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Expert Group

Martin Barnes

Job description: Former Chief Executive at Drugscope

Visit Martin Barnes's Profile

Areas of interest: Substance use, Improving support for women involved in prostitution

DrugScope is the UK’s leading independent centre of information and expertise on drugs and the national membership organisation for the drug sector. DrugScope’s aim is to inform policy development and minimise drug-related harms - to individuals, families and communities. Martin Barnes is a member of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) and the ACMD’s Recovery Committee, he was previously Director of the Child Poverty Action Group. He is also a member of the Criminal Justice Council and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) Drugs Committee.

To find out more about DrugScope, visit their website.

Jacqui Dillon

Job description: Independent Trauma Specialist at www.jacquidillon.org

Visit Jacqui Dillon's Profile

Areas of interest: Childhood trauma – including being in care or childhood abuse

Jacqui Dillon is a campaigner, writer, international speaker and trainer specialising in hearing voices, trauma, abuse, and recovery. She has worked in mental health services for over 15 years in a range of settings. Dillon’s experiences of surviving childhood abuse and subsequently using psychiatric services inform her work. She is an outspoken advocate and campaigner for humane, trauma-informed approaches to madness and distress.

Jacqui chairs the England Hearing Voices Network, is a Board member of Intervoice, and is a key figure in the Hearing Voices Movement internationally. She is an Honorary Lecturer in Clinical Psychology at the University of East London, an editorial board member of the journal Psychosis: Psychological, Social and Integrative Approaches and part of the collective for Asylum, the Magazine for Democratic Psychiatry. She has published numerous articles and papers and is co-editor of a number of books.

To find out more about Jacqui, visit her website.

Catherine Hennessy

Job description: Managing Director at Immigration, Counselling and Psychotherapy

Visit Catherine Hennessy's Profile

Areas of interest: Women involved in the criminal justice system

Catherine is currently the Managing Director of Immigration, Counselling and Psychotherapy. Prior to this, she was at Revolving Doors, where she led a programme of work designed to improve local services for people with multiple needs in contact with the criminal justice system. Catherine has many years experience in working with a range of socially excluded groups.

She is a former social worker, nurse and associate on homelessness for NIMHE London. Catherine worked on a number of support projects for vulnerable people including young people and people with mental health problems in London. Catherine has an MA in Consultation and the Organisation from The Tavistock Centre. She is a Trustee of the Criminal Justice Alliance.

To find out more about Immigration, Counselling and Psychotherapy, visit their website.

Read Catherine’s blog post about this campaign

Davina James-Hanman

Job description: Director at AVA (Against Violence and Abuse)

Visit Davina James-Hanman's Profile

Areas of interest: Domestic abuse

Prior to joining AVA, Davina spent five years at L.B. Islington as the UK’s first local authority Domestic Violence Co-ordinator. From 2000-08, she had responsibility for developing and implementing the London Domestic Violence Strategy for the Mayor of London. Davina has worked in the field of violence against women for over 25 years in a variety of capacities, has published innumerable articles and two book chapters and formerly acted as the Department of Health policy lead on domestic violence as well as being an Associate Tutor at the national police college. Davina has also authored a wide variety of resources for survivors.

She is also a Lay Inspector for HMCPSI, acted as the Specialist Adviser to the Home Affairs Select Committee Inquiry into domestic violence (2007/08) and Chairs the Accreditation Panel for Respect. From 2008-09 she was seconded to the Home Office to assist with the development of the first national Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy. She is currently a Trustee of Women in Prison.

To find out more about AVA, visit their website.

Watch a short interview with Davina about why she is supporting this campaign.

Jacqui McCluskey

Job description: Director of Policy and Communications at Homeless Link

Visit Jacqui McCluskey's Profile View organisation website

Areas of interest: Housing and homelessness – services for women with complex needs

Jacqui, a qualified social worker, joined Homeless Link in September 2009. She manages the policy, campaigning and communications functions, as well as the Project Director for Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM). Prior to this she was Associate Director (Policy & Research) at the Children’s Commissioner for England (2006-2009) and Senior Public Policy Officer at NCH (1996-2006) (now Action for Children).

She previously worked as a Research Fellow at Stirling University on the first Scottish study on ethnic minority housing problems and as a Community Worker in Glasgow working on welfare rights and housing issues. Jacqui’s first job in London in 1991 was as Resettlement Worker at a Day Centre at Waterloo and then she worked as Research Manager at the homeless campaigning organisation CHAR, before working as a Manager at a leaving care project.

To find out more about Homeless Link, visit their website.

Read Jacqui’s blog post about our first theme, housing and homelessness.

Watch a short interview with Jacqui about why she is supporting this campaign.

Sophie Corlett

Job description: Director of External Relations at Mind

Visit Sophie Corlett's Profile View organisation website Follow Sophie Corlett on Twitter

Areas of interest: Mental health and wellbeing

Sophie is responsible for Mind’s policy and campaigning, media, communications, legal and information services work and has been at Mind since 2002.  Amongst other things, Sophie, is on the Management Board of the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health which develops guidance on care and treatment for people with mental health problems for NICE, is a trustee of the Centre for Mental Health and a trustee of National Voices. She is a regular spokesperson for Mind in the media.

Before starting at Mind Sophie was Policy Director at Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities, a small charity (now closed) that worked with disabled students in or entering post-16 education, a post she held for 10 years.

Baroness Stedman-Scott

Job description: Chief Executive at Tomorrow's People

Visit Baroness Stedman-Scott's Profile

Areas of interest: Employment and skills

Debbie Stedman-Scott has been with Tomorrow’s People since it was founded in 1984, since when it has helped over 440,000 people on their journey back to work. Debbie is an Ambassador for Make Justice Work, and a founder member of the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA). She has been a member of the Advisory Board for the International Centre for Drugs Policy, the CBI’s Employment Advisory Group and The Voluntary & Community Sector Partnership Board (DCLG). Debbie was also Deputy Chair of the CSJ Policy Group when they published the hugely influential “Break down Britain” and “Break through Britain”.

Debbie was named Charity Principal of the Year at the UK Charity Awards 2005 for her outstanding leadership. In 2008 Debbie was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours for services to the unemployed and in 2010 Debbie was ennobled and took her seat in the House of Lords as The Baroness Stedman-Scott of Rolvenden.

To find out more about Tomorrow’s People, visit their website.

Dame Clare Tickell

Job description: Chief Executive at Action for Children

Visit Dame Clare Tickell's Profile View organisation website

Areas of interest: Families and children – including relationships

Chief Executive since January 2005, Clare is responsible for one of theUK’s largest and most important charities. Clare qualified as a social worker atBristolUniversityin 1984 and has worked within a number of social care and housing organisations including Centrepoint and Stonham Housing Association. In 2011 Clare completed an independent review of the Early Years Foundation Stage on the request of Children’s Minister Sarah Teather.

Clare is a member of the Public Interest General Council of the Office of Public Management and the Board of The Guinness Partnership, the social housing landlord and sits on the CVLS Honours Committee. Clare also chairs the recently established Commission into the Future of Hospice Care sponsored by Help the Hospices. Clare was awarded a DBE in the New Years Honours 2010 for services to young people, holds an Honorary Doctorate in Law from Bristol University, and is a Fellow of the City and Guilds Institute.

To find out more about Action for Children, visit their website.