The Board

Heather Barker - Chair of the Board of Trustees

After studying economics at Nottingham University, Heather’s working life started in the oil industry, after which she went on to work in a number of different companies and organisations and finally led her to her current work as an independent consultant. Heather’s work covers a mix of interim management, strategy development, consultation, facilitation, mediation and training; she works with companies and organisations in the private, voluntary and public sectors.

Throughout her working life, Heather has worked as a volunteer and has been involved with a number of different charities both in the UK and overseas. Whatever the charity, there are two common themes - listening and the offer of non-judgemental emotional support. As a volunteer, Heather has worked as a frontline volunteer as well as trainer, trustee and Chair of a number of boards of trustees.

Peter Fuggle

Peter has worked in different ways with children and young people for the last thirty years. Before training as a clinical psychologist, Peter worked on various youth projects and play schemes and spent two tears as a teacher. Since qualifying as a clinical psychologist, Peter has worked in services for troubled young people and their families. Peter is currently Clinical Director of the Islington Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and also works at the Anna Freud Centre in Camden. Peter’s current interests are in working with families at risk of family breakdown. As a Trustee, Peter hopes to bring some experience about project work for work with young people and to think about the wellbeing of the young people coming to the project.

Craig Manson

Craig is a serial entrepreneur and digital media strategist. With a grounding in law, Craig quickly moved into the interactive space founding several business’s and acting as board director to several others. Craig is also a strategic consultant to the Department of Health advising on digital innovation within NHS Choices. Craig brings business experience to MAC-UK, helping to build links between the voluntary and business sectors. Craig is also a mentor on the Music and Change project and helps to link young people’s ideas and aspirations to media technology.

Craig was recently named as the 'Trustee of the Week' by CTN The Trustee Network

Ralph Lindeyer

Ralph qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1970. From 1970 to 1984 he worked as Finance Director for a number of financial services companies. In 1984 he started in private practice as a Chartered Accountant and specialist regulatory consultant. In 1988 Ralph and Mike Barker established CCL - concentrating exclusively on financial services compliance consulting. This background gives Ralph a broad experience of financial services regulation. Today, he acts for a wide range of international hedge funds, brokers and dealers in the securities, derivatives and commodities markets. Ralph has particular expertise in systems and back office administration, as well as financial reporting. He also specialises in advising firms on regulatory investigations and disciplinary matters. 

Ralph was also the founding Chairman of the Association of Professional Compliance Consultants (APCC) an organisation formed at the instigation of the FSA to improve professional standards in compliance. Ralph provides MAC-UK with solid financial underpinnings and a passion and enthusiasm which are second to none.

Chris Assombalonga

Chris was born in 1990 and is committed to ensuring that MAC-UK grows in a way that is best for its young people. Chris has played an essential role in the young people’s steering committee and is from the Rowley Way Estate where the Music and Change project started and continues to focus on. Chris has a passion for acting, music and presenting, and is currently studying sociology at Southbank University. As part of MAC-UK's board of trustees, he brings a unique perspective, as well as imagination and enthusiasm. Chris won the Barnet Youth and Connexions Award in 2010 for "Demonstrating Excellence in Community and Volunteering" and was also recently shortlisted to be an Olympic Torchbearer as part of London 2012.

Vipul Kapadia

Vipul Kapadia is the People and Operations Director at Qedis, a management consulting company. His focus is on nurturing people, recruitment, development and on building a unique and positive place to work. In addition, Vipul also plays a key role in managing the relationships and international capability of Qedis as part of Global network of companies, Highland Worldwide. He graduated from the London School of Economics, and holds a BSc(Econ) majoring in Government and Politics.

Vipul is passionate about helping people to develop and has recently led a project between MAC-UK and Qedis, alongside a team of consultants. The goal has been to help Charlie articulate MACs core values, mission statement and a vision for the future, to ensure the great work carried out by MAC-UK has long term direction and ambition, to begin reaching further and wider.

Rob Murphy - Treasurer, MAC-UK Board of Trustees

Rob Murphy is a Chartered Accountant and experienced Finance Director. He is currently Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Forward Internet Group, one of the country’s fastest growing internet businesses. This role also includes Forward Venture Partners which invests in early stage businesses. Prior to joining Forward, Rob had considerable experience on the video games industry where he was CFO of a large games publisher. He has also worked in private practice advising fast growing companies. Rob has over ten years’ experience of sitting on public company boards. He has also been Treasurer of a charity and advised a number of arts organisations. He is a keen runner and in 2012 will run the London Marathon for Oxfam.

Professor Susan Bailey

Professor Susan Bailey OBE, FRCPsych ,FRSA, MBChB, is Consultant Child and Adolescent Forensic Psychiatrist in the Forensic Adolescent Consultation & Treatment Services (FACTS) at Greater Manchester West Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust.

The focus of her clinical work and research has been assessing the needs and managing the risks presented by and to young people who enter the mental health, social care and youth justice systems nationally and internationally.

Other key focal areas include working with colleagues to develop best treatment interventions and pathways of care; putting human rights into practice as part of international groups; and, through the Royal College of Psychiatrists trying to shape Mental Health Policy to work in real partnership with users and carers.

Prof Bailey was elected as President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in February 2011, and took office in June 2011.

She works closely with NGOs in the field of offending and mental health, and locally in Manchester as part of an international NGO. She is a Trustee of the Centre for Mental Health.