THERA (SCOTLAND - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Non - Executive Director
- Deputy CIO at Big Society Capital
Christine Chang is Deputy CIO at Big Society Capital and is a member of its Executive Committee and Investment Committee.
Chris's career spans marketing, advertising and communications acting as client service director on UK and Europe wide campaigns. While running his own marketing consultancy, he joined the board of Thera East Anglia in 2014 and became Chair two years later.
Job Titles:
- Gig Buddies West Lothian Project Coordinator
"I'm Debbie, the Gig Buddies West Lothian Project Coordinator, I joined Gig Buddies in November 2019. I have been following the Stay Up Late campaign for many years and I was delighted when Gig Buddies came to Scotland, and even more so when they came to West Lothian. Working with Gig Buddies is a dream job for me, I have a lot of fun planning and attending our regular social events and most importantly I love seeing the difference our work makes, connecting people and reducing isolation for people with a learning disability."
Job Titles:
- Project Coordinator - Greater Glasgow
Donna is pleased to be joining Equal Futures at such an exciting time and being involved in the development of the new Equal Futures team. She has experience in a variety of care settings, including working with young people in a residential care and more recently as a team manager for adults with a learning disability, mental health, and Autism. In her free time, she loves going on holidays abroad and staycations in the UK.
Job Titles:
- Project Coordinator - Edinburgh and Lothians
Jane is thrilled to be involved with Equal Futures and supports the unique model of support that Equal Futures offer to individuals and their families when it comes to planning for the future.
She has had a varied career starting off in Hospitality Management which she loved as she happiest making others happy. After having children, she entered the field of social care specifically working with adults with autism and learning disability, an equally rewarding career.
Throw in several years of running her own business, she has now settled In what she believes is her dream Job. Having children with ASD gives her a drive to make a real difference with Equal Futures.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Member of the Board
Jayne's career in the Voluntary sector began over 30 years ago. She trained in Community Development at the University of Glasgow and holds further qualifications in Counselling & Psychotherapy, Contemporary Scottish Law, and Leadership. She is a Member of the Chartered Management Institute and has a keen interest in developing people's potential in the workplace and in the wider community. Jayne previously worked for the NSPCC and held accountability for efficiency workstreams on their transformational change program before becoming a Public Appointee. As Head of the National Confidential Forum she heard formal testimony from people who experienced institutional care during childhood, published findings reports and made policy and practice recommendations to Scottish Government. Jayne has two grown up sons and enjoys being outdoors on long scenic walks or open water swimming in all seasons.
Job Titles:
- Director of Quality
- Is Director of Quality
Jenny is Director of Quality and Involvement and Director of Strategy at Thera. She is dedicated to facilitating and enabling the leadership of Thera by people with a learning disability.
Job Titles:
- Senior Independent Director
Jill has a background in delivering care and support services and now works for Gloucestershire VCS Alliance.
John has worked in the U.K. Financial Services Industry for 35 years and is formally the Managing Director of the U.K. General Insurance business within the Ecclesiastical Group.
Job Titles:
- Project Coordinatior - Ayrshire
Kelly has experience of working with many different groups within the community, specifically with young people and people with a learning disability. Her passions are mental health, LGBTQ issues and improving equality within society. She has a cocker spaniel called Maizy and a horse called Ryley and looking after her two fur babies takes up a lot of her personal time. She also enjoys walking, swimming and gardening.
Job Titles:
- Director of Quality and Involvement
Matthew Smith shares the Director of Quality and Involvement role with Jenny. Matthew brings both his personal and professional experience to the director role in Thera, ensuring that the quality of support Thera provides is monitored and that people are fully involved in the planning and delivery of their support.
Michelle McDermott is Co-Chairperson of the Thera Trust board, alongside Sally Warren.
A physics graduate, Mike spent most of his first career with Northern Foods including 16 years on the main board as HR Director.
Job Titles:
- Gig Buddies Glasgow Project Coordinator
- Project Coordinator for Gig Buddies Glasgow
"I'm Molly, the Project Coordinator for Gig Buddies Glasgow. I loved the idea of Gig Buddies when I first heard about it a few years ago, and was thrilled to join the team when we launched in Glasgow last year. I've had loads of fun at all the Gig Buddies Socials, both in real life and online, but my favourite event so far was the Launch Gig we held back in January at the Glad Cafe. I got to meet lots of talented performers and see loads of members and volunteers enjoying the night."
Job Titles:
- Non - Executive Director
- Founder and Deputy CEO of PHSC Plc
Nicola is founder and Deputy CEO of PHSC plc which specialises in safety, management systems and security. She has a background in occupational safety and risk, environmental management, and is a Registered Expert Witness.
Job Titles:
- Non - Executive Director / Priya
Priya is a national Deputy Director in the NHS with a career focused on improving population health through commissioning, transformation & improvement and service redesign, working at a national level in operations, strategy and policy.
Sally Warren is Co-Chairperson of the Thera Trust board, alongside Michelle McDermott.
Job Titles:
- Gig Buddies Project Manager and Edinburgh Project Coordinator
"I've been running Gig Buddies with Thera since it launched back in 2016, and it's such great fun! My highlight so far has to be our ‘Fringing 9-5' event where we attended the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from 9am until 5am the next morning! I have a love for all kinds of music, and you can sometimes catch me signing songs and playing guitar on a Gig Buddies Facebook livestream."
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Personal Assistant
Shona Fleming is Personal Assistant to our Managing Director, Shona specialises in the organisations administration and with the "don't panic" mantra in mind she finds there is no challenge too big or strong for her to conquer. Shona has a passion for cooking and showing off her recipes on Instagram and when she's not working or in the kitchen she can usually be found at the side of a football field cheering on her 2 boys who she is sure will be future stars one day or she will be walking her Golden Retriever, Harper in the Ayrshire
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board
- Director of Strategy and Company Secretary
- Interim Chair
Simon Conway studied Classical Archaeology at Cambridge University before starting his career with the National Audit Office.