to mental disorder and mental disability. He was a Mental Health Tribunal Judge for thirty years and also sat as a Legal Assessor to the General Medical Council (Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service.) Mr Armstrong has taken a leading role in public affairs and organisations in Norfolk for many years. He was Sheriff of Norwich in 2014/2015 and founder Chair of Healthwatch Norfolk of which he is now the Honorary President. He is a Lay Canon and member of the Chapter of Norwich Cathedral. Awarded the OBE in 2014 he has an honorary doctorate from the University of East Anglia. William Armstrong is Chair of the group which has produced the Carers' Charter for Norfolk.