From our day service co-ordinators to our therapy team, fundraisers and board members – every individual at Headway East London contributes to the success of the organisation.
More than 50 members of staff work from our centre in Hackney and out in the community.
Chief Executive
Sarah has been involved in Headway East London since she was a teenager – as a volunteer, Coordinator, Senior Coordinator, Day Services Manager, Director of Operations and the CEO since August 2024.
She loves Headway and is proud to be a part of it.
Director of Development
Natalie has worked at Headway Devon for 10 years running day services across the county and providing advocacy for adults with acquired brain injuries.
Why she loves Headway? “Brain injury continues to interest me after a decade of working in this area, I strive to assist individuals and their families to create a new sense of self following such an injury and advocate on their behalf.
Director of Finance
Director of Fundraising
Kath came to Headway East London in October 2019, to take up the newly created job of Fundraising & Business Development Manager. She has worked in fundraising and charities for a very long time, and is looking forward to contributing to Headway’s future successes.
Why she loves Headway? “I feel at home in the Headway community. Everyone strives to do their best, it is very inspiring to work and have fun alongside so many talented and lovely people.”
Director of Services
Claire has worked with people with acquired brain injury for 25 years. She joined Headway East London in 2024 as the Clinical Lead, and in 2025 took on the new Director of Services role.
As a Speech and Language therapist she works collaboratively with people living with brain injury, their families, friends, carers and colleagues to ensure that progress made in therapy translates into their daily lives.
On working at Headway East London, she says: “I love working at Headway because it is a vibrant, motivating space where people quickly feel comfortable and can engage in a range of activities. There is a culture of peer support, care and kindness.”
Day Service Manager (maternity leave)
Tas started volunteering at Headway as a student in 2008 and immediately felt like she was part of the family. She then went to work as a Therapy Assistant in a rehab centre, then in the community working with people with Neurological conditions. But she couldn’t keep away and soon returned to work as a co-ordinator at Headway.
Why she loves working at Headway? “I’m always learning from members and that’s one of the things I love.”
Day Service Manager (maternity cover)
After leaving school at 16, Daphne worked in banking for 14 years then retrained in Social Care, working with children & families in domestic abuse, children’s mental health and parental mental health. While contemplating retirement, Daphne came to work for Headway East London in 2021 on a short-term contract as a Day Service Co-ordinator. The ‘magic’ of Headway soon kicked in and she decided retirement can wait! To continue working in this wonderful community, she took the opportunity to apply for the position of Deputy Day Service Manager.
Why she loves Headway? “It’s the best place I’ve worked – the fun, laughter, joy and love among the work with members, volunteers and staff is so special and fulfilling.”
Art Studio Manager
Michelle has been an artist since early childhood and began volunteering for Headway East London in 2001. Her love for people and passion for art led her to embrace the opportunity to join the staff team. Initially running art groups around a small table, it has grown into what is now called “Submit to Love Studios”. Daily up to 15 artists create works that have since been shown in galleries such as the Barbican, Wellcome, Autograph and Southbank. The studio is so much more than the artwork it produces, it’s a place where people discover meaning, purpose and joy through art.
Why does she love working at Headway? “I am inspired everyday by the courage and creativity of our members and artists.”
Community Support Work Service Manager
Starting as a volunteer in 2013, Fiona moved to being a Community Support Worker in 2014, Coordinator for the Community Support Worker Service in 2017 and Manager in 2020. Before life at Headway, Fiona’s background was working in commercial film and photographic production.
Why does she love working at Headway? “I’ve always been curious about different perspectives in experiencing life and from the start I’ve loved being with our members and being a part of their community. If in my work, I can return something meaningful to them, I’m happy.”
Therapy Service Manager / Neurophysiotherapist
Nora qualified as a Physiotherapist at the University of Brighton in 2005 and specialised in neurology in 2008. She has worked in a variety of settings including the NHS, private and charitable organisations and has experience of working with individuals with a variety of neurological conditions. She also has particular skills in the management of complex spasticity and complex postural needs. She completed a Master’s Degree in Neurorehabilitation at Brunel University in 2012.
Why she loves Headway? “Our members inspire me every day – to embrace any challenge that comes my way (with a smile!)”.
Casework Service Manager
Paul started at Headway East London in 2021 as a Day Service Coordinator. Now as the Casework Manager, Paul and the Casework team works towards ensuring that brain injury survivors and their families in our catchment have access and information about all the statutory support they are entitled to.
What he loves about Headway? “Being around our members and their families, and getting to know their stories is what I am most passionate about.”
Kitchen Manager
Thomas started working in the day service at Headway in 2010 after doing a range of jobs through his 20s, from a stint at a local paper to sessional work for a food coop. After a couple of stretches working in cafes in his teens and early 20s, he swore he’d never work in a kitchen again. But the lure of the Headway kitchen soon proved too much for him: he took on the kitchen project in 2015, and hasn’t looked back since.
For a long time Thomas lived with his young family on a boat moored alongside the Headway garden, and he loves being part of Headway’s extended family.
Admin and Premises Manager
Grace has been working in admin roles for charities since 2007. Much of her work experience is at charities because “I have found you can be far more creative with your problem solving, which I love.”
Stepping into the Admin and Premises role she discovered she also enjoys the odd bit of DIY, wielding a screwdriver in her daisy covered boiler suit.
Why does she love working at Headway? “Because the place is so joyful, and I get to be part of that. And because they feed me so well.”
Public Engagement and Comms Manager
Claire joined Headway East London in June 2022 as the Public Engagement & Communications Manager. Her role is to support anything that raises awareness about the work we do – whether through our social media and website, or our public events and partnerships. She loves to work at the intersection between art and social justice, and has previously worked at Clean Break, a theatre company for women with experience of the criminal justice system, and producing live poetry events at Poet in the City.
Why does she love Headway? “It has taught me so much about disability and the struggles our members face to go about their daily lives. I am so grateful to be able to learn from them every day. There is so much creativity, joy, and incredible food here!”
HR Manager
Finance Manager
If you would like to speak with a particular department please contact
info@headwayeastlondon.org with details of your enquiry.
Grace Bailey
Admin and Premises Manager
Megan Ravindra
Receptionist / Admin Office
Fardeen Anan
Administrative Officer
Colin Harvey
Caretaker
Paul McKay
Casework Service Manager
Dean Harding
Peer Support Worker
Kate Dooley
Peer Support Worker
Yoki Mekuria
Peer Support Worker
Saul Grijalva Castaneda
Senior Caseworker
Penny Anderson
Caseworker
Becca Bianchi
Caseworker
Fiona Aravindakshan
Community Support Work Service Manager
Ali Thomson
Community Support Worker
Anil Phandey
Community Support Worker
Anu Biswas
Community Support Worker
Elinor Perry-Smith
Community Support Worker
Freya Barlow
Community Support Worker
Ilaria Marchetti
Community Support Worker
Leonie Phillips
Community Support Worker
Michael Graham
Community Support Worker
Rachael Jacobs
Community Support Worker (Cover)
Mary Mullan
Community Support Worker (Cover)
Greys Acosta Peña
Community Support Worker (Cover)
Liam Donaghy
Community Support Worker (Cover)
Connie Lammiman
Community Support Worker (Cover)
Tasneem Aziz
Day Service Manager (maternity leave)
Daphne Joseph
Day Service Manager (maternity cover)
Eliza Stone
Senior Day Service Co-ordinator
Sam Watson
Senior Day Service Co-ordinator
James Compton
Music Lead
Katya Goloubeva
Volunteer Lead
Sandra Duffy
Day Service Co-ordinator
Jenny Buggs
Day Service Co-ordinator
Mark O’Brien
Day Service Co-ordinator
Michelle Carlile
Art Studio Manager
Alex Brady
Art Studio Co-ordinator
Emily de Kersaint Giraudeau
Art Studio Co-ordinator (maternity leave)
Hannah Brabon
Art Sudio Co-ordinator (maternity cover)
Natalie Smith
Art Studio Co-ordinator
Brian Searle
Art Sudio Peer Assistant
Rosie Scott
Projects and Events Officer
Thomas Alexander
Kitchen Manager
Zuber Haji
Kitchen Co-ordinator
Olga Trocin
Finance Manager
David Milne
Senior Finance Officer
Eve Edy
HR Manager
Mariam Nakiboneka
HR Adminstrator
Claire Stone
Public Engagement and Communications Manager
Elisa Braglia
Communications and Campaigns Officer
Nora Brennan
Therapy Service Manager / Neurophysiotherapist
Stephanie Kelley
Therapy Technical Instructor
Tina Greenhill
Integrative Counsellor and Psychotherapist (Associate)
Leanne Cater
Occupational Therapist (Associate)
Beth Codrington
Trainee Psychotherapist
Jazmin Glen
Marketing and Engagement Lead
Eva Oddi
Engagement Lead
Kit Vincent
Peer Training Lead
Sarah Lantsbury
Chief Executive
Natalie Clapshaw
Director of Development
Willa Geertsema
Director of Finance
Kath Lee
Director of Fundraising
Claire Farrington-Douglas
Director of Services (Clinical Lead)
We’re lucky to have 8 fantastic board members who volunteer their time to oversee Headway East London’s activities, and ensure it is run both effectively and ethically as a charitable organisation.
Chair
Glen heads up the healthcare practice for GS1, a not-for-profit global open standards organisation that is working closely with the NHS to improve patient safety by preventing medical errors.
He brings over 20 years national and international board level experience covering a variety of operational and commercial roles within the health and care industries. He is also a Governor of a London comprehensive high school for girls. Among other interests Glen is a long-time Fulham Football Club season ticket holder and a failed punk rocker…
Vice Chair
Alice is the Lead for Patient and Family Liaison at Essex and Herts Air Ambulance, in her role she supports patients and families following life changing injury or illness.
Prior to taking on this role, Alice spent around 13 years working at the Royal London Hospital in different nursing roles – including a rewarding nearly 7 years as a Specialist Nurse for traumatic brain injury supporting patients and families who have suffered traumatic brain injury across the Major Trauma centre and into North East London and Essex (which includes Headway East London’s Better Together initiative at the hospital).
Alice was East London’s first Violence Reduction Nurse and was instrumental in setting up the now famed youth violence project at the Royal London Hospital with Mr Martin Griffiths CBE. Alice recently completed a Masters in Nursing at City University London.
Sonita is Head of Public Affairs and a Partner at Bolt Burdon Kemp. She joined BBK in 2010, and is a qualified solicitor who specialised in the field of professional negligence – which plays to her strengths as both a solicitor and a campaigner for social justice.
She and her team are responsible for communication of the vital work the firm carries out through the firm’s online presence, press relations, campaigns, political engagement, charity partnerships and social media. Sonita ensures that any campaigns to effect positive change and raise awareness are heard by the outside world, and set up the firm’s Social Justice Group, which brings people together from across the firm to discuss areas they are passionate about, to help amplify their efforts by drawing on the diverse experience across the firm.
BBK dedicates a great deal of time to supporting charities like Headway East London, helping improve the lives of seriously injured people and their families. Sonita’s team supports those relationships and helps ensure that these strategic partnerships deliver the maximum benefit to individuals and their families.
Paula manages the advertising sales team at the Guardian. She has been associated with Headway East London since 2012, when her husband Richard had a stroke, and subsequently became a Wednesday member.
Paula loves running, cooking and going to bed early!
Treasurer
Toby is a Senior Private Banker at Union Bancaire Privée, a leading Swiss private bank, and predominantly looks after clients in the professionals sector, but also manages a number of mid-size charity accounts. Toby’s day to day role is managing a client’s wealth which covers investments, lending and banking needs, but he has also been responsible for managing some of the bank’s key projects.
Toby has worked within financial services for over 20 years, looking after charities for a large proportion of this time, and has a good understanding of the challenges a charity faces.
Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his young family, keeping fit by running the local trails of Sussex and tearing round racetracks on his motorbike.
Tim is passionate about digital innovation and emerging technologies, and thrives on helping organisations accelerate their cloud journeys, optimise IT strategies, and drive business value. With over 16 years of experience in cloud consulting, IT leadership, and digital transformation, Tim specialises in designing scalable, secure, and future-ready solutions for enterprises across industries.
Tim believes that technology should be a business enabler, and works closely with organisations to align cloud investments with strategic objectives, ensuring measurable impact and sustainable growth. His expertise spans cloud strategy, governance, business development, and immersive technologies (XR, VR, AR, MR) to enhance stakeholder engagement and complex project communication.
Beyond consulting, Tim is a guest lecturer at UK universities, mentoring and inspiring the next generation of IT professionals. He joined Headway East London in 2023 as a trustee, advising on technology strategy and digital inclusion.
With a career spanning over 25 years in HR, Mairead has extensive experience in both the civil service and private sector, including working for a communications agency. Her expertise covers all aspects of employee relations, with a particular focus on employee benefits.
Her connection to Headway East London began following her husband’s road traffic accident, which resulted in a life-changing traumatic brain injury. The support her family received from the charity was invaluable, and being a trustee allows her to give back to the organisation that plays such a crucial role in the journey of those living with an acquired brain injury.
In addition to her professional background, she is a qualified Health Coach with a keen interest in health and wellness, cooking, and travel.
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Registered Charity No: 1083910.
Affiliated to Headway – the brain injury association – a registered charity
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