Find out more about our team and their roles and responsibilities.
Richard joined Alcohol Change UK as Chief Executive in September 2017, having previously worked for Mencap, NCVO and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity and provided consultancy to many of the UK’s biggest and smallest charities. He is a trustee of the Children’s Chronic Arthritis Association and is an active volunteer for St Albans Woodcraft Folk.
Natalie joined Alcohol Change UK in August 2022. Natalie is responsible for marketing our key campaigns including Dry January, Sober Spring and Alcohol Awareness week. She works closely with our fundraising, public affairs, and consultancy and training teams, identifying opportunities to promote our services and increase engagement with our supporters. She joins us from LandAid, the property industry charity, where she was Senior Digital Communications and Content Officer and has experience working in homelessness and fertility.
Brie joined Alcohol Change UK as Corporate Partnerships Officer in April 2024. Prior to joining, Brie volunteered with us as a Community Champion and spoke at the All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Harm.
Brie brings over 15 years of commercial experience, having previously worked in Account Management and Trade Marketing in the US. After relocating to the UK in 2021, she transitioned to the charity sector to apply her skills towards roles which provide greater community impact.
Jenni joined Alcohol Change UK in November 2017. With a background in teaching, she is passionate about people and skills development. Moving into the Head of People role in 2022, Jenni is now holds a CIPD Associate qualification, applying her skills and knowledge to the policies and practices of the charity, ever striving for a fully inclusive and fair workplace. Her team also maintain the running of the virtual and physical offices, and organise the charity's Governance needs.
Thea joined us as Behaviour Change Communications Officer in 2022. She works on the behaviour change programme within the organisation and supports the Digital Programme Manager on its delivery, as well as on the development and maintenance of our Try Dry app. Thea has wide experience in digital, social media and communications across the Third Sector and has come to us from the RNLI.
Brian joined Alcohol Change UK as Business Development Manager in October 2024 to lead the Try Dry® local authority program. With extensive private and charity sector experience, he specialises in business growth, visibility enhancement, and sustainable income generation. His previous roles include working for Scotland's largest Credit Union and developing a revenue-diversifying subsidiary for a Disabled People's Organisation.
Angela joined Alcohol Change UK in September 2022 as Digital Programme Manager. She leads on the delivery of our flagship Dry January campaign and is responsible for improving the reach of our digital behaviour change offer, which includes our brilliant free app, Try Dry, online forums, email coaching journeys and more. Angela trained as a Psychologist in Australia and has worked in the alcohol treatment field since 2005. She joins our team having previously managed digital products and services within the charity sector aimed at supporting people to reduce their drinking.
Sophie joined Alcohol Change UK in July 2024 to lead our press office and year-round proactive and reactive media engagement.
With more than a decade of agency and in-house experience, formerly as Deputy MD at national purpose-driven PR agency STORY, she's led a collection of award-winning media relations briefs and integrated behaviour change campaigns for charities, not-for-profits, public sector and corporate clients across the UK and overseas.
Beyond being an expert storyteller, Sophie is a proud tee-totaller and advocate for the mindful drinking movement. She'll be helping us to tell the story of alcohol harm and our work to tackle it via the media.
Naomi joined Alcohol Change UK in May 2024 as Senior Campaigns and Marketing Manager. Naomi plays a key role in co-ordinating the delivery of our flagship Dry January® campaign. Naomi’s role also involves strategic planning for our year-round campaigns including Sober Spring and Alcohol Awareness Week. Naomi brings over 10 years’ comms and marketing experience in the charity sector, having previously worked at UNICEF UK, Cancer Research UK, and Alzheimer’s Society.
Jane joined Alcohol Change UK in January 2022 to manage our Consultancy and Training services, bringing with her 23 years' experience in the charity sector. She has undertaken a variety of roles at different UK charities including managing national training and support services, as well as providing fundraising and service development consultancy to small charities. Jane spends her spare time running - not only marathons but also after her two teenage boys.
Rose joined the Finance Team at Alcohol Change in August 2023 as Finance Officer. Rose has worked in finance operations in the motor trade and healthcare sectors. Having previously worked in a drug and alcohol rehabilitation unit within the charity sector, she has a passion to be able to continue to contribute to the work done by Alcohol Change UK. In her spare time, Rose enjoys watching gymnastics as her granddaughter trains and competes at national level. Rose also enjoys watching football and is a lifelong Arsenal supporter!
Megan focuses on everything regular givers and individual donations for Alcohol Change UK. Previously, she held roles at the Family Holiday Charity as the Fundraising Officer as well as a Finance Administrator at the Marylebone Project.
Laura joined Alcohol Change UK in July 2023. She works on the development and understanding of research and policy about alcohol harm. She brings extensive research experience, having worked as an academic at the University of Brighton, University of Surrey, Kings College London, Brunel University, the Open University and Richmond, the American International University. Before her academic career, Laura worked as a fundraiser at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Ailar joined Alcohol Change UK in January 2022. She brings nearly a decade’s worth of policy and influencing experience, having worked for an MP and national charities Breast Cancer Now and Versus Arthritis. She is responsible for developing the charity’s evidence base on alcohol harm through our research and policy work. Ailar also leads on our influencing work, making sure that the government hears the voices of those impacted by alcohol harm through our amazing network of campaigners, and targeted public affairs activities to make sure that we are affecting alcohol policy in a meaningful way.
Danielle joined Alcohol Change UK as Head of Fundraising and Engagement in August 2019, she brings with her over 14 years of fundraising experience having previously worked at Spinal Research, Anthony Nolan, The Silver Line and NSPCC. She is also volunteers for ChildLine and Caris Bereavement Service.
Joe joined Alcohol Change UK in April 2024 as Head of Fundraising. Bringing with him experience across multiple high-value fundraising disciplines, for charities ranging from small/medium to the largest in the UK. With the foundation of this experience, he’ll be leading the fundraising team to drive forward Alcohol Change UK’s fundraising – to meet our ambitious 2024-29 strategy targets.
Susan joined Alcohol Change UK in 2021 as its Lived Experience Associate and went on to join the Consultancy and Training Team permanently in 2023. Susan is an author and speaker, and uses her lived experience of surviving life-threatening alcohol dependency to help bring a different perspective to the training and webinars she delivers for Alcohol Change UK. She is committed to removing the stigma still associated with alcohol dependence, and has contributed to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Alcohol Harm, as well as giving evidence at the House of Lords Commission on Alcohol Harm. Susan was recognised as a ‘Woman of The Year’ in 2020 for her work in alcohol addiction and founded Sober Code in 2023.
Mark joined Alcohol Change UK in August 2009, and is part of our Wales team. His role involves identifying and delivering research projects, and using strong networks to influence alcohol policy.
Sharon joined the Office, People and Governance Team in April 2024. Her role is to provide governance and administrative support to the Trustees and Executive Team. She has extensive experience of working at Board and Executive level in a range of charities.
Joe joined the Alcohol Change UK team in September 2023, having worked for many years across the charity sector. He has developed inspiring communications campaigns and public engagement strategies for organisations including Bite Back 2030, where he worked to empower young activists to fight for a healthier food system, and led communications for Birmingham City University and the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust. At Alcohol Change UK, Joe is responsible for developing effective ways to tell the stories of alcohol harm and to motivate people to get involved with key campaigns including Dry January.
Andrew is Alcohol Change UK’s Director for Wales, and has led the development of the charity’s work in Wales since 2009.
Zoe joined Alcohol Change UK in April 2023 as our Digital Communications Officer. She is responsible for developing and managing our social media channels, promoting our services and boosting our engagement within digital audiences. Zoe also supports our Digital Marketing Manager with the delivery of our key annual campaigns such as Dry January®. Zoe has a background in digital communications and social media and joins us from Richmond Fellowship, a mental health service delivery charity.
Robin joined Alcohol Change UK in July 2022 from the Institute of Cancer Research where he managed challenge events and community fundraising. He brings over 15 years’ experience working in fundraising for Sue Ryder, Sense, and Spinal Research, and looks forward to supporting all the sporty and community fundraisers at Alcohol Change UK. You can often find Robin running somewhere, including taking part in race days with some of our participants. He uses this experience to share lots of hints and tips with our supporters to help them get the most out of their experience. If you're considering fundraising for us - from a challenge event or organising a community activity - please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you: [email protected]
Luke joined Alcohol Change UK in May 2023 to promote alcohol harm awareness training to workplaces across the UK. Coming from a background in hospitality, his introduction to charities started in March 2020 providing direct support to over 200 homeless individuals during an emergency temporary accommodation project. He has seen first-hand the harm that alcohol can do from multiple perspectives. He understands how workplaces can support their front-line employees, managers and executives to provide an inclusive, well-rounded package to the benefit of the company and those within it. Luke will work with you to create a bespoke package to help your organisation reduce alcohol harm through consultancy, training, seminars and more.
Shumita joined Alcohol Change UK in 2014. She supports our finance team with the day-to-day running of the department.
Kanishka joined Alcohol Change UK as a Project Manager in Consultation and Training in April 2024; he brings over 18 years of experience in international development and programme management, having previously worked at World Vision International and Ealing and Hounslow CVS.
Jaynee joined Alcohol Change UK as Senior Corporate Partnerships Officer in November 2021, helping to manage our Charity of the Year and Dry January® partnerships programme.
Jaynee brings over 10 years of fundraising experience previously working for Kew Foundation, Bipolar UK, Marie Curie and the British Heart Foundation.
Ash is the interim Director of Research and Public affairs, where he leads the organisation's policy and influencing work. Ash previously worked in external affairs and policy engagement roles at leading UK thinktanks including the Health Foundation, RSA and Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR).
Jephia joined Alcohol Change UK in October 2022 as part of our fundraising team. She focuses on managing fundraising events and building relationships with supporters and volunteers dedicated to reducing alcohol-related harm.
Sven joined Alcohol Change UK in 2023 after a career break to complete their Masters in Creative Writing.
Sven has 10 years experience working in Fundraising and Business Development, and 10 years experience in Licensed Trade and Hospitality before dedicating their life to cleaner living, sobriety, and helping others.
Outside of work, you can find Sven sharing these experiences - performing poetry on stages as England's current Slam Poetry Champion.
Julie joined Alcohol Change UK in September 2015 having previously worked as freelance Communications Adviser to the European Communications Office and prior to that as Communications Manager at Ofcom, the communications regulator. A communications professional with over 20 years' experience, Julie looks after our brand and communications, focusing in particular on our website and information and advice content. Julie also supports with our media work and works on some of our amazing campaigns including Alcohol Awareness Week and Dry January®. Together with the Director of Marketing and Communications, Julie is also responsible for the promotion and implementation of our new framing toolkit which helps to shape the way we think and talk about the harms caused by alcohol.
Alexandra’s interest in alcohol policy began with the Young Scot Health Panel which developed recommendations and solutions for the Scottish Government to protect young people from alcohol marketing in Scotland. After almost three years in a Policy and Communications role with Alcohol Focus Scotland, Alexandra joined Alcohol Change UK in July 2024. Her role involves using the latest research to inform our policy positions, asks, and communications, including through our website and by responding to consultations.
Vrushika joined Alcohol Change UK in July 2023. In her role, she leads the organisation’s parliamentary influencing work, advocating for MPs to support key policy recommendations. Vrushika also strengthens the charity’s engagement with politicians and dedicated campaigners. With her previous experience working directly with MPs, she has a keen understanding of the strategies and language required to effectively increase political support.
Sabina joined Alcohol Change UK as Finance Officer in April 2024, having previously worked for Skandia, AXA, HIH, Coface UK and Dacorum Borough Council. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has a wealth of experience in Audit, Financial Reporting and Management Accounting. She is responsible for payroll-related work and balance sheet reconciliations. Sabina is interested in music, travel and is also doing volunteering to help people in need.
Sonali joined Alcohol Change UK as Head of Finance in April 2023, having previously worked for YMCA St. Paul’s Group, SEMTA, Vocalink(Mastercard), GE Consumer Finance and Inchape Motors, providing a varied mix of financial controllership, reporting, process improvement and taxation support. She is an experienced qualified Chartered Accountant. She’s also a dedicated foodie and enjoys music and travelling.
Our associates
Lauren has extensive experience in the field of alcohol harm. She has worked in the sector for 25 years, working with Alcohol Change UK since 2009. Lauren holds a BHSc in Addiction Studies and an MSc in Health and Wellbeing. As a consultant, trainer and addictions therapist, she is also a passionate advocate for recovery coaching and wellbeing promotion. Lauren works widely with corporate organisations to reduce harm, promote employee wellbeing and embed a culture of open dialogue about the role of alcohol in society. She also regularly advises firms on the development and implementation of effective alcohol policies and supporting employees with alcohol problems. She has advised the government on the development of a model alcohol policy for employers and is an experienced and engaging motivational speaker at national wellbeing events. Lauren is also a highly effective trainer, delivering courses on all aspects of alcohol, health and wellbeing. Lauren is also the author of Try Dry – the official guide to a month off booze. Her latest book: Alcohol at work: tackling workplace drinking to improve wellbeing, will be published in 2025.
Karl has been sober since 2021 and his main aim is to show others that living a life alcohol-free isn’t something to be sniffed at! Hence his motto “cutting out isn’t missing out!”.
Since getting sober Karl has been the guy behind some huge firsts in the alcohol-free movement including a successful alcohol-free pop-up bar in Manchester and running alcohol-free festivals bars.
Karl's professional background is in People & Culture working with HR teams to build values driven organisations. Karl has recently worked with some big household names such as Amazon, BooHoo and Pretty Little Thing to spread the message of alcohol-free choices and living.
Karl is also the founder of Turn Up Together, a community for hosting booze free events for the sober, sober curious and mindful drinkers of the world, Turn Up Together aims to help people connect in real life without the hangover and ultimately reducing alcohol-harm.
Karl is also an Ambassador for Alcohol Change UK.
Mark Holmes. BSc, RMN, SPMH has been a mental health nurse for over 30 years. In his career he has developed services in community treatment, hospital alcohol liaison, Brief Treatment, alcohol related long term conditions, digital healthcare, and end of life care. Mark was being twice awarded Nursing Times Awards; The Mental Health Nurse of the Year in 2012 and LTC Team of the year 2016. He currently is employed as a hepatology nurse specialist. He also works as a consultant for Alcohol Change UK co-authored the Blue Light Project, Alcohol Assertive Oureach Handbook and has had over 20 publications. He has been a member of many expert panels including at the WHO and currently sits on PHE expert group for alcohol treatment, NHS Alcohol Working Group, Alcohol Care Teams Steering group (ACTION).
Renato Masetti BA (Hons) PGCE (Dip ED), is the Essex Drug and Alcohol Co-ordinator for EPUT NHS Trust, co-ordinating and developing training opportunities in the field of substance use. Prior to this, he held a similar position in Suffolk for Suffolk Public Health. He has been training in the field for over 25 years delivering his own unique and engaging training style.
Ren is a qualified teacher and has a background teaching both adults and young people in a variety of settings. He has a certificate in Addictive Behaviour from St Georges Medical School and a Certificate in Relationship Psychotherapy from Thames Valley University. In 2007, he was awarded the Tom Waller Harm Reduction Award and in 2023 he won the Quality and Excellence Award for Training from Essex NHS Trust. He has a special interest in New Psychoactive Substances and has presented papers at various conferences across the country on this subject, including The National Safer Injecting Conference in Glasgow and as far afield as Aberdeen, Lincoln, Stratford and Dublin. He has also provided training for DDN the national magazine and has recently delivered courses in Sheffield for the Salvation Army and the NDTMS in London. He was involved in the publication of the status report on NPS by Drugscope (“Business as Usual?” – May 2014) and presented at the 2nd International Conference on New Psychoactive Substances in Swansea on the subject of NPS and Drug Education.
He is the author of a discussion paper, “Conversations in the Dark – Covid19, Harm Reduction and Cryptomarket Suppliers” (May 2020), interviewing online dealers about how they have adapted during the pandemic. He has written an article about this work, which has been published on Release’s website, TalkingDrugs.org. and in the national “Drink and Drugs News” magazine. He recently presented his paper at the 2023 International Club Health Conference in Liverpool.
In his time as a trainer, Ren has worked with a variety of businesses, helping to promote effective Drug and Alcohol Workplace Policies. He has worked with night clubs on Safer Clubbing initiatives and has recently provided training for Essex and Norfolk Public Health and Bedford Council.
He has been a regular guest trainer on the highly regarded “Police Drug Expert Witness Course” run by APT Training and in his time he has addressed the Joint BASSH/FSRH National Sexual Health Conference and has recently presented at the 2023, Police National Drug Expert Witness Association Conference in Stratford-upon-Avon.
James Morris Ph.D has over 20 years' experience working in the alcohol field in a variety of roles including public health, alcohol commissioning and behaviour change training. He is a Visiting Fellow at London South Bank University and has over 30 peer reviewed publications covering alcohol prevention, framing, stigma and problem recognition topics. He recently worked for the Department of Health and Social Care authoring new clinical guidelines for alcohol treatment. He is host of The Alcohol ‘Problem’ Podcast, which aims to explore the nature of problem drinking through a range of academic and lived experience perspectives. James is a board member of Alcohol Focus Scotland and Chair of the New Directions in the Study of Alcohol Group and has been an advisor for multiple alcohol research and policy projects, including for the Department of Health and World Health Organisation.
Fiona brings over 32 years of frontline experience in statutory and non-statutory services up to the Director level. With a strong background in clinical and forensic psychology, she specialises in trauma, mental health, personality disorders (PD), substance use, safeguarding, and domestic abuse. Fiona has worked with both survivors and perpetrators of abuse, within the criminal justice system, and in child and adult protection across community and custodial settings.
Fiona has also worked in substance use for many organisations. She consults for local authorities and third-sector organisations on trauma-informed approaches, mental health, PD, substance use, and safeguarding. A Duluth-trained and accredited DASH facilitator, Fiona is on the Board of Women’s Aid in her area and is the Operational Director at Reflect Training and Consultancy, a psychologically informed training and consultancy service. Fiona’s qualifications include Independent Domestic Homicide Review Chair, accredited CASP-R assessor, and certified clinical traumatologist (TITC-TC).
James has worked with adults and children in substance use treatment, children in care, youth offending and in social care. He has provided substance use training across young people’s services. James completed his master’s degree in social work and worked as a Children’s Social Worker in Derby and Derbyshire. James is a member of MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers) and has delivered across a range of services and areas including substance use, children’s services (Social Care and Multi-agency Teams) and Youth Offending Teams. James Lectured in Health and Social Care before setting up as a Freelance Motivational Interviewing and Safeguarding Consultant and Trainer. His 25 years working with Children, Young People and their families across five Local Authorities, has given him a wealth of knowledge and experience which he now brings to life in training. At the heart of his approach to training is his compassionate approach and the belief that a collaborative approach to working with people to affect change in their lives works best.
Mike Ward is Senior Consultant at Alcohol Change UK. He comes from a social work background and was working in alcohol outreach in the 1980s in London. He founded and led Surrey’s Alcohol and Drug Advisory Service and has worked for Cranstoun and Kent Council on Addiction. He was also formerly Commissioning Manager (Mental Health & Substance Misuse) for Surrey Social Services. Mike is now a full-time consultant and trainer and has worked in the substance use/mental health field for over thirty years. He wrote the Department of Health/NTA guidelines on running drug death review systems and is one of the two key drivers behind the Blue Light project which has won both a Guardian Public Service Award and a Royal Society for Public Health Award. Mike has been asked to undertake a large number of Safeguarding Adult Reviews (under s44 of the Care Act) by local authority Safeguarding Adult Boards. These reviews look at learning lessons from the deaths of clients who are already the focus of his work. He has also undertaken Domestic Homicide Reviews and other serious case reviews.
Scott Woolley is an Alcohol Change UK Associate and former FDAP-registered Substance Misuse Professional with over 14 years of experience in the alcohol and drug treatment sector. He currently serves as a Drug and Alcohol Training Officer, delivering tailored training packages and consultancy on substance-related issues. Scott has conducted over 30,000 drug tests, reviewed workplace drug and alcohol policies, and facilitated return-to-work courses, enhancing workplace safety and employee wellbeing. His experience includes roles in the public and private sectors, criminal justice, and gambling harm interventions with organisations such as Abbott, WithYou, and NHS England. Having been sober for 9 years, Scott combines his lived experience with professional expertise to provide a unique perspective on alcohol-related issues. As the founder of Arclett, he collaborates with the NHS and national charities, contributing to reference groups aimed at reducing the stigma associated with sobriety. Since entering the industry in 2007, Scott has remained committed to promoting a pro-choice stance on alcohol and raising awareness of its societal impacts.
