Penelope has extensive governance experience, including as Chair of the Standing Committee for Youth Justice, and has also volunteered in the justice system as a magistrate. She was a producer for BBC radio before being inspired to influence social change by joining the charity sector. Having first worked for the Prison Reform Trust, in 2012 Penelope set up Transform Justice - a charity which advocates for a fairer, more open, humane and effective justice system in England and Wales. 

Linda is a GCMA qualified accountant and experienced finance professional.

She has over 30 years experience in the Financial Services sector in a wide variety of roles, from Statutory accounts production and Finance manager to Project lead and consultant.

Angelika is the Appropriate Adult Service Manager at Adferiad. Previously she has managed supported living settings and worked in the NHS, providing mental health support to families of children with cancer.  

Angelika's academic background in criminology, psychology, social care, and education/mentoring underpins her professional expertise in forensic psychology. 

Chris is an independent elected Councillor in Cheshire East, an autistic person, and a former defendant who was attacked by a mounted police officer during student protests and wrongfully arrested. They went on to obtain a law degree and become an activist focused on improving the criminal justice system for people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent people.  

Jacq's AA journey began when she volunteered as an Appropriate Adult with Southwark Council's Youth Justice Service. 

Her work experience has included being Head of Commercial Operations at The Appropriate Adult Service, managing operations for online study at universities and overseeing the Pathways programme at Frontline, England’s largest social work charity.

Laura is a serving police sergeant with Lancashire Constabulary with 20 years service. She has experience in many frontline roles including as a custody sergeant but is now working to support custody management focusing on children, young people and vulnerable detainees.

Matthew has been a Team Manager at Coventry Youth Justice Service since 2003. Youth justice and protecting the rights of children and young people continue to be a driving force in him wanting to make a difference. He started working in the criminal justice system in 1998 and has had various roles including being a Residential Social Worker, YOT Officer and Bail & Remand Co-Ordinator. In addition to being a qualified social worker, Matthew has completed Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation’s (HMIP) local assessor training and has a CMI Level 5 diploma in Management and Leadership.

Sandra is Appropriate Adult and Accompanying Adult Coordinator at the Young Lives Foundation in Kent.

Sarah is a lecturer in Criminology at the University of Sunderland. She is actively researching topics on vulnerability, appropriate adult provisions, and trans and non-binary experiences of custody. She has previously completed a BA (Hons) in Sociology, MA in Sociology and Social Research, PGCERT in higher education, and is planning to complete a PhD in Sociology, exploring vulnerability. She is also the current manager of the Northumbria Local Appropriate Adult Scheme based in the Northeast of England.

Sue has twenty years of experience as a Social Worker for Wiltshire Youth Offending Team. Since 2012, she has been managing volunteers who undertake various roles including appropriate adults. She previously taught in a female prison but left wanting to do a job where she could try and prevent young people entering the custodial estate.

Chris was appointed as NAAN’s chief executive in 2013. Prior to this role, he was Director of Unlock, the national charity for people with convictions. Chris joined the criminal justice charity sector in 2005, having gained a degree in Management Science from Warwick University’s Business School, and then worked in sales and marketing.

He is a member of the Home Office PACE Strategy Board and a former fellow of the RSA. He has been a consultant on the King’s Fund Cascading Leadership programme, a free peer-to-peer leadership development programme for voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations working in health and wellbeing. 

Grev was appointed as NAAN’s Effective Practice Manager in 2016. With 20 years of experience of leading appropriate adult schemes, he has personally acted as an AA in around 2,000 criminal and terrorism-related cases.

Prior to joining the staff team, Grev contributed 9 years of voluntary work to NAAN as a trustee, including a period as Chair. He is a Fellow of the RSA, and a qualified trainer and facilitator who has delivered AA training to hundreds of staff and volunteers across many organisations.

Kate was appointed as NAAN’s Operations Manager in 2022. She has worked in the charity sector since 2009, for local, national, and international organisations.

In previous roles, Kate has been responsible for operations, HR, finance, health and safety, safeguarding, campaigning, media and communications. She has an interest in effective charity governance, and has sat on the board of trustees for Barnet Mencap, and People & Planet.

Anne leads NAAN's accredited qualifications programme. She is the charity's Internal Verifier and is an approved Internal Quality Assurer for the Awarding Body Gateway Qualifications.

Anne has been involved in the volunteer sector for many years. She has been an appropriate adult for 23 years (so far!). She has previously managed an appropriate adult service, during which time she was NAAN trustee. She is a qualified trainer and has in the past delivered many training sessions for NAAN countrywide. She has a BA (Hons) in Post Compulsory Education.

Chloe has been delivering training for NAAN since 2022. Prior to this, she led an Appropriate Adult Scheme for several years, and was a volunteer AA before that. She also led a service for separated children (formerly known as unaccompanied asylum-seeking children).

Chloe is currently completing a PhD in Law, focused on the AA safeguard. She has previously completed a MSc in Forensic and Investigative Psychology, with her research focused on vulnerability in police custody. She also holds a BSc (hons) in psychology.

Alice manages a busy, diverse, inner city AA service supporting children and vulnerable adults. She has significant experience acting as an AA, and of delivering training to volunteers, youth justice staff and foster carers. She has a BSc in Sociology.