Our Staff
Here are some of the great people who work for us.
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Jane Lane
DirectorJane has been in post since January 2002 and provides the strategic operational direction and is directly accountable to the management committee. With 20 years experience of working with disadvantaged groups; the focus of Jane's interests is to promote independence, increase social inclusion and citizenship for people with learning disabilities. Jane has a degree in Housing Studies.
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Oz Pearson
Operations managerOz has been the Operations manager since April 2011. For the four years previous to this he was an independent casework advocate with AMW. Oz's role is to manage and support the staff team and to ensure that the organisation meets its service provision objectives. Oz began working with adults with disabilities as a volunteer in the early 90's. Over the last 20 years he has strived to promote the rights and choices of people with a disability, working professionally in many different roles. He is not Australian or a wizard!
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Angela Ciriello
Office AdministratorBefore joining Advocacy Matters (Wales) in April 2007 Angela worked as an administrator for nine years for a company that supported adults with a learning disability to live independently in their own home. Angela is delighted to be a part of Advocacy Matters (Wales), working and supporting both staff and service users.
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Rhodri Wyn Thomas
Citizen Advocacy Co-ordinatorWith over 10 years of experience of volunteering and the voluntary sector, Rhodri joined at the end of August 2008 as the Citizen Advocacy Coordinator, having previously worked for Interlink, the County voluntary council for RCT as a volunteering development officer. His role is to recruit, train and support Volunteer Citizen Advocates and partner them with an adult with a learning disability for them to develop a one-to-one partnership with a strong focus on rights and choices.
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Joanne Borja
Independent Casework AdvocateJoanne worked as a support worker for people with learning disabilities employed by Cardiff City Council from 1994. She joined Advocacy Matters (Wales) in October 2006. Joanne now works full time as an Independent Casework Advocate.
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Emma Cousins
Independent Casework AdvocateI joined Advocacy Matters at the start of December 2010. Before here I studied at the University of Glamorgan for a Law degree. I was an active member of the Pro bono Clinic (offering free legal advice to members of the community). I enjoy fundraising and have helped organise many events for the Rainbow Centre. I am looking forward to taking on the the role as an advocate and helping to have their say.
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Huw Jones
Independent Casework AdvocateHuw gained his people skills from some 15 years total experience of volunteering as a school governor, mediation officer and citizen advocate, in addition to his various employed roles. Huw is also a trustee with Person to Person citizen advocacy in Rhondda Cynon Taff. Before joining Advocacy Matters (Wales) Huw was a mental health development worker in the RCT area for 3 years. Huw believes that everyone has the right to be heard and not just listened to, even if it is politely.
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Nathan Meredith
Independent Casework AdvocateMy work with people began as a community support worker which included helping people of all age's access community activities. I gained a huge amount of professional experience working in a secure residential unit again supporting service users with mental health and/or learning difficulties. My most recent role before AMW was with Age Concern assisting people to resettle into their own homes after a stay in hospital. I'm also a qualified counsellor.
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Hayley Morgan
Independent Casework AdvocateHas 20 years experience of working with Cardiff County Council Social Services with Physical Disability and Elderly Teams. More recently worked for Age Concern Advocacy in Caerphilly providing Advocacy to people living in residential and nursing homes and latterly Advocacy Action Wales providing Advocacy to adults with a Learning Disability.
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Judith Parry
Independent AdvocateJudith Parry Independent Casework Advocate Judith moved from the south coast of England to the south coast of Wales when she came to study at Swansea University. She joined Advocacy Matters in August 2011, having spent many years prior to this as a support worker for people with mental illness. Despite being English, Judith is married to a Welshman and always supports Wales in the rugby!
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Nia Roberts
Independent Casework AdvocateNia joined Advocacy Matters (Wales) in May 2009 as the Independent Advocate for Bridgend. Prior to this she worked as a family law solicitor. Nia believes that everybody has an equal right to have their voice heard and is looking forward to developing our service in her home county of Bridgend.
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Joanne Roxburgh
Independent Casework Advocate(Also known as Jo Rox!) Joanne joined Advocacy Matters in October 2008. Joanne has worked with people with a learning disability for 24 years as a support worker and as a Manager. Joanne is also a volunteer and sessional counsellor with Cardiff and the Vale Alcohol and Drugs Team. Joanne really enjoys working for Advocacy Matters because "we always put the person first."
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Joanne Sullivan
Taking Part WorkerJoanne has worked in research for many years, working at S4C, BBC Wales, and more recently as a freelancer. Her work has involved moderating focus groups and facilitating workshops with people from a variety of backgrounds. She joined Advocacy Matters Wales in September 2011 and works with our Service User Group, ensuring that they are able to contribute and participate in all aspects of the organisations work.
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Simon Robins
Office CleanerSimon has been involved with Advocacy Matters for many years and is an active member of the Service User Group. Simon worked for five years at the Perthyn Offices in Llandaff as a cleaner until the offices closed. When this happened Simon decided he would like to take the cleaning job at Advocacy Matters. He does an excellent job keeping the office clean and tidy.
