FOR BABY'S SAKE TRUST - Key Persons
Adam has extensive senior management experience in the banking, investment and professional services sectors.
After reading Law at Clare College, Cambridge, Adam was called to the Bar in 1986. He then pursued a career in investment banking in London and New York before becoming Chief Financial Officer of Accord plc and, following its sale, founding a law firm, Riverview Law, which was sold to EY in 2018.
Adam is based in London and spends spare time with his family or on his bike - he is an enthusiastic amateur cyclist and has completed the legendary 1,400km ride from Land's End to John O'Groats.
Job Titles:
- Deputy CEO
- Member of the Senior Leadership Team
Amanda led the research and analysis of existing evidence, stakeholder consultations and multi-agency and interdisciplinary teamwork between highly respected experts to create The For Baby's Sake Trust's flagship programme.
Amanda's career has focused on bringing together the public, private and voluntary sectors to improve public services and strengthen local communities. Her previous positions include Head of Modernising Government at the CBI and then Public Affairs Director at Accord plc, followed by being the first full-time Director of the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) before joining the charity in 2010.
She is a primary school Chair of Governors in Ponders End, Enfield.
Brenda is a qualified and highly experienced psychodynamic therapist and clinical supervisor who has worked in this sector for over 25 years.
She has managed and developed multidisciplinary teams to support families with multiple and complex needs. Her specialist area is working with families where domestic abuse and substance misuse impact the wellbeing of all family members.
Brenda established and developed a thriving private practice for several years and lectured in therapy across Hertfordshire.
Brenda also has a degree in Human Resources and worked as an HR and training director for many years
Dame Lin was Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary of the HMRC between 2012 and 2016. Prior to this role, she was Chief Executive of Suffolk County Council from 1998-2002, Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council from 2002-2005 and Director-General, Immigration and Nationality Directorate, at the Home Office between 2005 and 2008. From 2008-2011, Dame Lin was Chief Executive of the UK Border Agency and Permanent Secretary of the Department for Transport, 2011.
Dame Lin was educated at Sir John Leman High School in Beccles, Suffolk, and undertook her Law degree at University College London. She is a qualified Lawyer.
Dame Lin was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the Bath (DCB) in the 2016 New Year Honours List.
Job Titles:
- Director of Strategic Partnerships
Elaine plays a leading role in creating and maintaining The For Baby's Sake Trust's strategic partnerships, including negotiating collaborative arrangements with local authority partners. She managed the contract for the evaluation of For Baby's Sake, acts as the Trust's Data Protection Officer and sits on a number of national partnership bodies, including the Early Years Funders' Group and Parenting Programmes' Alliance.
Elaine has extensive operational management, commissioning and strategic leadership experience in the voluntary and community sector, health service and local government. This included responsibility for Early Years and Childcare Services, Young People's and Family Services, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services as well as leadership of early intervention and prevention strategies and multi-agency, integrated working and system innovation.
Elaine's experience has led her to bring together a team of academics and local authority partners to develop the case for a fully evaluated early childhood intervention programme in order to build the UK evidence of the impact of early and earlier intervention. This is a work in progress which Elaine does in her spare time
Job Titles:
- Ambassador
- CEO of AAFDA
- Honorary Fellow of the University of Gloucestershire
"Seventeen years after two of my family were murdered in domestic abuse, I have at last found a programme which aims to stop these horrors right at the beginning."
Frank is the CEO of AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) a centre of excellence for reviews after domestic homicide and for specialist peer support. AAFDA provides specialist, expert advocacy to families after fatal domestic abuse (which includes suicides and unexplained deaths) and helps professionals.
Frank helped ensure that Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) became law. He also helped develop a model, thought to be unique in the world, which helps families to be integral to reviews after domestic homicide. He continues to work closely with the Home Office to enhance the methodology.
Frank is a ‘reader' of DHRs (advising the Quality Assurance Panel via detailed assessments), he trains people to chair DHRs and is frequently published on domestic abuse.
Frank is an honorary fellow of the University of Gloucestershire where he also is a visiting lecturer. He was awarded an MBE in 2019.
Job Titles:
- Lead Trustee for Safeguarding
"I have been involved in managing domestic abuse and services for vulnerable children for a number of years, what initially attracted me to Babys Sake and keeps me motivated to remain involved is that the program provides a real opportunity to address the cycle of abuse in a meaningful way. Another significant feature, for me , is the leadership desire and absolute determination to tackle the most difficult issues."
Jon is active as a Chair of Governors for a local school. He has a passion for rugby, which all of his children play.
Job Titles:
- Director of Operations and Designated Safeguarding Lead
Judith took up her role at For Baby's Sake Trust in July 2015, having worked in the NHS for 33 years.
While with the NHS Judith was a Staff Nurse, Midwife, Health Visitor, Practice Teacher, and, Safeguarding Children's Nurse and Team Leader for Health Visitors and School Nurses. She went on to set up the Family Nurse Partnership Team in Hertfordshire and was Supervisor for four years.
Judith completed an MSc in Child Protection and Child Welfare. Her dissertation was on producing an assessment tool for Health Visitors responding to police notifications of domestic abuse where there were children or an unborn baby in the family.
Judith's passion for early intervention and safeguarding in relation to domestic abuse and her training, supervision and safeguarding skills are being put to excellent use at The For Baby's Sake Trust.
Job Titles:
- Solicitor
- Trustee
- Trustee of Hoopers Africa Trust
Lady Sally Knowles is a qualified solicitor and gained specialist experience in insolvency and corporate recovery before becoming a Partner in an international law firm, within their Restructuring Group.
She has held non-executive and advisory positions, specialising in risk prevention, management and response and supporting clients to understand the threats to their people, information, property and reputation.
Since 2009, Sally has been a Trustee of Hoopers Africa Trust, a charity which aims to transform the lives of disadvantaged and vulnerable girls in Kenya through education. To date, the Trust has funded more than 120 girls through secondary education and 11 through further education.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Chief Executive of the for Baby 's Sake Trust
Lauren Seager-Smith became Chief Executive of The For Baby's Sake Trust in May 2023, bringing expertise and experience in leading charities through growth and development, along with a track-record as a leading advocate for children's rights and trauma-informed, whole-family approaches.
Lauren was previously CEO of Kidscape, the charity that provides help with bullying, where she led the charity to develop its strategy and governance, expand its services and grow its income. Before then, she was National Coordinator of the Anti-Bullying Alliance.
Lauren's record of representing sensitive and complex needs of children and families to a public audience includes extensive media experience, including press, television and radio.
Lauren holds a number of high-profile Board positions including Trustee of Children England and membership of the Action for Children England Committee. Lauren was delighted to be awarded Associate of the Institute of Responsible Leadership in recognition of her active commitment to growing leadership in the charity sector.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Chairman of WKE Energy
"I am delighted to be involved in the For Baby's Sake programme that protects babies by providing tools and support for the parents to give their baby the start they never had."
Philip is Chairman of WKE Energy, which produces alternative fuels for green energy generators and high energy users such as the Cement industry. He provides strategic and business improvement consultancy support to IWS Water Hygiene, a business unit of South Staff Water; OMS optical metrology specialists; and Logincident, a software start-up company. Philip has a wealth of experience in the infrastructure and waste management sectors, including from 2008 to 2012 as Chief Executive of May Gurney Integrated Services plc, an AIM-listed support services and construction business. Prior to joining May Gurney, Philip was Chief Executive of Accord plc.
Job Titles:
- Research, Design, Innovation
We are delighted to welcome Lauren Seager-Smith as our new CEO. Lauren Seager-Smith was previously Chief Executive at Kidscape, the charity that provides help with bullying. Lauren joined The For Baby's Sake Trust on 9 May. Lauren has a great range of skills and experience and a trauma-informed, whole-family ethos.