Trustees

Kate Fowkes

Kate started her work in the sphere of mental health when she started working with women who had been disadvantaged by their experiences but often lacked the support to make their thoughts and feelings known and understood. After being introduce to Wish, by the then chair, she quickly realised that Wish was an organisation that put women first and worked towards giving them a voice. Kate is a senior manager in an NHS Mental Health Trust and brings a range of management and policy skills with her.

Karen Grayson

Karen Grayson is a public sector professional, having worked at Transport for London, the Greater London Authority and the Equality and Human Rights Commission. She has a strong background in policy development, project management, public consultation, and writing for a range of audiences. She brings her personal experience of mental health issues to bear on her role as a trustee for Wish.

Holly Dawson

Holly has done a lot of work for Wish over the last year, using her writing skills to develop the website and leaflets, and producing funding applications. She has a background in charity work including research, fundraising, teaching, policymaking, creating education programmes and public liaison. As a freelancer and editor she can also bring media, publicity and press skills and contacts to the table. Holly has had personal experience of mental health issues and mental health services.

Akiko Hart

Akiko is an experienced fundraising and communications professional with a deep interest in the issues highlighted by Wish's work. She is in the process of retraining as a psychologist, and is particularly concerned with women's mental health and the criminal justice system.

Thelma Stober

Thelma is a senior public sector lawyer and an expert in corporate governance, equality and diversity. In the early 1990's she helped found the Ebony Sistren Housing Association for ethnic minority women, as well as the Sierra Leone Children's Charity Fund. As a victim of the 7.7.2005 London Bombing she had cause to use the NHS Mental Health Service, and has continued to support colleagues who are still dealing with post traumatic stress and depression.

Suzzi Holden

Suzzi is an advocate in the fields of mental health, learning disability and dual diagnosis with over ten years experience.  She uses mental health services herself, and is involved with various service user groups.  After the death of her partner by suicide she became a Trustee of the charity Survivors of Bereavment By Suicide, and she is also a counsellor in bereavement.