Our Team

I enjoyed a career with the International Thomson Organisation (ITO) spanning nearly 20 years. It included roles in sales and marketing, learning and development and strategic management. In 2003, I became a freelance Organisational Development consultant working with private, public and third sector organisations. I was delighted to be invited to join the WCADA Board of Trustees in 2013, and to be appointed Chair in 2017. As Trustees, we are incredibly proud of the essential work the WCADA staff team and volunteers are involved in every day, and the impact we have on service-users and their families. When I’m not working, I enjoy running, reading and listening to music.

I began my career as a secondary school teacher near Cambridge where I lived for 13 years. After returning to Wales I began teaching in the Adult Education Sector where I worked with a wide range of students from different age groups and abilities, many of whom with disadvantaged and challenging backgrounds. It was obvious that learners from WCADA benefitted greatly from the opportunity to improve their skills and abilities in a welcoming and non- judgemental environment. I taught these classes for over 20 years and found them to be rewarding in many ways. When I later managed the Lifelong Learning Service I made sure that learners from all disadvantaged backgrounds were encouraged to join many different sessions and be accepted as part of our learning community. Although I am now retired I have been a trustee on the WCADA Board for many years. It’s an organisation that has saved many lives. I will always admire and respect the work that it does.

Dean became a member of the Board in early 2016. He is a practising Barrister.

I began my career with WCADA in 1997 as a Volunteer, then gained employment in 1999 and was given the opportunity to study for my Diploma in Counselling at Swansea University. Using my Nursing background of 20 years, I was able to use these skills when I became the Older Person & Disability Counsellor in 2002, working from the WCADA Neath office and remained in this post until I retired in 2017. I was delighted to be asked to join the WCADA Board of Trustees in 2017 and I feel so privileged to be part of the board. During my retirement I have become a first time grandmother and enjoying every family moment to be with my grandson.

Uplands is the first place I have ever called home. I moved to Swansea from Brighton so my husband could be nearer his family at a time when they needed support. My life experiences have taught me that poverty is not an attitude problem or a lifestyle choice, but a trap which wealthy people put others in quite deliberately, and every job I’ve ever had has been focused on that. Minimum wage is not enough to live on. The benefits system does not work as it should – people do not claim what they are entitled to, then they do not spend locally – it causes problems for all of us. I have worked for Swansea Council for ten years grappling with these issues. The pace of change is too slow for me, I feel we can do better, but we need people who understand the issues and have the right experiences to step up and be Councillors. I was elected as a councillor in May 2017. I joined the Board of WCADA earlier in 2017.

I began my career with the organisation in 1995 as a volunteer after completing a BA (Hons) Degree in Psychology in Swansea University, followed by a Diploma in Counselling, ILM Diploma and M.Sc. in Forensic Psychology. My roles have been varied: 12-Step Counsellor, alongside working with high risk offenders; Manager of Bridgend, Director of Criminal Justice Services, Head of Operations and finally Chief Executive in 2014. I have a history of alcohol dependency am celebrating 30 years of recovery in 2020. My focus has always been to contribute to improving the lives of individuals, their families and the wider community. I am proud and privileged to have been with the organisation as long as I have, it has occupied a special place in my heart for a long time and always will.

During my Psychology BA (Hons) Degree studies at Swansea University, I volunteered at WCADA. Upon graduating in 2001, I joined the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Fund National Evaluation Team as a Research Assistant. In 2003, I returned to WCADA when I was appointed as the first Arrest Referral Worker in Bridgend. In 2006 I returned to Swansea as the Manager of our Criminal Justice Services with responsibility for Probation, Prison and Community Contracts I joined the Senior Management Team in 2008 as the Deputy Head of Operations and later moved to the Head of Treatment Services. Continuing my interest in research, I obtained a Masters in Philosophy in 2008, focussed on the 12 Step Recovery programme and the process of change. I have been the Deputy Chief Executive since 2014. I am committed to ensuring high quality services are available for individuals and their families when they need them. I feel fortunate to work at WCADA and am incredibly proud of the achievements of our service users and staff.

Andrew was appointed to the role of Finance and Business Development Manager in November 2019, prior to that he held the role of Executive Director of Business Services & Assets at a Swansea based Housing Association. After graduating with a degree in Accounting and Finance from University of Glamorgan, Andrew gained experience in the private sector working for a local accounting practice and an international manufacturing company before building a career working in Social Housing which spanned more than 27 years. Andrew is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants.

Stephen was appointed to the role of HR Manager in May 2020. Prior to that he was Head of Human Resources in Local Government. Stephen has 30 years’ public sector experience and over 20 years in Human Resources. Stephen is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development.