Meet Our Team

Hugh

Chief Executive Officer

As Chief Executive, Hugh is responsible for the organisation’s direction; leading, shaping and focussing CiW’s energies and activities to improve coordination across the sector and maximize the impact for children

Sean

Deputy CEO/Policy Director

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, Sean leads the organisations policy work, and is responsible for work in the fields of children’s rights, child poverty, care experienced children and matters impacting more broadly on children and young people.

Stephanie

Finance and Operations Director

Stephanie has overall responsibility for managing Children in Wales’ budget, finances, HR and IT and also responsible for management of our office space.

Stephanie also oversees the work for the Finance & HR teams.

Emily

Delivery Director

Emily is a member of the Senior Leadership Team and oversees delivery of Children in Wales Youth Participation Programmes, Training provision, Safeguarding, the Independent Review Mechanism service as well as a number of collaborative Projects and Partnerships.

Kate T

Projects and Partnership Manager

Anna

Senior Policy Officer

Anna is responsible for development work in the field of family support, early years, childcare and children’s rights.

Fatiha

Development Officer, Parents Connect Wales

Fatiha is responsible for development work in the field of parent voice and parent participation in the promotion of children's rights.

Claire H

Development Officer, Additional Learning Needs (ALN)

Claire is the Development Officer for Additional Learning Needs (ALN), driving inclusive education and championing support for every learner.

Lisa

Development Officer Youth Engagement FAW

Lisa is the Youth Engagement Officer working in partnership with the Football Association of Wales on the Building Voices project, providing expert advice and practical guidance on the Young Wales model of youth engagement, with a strong focus on a rights-based approach.

Sophie

Youth Engagement Worker FAW

Sophie is the Youth Engagement Officer providing expert guidance and best practice advice on the Young Wales model of youth engagement and a rights-led approach for the FAW.

Abigail

Development Officer

Rachel B

Research and Policy Information Officer

Rachel is responsible for the development work in the field of mental health and children’s rights.  Rachel also coordinates the children’s research network in Wales.

Bethan

Development Officer, Getting Ready Project

Bethan is the development officer for the Getting Ready Project who is responsible for the development of a suite of resources to support care experienced young people enhance their knowledge and understanding of their entitlements once leaving care. Bethan also delivers a variety of workshops to young people and professionals.

Natalie H

Getting Ready Project Intern

Natalie is the intern for the Getting Ready Project who is responsible for the development of a suite of resources to support care experienced young people enhance their knowledge and understanding of their entitlements once leaving care. Natalie also delivers a variety of workshops to young people and professionals.

Natalie L

Young Wales Manager

Natalie oversees the Young Wales Programme, a Children in Wales initiative funded by Welsh Government, all about listening to young people & amplifying their voices in national decision making.  Natalie is responsible for managing a team of participation officers, overseeing the development and delivery of activities, and programme reporting.  She also manages a number of additional participation contracts.

Rachel C

Young Wales Senior Officer

Rachel oversees the consultation work and the Advisory boards and groups. Rachel also leads and delivers on the Young Carers and the 16+ Education and Training Advisory boards and groups.

Emily

Development Officer, Participation

Emily is the Development Officer for Participation on the Young Wales project at Children in Wales. She works to strengthen youth voice and engagement, supporting young people to actively participate in shaping policy and decisions that affect their lives.

Frances

Development Officer, Participation

Frances is the Young Wales Development Officer for Participation at Children in Wales, working to empower young people across Wales by promoting meaningful participation, supporting youth-led initiatives, and ensuring their voices influence policy and practice.

Ghazala

Young Wales Development Officer

Ghazala is a Development Officer for Young Wales. In her role, she works with schools and youth organisations to deliver consultations, facilitate workshops, and conduct research on issues that matter to young people. Her work ensures that children and young people are heard and meaningfully involved in shaping policies, services, and decisions that impact their lives.  Ghazala also collaborates with policymakers and partners to feed these voices into national strategies and campaigns, reinforcing the importance of youth-led advocacy and co-production.

Russell

Development Officer (Participation)

Russell is Young Wales' lead on the MH&WH National Youth Stakeholders Group and the National Participation Standards Young Inspectors and facilitates the All Wales Participation Workers Networks. Russell also leads the Youth Voice Network working in collaboration with the Electoral Commission. Other projects involve supporting a young person who is a member of the Eurochild Children's Council.

Thency

Young Wales Development Officer

Thency is the Young Wales Development Officer at Children in Wales, supporting youth participation and engagement across Wales. She works closely with young people to amplify their voices, shape policy, and promote a rights-based approach to youth development.

Claire

Training Manager

Claire is responsible for managing the Training Team who deliver interactive courses on a wide range of topics and levels including safeguarding, child rights, children looked after and child development.

Sian

Training Officer

Siân delivers the Children in Wales, advertised, commissioned and contract training courses on a range of subjects. She has particular expertise in training around safeguarding, children's rights, direct work with children, young people and families who have experienced different forms of abuse and neglect and supporting children and young people from marginalised groups.

Natalie

Training Officer

Natalie facilitates a number of the Children in Wales, advertised, commissioned and contract training courses and has practitioner experience of training around safeguarding and children's rights in both statutory and voluntary sectors.

Natalie has worked directly with children and families in a range of settings, including education, charities, and children's services. Natalie is a qualified teacher and has particular expertise in group facilitation & working with volunteers.

Kelly

Training Coordinator

Kelly is responsible for all administrative tasks linked to our training courses, together with our conferences and events.

Natasha

Communications and Membership Manager

Louise

Membership Co-ordinator

Louise is responsible for supporting Children in Wales’ members to ensure that they receive their range of benefits. She also assists with marketing the organisation effectively and organising events and conferences.

Emma

Events Officer

Emma is responsible for the development, management and implementation of the Children in Wales events calendar, delivering engaging events for our members, as well as supporting the delivery of events for our young volunteers.

Carys

Communications and Marketing Officer

Carys is the Communications and Marketing Officer at Children in Wales, where she leads on strategic communications, content creation, campaign delivery, and stakeholder engagement—amplifying the voices of children and young people across Wales.

Claire

IRM Foster & Adoption Contract Manager

Claire manages the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM), a service run on behalf of the Welsh Government ministers that is responsible for providing independent reviews of agency decisions about individual’s suitability to foster and adopt some of the most vulnerable children in our society.

Rachel

Administrator

Rachel is the administrator of the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM), a service run on behalf of the Welsh Government ministers that is responsible for providing independent reviews of agency decisions about individual’s suitability to foster and adopt some of the most vulnerable children in our society.

Gareth C

Trainee Finance Assistant

Gareth is responsible for processing the financial accounts for Children in Wales along with managing the purchase order system and supporting and assisting staff with purchases. Gareth also supports with the day to day IT.

Caroline

Governance Manager

Caroline is responsible for matters relating to the governance of the organisation. This includes the Trustee Board, Policy Council, and the revision and development of policies and procedures.

Fiona

HR Officer

Fiona is responsible for human resources work for Children in Wales.

Susie

HR/Governance Assistant

Susie supports the HR and Governance functions at Children in Wales.