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.

Jason, LSP Caseworker

Jason is an experienced criminal justice and resettlement professional with extensive experience supporting individuals with forensic histories across custody and community settings.  His work spans homelessness, housing, mental health, substance misuse and offender rehabilitation, with a strong focus on helping people overcome complex barriers.

With a background delivering resettlement and employment pathways in prisons, including HMPS Wandsworth, Brixton, and Downview, he brings strong multi-agency partnerships, custodial clearance up to Category B and a practical, person-centred approach.  He is committed to ongoing professional development and creating lasting change for people rebuilding their lives after the criminal justice system.

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 Programmes & Office 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 Programmes & Office 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.

Rachel Allan, Trustee

Rachel is Head of Learning & Development for an insurance company and has previously held HR Trustee roles. Early in her career, Rachel worked as a Trainer in the criminal justice sector and has since worked in corporates in HR, learning, talent and inclusion roles. 

Lathan Forrester, Trustee

Growing up Lathan was an aspiring footballer who’s career didn’t pan out the way he had hoped after playing in both England and Spain Lathan’s life took a turn which resulted in him being sentenced to 14 years in prison. Despite Lathan went on to study with the open university and complete his coaching badges after receiving funding from the hardman trust. since release he has worked in the community and sport. Landing jobs at the Jamie Carragher Academy and currently a community coach and mentor at Manchester City in the Community. Lathan is also a children’s author who uses his experiences to inspire and tell stories via his children’s book (FC Tyro). 

Gareth Richards, Trustee

Gareth brings extensive experience across criminal justice, social services, and violence reduction to the role of Trustee. Currently serving as Regional Manager for Engaging People on Probation in Wales, he has dedicated his career to supporting individuals to rebuild their lives following contact with the criminal justice system.

He combines professional expertise with lived experience of the criminal justice system, providing insight into the challenges faced by those the Hardman Trust supports. As a Master’s graduate in Applied Criminal Justice and criminology, he is committed to evidence-informed practice that centres dignity, empathy and social justice.

His work is driven by a fundamental belief in the potential for positive change and the importance of supporting people to build stronger families and more compassionate communities. His approach emphasises addressing structural inequalities and creating meaningful pathways for individuals to access education, employment, and stable housing.

Based in Wales, he is a family-focused father whose personal values align closely with the Trust’s commitment to supporting people during critical transitions. His dedication to reducing inequality and fostering empathetic communities informs both his professional practice and his contribution as a Trustee, where he works to ensure the Trust’s services remain accessible, person-centred and genuinely transformative for those seeking to move forward with their lives.

Liton Ullah, Trustee