Our Team
The Lewisham Speaking Up team is made up of people with different skills and experiences. Find out more about our brilliant staff below.
Core Staff
Marsh Stitchman
Director
Michelle Burke
Money Management Advocate
Jan Degale
Community 1-2-1 Advocate
Ilse de Kock
Office Manager
Winnie Liguori
Finance Officer
Ellie Spirrett
Self-Advocacy Coordinator
Sessional Staff
Abi Akintaro
Hate Crime Trainer
Thomas Beard
Hate Crime Trainer
Oliver Candy
Hate Crime Trainer
Roseanna O'Rourke
Hate Crime Trainer
Becky Sullivan
Hate Crime Trainer
Sam Attah
Parliament Rep
Peter Cronin
Parliament Rep
Aisha Edwards
Parliament Rep
Mary Hamilton
Parliament Rep
Ifeoma Orjiekwe
Parliament Rep
Colin Smith
Parliament Rep
Laura Van Bemmel
Self Advocacy Supporter
Joe Fitton
Self Advocacy Supporter
Gemma Hughes
Self Advocacy Supporter
Anne McBride
Self Advocacy Supporter
Lisa Lye
Health Ambassador
Pino Frumiento
Health Ambassador
Jerin Jesuthas
Health Ambassador
Our Board of Trustees
Michelle Stanistreet
Being part of Lewisham Speaking Up and chairing its diverse board is a pleasure and privilege, as someone with a longstanding commitment to advocacy and a belief in empowering people with disabilities to have a strong collective voice that is properly heard. As a Lewisham resident, I’m proud to be involved with a local charity that makes a real difference to everyone with learning disabilities in the borough, and hope my skills and experience from a career in journalism and the trade union movement can help LSUP’s work continue to thrive.
Hannah Rraven
My name is Hannah and I’ve been a trustee since 2019. I understand about special needs as I have been helping people since 2009. I like being a Trustee because I get to connect with other people.
Sean Phillippo
Sean is a qualified accountant with 20+ years in financial roles. As a parent of a child with a learning disability, he was keen to join Lewisham Speaking Up’s board to help promote those with learning disabilities being heard.
Mark Anderson
I’m Mark. I have been a trustee since 2018. I enjoyed going to LSU groups for many years and wanted to become a trustee to give something back. LSU know it is important for people with learning disabilities to get their voice heard and make that happen.
Ashley Thomas
Ashley has over a decade’s experience of working as an Independent Mental Health Advocate for a variety of mental health organisations including Mind and Rethink. She has volunteer and project management experience, combined with over 25 years of volunteering, all of which she is able to bring to her Trustee role. She is a disabled person who has an adult child with learning disabilities which is why she is passionate to support Lewisham Speaking Up.
Meriel Hodgson-Teall
Meriel is a solicitor specialising in consumer and financial disputes at the law firm Leigh Day. She has experience advising charities in legal disputes and compliance matters. She lives in Lewisham and joined Lewisham Speaking Up in 2020 because she wanted to use her legal skills to help a charity in her local area, and to support Lewisham Speaking Up’s work to help people with learning disabilities to get their voices heard.
Zelda McCollum
Being a parent of a young woman who has a learning disability, I have been made especially aware of the discrimination disabled people face. I have worked for many years campaigning for greater equality as a parent, teacher, Deputy Head of an inclusive nursery school, and now as a trustee of Lewisham Speaking Up. It is a privilege to be on the board supporting their excellent work furthering the rights of people with learning disabilities.
Imthiaz Rehman
Imthiaz is a multi-award-winning PR and comms specialist who has worked for some of the biggest charities in the UK. As a noisy campaigner and advocate for people with a learning disability, he is passionate about ensuring everyone supported by Lewisham Speaking Up has a voice and will be listened to. Imthiaz lives in the borough of Lewisham.
Robert Garlinge
I joined the LSU Board of Trustee’s in 2020. I enjoy helping people and making a difference in my local community. As a person with a learning disability, I know my views and feedback are important to LSU.
