ALCOHOL CHANGE UK - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chartered Management Accountant
Adam is a chartered management accountant (ACMA) and has held the role of Chief Financial Officer in both the private sector, for the Fresh Direct Group, and in the charity sector, for Macmillan Cancer Support, where he helped them overhaul their reserves policy, implement GDPR and develop a new financial framework. Most recently, however, Adam has launched his own business called Sobersauce. Founded on the back of becoming sober himself, whilst studying for his MBA, Sobersauce aims to introduce people to great-tasting non-alcoholic beers via its beer club, tasting service and online shop.
Job Titles:
- Director of Research and Public Affairs
Ailar joined Alcohol Change UK in January 2022. She brings nearly a decade's worth of policy and influencing experience, having worked for an MP and national charities Breast Cancer Now and Versus Arthritis. She is responsible for developing the charity's evidence base on alcohol harm through our research and policy work. Ailar also leads on our influencing work, making sure that the government hears the voices of those impacted by alcohol harm through our amazing network of campaigners, and targeted public affairs activities to make sure that we are affecting alcohol policy in a meaningful way.
Andrew is Alcohol Change UK's Director for Wales, and has led the development of the charity's work in Wales since 2009.
Job Titles:
- Digital Programme Manager
Angela joined Alcohol Change UK in September 2022 as Digital Programme Manager. She leads on the delivery of our flagship Dry January campaign and is responsible for improving the reach of our digital behaviour change offer, which includes our brilliant free app, Try Dry, online forums, email coaching journeys and more. Angela trained as a Psychologist in Australia and has worked in the alcohol treatment field for 17 years. She joins our team having previously managed digital products and services within the charity sector aimed at supporting people to reduce their drinking.
Job Titles:
- Head of Fundraising
- Director of Fundraising and Engagement
Danielle joined Alcohol Change UK as Head of Fundraising and Engagement in August 2019, she brings with her over 14 years of fundraising experience having previously worked at Spinal Research, Anthony Nolan, The Silver Line and NSPCC. She is also volunteers for ChildLine and Caris Bereavement Service.
Dave is an author, motivational speaker and sobriety coach. From the very start of his own sobriety journey he made the decision to chart his experiences on social media and @soberdave was born. Dave feels passionately that by speaking as honestly as he can about the highs and lows of sobriety it will hopefully encourage others who may be sober or sober curious to do the same. He hosts the top 10 apple podcast ‘One for the road' and is a qualified Grey Area Drinking coach.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Director for Addictions - Southwark at the South London
Emily is Clinical Director for Addictions - Southwark at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. In her role as Clinical Director of the Addictions Clinical Academic Group (CAG), Emily has responsibility for Addiction services across Lambeth, Bexley, Wandsworth and Richmond as well as a variety of specialist addictions services . She is currently clinical lead for the Alcohol Assertive Outreach Team and carries out assessments for liver transplants and a member of the Partnership Southwark Strategic board. She teaches in a variety of settings and is engaged in research on a range of addiction topics. Emily is joint chair of the recovery committee of the advisory Council on the Misuse of Drug and is currently chair of the addictions faculty of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. She is joint chair of the London Joint working Group on hepatitis C. In the past she has chaired NICE guidelines groups and been part of the group developing the UK guidelines on the clinical management of drug misuse and dependence.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Research Fellow at the National Addiction Centre
Emmert is a clinical research fellow at the National Addiction Centre, King's College London and a practising psychiatrist specialising in substance misuse at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Emmert's research focuses on population health studies of alcohol-related mortality, and hospitalisation, and he is also a trustee of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH).
Richard joined Alcohol Change UK as Chief Executive in September 2017, having previously worked for Mencap, NCVO and Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity and provided consultancy to many of the UK's biggest and smallest charities. He is a trustee of the Children's Chronic Arthritis Association and is an active volunteer for St Albans Woodcraft Folk.
Fiona Cumberland is a Director at Kreab. She brings experience in strategic communications to the Board, specialising in international reputation and crisis management, with a focus on multijurisdictional campaigns in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. She is also a Trustee with global NGO One Voice and sits on the Advisory Board of UK education charity Solutions Not Sides, and the advisory board of Sussex University's Liberal Arts degree. Fiona is currently undertaking a ESRC-funded PhD at Royal Holloway, with a case study examining mobile sports betting in Kenya.
Hannah Grummet is a Project Lead at CBI. She has more than ten years' experience working in and around Westminster with knowledge of both commercial and policy environments. Hannah is passionate about reducing alcohol harm through improved knowledge and better regulation, having seen the devastating impact alcohol can have on an individual and their loved ones.
Job Titles:
- Pharmacist and Associate Director of Education
Helen is a pharmacist and Associate Director of Education and Professional Development at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, with extensive experience of strategic planning, project management, and working for not-for-profit organisations. She has dedicated her career to advancing the pharmacy profession and fostering positive change in healthcare. She is passionate about influencing policy and increasing access to support, to reduce alcohol harm for patients, their families, and the wider society. She actively contributes to the quality improvement of healthcare research. She is a member of a research ethics committee with the Health Research Authority and is a peer reviewer for two international scholarly journals. She is additionally completing a PhD at University College London, exploring the developmental experiences and needs of early career pharmacists.
Herdeep has over 30 years experience working in the financial services legal industry and has had leadership roles at various global financial institutions including Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse and most recently The Bank of New York Mellon. Herdeep has a keen interest in the reduction of alcohol harm to individuals, families and communities. Her focus is informed by a background of care and support for family members affected by alcohol dependency. She also has a long-standing interest in social equality, mobility and diversity. Herdeep has acted as trustee for Founders4Schools and in a volunteering and mentoring capacity for students from less advantaged backgrounds.
James has worked with adults and children in substance use treatment, children in care, youth offending and in social care. He has provided substance misuse training across young people's services. James completed his master's degree in social work and worked as a Children's Social Worker in Derby and Derbyshire. James is a member of MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers) and has delivered across a range of services and areas including Substance Misuse, Children's Services (Social Care and Multi-agency Teams) and Youth Offending Teams. James Lectured in Health and Social Care before setting up as a Freelance Motivational Interviewing and Safeguarding Consultant and Trainer. His 22 years working with Children, Young People and their families across 5 Local Authorities, has given him a wealth of knowledge and experience which he now brings to life in training. At the heart of his approach to training is his compassionate approach and the belief that a collaborative approach to working with people to affect change in their lives works best.
Job Titles:
- Senior Consultancy and Training Manager
Jane joined Alcohol Change UK in January 2022 to manage our Consultancy and Training services, ensuring that as many practitioners and services as possible who provide support and treatment to people with alcohol problems are able to benefit from our training support.
Jane brings with her 21 years' experience in the charity sector, having undertaken a variety of roles at different UK charities including providing fundraising and service development consultancy to small charities and managing national training and support services.
Jane spends her spare time running - not only marathons but also after her two teenage boys.
Job Titles:
- Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer
Jaynee joined Alcohol Change UK as Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer in November 2021, helping to manage our Charity of the Year and Dry January partnerships programme.
Jaynee brings over 10 years of fundraising experience previously working for Kew Foundation, Bipolar UK, Marie Curie and the British Heart Foundation.
Job Titles:
- Head of Office, People and Governance
Jenni joined Alcohol Change UK in November 2017. Outgoing, creative and team-focused, Jenni maintains the running of the virtual and physical offices in addition to the People function, alongside the Chief Executive. She also organises the charity's Governance needs.
Jeremy has a Cranfield MBA and over 15 years senior level leadership experience in strategy, transformation and change, and is currently in TMT (technology, media, and telecoms). He is a facilitator and leadership coach with an Advanced Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching and Certificate in Personal Growth. Jeremy is passionate about belonging, diversity and inclusion, and empowerment, and has supported people with mental wellbeing and dependency behaviours for five years.
Job Titles:
- Director of Communications and Marketing
Joe joined the Alcohol Change UK team in September 2023, having worked for many years across the charity sector. He has developed inspiring communications campaigns and public engagement strategies for organisations including Bite Back 2030, where he worked to empower young activists to fight for a healthier food system, and led communications for Birmingham City University and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. At Alcohol Change UK, Joe is responsible for developing effective ways to tell the stories of alcohol harm and to motivate people to get involved with key campaigns including Dry January.
Job Titles:
- Senior Communications Manager
Julie joined Alcohol Change UK in September 2015 having previously worked as freelance Communications Adviser to the European Communications Office and prior to that as Communications Manager at Ofcom. Julie works, together with the Director of Communications, on the development and implementation of our brand, communications and marketing strategies.
Job Titles:
- Policy and Research Officer
Laura joined Alcohol Change UK in July 2023 as Policy and Research Officer. She works on the development and understanding of research and policy about alcohol harm. She brings extensive research experience, having worked as an academic at the University of Brighton, University of Surrey, Kings College London, Brunel University, the Open University and Richmond, the American International University. Before her academic career, Laura worked as a fundraiser at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Lauren has worked for over 18 years in the alcohol sector. She is an experienced. Alcohol Change UK consultant, working with the charity since 2009. Lauren specialises in supporting the private sector to reduce alcohol-related harm and promote employee wellbeing. Her clients include British Telecom, Allianz Global, the Royal Navy and Eversheds Sutherland. Lauren also regularly advises firms on the development and implementation of effective alcohol policies and supporting employees with alcohol problems. She is a qualified alcohol treatment practitioner and has extensive experience as an addiction counsellor. She is also a passionate advocate for recovery coaching and wellbeing promotion and helps businesses of all sizes to minimise the impact of alcohol on their workforce. She has advised the government on the development of a model alcohol policy for employers and is an experienced speaker at national wellbeing events. Lauren is also a highly effective trainer, delivering courses on all aspects of alcohol, health and wellbeing.
Job Titles:
- Consultancy & Training Business Development Officer
Luke joined Alcohol Change UK in May 2023 to promote alcohol harm awareness training to workplaces across the UK.
Coming from a background in hospitality, his introduction into charities started in March 2020 as a Support Worker helping provide support to over 200 homeless clients during an emergency temporary accommodation project.
Luke has seen first-hand the harm that alcohol can do from multiple perspectives. He understands how workplaces can be supported for employees, managers and employers to benefit from this service. Now he is responsible for attending networking events, providing information and creating bespoke packages of training to help reduce alcohol harm.
Job Titles:
- Senior Policy and Research Manager
Mark joined Alcohol Change UK in August 2009, and is based in our Wales office in Cardiff. His role involves identifying and delivering research projects, and using strong networks to influence alcohol policy.
Job Titles:
- Individual Giving Officer
Megan focuses on everything regular givers and individual donations for Alcohol Change UK. Previously, she held roles at the Family Holiday Charity as the Fundraising Officer as well as a Finance Administrator at the Marylebone Project.
Mick Urwin is a retired Police Sergeant who specialised in alcohol harm reduction. He created policies and strategies to tackle underage drinking and alcohol related anti-social behaviour and violence on the night-time economy. He was a member of the National Police Chiefs Council Licensing and Alcohol Harm group advising the Chief Officer lead and Home Office. He is passionate about reducing alcohol harm he is Chair of a local community project tackling underage drinking and is Vice Chair of the board of trustees for One Punch UK.
Mike Ward is Senior Consultant at Alcohol Change UK. He comes from a social work background and was working in alcohol outreach in the 1980s in London. He founded and led Surrey's Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service and has worked for Cranstoun and Kent Council on Addiction. He was also formerly Commissioning Manager (Mental Health & Substance Misuse) for Surrey Social Services. Mike is now a full-time consultant and trainer and has worked in the substance misuse/mental health field for over thirty years. He wrote the Department of Health/NTA guidelines on running drug death review systems and is one of the two key drivers behind the Blue Light project which has won both a Guardian Public Service Award and a Royal Society for Public Health Award. Mike has been asked to undertake a number of Safeguarding Adult Reviews (under s44 of the Care Act) by local authority Safeguarding Adult Boards. These reviews look at learning lessons from the deaths of clients who are already the focus of his work.
Mike worked in the NHS for over 30 years, 18 of which were as a CEO. During this time, he had extensive involvement in the development of mental health services. He has had a number of non-executive appointments being Vice Chairman of two university boards as well as having been on three NHS boards. Most recently he was Vice Chairman of Oxford Health NHS Trust and continues to meet patients who often have co-occurring conditions, as a Mental Health Act Manager. He has an interest in improving the well-being of older people particularly, being a Trustee of the Dunhill Medical Trust and is Chairman of the local U3A.
Job Titles:
- Digital Marketing Manager
Natalie joined Alcohol Change UK in August 2022. Natalie is responsible for marketing our key campaigns including Dry January, Sober Spring and Alcohol Awareness week. She works closely with our fundraising, public affairs, and consultancy and training teams, identifying opportunities to promote our services and increase engagement with our supporters. She joins us from LandAid, the property industry charity, where she was Senior Digital Communications and Content Officer and has experience working in homelessness and fertility.
Job Titles:
- Diversity and Equity Specialist
Raveena Dhadwal (she/her) is an Inclusion, Diversity and Equity specialist who has worked in multiple professional services firms including SThree and KPMG. Raveena has media experience and is an award nominee for her work creating systemic change and being an ally in the corporate world. Raveena is driven by her values and understands the widespread impact of alcohol harm which she hopes to help us in reducing while creating a healthier drinking culture for all.
Job Titles:
- Community and Challenge Events Manager
Robin joined Alcohol Change UK in July 2022 from the Institute of Cancer Research where he managed challenge events and community fundraising. He brings 15 years' experience working in fundraising for Sue Ryder, Sense, and Spinal Research, and looks forward to supporting all the sporty and community fundraisers at Alcohol Change UK.
You can often find Robin running somewhere, including taking part in race days with some of our participants. He uses this experience to share lots of hints and tips with our supporters to help them get the most out of their experience.
Rose joined the Finance Team at Alcohol Change in August 2023 as Finance Officer. Rose has worked in finance operations in the motor trade and healthcare sectors. For the last thirteen years she has worked in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation unit within the charity sector and has a passion to be able to contribute to the work done by Alcohol Change UK. In her spare time, Rose enjoys watching gymnastics, as her granddaughter trains and completes at national level and football. She is also a lifelong Arsenal supporter!
Shumita joined Alcohol Change UK in 2014. She supports our finance team with the day-to-day running of the department.
Sonali joined Alcohol Change UK as Head of Finance in April 2023, having previously worked for YMCA St. Paul's Group, SEMTA, Vocalink(Mastercard), GE Consumer Finance and Inchape Motors, providing a varied mix of financial controllership, reporting, process improvement and taxation support. She is an experienced qualified Chartered Accountant. She's also a dedicated foodie and enjoys music and travelling.
Susan joined Alcohol Change UK in 2021 as its Lived Experience Associate and went on to join the Consultancy and Training Team permanently in 2023. Susan is an author and speaker, and uses her lived experience of surviving life-threatening alcohol dependency to help bring a different perspective to the training and webinars she delivers for Alcohol Change UK. She is committed to removing the stigma still associated with alcohol dependence, and has contributed to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Harm, as well as giving evidence at the House of Lords Commission on Alcohol Harm. Susan was recognised as a ‘Woman of The Year' in 2020 for her work in alcohol addiction and founded Sober Code in 2023.
Job Titles:
- Fundraising and Engagement
Sven joined Alcohol Change UK in 2023 after a career break to complete their Masters in Creative Writing.
Sven has 10 years experience working in Fundraising and Business Development, and 10 years experience in Licensed Trade and Hospitality before dedicating their life to cleaner living, sobriety, and helping others.
Job Titles:
- Behaviour Change Communications Officer
Thea joined us as Behaviour Change Communications Officer in 2022. She works on the behaviour change programme within the organisation and supports the Digital Programme Manager on its delivery, as well as on the development and maintenance of our Try Dry app. Thea has wide experience in digital, social media and communications across the Third Sector and has come to us from the RNLI.
Job Titles:
- People and Governance Assistant
Tina joined us as Office, People and Governance Assistant in September 2023 and is responsible for providing support in the running of the office and people function. Tina comes with experience of working in mental health charities where she organised conferences and events, and from a learning disability charity where she worked as an office assistant.
Vivienne Evans OBE is Chief Executive of Adfam, the national umbrella organisation for children and families affected by someone else's substance misuse. She has a background in drug and alcohol education, prevention and young people. She is a former member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) and chaired its working group on the implementation of the Hidden Harm report. She also chaired the Drug Sector Skills Consortium, funded by the Department of Health, from 2012 until its conclusion in 2015, and the Family Drug and Alcohol Court Advisory Group, until 2016. She is a board member of the International Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment and the London Hep C Joint Working Group.
Job Titles:
- Senior Campaigns and Public Affairs Officer
Vrushika joined Alcohol Change UK in July 2023. She manages the All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Harm and maintains the charity's engagement with politicians, civil servants and our hard-working campaigners, as well as being responsible for the public affairs aspect of the charity. Vrushika has great experience with working with politicians, as she worked for MPs in Parliament starting her career there as an intern and eventually made her way up to Senior Parliamentary Researcher.
Job Titles:
- Digital Communications Officer
Zoe joined Alcohol Change UK in April 2023 as our Digital Communications Officer. She is responsible for developing and managing our social media channels, promoting our services and boosting our engagement within digital audiences. Zoe also supports our Digital Marketing Manager with the delivery of our key annual campaigns such as Dry January. Zoe has a background in digital communications and social media and joins us from Richmond Fellowship, a mental health service delivery charity.