Our Staff

Clare has worked as a senior manager in mental health for over 25 years and it is her interest and passion. She was delighted to take up the post of Chief Executive at the Charlie Waller in 2014, since which time the Trust has expanded its activities significantly.

Her previous roles have included commissioning and providing mental health services in the voluntary sector and NHS, including a secondment to the Department of Health as a Senior Policy Advisor for the National Personality Disorder Programme.

Clare is Vice-Chair of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Coalition.

She is also Chair of the governing body for Cranbury College in Reading, Berkshire, an alternative provider which meets the needs of some of Reading’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged young people.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller:

Working with skilled, experienced and generally brilliant people (volunteers, Trustees, office team, trainers and the Waller family) who are passionate about mental health and want to make a positive difference.

Lady Waller is co-founder of the Trust, which she and her husband Sir Mark Waller set up in 1997 after their son Charlie tragically took his own life whilst suffering from depression. She has a background in special needs education and has been a school governor.

Lady Waller manages the Trust’s fundraising, organising extremely successful events, liaising with grant-giving bodies, reporting to Trustees on our income and supporting those who raise funds for us.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller?

It is a real bonus to work in such a collaborative, kind and generous team.

Tracey has worked in charity communications for 20 years, for large and small organisations, including The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and RNIB. Prior to that, she worked in homelessness and social housing, providing direct support to people with a variety of needs. This included helping people with severe mental health problems move from psychiatric hospitals back into their local communities, a role which convinced her of the need to reduce the stigma attached to mental health issues.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller?

Being part of an organisation whose advice I find really useful myself!

Carrie joined Charlie Waller in 2013, as a freelance bookkeeper. She now overseas all financial aspects of the charity’s work and is leading our ongoing digital transformation project.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller

I’ve seen the trust grow and change and am honoured to be part of the team that has made it happen.

Andrew is a Registered Social Worker and Senior Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), a Fellow of the BACP and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE). He has practiced for over 30 years in many settings including secondary care mental health, child protection, schools, higher education, the third sector and independent practice as a counsellor/psychotherapist and social worker.

He has written extensively on working with clients at risk of suicide and those who self-injure, is the author of a several key textbooks in counselling and psychotherapy, and was Editor in Chief of Counselling and Psychotherapy Research journal for six years. Andrew is also an Associate Professor in the Counselling Professions and Mental Health at the University of Chester; he is immediate Past-Chair of BACP.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller?

Everything is considered possible, with a true commitment to best practice in mental health.

Find out more about our Colleges and Universities programme.

Abigail joined us in 2020 from Acas, the independent national advisory body for employers and employees, where she was Head of Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing.

She has worked in the field of Mental Health and Wellbeing for more than 25 years, has an MA in Psychotherapy, an MSc in Psychology, and extensive research experience in occupational psychology.

She joined Acas in 2015 as Senior Adviser on Workplace Mental Health and Wellbeing, and was appointed to lead this area in 2017. Her work included leading on strategic wellbeing projects with executive boards, advising the government on key policy issues and delivering keynote presentations and thought leadership on systemic issues relating to mental health and wellbeing at work.

Until recently she sat as the workplace expert for the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on mental wellbeing and is an active member of several mental health at work advisory groups.

Find out more about our Workplace programme

Sarah is a BACP Accredited Counsellor and Psychotherapist with additional post graduate qualifications in Coaching and Nutritional Therapy and has been a qualified Adult Mental Health First Aid Instructor since 2012.

With more than 20 years’ experience in mental health, she has worked in a range of settings including youth work in schools and as a counsellor for children and young people in the cjarity sector. For 12 years, she was Mental Health Co-ordinator and Head of Mental Health at the University of Warwick, where she developed and delivered mental health awareness training for staff and students and led an experienced team of mental health professionals who supported students experiencing many different mental health issues.

She delivers training and teaching on topics including:

• Anxiety, depression and psychosis
• Recognising and responding to distress including suicidal thoughts and behaviour
• Staff wellbeing
• Building resilience
• Exam stress
• Whole person and whole institution approaches to mental health

Sarah also teaches accredited counselling and mental health modules for the University of Oxford and the University of Warwick and has a small private practice as a therapist and supervisor.

Annabelle is passionate about improving mental health outcomes for our children and young people and is committed to getting it right for every individual. In her previous role, she led the transformation of Buckinghamshire’s early years respite care services and early intervention reform. Her other work has included the management and development of several early years and family support programmes and she is the co-founder of a company that delivers training to the education and social care sectors.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller

Working here doesn’t feel like "just a job" - I have found meaning in what I do. I feel that I’m valued and that I’m making a positive difference in my work.

Izzi joined the Trust in 2016, having graduated with a degree in Modern Languages then working for Cancer Research UK for 6 months. She co-ordinated the trainer team until 2019 when she changed roles internally to make use of her skills in a communications role.

Izzi always wanted to work in the charity sector, and has volunteered with a number of other charities – now a proud member of Girlguiding in her role as Unit Helper with her local unit.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller

Working with the friendliest and most hardworking people both in the office and in our remote trainer team, and the completely inspirational impact that the charity has through its high quality training and resources.

Amy spent many years working part time in the charity sector alongside her textiles business. When she closed the business in 2016 she was very excited to join the team and return to a full-time role. Initially employed as an admin assistant, Amy’s previous creative experience, together with her degree in design soon came into play and she is now the Trust’s graphic designer. Following the birth of her daughter, Amy has returned to part time hours.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller

Being surrounded by such a kind and dedicated team.

Elina has more than 10 years’ experience in the not-for-profit sector, and in 2019 she was awarded an MA in Charity Management. Elina has worked for organisations such as The Scout Association and The Royal Voluntary Service, and is a Trustee of a women’s charity in Berkshire; she is passionate about empowering women of all ages and backgrounds to achieve their full potential and overcome disadvantage.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller

The team! They are all incredibly smart, experienced, inspiring, caring and a good laugh.

Georgie is currently on maternity leave

Debs joined the Trust in 2020, having known the Waller family all her life. She has spent the majority of her career in the sports, events, TV and entertainment industry, including various roles at IMG Sports Management. She has been involved in sponsorship programmes for Barclays around the end-of-year men’s tennis finals at The O2, in increasing the profile of Chefs Heston Blumenthal and Clare Smyth, and in running the retail offering at Eton Dorney during the London 2012 Olympics.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller

Working with a dedicated (and fun!) team to help others. It’s exciting being involved in an official way rather than simply as a supporter at one of the many Charlie Waller events that I have been to over the years.

As well as supporting our CEO, Clare Stafford, Tricia assists our programme directors and trustees. Tricia has spent most of her working life in the charity sector. Her previous roles have included running a small hospital-based medical charity and providing freelance consultancy and training for organisations in the statutory, voluntary and private sectors. Having experienced the effect of depressive illness in her own family she has a strong personal commitment to raising awareness and dispelling the stigma around mental health.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller

Being part of an incredibly talented, fun and dedicated team.

Lucy is an old friend of the Waller family and has supported the Trust for many years. With her children now grown up, she wished to become professionally involved with our work. Lucy’s background is in the antiques world, most recently helping an antique business with their marketing and PR.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller

The team! They are all so inspirational, thoughtful and supportive!

Although new to the charity sector, Martha has a background in education. As a parent of two young children, she hopes for future she sees the value in raising mental health awareness especially with two small people of her own.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller

The team! It is truly wonderful to be part of something where everyone loves what they do.

John pursued a successful 30-year career in communications, including as a founder of Hogarth (latterly MHP), a leading corporate and financial PR consultancy.

In 2018, he stepped away to take part in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, raising funds for Charlie Waller, and now acts as an independent consultant in the charity and education sectors.

John has an active interest in education and a strong personal interest in the field of mental health. He was Chair of Governors at Halstead School in Woking for 10 years and is currently a member of the Governing Body of Charterhouse.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller

Behind the professionalism and quality of the work, there’s a wonderful sense of warmth amongst the team.

Michael is a PhD student at Durham University studying how higher education policies and practices impact on student mental health and wellbeing. He joined Charlie Waller as a student involvement coordinator in 2018 and sits on the Trust’s College & University Advisory Board.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller

Working with a super friendly and supportive team, and being part of an organisation that truly values student voice

Josh has worked for the Trust since January 2017, supporting projects in Colleges and Universities and the Students Against Depression website. Prior to this, Josh studied engineering at university, and more recently trained as an adventure sports instructor, but has always found his mental health experience relevant to his work in the mountains and everyday life. He is passionate about using his personal experiences of mental health to make a meaningful contribution through the Trust’s work.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller

Knowing that what I do can make a positive difference to people with similar experiences to me, but always with the support of an amazing and talented team around me!

After a career in sales training within the financial services industry, Lucy has worked in communications on a freelance basis for the last 16 years, predominantly in the voluntary sector. This includes charities such as Guide Dogs and Widowed and Young, as well as Charlie Waller.

With lived experience of both mental illness and suicide within her family, she cares deeply about raising awareness of mental health and the importance of talking about it openly.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller

Being part of a small but incredibly dedicated team that is committed to making a difference.

Alison is an experienced content producer and PR and Communications advisor with more than 20 years’ experience across the voluntary sector and the corporate world. She provides freelance support to Charlie Waller on a range of communications work. Alison has worked in senior media and PR positions previously at WWF and Guide Dogs.

Best thing about working for Charlie Waller

The satisfaction of working for a leaner charity which makes every penny count to have a real impact on such an important issue as mental health.