Our Management Team ensures the direction and strategy set by our Board of Trustees is implemented effectively for the benefit of the users of our services. Between them they have many years of experience in delivering mental health services, running charitable organisations and working closely with socially excluded groups.
Liz Felton, Chief Executive
Liz originally trained as a psychiatric nurse at Hollyrood Hospital, Birmingham and has worked in in-patient settings, including acute admissions and rehabilitation services. Before joining Together in 2006, she was Deputy Chief Executive of Rethink, the leading national mental health membership charity.
At Together, her major aim is to shift thinking about mental health services away from something ‘done’ to people with mental health issues and towards a system ’built’ by individuals and their supporters, promoting quality of life, ambition and hope.
Liz is currently a board member of the Voluntary Sector Mental Health Providers Forum and sits on the NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network as a representative of the voluntary sector.
Anne Oates, Director of Resources
Anne trained first as a social worker and then moved into accountancy in 1989.
After four years at Levicks in Maidstone, she joined Age Concern England in 1993 as Management Accountant, becoming Financial Controller in 1998.
Before joining Together in 2006, she also worked as Director of Finance for two other charities, Rainer and St John Ambulance.
As Together’s Director of Resources, Anne is also our Company Secretary.
Anne Beales MBE, Director of Service User Involvement
Anne is someone who has used mental health services herself, so she has a personal insight and empathy with others involved in the service user movement.
At Together, she works in departments across the organisation to ensure service user involvement is at the heart of everything we do.
Anne is also a board member of the National Survivor User Network and on the board of the NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network to provide a service user perspective.
She is also a member of the Gender Equality and Women’s Mental Health board.
Claire Helman, Director of Policy and Development
Claire has substantial senior management experience in organisation development, strategy and business development, as well as programme management across the private, public and voluntary sectors.
She’s worked for some of the leading management consultancy companies, and has previously been International Director of Organisation Development for ActionAid.
Claire was also Director of Capital Volunteering, an innovative public and voluntary sector partnership programme which used volunteering and active citizenship to address issues of mental health and social exclusion.
Claire is chair of three voluntary/community organisations: Southwark Volunteer Centre, North London Progressive Jewish Community, and the very recently established Baobab Therapeutic Centre for Young Survivors in Exile.
John Brennan, Director of Housing
John has worked in the Housing sector in several senior positions for more than 25 years, mainly as a specialist on asset management and new development.
He has a particular interest in socially excluded groups and gained his career experience working in local government, health authorities, and housing associations.
Among John’s many career achievements have been:
- the resettlement of Bosnian refugees
- the number two position of the then Housing Corporation Most Efficient Operation Cost Index
- the extraction from regulatory supervision
- a stock transfer housing association
- major redevelopment programs
- London Mayor award for making an ‘outstanding contribution’ to life in London.