Team members

Meet our awesome team

AJ Brown

Behaviour Support Assistant

Alex Wigmore

Futures Administrator

Andrew Willshire

Andrew joined Autism Unlimited as a Trustee in December 2020. Andrew is keen to support the charity in all areas, with a particular focus on HR. Andrew wants to see the charity continue to be a force for good in supporting individuals and families across the region.

Anna Hewitt

Acting Head Teacher at Portfield School, 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 - Interim Chair of Trustees

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.

Jan Cresswell

Jan brings conviction and a commitment to compassionate practice to her role as a trustee. She aims to use her education leadership experience to support the charity in being ambitious for the flourishing of autistic individuals and their families. Jan is keen to see Autism Unlimited become a leading national voice in training employers and shaping inclusive, supportive communities where people living with autism will thrive.

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 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

Kirsten Readhead

Occupational Therapist, PCST

Leah Bran

School Counsellor, PCST

Lisa Margetts

Music Therapist, PCST

Matt Egan

Futures Coach

Megan Saunders

Behaviour Support Assistant

Meherzin Das

Living with Autism is hardly easy and takes a lifetime of strength and courage. Having joined AU as a Trustee in 2020, Meherzin is determined to support the excellent work being done to further the mental and physical health of both, people living with autism as well as their family and friends. In addition, she is keen to ensure that while staff working within the unlimited scope of AU give their best while caring for their clients, their own wellbeing is also looked after so that they have enriched working lives. As a Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Meherzin wears many hats: she is the Lead for Wellbeing and Psychological Professions for the Dorset Integrated Care System, Trustwide Lead for Psychology and Psychological Therapies for Dorset HealthCare and Clinical Lead for the Dorset Pain Management Service. She truly believes that being a psychologist is the best job in the world!

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.

Nicky Edwards

Acting Deputy Head Teacher

Paula Rufete

Futures Coach

Pippa Muroe

Behaviour Support Assistant, PCST

Poonam Jina

Speech and Language Therapist

Professor Mark Brosnan

Mark has a thorough understanding of autism research and the implications for the lives of autistic people and their families/ advocates. Mark hopes his understanding of what constitutes good evidence can help support the charity to achieve the best possible outcomes for autistic people.

Sally Anne Coombs

Area Manger West

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

Futures Coach

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.

Meet the team

We have an amazing team of people at Autism Unlimited. Their dedication, passion and care shine through in every aspect of their work. Each individual makes a big difference to the lives of the people they support and we couldn't do it without them.

We don't just have people in our team, we also have some furry friends!

Equal Opportunities
Learn more
Home Page
Learn more