Our People

I have the privilege to be leading National Fostering Group since early January 2025. My most recent previous role was at the other end of the caring-sector age spectrum, as CEO of Appello, where we helped elderly and vulnerable people stay safe and independent for longer. When I joined Appello, we supported around 100,000 people on behalf of local authorities and housing providers, with about 200 employees. During the nearly seven years I led the company, we grew that to over 400,000 elderly or vulnerable people supported and c800 employees. As well as growing substantially, we also improved standards in the sector and set new benchmarks for the way services could and should be delivered. Fostering makes an amazing difference to the lives of children and also gives pride and satisfaction to the wonderful carers who provide the family environment which changes those children's life path. I am proud and excited to bring the decades of leadership experience that I have gained in my career to NFG so that we can create more fostering families and make an even greater contribution to society. Outside of work, I have three grown-up children and my wife and I love to be outdoors, ideally hiking, cycling, running, walking the dog or just hanging out with friends and family in the fresh air.

With 17 years at National Fostering Group, I bring extensive experience in social work, having previously worked in child protection teams across multiple Local Authorities. My passion lies in improving outcomes for children and empowering young people to reach their full potential. I love the collaborative culture of our team, where everyone is dedicated to making a real difference. Outside of work, I enjoy photography and gardening. I also have a wonderful grandson, born on Christmas Day, who brings so much joy to my life.

As Chief Operations Officer at National Fostering Group, I oversee the day-to-day operations of the organisation, ensuring we provide the best possible support for children and foster families. Since joining in 2021, I have also served as a Regional Director, bringing a strategic approach to fostering services. My career began as a Graduate Trainee Manager at Marks & Spencer after earning a BA (Hons) in Business Management. I spent 15 years in senior management roles at Marks & Spencer, Woolworths, and Sainsbury’s before transitioning into healthcare as a Regional Operations Manager for Oasis Dental. After completing my MBA, I spent seven years as Director of Strategy and Business Services for NHS Blood & Transplant. What I love most about my role is knowing that this isn’t just a job—it’s about making a real difference. Every day, we help improve the lives of children and young people, shaping a better future for them and society as a whole.

I joined National Fostering Group in November 2023 as Chief Commercial Officer, bringing a wealth of experience across multiple industries, including Healthcare, Travel & Leisure, Transport, Financial Services, Retail, and Property. Throughout my career, I have led multi-disciplined teams in areas such as insight, proposition development, digital, brand growth, sales, customer contact, and customer experience. What makes this organisation truly special is the passion and commitment of every team member in building positive futures for children and young people. One of the biggest challenges we face is finding more foster carers, but it’s inspiring to see how united everyone at National Fostering Group is in working toward this goal.

As Chief Finance Officer at National Fostering Group, I oversee financial strategy, compliance, and operational insights to support our mission. I have been with the organisation for 10 years in senior finance roles, primarily in commercial finance, before stepping into the CFO role in November 2022. I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2003 and began my career in the leisure sector. Before joining National Fostering Group, I worked with a private schools group, managing their finance shared service centre. What I enjoy most about my role is analysing and presenting data that helps our operational teams gain valuable insights into performance. I also take great pride in ensuring the group meets its legal and statutory obligations while delivering high-quality financial services. Working alongside dedicated colleagues across the organisation and seeing their commitment to improving children’s lives makes this role incredibly rewarding.

I joined National Fostering Group at the start of 2023 as Human Resources Director and am excited to help shape the organisation’s journey. With a strong background in HR, I have worked across global organisations, focusing on people strategy, HR operations, project management, transformation, and employee engagement. Most recently, I worked in the children’s early years education sector, where I led strategic people projects during a significant period of growth—an experience I found incredibly rewarding. People are our greatest asset, and my passion lies in making National Fostering Group a fantastic place to work. My focus is on creating an environment where colleagues feel valued, supported, and empowered to make a difference. Outside of work, I have two mischievous French bulldogs, Frank and Walter, who love going on long walks and keeping me on my toes!