Team members
Meet our awesome team
AJ Brown
Behaviour Support Assistant
Alex Wigmore
Futures Coach
Angie Lawrence
Futures Plus Education lead
Anna Hewitt
Head Teacher at Portfield School
Bianca Moore
Occupational Therapist
Carly Bourton
Talent Partner
Carly Marchant
Dance Movement Psychotherapist
Carol Mccoll
Assistant Head Teacher
Charley Martin
Senior Talent Partner
Corné Van Deventer
Work Experience Coordinator
Donna Wearn
HR and Training Director
Emma Williams
Emma comes with both professional and personal experience of autism. She has a keen interest in enabling people to reach their full potential and develop skills in their local community, particularly in the area of employment and training. She is excited about the development of the Futures programme.
Erin Jones
Assistant Head Teacher
Fran Snell
Senior School Administrator, Portfield School
Gemma Cowley
Speech and Language Therapist
Harry Redknapp
Ambassador - Football Manager and TV pundit Harry joined the charity as our first Ambassador in 2015. Committed to helping us to raise our profile, Harry launched the Interactive Room at Portfield School.
Hugh Dampney
Hugh's aspirations for Autism Unlimited are to support the staff to ensure that the people we support continue to be well looked-after, and develop their potential as far as they can.
Jacki Goldsmith
Head of Therapy
James Brazier
James is enthusiastic, empathetic and proactive in his approach, and his vision for Autism Unlimited is to support the charity externally and help Autism Unlimited to grow in both stature and size.
James Sturman
Trustee - With over 30 years of finance and management experience I would like to take this skillset and use for the benefit of the charity and the young people it helps in order to achieve its goals and ambitions.
Jan Thurgood
Jan joined Autism Unlimited as a Trustee in July 2022. She brings experience of autism though her career in children's and adult social services and her personal life. She is passionate about enabling children and adults to fulfil their potential and about providing the best possible support and development opportunities to staff.
Jessica Harris
Speech and Language Therapist
Julie Catanach
Director of Education
Julie Shield
Julie is determined, proactive and passionate about the potential for Autism Unlimited, and brings real-world experience and understanding of autism to her role. Julie’s vision is to represent the parent voice and help the charity fulfil its potential.
Kate Barrall
Futures Lead
Kath Galley
Deputy Head Teacher
Kirsten Readhead
Occupational Therapist, PCST
Leah Bran
School Counsellor, PCST
Lesley Longstone - Chair of Trustees
Trustee - Lesley brings a range of policy experience in children and young people’s issues, including education, health and youth policy. She has substantial board experience through her work with another charity working with autistic people, and having been Chief Executive of a regulator in the health sector is familiar with the highly regulated environment within which Autism Unlimited operates. Most importantly, she cares deeply about every child, young person and adult having the opportunity to enjoy life to the full.
Lisa Margetts
Music Therapist, PCST
Matt Egan
Futures Coach
Megan Saunders
Behaviour Support Assistant
Melanie Foster
I am very much looking forward to contributing to the valuable work of Autism Unlimited and taking on the role of trustee. I began my career as a special educational needs teacher in Inner London and continued my passion in leading SEND within both Local Authorities and Charities. I have been part of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism as Eduction Development Lead with the National Autistic Society and a member of the The National Special Educational Needs and Disability Forum attended by the DfE. I have always been passionate about people and purpose and committed to social justice to enable all students to feel valued, safe and secure. I live in Hertfordshire, and although semi-retired, continue to work with schools and Local Authorities, particularly focusing on developing autistic provision. When I am not working, I love spending time with my family.
Michelle Stratton
Futures Coach
Nicky Edwards
Assistant Head Teacher
Owen Harrold
Futures Coach
Paula Rufete
Futures Coach
Paul Kniveton
Interim Head of Adult Services
Pippa Muroe
Behaviour Support Assistant, PCST
Poonam Jina
Speech and Language Therapist
Shelly Garland
Futures Coach
Siún Cranny
CEO
Sophia Grech
Ambassador - Internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano opera singer Sophia is one of our Ambassadors. Diagnosed with autism at the age of 45, Sophia is passionate about raising understanding and awareness of autism.
Sue Hamilton-White
Art Psychotherapist
Tilly Larment
Futures Manager
Tim Bowden
Learning Facilitator
Tom Errington
Futures Coach
Tony Rudd
Ambassador - Impressionist and comedian, Tony Rudd, became one of our Ambassadors in 2020. Tony was diagnosed with Asperger’s aged 55 and is passionate about embracing autism and the creativeness it can bring. Tony manages a radio station for children with disabilities alongside his career in the public eye.
