Meet the Team

I am a registered intermediary in the justice system, a Speech and Language Therapist and an Arts Psychological Therapist. As a therapist I have worked with adults and children with communication needs and mental health issues, in a variety of settings including palliative care, acute mental health wards and day hospitals, schools and clinics.

I am a visiting lecturer on the Wellbeing Practitioner course at University of East London and have written for Jessica Kingsley publishers and Childsplay International on subjects related to mental health.

As chair and a founder member of Intermediaries for Justice I have a firm belief in equality of access to justice for all.

Alongside other IfJ trustees I have run conferences and seminars on subjects ranging from: Working with Defendants; Trauma in the CJS; Joined up working in CJS; Abuse and its many faces in the CJS and Vulnerability and Justice.

I have chaired and contributed to the writing of many Toolkits for The Advocates Gateway and currently run trainings for the police on communication to Achieve Best Evidence and on Trauma Informed Practice.

Since 2018 I have worked as an intermediary with defendants and witnesses and specialise in working with people who have communication difficulties associated with autism, learning difficulties, drug & alcohol addictions, ADHD, OCD, depression and anxiety. 

I bring the skills of organisation and dedication to the role of IfJ secretary. I speak fluent French and bilingual Italian. 

I believe that the work intermediaries do is an essential part of upholding the concept that the Justice system should be open and accessible to everyone in a way that is meaningful to them. 

Since 2019, I have worked as a Registered Intermediary in the criminal justice system, supporting vulnerable teens and adults with communication barriers due to neurodiversity, trauma, mental health, or learning difficulties—using a trauma-informed approach. In 2023, I joined The Intermediary Cooperative and became an HMCTS-Approved Intermediary in both Family and Criminal courts. I am the Safeguarding Officer for IfJ, maintain our social media and recently started a news feed channel for members.

Previously, I was a Modern Languages teacher, but I felt compromised by the results driven mainstream education system and found my niche outside the classroom. I joined Blackpool’s Missing and Vulnerable Children Team working across their 7 Pupil Referral Centres. I supported the attendance, welfare and safeguarding of young people excluded from school. Later, as Every Child Matters Coordinator at a special school for pupils with challenging behaviour, I led on Safeguarding, Looked After Children, and Attendance. 

I am committed to equality of access to justice for all and am passionate about youth justice and strengthening IfJ’s role as the voice for intermediaries across the justice system.

I am a Registered Practitioner Psychologist and have been working in private practice and as an expert witness since the 1980s. I am also an Assistive Technologist (computers for disability) and have worked in a range of settings with adults and children undertaking assessment, diagnosis and giving advice and support. My areas of special interest and expertise include the needs of disabled and vulnerable individuals who have general and specific learning difficulties, especially dyslexia, dyspraxia, attention deficit and autism. Closely involved in the Special Educational Needs assessment and review processes since 1981, I have particularly in recent years, focussed on legal work and have reported and given evidence in Court for family, employment and criminal matters. I claim to be in the process of retiring...

I initially dipped my toe into the justice system as an Appropriate Adult working in custody centres, with vulnerable adults and juveniles. I also worked with juvenile migrants, supporting them through the age assessment process.

In later life I trained and qualified on the Intermediary Development Programme with Triangle and, after working independently, I was subsequently a founder member of The Intermediary Cooperative. I specialise in working with vulnerable defendants with impaired communication due to mild/moderate learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, ADHD, PTSD, anxiety and depression.

As an intermediary I have benefitted greatly from the resources and training offered by IFJ. I am so pleased to join them in their work advocating for vulnerable people in the justice system and in promoting awareness of the intermediary role.

As well as my advocacy skills, I bring a wealth of experience building and fostering inter-agency collaboration. I understand the importance of supporting roles in large systems, and for this reason I believe intermediaries are a vital and unique force for good. Intermediaries for Justice is key in promoting and upholding the rights of vulnerable people and enabling their fair inclusion in the Justice system.

I am a Lecturer in Law and Director of the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Queens' University, Belfast. I am also a qualified barrister in Northern Ireland and England and Wales and have practised criminal law in both jurisdictions. My research focuses on the criminal process, criminal justice and socio-legal approaches to criminal law. In particular, my research looks at special measures in criminal courts and the role of the intermediary as a communication specialist for vulnerable court users.

I am the theme lead for the 'Vulnerable Accused' as part of the British Society of Criminology Vulnerability Research Network. I co-convene the 'Vulnerable Suspects and Defendants work-in-progress forum' and have recently been appointed to the Advocate's Gateway Management Committee. I am a regular adviser to the Department of Justice (Northern Ireland) and have trained intermediary cohorts in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

My current research project focuses on the conceptualisation of the right to 'effective participation' in police custody. As part of this project, I am collaborating with the Department of Justice (Northern Ireland), the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland (PPS). My first monograph, ‘The Intermediary in the Criminal Justice System’ was published by Routledge in 2025.

I am an academic and registered intermediary. I completed my PhD in 2012 on the topic of rapport building during investigative interviews with children. I then worked at Teesside University for 14 years as a Senior Lecturer in Forensic Psychology. I ran the Masters in Trauma Informed Practice and taught on the Masters in Forensic Psychology and the Policing Apprenticeships.  I supervise PhD students and carry out research on ways to facilitate communication with vulnerable people in justice settings, trauma informed practice in the justice system and intermediary practice. My current research project is looking at adaptations to video identity parades with child victims and witnesses.

I have been an intermediary since 2012, first with vulnerable defendants and then with vulnerable victims/witnesses. My areas of expertise are young children, and children with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities and trauma. I have also worked as an expert witness where I review the practice of police officers during investigative interviews. Finally, I have presented at national and international conferences and regularly deliver training sessions to the police, other criminal justice practitioners, social workers and teachers.

I am passionate about the work of intermediaries and highlighting the importance of this work and how it enables access to justice for vulnerable groups.  

am a Speech and Language Therapist and Registered Intermediary. As a speech and language therapist I have extensive experience supporting children, young people, and adults with a range of communication needs, including autism, learning disability, and acquired or developmental language disorders. I have worked with families and young people in youth justice settings and our national child protection agency. I am passionate about making the world more accessible for people who experience communication difficulties. My work is grounded in the belief that communication is a fundamental human right. I was a key contributor to the development and production of a Charter of Rights for individuals with intellectual disabilities, I have championed inclusive communication and the creation of accessible environments across services. I have a masters in Leadership in Care and a Postgraduate Diploma in Intermediary Studies. I am dedicated to promoting trauma-informed and rights-based approaches, ensuring that communication support is embedded in policy as well as practice. I have been working as a registered intermediary in Ireland for two years. I am the Chairperson of Registered Intermediary Ireland. Through my intermediary practice, I have collaborated with An Garda Siochana (Irish Police), legal professionals and Court Services developing accessible materials for court preparation, promoting trauma-informed practice, and contributing to multi-agency training on effective communication with vulnerable witnesses and defendants. I aim to bring a reflective, rights-based approach to every case, aiming to empower each individual to participate fully and confidently in the justice process. I am currently researching skills which transfer from the clinic to court. I am passionate about intermediary work and the positive influence it can have on society—helping to make the world a more accessible and equitable place for vulnerable people. I am delighted to be part of the IfJ as I believe in the power of international learning, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing to strengthen intermediary practice and promote access to justice globally.