Alison Woodhead Director of Public Affairs Expand Alison is responsible for Adoption UK’s relationships with politicians and other key decision makers, and leads our research and policy work. She runs our #Equal Chance campaign for better support for adopted children in school. She also oversees our media work, publications and digital communications, including our website and social media channels. Alison has over 20 years’ experience in the voluntary sector. Before joining Adoption UK she worked with Oxfam, the UN and others, in campaigning and media roles. She came to the voluntary sector from a career as a television documentary producer. She has an adopted daughter. Contact Alison [email protected]
Ann Bell Director Wales Expand Ann is responsible for developing and managing our activities in Wales. As well as overseeing the delivery of services to adopters across Wales, Ann also liaises with the Welsh Government and local authorities, ensuring that the voice of adoptive parents is heard in the new National Adoption Service. An adoptee and adoptive parent herself, Ann was formerly a secondary school teacher and more recently worked as Director of Communities that Care in Wales. She has a Masters degree in early childhood studies and has done research into the support needs of adoptive parents during the first year of placement. Contact Ann [email protected]
EJ Havlin Director Northern Ireland Expand As the director of our service in N.Ireland, EJ is responsible for service delivery and development across N.Ireland. EJ manages a team of skilled and experienced staff members who have personal and professional experience allowing them to offer information, advice and support to adoptive families in N.Ireland. With a degree in Social Sciences plus a range of community development and adult education & training qualifications, EJ comes from a voluntary sector professional background. Previous roles have involved widening participation & social mobility in higher education at Queens University Belfast, capacity building initiatives in Belfast community projects & developing empowerment programmes for older people across N.Ireland. EJ is committed to enabling the voice of adopters to be raised. EJ is an adopter and was previously a volunteer with Adoption UK. Contact EJ [email protected]
Eleanor Haworth Director of Service Delivery Expand As the Director of Service Delivery for AdoptionUK, Eleanor is responsible for support service delivery and excellence across a broad portfolio of support programmes. Eleanor manages a varied team of skilled and experienced staff members who have personal and professional experience allowing them to offer a suite of support programmes. Eleanor is a qualified social worker, with a background across a range of public sector organisations. Previous roles have included social work practice improvement, service design and delivery, family group conferencing, child and families social work, and therapeutic offending behaviour work within prisons and probation. Eleanor is committed to combining all our expertise, care and passion to create a thriving landscape of adoption support, where excellencebecomes the new standard for every adoptive family. Contact Eleanor [email protected]
Fiona Aitken Director Scotland Expand As the director of our service in Scotland, Fiona is responsible for service delivery and development across Scotland. Fiona manages a team of skilled and experienced staff members who have personal and professional experience allowing them to offer information, advicee and support to adoptive families in Scotland. With a degree in Sociology and a qualification in Speech and Language therapy, Fiona comes from a child focussed professional background. Previous roles involved developing and coordinating family support services for children and families affected by disabilities, and working in a residential respite environment. She has a further qualification in Autism, and an interest in therapeutic interventions. Fiona believes that Adoption UK in Scotland offers unique support to families, with a foundation of peer support and shared learning and experiences, and is keen to develop the support services to help meet the needs of families and raise awareness of adoption in Scotland. Contact Fiona [email protected]
Joel Saddler Chief Operating Officer Expand As Chief Operating Officer Joel is responsible for the day to day operational management of the charity in addition to income generation, including fundraising and business development. Joel has over 35 years’ experience in the public sector and third sector having careers in the NHS, Ofsted Early Years, a national advocacy charity and a private sector childcare business. He joined Adoption UK in 2014 and since then has been the lead in winning, developing and overseeing a number of government grant funded projects. Contact Joel [email protected]
Rob Langley-Swain Director of Membership (Development) Expand Rob is responsible for Adoption UKs membership delivery, which includes our family membership community of more than 4,500 families, our Education membership working closely with schools, teachers and virtual schools and our Agency membership supporting the social workers and teams who work directly with adoptive families. The Membership department deliver all the associated member benefits, including community groups, webinars, resources and more. Rob’s team also look after community fundraising and the Adoption UK annual conference. Rob’s career has seen him work in a variety of sectors including radio, theatre, live events and professional sport - primarily in senior marketing and membership related roles. Rob and his husband are parents to two boys who they adopted in 2014. Contact Rob: [email protected]
Sue Armstrong Brown Chief Executive Expand Sue is Chief Executive at Adoption UK, overseeing the charity’s strategic direction, ensuring that the voice of adopters is recognized within key legislative decisions, and leading the development of the organisation. Sue has a 25-year track record of helping charities achieve their goals with government. A charity director and lead advocate, Sue has previously worked with prominent NGOs including the RSPB and Green Alliance, as well as being a charity trustee and an independent strategy and policy advisor. Sue is an adoptive mother Contact Sue Read Sue's blog