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  1. About us
  2. About Adoption UK
  3. Staff profiles
  4. Staff

Staff

Alison Woodhead

Director of Public Affairs

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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] 

Published: 5th January, 2018

Updated: 18th November, 2019

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Ann Bell

Director Wales

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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] 

Published: 5th January, 2018

Updated: 12th January, 2022

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EJ Havlin

Director Northern Ireland

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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] 

Published: 5th January, 2018

Updated: 4th September, 2020

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Eleanor Haworth

Director of Service Delivery

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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 excellence
becomes the new standard for every adoptive family.

Contact Eleanor [email protected] 

Published: 16th August, 2019

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Fiona Aitken

Director Scotland

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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] 

Published: 5th January, 2018

Updated: 4th September, 2020

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James Alterman

Director of Fundraising and Business Development

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As Director of Fundraising and Business Development for Adoption UK, James is responsible for the development of the income required to do our fantastic work and support our beneficiaries. James' goal is ensuring we grow our income in line with Adoption UK’s ambitious growth plans and ensuring that every £ raised is used to provide the support required by every adoptive and kinship care family and ensure that adopted young people are given everything they need to thrive and have a future that is not determined by their past.

James has worked in widening participation for over 15 years and has designed national education programmes focused on providing disadvantaged students with enrichment activities and skills to ensure they are given the opportunities they deserve. As a professional fundraiser, James has raised over £5M to support young people and worked with some of the UK’s largest companies including BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, McLaren F1 and GCHQ. His focus at Adoption UK is working with strategic corporate partners to develop programmes that will support Adopted young people and the wider community.

Contact James  [email protected] 

Published: 7th March, 2022

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Joel Saddler

Chief Operating Officer

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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] 

Published: 5th January, 2018

Updated: 16th August, 2019

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Michelle Tompkinson

Director of Membership

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As Director of Membership Michelle is focused on the development and delivery of Adoption UK’s membership services. Broadening and deepening the community of adoptive and kinship care families and individuals. With continual innovation and development of Adoption UK’s membership benefits, which provide expert support to the adoptive community.

Michelle has a background in Marketing, working for a national membership charity and a global company specialising in performance improvement. Michelle brings her strategic background and personal experience of adoption to the role. Michelle has an adopted daughter.

Contact: m[email protected]

 

Published: 12th January, 2022

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