Our people

Kerryn joined the Hardman Trust in 2022. With 20 years experience in the voluntary sector, Kerryn has worked in drug and alcohol support, homelessness, criminal justice and youth services. Most recently she was the director of operations for a national charity supporting people to read in prison. Passionate about volunteering, Kerryn has been a Samaritan, a community group facilitator and is currently a trustee for a criminal justice charity supporting ageing prisoners.

Lucy Keenan, Grants Manager

Lucy joined the Hardman Trust in 2020. She has 30 years experience in the Voluntary Sector, the majority of this time working with prisoners, ex-prisoners/offenders and their families. She oversees the Hardman Trust Grant programme, providing financial support to people leaving prison after long sentences. She works closely with prison staff, volunteers and grant recipients.

Alex joined the Hardman Trust in 2017. He is responsible for ensuring the charity runs smoothly, and that we progress our work through new projects and developments. He oversees our systems, processes, policies and procedures and provides support to the wider staff team on a daily basis.

Suzanne Duffy, Income Generation 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.

Kevin, Director of the Prisoner Penfriends programme

Kevin joined the Hardman Trust in 2023 when it merged with Prisoner Penfriends. He oversees the penfriend programme, working with volunteers and prison staff to ensure people across the prison estate are in regular contact with volunteer letter writers.

Kirsty Hepburn

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.

Hayley Dall-Smith

Hayley joined the Hardman Trust in 2024. She is responsible for Operational Delivery. Hayley has worked within the Criminal Justice sector for over 20 years in a variety of roles including as a Teacher, and Curriculum Manager. Hayley also has extensive experience of working across IAG provisions, training providers, community projects and youth sectors.

Alex Rose

Alexander joined the Hardman Trust in March 2024. For the last 10 years, Alexander has worked in a variety of frontline service delivery roles in London prison establishments, covering mentoring, coaching, and group facilitation, working his way up to the Head of Programmes for a sister-charity before joining us. Alexander is passionate about financial empowerment and personal development for those who are experiencing barriers and stigma.

Alexandra Marks joined The Hardman Trust as Chair of Trustees in October 2022. Alexandra is a qualified solicitor and was a partner at a city law firm until 2011. She now sits as a part-time judge and has previously been the Chair of Prisoners’ Education Trust, Amnesty International Charity Limited, and JUSTICE’s Executive Board. Alexandra was Commissioner at the Criminal Cases Review Commission for 5 years, where she investigated potential miscarriages of justice. She is currently Chair of Trustees for Discover, Children’s Story Centre in Newham, a trustee of LawCare (a mental health and wellbeing charity for the legal professions) a trustee of Standing Tall (a homeless charity) and a Council member of JUSTICE.

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.

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.

Edward is a practising solicitor based in London, specialising in technology and data law. He is a passionate advocate for justice and rehabilitation, and has previously advised the UK Probation Service, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the womens’ charity Refuge.

For over two decades David has researched and managed projects for excluded and marginalised groups across sectors that include housing, education, prison and the wider criminal justice system. In his current role as Director for Prison Reform Trust’s Building Futures project, he is leading a programme for prisoners who are serving or have served ten or more years in prison.

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’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.