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Meet the team

Team Tom


Our Trustees

Our Trustees provide their time and expertise voluntarily to Tom’s Trust. We are incredibly grateful for the time and energy that they give.

Andrew Woosey
Chair of Trustees

About Andrew
Andrew is a chartered accountant and a former partner of Ernst & Young. He is now a trustee of the Centre for Economic Policy Research and an Advisor to the finch firm Adjoint Inc.

Email Andrew

Andrew Whiteley
Co-Founder & Trustee

About Andrew
Andrew is Tom’s Dad and co-founder of Tom’s Trust. He is MD of a Wealth Management business and takes a particular interest in the financial aspects of the charity as well as an active part in challenges.

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Dr Peter Gough
Trustee

About Peter
Peter is a family doctor and feels privileged to have looked after Tom and his family and to be part of Tom’s medical team during his illness. Peter sat on the board of Trustees for ACT for ten years.

Email Peter

Anil Malhotra
Trustee

About Anil
Anil is a founder and investor in several innovative technology start-ups that have successfully scaled-up to become global businesses. He is currently the Chief Marketing Officer at Bango plc, a publicly-listed company that powers mobile payments for some of the world’s biggest internet companies. He has degrees in Psychology (B.Sc.) and Computer Science (M.Sc.).

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Alexandra Worden
Trustee

About Alexandra
Alexandra is an employment lawyer. After fifteen years at big City law firms, she co-founded Worden Richmond LLP, an employment law boutique. Alexandra provides input into all aspects of the Trust’s decision-making while offering particular expertise as a lawyer.

Email Alexandra

Martin Shave

Martin Shave
Trustee

About Martin
Martin is an industry lead for Microsoft in the UK having worked in the IT sector for over 15 years, prior to which he worked as an accountant in practice and in the Higher Education sector. During his time at Microsoft, Martin has managed teams across a variety of industries including a number of years leading the Public Sector team which helped healthcare providers to improve their service.

Watch Martin talking about his daughter Camille’s diagnosis of a brain tumour

Email Martin

Jodie Vaughan

Jodie Vaughan
Trustee

About Jodie
Jodie’s career spans fifteen years working at local, regional, and national charities, including the NSPCC and Alzheimer’s Research UK. Jodie is currently the Head of Fundraising at Arthur Rank Hospice Charity and brings her fundraising experience and knowledge to Tom’s Trust.

Email Jodie

Catherine Harter smiling - black and white image

Dr Catherine Harter
Trustee

About Catherine
Catherine is a consultant paediatric neuropsychologist and clinical psychologist. She has worked for over 25 years within the NHS and independent practice, including neuro-oncology, neurodevelopmental (autism, ADHD, Tourette syndrome, rare genetic conditions) and child mental health services. Currently, she works within paediatric neuropsychological rehabilitation (supporting individuals and their families, who have been affected by acquired brain injuries) and general neurodevelopmental / learning disability assessment clinics.

Email Catherine

Our Clinical Psychologists

Our Clinical Psychologists provide Tom’s families with vital psychological support from the point of diagnosis, and are funded through your donations.

Dr Angela Kirby
Lead Clinical Psychologist
Cambridge

About Angela
Dr Angela Kirby has worked as a Clinical Psychologist since 1997. She trained in Leicester and then UCL. She has worked in Paediatrics for 15 years, prior to that she worked in CAMHS. She has worked in paediatric Oncology and Haematology for six years. Her specialist interests are Paediatric Neuropsychology and systemic family therapy.

Dr Sarah Verity
Paediatric Neuropsychologist
Newcastle

About Sarah
Dr Sarah Verity is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with specialist training in paediatric neuropsychology. She is a Practitioner Full Member of the Division of Neuropsychology of the British Psychological Society. Sarah works in paediatric neuro-oncology at the Great North Children’s Hospital, Newcastle, within which she leads a project exploring the use of psychostimulant medication in preserving intellectual function in children with brain tumour.

Mariana Decheva

Mariana Decheva
Assistant Psychologist

About Mariana
Mariana’s role as an Assistant Psychologist involves completing neuropsychological assessments and delivering low-level therapy to children who may be struggling with issues such as their diagnosis, self-esteem, or relationships. Her previous roles have been in neuropsychology.

Dr Philippa Lewington

Dr Philippa Lewington
Clinical Psychologist

About Philippa
Philippa qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 2018. Since qualifying, she has been working in the paediatric team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Her role will focus on providing emotional support to children, young people and their families, both during and after their treatment.

Dr Meghan Owens
Clinical Psychologist 

About Meghan
Meghan Owens is a Clinical Psychologist at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. Since 2020, Meghan has worked in various speciality teams at Alder Hey including neuro-oncology, major trauma and craniofacial. Her passion is working with children and young people who experience chronic health conditions and the families affected.

Picture of Toni smiling

Toni Garner
Clinical Psychologist 

About Toni
Toni is a Clinical Psychologist who qualified in 2021. Since qualifying, she has worked across various specialities within the Clinical Health Psychology team at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. She has a particular interest in paediatric neuropsychology and has previously worked as part of the neuro-oncology psychology team at Alder Hey. Toni’s role will focus on offering assessment and emotional support for both young people and their families, throughout their diagnosis and treatment.

Picture of Amy smiling

Amy Pendlebury
Assistant Psychologist

About Amy
Amy’s role as an Assistant Psychologist involves completing neuropsychological assessments, delivering low-level therapy, and providing support to children and their families who have been affected by a brain tumour. Amy’s role also includes facilitating and developing resources to support children and their parents/families. Amy has worked in the NHS for 3 and a half years, working through different mental health services, driven by a passion to help people to improve their psychological health.

Our Team

Our fundraising team work hard to expand the work of Tom’s Trust to support more children and families throughout the UK.

Rebecca Wood
CEO

About Rebecca
Rebecca has over 20 years’ experience in senior roles at fast-growing charities. As CEO of Alzheimer’s Research UK (ARUK), she grew it from half a million pounds to over £14 million, enabling it to fund £53m of innovative dementia research in centres all over the UK. After moving to Blue Smile, a children’s mental health charity in East Anglia, she managed the launch of two new services and doubled the charity’s income. Rebecca also brings extensive media and stakeholder engagement experience to Tom’s Trust.

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Deborah Mitchell
Co-Founder & Charity Outreach

About Deborah
Deborah is Tom’s mum and co-founder of Tom’s Trust. She worked for 14 years in the oil industry co-ordinating shipping logistics and runs our outreach programme.

Email Deborah

Kirsty Keegan

Kirsty Keegan
Head of Fundraising and Marketing

About Kirsty
Kirsty has rejoined Team Tom after a four-year hiatus. She has fundraised for Wallace Cancer Care (which became Maggie’s) and most recently worked on the leadership team at Cambridge Arts Theatre. She has a background in marketing, events and exhibition organising.

Email Kirsty

Laura smiling

Laura Bowditch
Family Liaison Coordinator

About Laura
Laura’s role as Family Liaison Coordinator, is to help offer support, guidance, and information to our families and caregivers of children with brain or CNS tumours. She has always had a passion for mental health, and previously has worked with different charities. 

Email Laura

Beth Womersley smiling in black and white photo

Sarah Hampton
Regional Fundraiser and Community Development Officer

About Sarah
Sarah joined Tom’s Trust in May 2023.  She has fundraised for various charities including The Salvation Army, Motor Neurone Disease Association, an adult and children’s hospice and more recently Children Today Charitable Trust. Passionate about charity, she has a background in both fundraising and marketing, the only things she has done since finishing university.

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Jessica Wilde
Corporate and Community Fundraising Manager

About Jessica
Since 2006, Jessica has worked with children’s charities and international development NGO’s in the UK, Timor-Leste, and Nigeria. She has organised large scale fundraising events, managed challenge and sports teams, and created lasting relationships with corporate organisations, supermarkets, schools and community clubs.

Email Jessica

Sean Todd
Trust and Foundations Fundraiser 

About Sean
Originally joining Tom’s Trust as a volunteer in June 2021, Sean’s dedication led him to officially join the team as a Trust and Foundations Fundraiser in November of the same year. In this role, he diligently secures funding from charitable trusts, foundations, and grant-making bodies, crucially supporting Tom’s Trust mission. Sean’s passion for mental health advocacy is evident in his commitment to providing essential support for those most in need. Additionally, as a Software Administrator, he plays a pivotal role in optimising the use of the CRM to bolster fundraising efforts and enhance organisational efficiency. Sean is currently studying a master’s part time in Global Health Policy at the University of Edinburgh.

Email Sean

Helen Goodchild
Trusts and Foundations Manager

About Helen

Helen is a professional fundraiser with diverse experience of over 22 years raising funds for the non-profit sector. Helen has worked in various Senior Management roles across a wide range of causes including mental health, homelessness, disability, health and medical. Her grant successes include: Big Lottery, Rough Sleeper Unit, NHS Berkshire- Partnership Development Fund, Homeless Directorate, DWP Future Jobs Fund, Local authorities & Home Office: UFI, Garfield Weston & Henry Smith.

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Charlotte, smiling

Charlotte Lindsell
Administrator

About Charlotte

Charlotte joined Tom’s Trust in June 2024 as administrator mainly supporting the Senior Leadership Team with Governance tasks. Charlotte wanted to return to work, after a career break having her family, within a fulfilling role back in the charity sector. She is passionate about helping to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children facing brain tumours and their families. Charlotte has an events management background working within both the charity and corporate sectors and brings a host of transferable skills and experience to the role.

Email Charlotte

Kelly smiling

Kelly Morel
Communications & Marketing Manager

About Kelly

Kelly has near on 20 years’ experience working in communications and marketing for charities, national brands, and local independent businesses; including the charities – NSPCC, Alzheimer’s Research UK, Petals, CoFarm and Eddie’s. She is passionate about using comms as a tool for good.

Email Kelly

Charlotte Warren
Digital  Marketing and Communications Officer

About Charlotte
Charlotte joined Tom’s Trust in May 2024 and has experience in both marketing and graphic design. After working in the private sector for over five years, she decided she wanted to use her creativity for a greater good.

Email Charlotte

Our Ambassadors

Our Ambassadors help to raise awareness of our work and get involved in fundraising activity.

Ben-Debs

Ben Blowes
Ambassador

About Ben
Being made an ambassador to Tom’s Trust was a hugely proud moment in my life. In December 2020 we achieved something extraordinary and we raised a lot of funds and really lifted the awareness of the charity. I look forward to working with the charity again in the future and continuing to support them.

Read about 31 Stars

Harry Jameson

Harry Jameson
Ambassador

About Harry
Harry is an award-winning expert with over 15 years’ experience in the fitness and hospitality industries with an extensive network of experts spanning every stage of development, implementation and promotion. Harry’s learnings over the last fifteen years have seen him create wellness retreat programmes across top brands in luxury hospitality including Four Seasons, Rosewood Hotels and The One and Only. As wellness business consultant his clients include Twitter, Apple, and Nike. As a performance coach, his entire career has been dedicated to improving the lives and performance of the world’s highest achieving individuals. Harry still counts world leaders, leading industry CEOs and some of the most influential people on the planet as his clients.

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