Our people

Annette, Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Annette joined us in November 2025.  Annette brings extensive experience across the charity and legal sectors, with a background as a lawyer working on human rights, death penalty and criminal justice reform globally. In her last role as Director at the Criminal Justice Alliance, she led the team in championing a fairer and more effective justice system, extending the organisation’s reach and strengthening its influence. She is currently on the Board of Hibiscus Initiatives.

Suzanne, Fundraising and Communications Manager

Suzanne joined the Hardman Trust in 2023 following a career in domestic abuse support services. She joins the organisation as its first fundraiser, helping us to build relationships with funders and secure the income required to provide our programmes and services. She also leads on communications, raising awareness of our work and creating content for our newsletters and social media posts.

Kirsty, Products and Partnerships Officer

Kirsty joined the staff team in 2023 after volunteering with us for 18 months. She has a background in business and projects. Now she helps produce the Hardman Directory and other new initiatives to support our strategy.

Jo, Finance Manager

Jo is a qualified accountant and joined the Hardman Trust in 2024 following a varied career in charity finance over the last 25 years. She joins the organisation as its first Finance Manager and works closely with the Treasurer.

Jo’s professional training and experience provides a good understanding of the many specific challenges facing a Charity from funding to budget management, as well as the day to day challenges facing any organisation operating in the sector.

Jessie, Programmes & Volunteer Coordinator

Jessie (or Jess!) joined the Hardman Trust in September 2024.  Jess joined us after working for the Citizens Advice Witness Service for over seven years and has experience in running the service and managing teams of volunteers to support victims of crime.  Jess also works for a local homeless charity as a project worker and is studying for a BSc in Criminology and Criminal Justice.  As the Trust’s Programme & Volunteer Coordinator, Jess’s work covers multiple areas of the Hardman Trust’s services, including Grants and Penfriends.

Philippa, Office, Grants & Programme Administrator

Philippa joined The Hardman Trust in June 2025 as the Office, Grants & Programme Administrator. She brings experience from her previous roles within the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), including Business Manager for the Independent Monitoring Board. She has a strong background in working with and coordinating volunteers. As the Trust’s Office, Grants & Programme Administrator, Philippa supports all aspects of the Service Delivery team’s work.

Louise Spencer, Co-Chair

Louise currently works for the Princes Trust. Prior to this, she spent over 20 years working in the Prison Service, including as a governor of both male and female prisons and then as a Group Director.

Melanie Essex, Co-Chair

Melanie Essex joined the Hardman Trust as a Trustee in 2023.  Melanie is a member of the Parole Board of England and Wales and she regularly meets prisoners on long term sentences.  She sits as a Magistrate in the Family Court and as a specialist member on Mental Health Tribunals.  Before that, Melanie spent 23 years at the BBC where she was an executive editor in BBC News. 

Cathal Cunningham, Treasurer

Cathal joined The Hardman Trust as Treasurer in July 2023. Cathal is a Chartered Accountant with over 16 years’ experience in finance. Prior to join the Trust Cathal was Treasurer of an Edinburgh based charity supporting people living with neurological conditions for 7 years. Cathal experience of the sector provides a good understanding of the many financial challenges facing the charitable sector as we seek to ensure financial resilience.

Jim King, Trustee

Jim is the former Head of Education, Arts & Libraries at the Scottish Prison Service. Having recently retired he has co-founded SPACE ART Scotland to promote and expand the use of creative arts as a core aspect of rehabilitation for those within the justice sector. Jim is also international Secretary of the European Prison Education Association.

Chris Leslie, Trustee

An experienced director of a company operating in the Criminal Justice System in Wales, Chris’ work focuses on supporting people with criminal convictions to enter education and employment. As a consultant, Chris also advises on best practice within the Criminal Justice setting. Along with his professional expertise, Chris is open about his own lived experience of prison. A former Hardman Trust grant recipient, he now gives his time as a trustee and a volunteer to the organisation, visiting people in prison who are applying for support from us.

Kim Evans, Trustee

Kim’s background is in the arts and criminal justice sectors. She is a former Chair of Clean Break, the theatre company working with women in prison and in the community. She now works as a mentor and adviser to organisations which focus on social justice and helping people achieve their full potential.