To contact a member of the Senior Leadership Team, please use our 'Contact Us' form.
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Senior Leadership Team
Jeremy Todd - Chief Executive
Jeremy has worked at Family Lives since 2009. He has a professional background in counselling, health services and the criminal justice system.
Jeremy is a seasoned broadcast interviewee and regularly appears on radio and television as a family and parenting commentator. He is a key note speaker on parenting and family support topics ranging from family engagement in education to family health and wellbeing.
Jeremy worked in a number of NHS Trusts including the Royal London and has also worked in Holloway Prison. He has led a number of organisations in community development and has led the implementation of nationally accredited training schemes and guidelines for professionals working with young people. Jeremy has also worked within children’s palliative care and has been Chief Executive of a children’s hospice.
Rosemary Spillman - Director of National Services
Rosemary started with Parentline UK as a volunteer in 1991, joining their small central team giving parents information about their nearest Parentline service. As the demand increased she trained as a call taker, and as the service grew she progressed to supervisor, trainer and eventually Helpline Manager, managing the ever-expanding local team.
When Parentline UK merged with Stepfamilies in 1999, Rosemary became Area Manager of the Essex office and after a number of roles such as Regional Director and temporary Finance Director, was recruited onto the senior management team in 2006. Rosemary manages all of our national services including our helpline, email support service, and live chat service. She has a son and a daughter.
Rachel Tonkin - Director of Communications
Rachel joined Family Lives in 2012 following a merger with Parenting UK where she was Head of Communications. Before working at Parenting UK Rachel worked for The Stroke Association and Ofsted. As Director of Communications Rachel oversees all Family Lives communications work with our wide variety of stakeholders both individual and corporate through our suite of Family Lives websites, social media and press activity, and is also working on our digital innovation project.
Sandra Hiller - Head of New Business
Sandra Hiller is Head of New Business. Sandra started with Parentline UK as a volunteer call taker in 1991, and utilising her training background she progressed to volunteer trainer and eventually Regional Trainer for Parentline UK supporting the development of the volunteer training programme for the helpline. After the merger with Stepfamily Association in 1999 Sandra was instrumental in developing the training and pilot the launch of our Individual Telephone Support service.
In 2001 Sandra became Area Manager of the Hertfordshire office and took a proactive role in developing and building local services across the county and wider areas expanding our reach and profile with Local Authorities and Voluntary Sector Agencies. In 2010 Sandra is a part of the Senior Leadership Team to support the Business Development of the area offices and the national organisation.
Asefaw Haile - Head of Finance
Asefaw joined Family Lives in 2009. Prior to joining the charity, Asefaw worked for many years in various finance and accountancy roles both in the voluntary and private sectors. As the Head of Finance, Asefaw oversees all areas of finances of Family Lives.
Ceri Cobain - Marketing and Development Manager
A former Creative Director, Ceri has more than 25 years' ad agency and big brand experience. In 2012, with a desire for change and a drive to ‘give back’, she moved into social housing where she was Head of Communications and Marketing for the North West’s largest provider of social housing. Ceri joined Family Lives in 2021 as Marketing and Development Manager and never ceases to be inspired by the lengths staff and volunteers go to for the families they work with. Ceri is keen to extend Family Lives' reach and offer, and would love to hear from any like-minded charities and organisations.
Rachel Shopland - Head of HR
Rachel joined Family Lives as a HR Advisor in 2009 having previously worked in both the public and private sectors. As Head of HR, Rachel oversees all elements of recruitment, performance management and absence. She also provides guidance and support on all other staffing issues. Rachel is fully qualified Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) member.
Fatima Ahmed - Area Manager (Central And East London)
Fatima Joined Family Lives in 2014 after Family Lives won a bid to deliver the Westminster Outreach Services which supports families with children 0-5 years. Fatima has 17 years plus experience in project managing and developing services; worked with families and young people since 1997 including in a secondary school and Westminster Council's housing benefits team. During her period within Family Lives her project portfolio has developed to support families with children 0-16 years through Befriending, perinatal support, young people support services such as Young Carer, raising awareness of gang involvement, parenting & mental health and ParentChild+. Also has experience of developing assessment processes as well as supporting refugees and asylum seekers.
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