Meet the Team
We have a fantastic team, dedicated to the organisation
Trustees
Tom Currie
Chair of Trustees
Retired Head of NPS (West Mercia). Over 40 years in CJS. Manchester University (1977) BA (Hons) Social Sciences. Post grad dips in Social Work/Management Studies. MBA (1995). Theology Cert (Durham) Reader, Queens, Birmingham University. Lay Minister, and Canon at Lichfield Cathedral.
Love hill walking, 5th Dan in Karate. Parish Councillor, Chair of groups/charities including Yellow Ribbon and MPH. Director/Trustee with TACT since 2018; lifelong commitment supporting those in recovery from drugs/alcohol & mental ill health, or transition from prison.
Kate Ballinger
Trustee Member
Kate has worked alongside TACT since 2013 through her professional roles in community engagement, including as Contract Manager and Chief Officer at Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin, and later as Community Engagement Manager at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust.
She joined the TACT board after being inspired by Rob’s work and legacy and motivated by both professional experience and personal insight into the impact of addiction. Kate brings strengths in engagement, presentation, ILM Level 5 Coaching and Mentoring, and a practical, supportive approach.
Tina Jones
Trustee Member
Tina brings over 40 years' experience of working in Health and Social Care to the board. This includes working as a Senior and Regional Manager in Mental Health , Learning Disability and Autism Services in the Voluntary and Community Sector and for a large National Company working in Operational and Strategic Management.
She has personal family experience (from childhood) of Alcohol dependence and the impact that the recovery challenges has on both the individual and the family. She also has experience of being a carer for a family member having a Neuro - Diversity diagnosis and a Mental Health condition that has both stigma and life challenges
Leo Gillis
Trustee Member
My name is Leo Gillis and I first came to TACT in 2014 as an alcoholic needing help, the 5th of March 2014 was the last day I had an alcoholic drink as I went into residential detox, so I have been through the whole process of being a service user, then became a volunteer, volunteer coordinator, doing all my training from peer mentoring to mental health, getting back into full time work, contributing back to society and had the honour of being asked to join the board of trustees, where I can use my experience and knowledge to help the board and help Strickland house, I see this as a privilege and would like to think I do continue to help others.
Joan Jones
Trustee Member
I am very proud that I was personally invited to join the Board by Rob Eyers in 2015 because of my experience of supporting a close family member through their addiction and recovery journey, as well as being dedicated to life long learning.
At the time I was working full-time within IT Services for a large government department with extensive experience with management administration, Human Resources, Health and Safety and IT. I enjoy helping where I can, and value that my skills and expertise gained over my lifetime are not going to waste now that I am retired from paid work.
Alan Bowyer
Trustee / Treasurer
Commenced my career in mechanical engineering and was employed for 18 years as a qualified engineer resulting in design for a number of national and international companies.
I then made a career change into the financial services profession and for 30 years owned my own company as a qualified independent financial adviser, specialising in investment management and tax planning for clients. Prior to retirement I commenced another company providing chauffeur vehicle services nationally incorporating BMW executive cars to meet client requirements over a 10 year period.
In 2024 I was invited to become a trustee at TACT based on my corporate experience and am now the Treasurer with business / finance responsibilities of this prestigious organisation.
Paul Naylor
Trustee Member
Like Joan, Paul was enormously proud that he was personally invited to join the Board by Rob Eyers. Paul met Rob when they were both members of a Telford-based business networking group. Rob saw in Paul someone who was well-connected in the local business community. Paul runs a graphics design business and is also a former journalist. Paul joined the board at the very end of 2019, with his first meeting early 2020. Sadly, we lost Rob soon after, but Paul decided that his best way to honour his friend’s legacy was to continue in the role.
Ruth Strickland
Trustee Member
Ruth has a long-standing connection to TACT’s home. Her father, a building surveyor, supported the development of local independent businesses there before his early death. In his honour, colleagues renamed it Strickland House and planted the cherry tree that still stands today. A timely visit and meeting with Rob Eyers sparked Ruth’s commitment to TACT and its mission. She now serves as both Patron and Trustee, Ruth provides her role whilst still working full time, and tries to use her 35-year business career, including working alongside the NHS, Equipping Hospitals, where needed.
She has a strong focus on quality, finance, H&S and marketing. She enjoys many sports and travel outside of work and is mother to 3 getting very grown-up kids. She has seen the direct impact of drugs and alcohol dependency on friends and family and is totally committed to supporting TACT
Management Team
Laura Doran
Operations Manager
Laura has worked within the charity and supported housing sector for over 12 years and brings extensive experience in operational leadership, safeguarding, governance and service development. She began her career in administrative roles before moving into the voluntary sector, where she developed a strong passion for supporting vulnerable people and creating safe, sustainable services. Throughout her career Laura has overseen supported housing, wellbeing and support services, alongside operational areas including HR, finance oversight, health and safety, compliance, contracts and organisational systems. She has also led on safeguarding, KPI monitoring, policy development and service improvement. Laura is passionate about trauma-informed practice, staff wellbeing and building strong organisational foundations that allow front-line services to thrive. She values collaboration, compassion and practical problem-solving, and is committed to ensuring services remain supportive, accountable and person-centred
Talia Forrester
Housing Manager
Cat Gregory
Business Services Manager
Cat’s role spans the operational backbone of the organisation — HR, procurement, finance oversight, contracts, compliance, and supplier management — working alongside the Operations Manager to ensure the business functions run smoothly and sustainably. Moved to the UK 10 years ago after meeting my now husband through work. We now have a beautiful young family. She loves a good sense of humour, sarcasm and witty comments. Cat values fairness, honesty and accountability.
Her focus is on building robust systems and processes that strengthen the organisation's foundations, improve efficiency, and ultimately allow more of TACT’s resources to go where they matter most: front-line services.
Claire Thompson
Listening and 111 Listening Service Co-ordinator
Retired Head of NPS (West Mercia). Over 40 years in CJS. Manchester University (1977) BA (Hons) Social Sciences. Post grad dips in Social Work/Management Studies. MBA (1995). Theology Cert (Durham) Reader, Queens, Birmingham University. Lay Minister, and Canon at Lichfield Cathedral.
Love hill walking, 5th Dan in Karate. Parish Councillor, Chair of groups/charities including Yellow Ribbon and MPH. Director/Trustee with TACT since 2018; lifelong commitment supporting those in recovery from drugs/alcohol & mental ill health, or transition from prison.
Fi Stone
Outreach Co-ordinator
Harry Kenyon
Interim Core Services Manager
Complete a voluntary 100-hour counselling placement with Branches and achieved my counselling qualification in 2021. I then stayed with the Branches team until Spring 2023, when I moved across to become a trustee.
We have all experienced challenges in life. For the service users of TACT to know that the team are committed to giving them the chance they deserve is an important value to me, and bring that value to my trustee role.
