Our Staff

Sue - CEO

Sue joined LinkAble in October 2023 and is excited to build on the charity’s foundations to develop services and reach out to more children, young people and adults with learning disabilities, locally. 

Sue is passionate about empowering people with learning disabilities to gain new skills, have increased self-confidence and lead fulfilling lives as active members of the community.

With over 25 years of experience working for charities in Senior Leadership Team roles for organisations such as YMCA East Surrey, Active Prospects and The Grange, in Surrey and Bromley Day Services, Aspens Charities and Carers Lewisham.

Sue also has experience of day services, supported employment, supported living and residential care and is keen to draw on her experiences to expand LinkAbles services.

Sue is committed to co-producing services with people supported by the organisation and their parents and carers to build innovative services people want and need.

Samantha - Head of Services

Sam is a senior leader in children and family services with extensive experience across the charity, statutory and community sectors. She brings a values‑led, trauma‑informed approach to leadership, grounded in a strong belief in early support, safeguarding, and working alongside children and families for as long as they need help.

Sam’s professional background spans frontline and senior leadership roles in youth work, family support and care services, including experience within local authorities, the charity sector, the Royal Air Force, and palliative and end‑of‑life care environments. This breadth of experience has shaped Sam’s calm, compassionate, and people-first leadership style, as well as a deep understanding of how trauma and life experience can impact individuals and families in different ways.

Sam is known for building strong, inclusive cultures and multidisciplinary teams where people feel supported, listened to and safe to do their best work. Sam is particularly passionate about services that listen to children, work holistically with families, and complement statutory provision through early, preventative and relationship‑based support.

Alongside her executive role, Sam is a Trustee of the YMCA, contributing governance, safeguarding oversight and strategic leadership within one of the UK’s largest youth‑focused charities.

Jon - Head of Finance

Jon joined LinkAble in April 2026, bringing new energy to develop existing financial systems. He holds a CIMA professional accounting qualification and has a passion for giving organisations the financial tools they need to make great decisions.     

Jon brings a wealth of finance experience from recent charity roles at Tearfund and Refuge and, before that, commercial roles working for Oxford Instrument Plc and Honeywell Inc. 

Outside of work, Jon has been following AFCB Bournemouth since his teens and regularly attends Premier League games as an away fan (as well as the occasional visit to Woking FC during the international break). 

Rachel - Adult Services Manager 

Rachel joined LinkAble back in 2013 as a Sessional Worker. Since then, she has been a Group Leader for numerous groups and a Drama Tutor for the ActAbles and ActAbles Academy. In January 2024, Rachel took on the role of Adult Services Manager and is excited to expand and grow the adult services at LinkAble. 

Rachel is a trained Applied Theatre Practitioner, and her previous work has included working in SEND schools and colleges and within the NHS supporting older adults living with Dementia. 

Rachel is a qualified Makaton Tutor. She uses her knowledge to support staff and group members in developing their communication skills within LinkAble, whilst also running training within the wider community. 

In her spare time, Rachel enjoys going to the theatre, participating in her local amateur dramatic group’s productions, and relaxing at home with her husband. 

Beth - Marketing and Communications Manager 

Beth Joined the LinkAble team in 2022, bringing a wealth of experience from working in the not-for-profit sector for 15 years. She has worked on many exciting projects, including a partnership with BBC Radio Bristol at social care charity Alive, large-scale cyber security conferences at tech charity Jisc, and microfinance programmes at international development charity Deki.

Beth is a born storyteller and relishes bringing the work of LinkAble to life through content and marketing. Raising the organisation's profile so more people can benefit from LinkAble's services feels like a privilege.

When not at work, Beth will most likely be hiking or camping. She is currently learning to play the guitar — it turns out it's never too late to start learning an instrument! 

Louise - People and Talent Manager

Louise joined LinkAble in October 2024 to lead recruitment and retention for employees. She is passionate about finding the right staff for the charity and ensuring employee happiness and well-being.

In recent years, Louise has had a busy career in Recruitment and Learning & Development. Prior to this, she spent 15 years managing teams in Digital Advertising. She is also a qualified Resilience Coach and NLP Trainer.

In her free time, Louise enjoys having fun with her young family and catching up with friends at gigs and festivals.

Zoe - Office Manager 

Zoe joined LinkAble in April 2025 to manage the (never-dull!) LinkAble office. 

Zoe started her career in early years education, progressing to a nursery deputy role before taking a pause to start a family. Most recently, she worked for Surrey Children’s Services. Zoe thrives in busy environments and feels the lively pace of LinkAble is a perfect fit!

Outside of work, Zoe is kept busy by her three young children and can often be found on the sidelines of a football pitch or running between weekend clubs. 

In her spare time, Zoe enjoys going to the gym, catching up with friends, enjoying meals out and spending quality time with her family and dog.

Emma - IT Systems Manager

Emma joined LinkAble in October 2025. Originally from Adelaide, Australia, Emma has lived in the UK since 2001 and has volunteered for and worked in charities since her first child was born in 2005. 

Her experience is varied, covering IT and systems development to fundraising, marketing and working with volunteers. This variety puts Emma in a great position for the opportunities within her role at LinkAble.

Outside of work, Emma is Mum to three children and has an active social life. She loves going to the theatre, seeing live music and enjoying dinners out.

Niamh – Corporate & Community Fundraising Manager

Niamh joined LinkAble in 2026, bringing a dynamic background in events, marketing, and community building. With experience delivering large-scale events and building meaningful networks across Surrey, she has worked with a wide range of businesses and organisations to create impactful, people-focused experiences.

At LinkAble, Niamh is focused on developing strong partnerships with local businesses and the wider community to support the charity’s long-term growth. She is passionate about connecting people with purpose, creating opportunities for collaboration, and helping organisations make a tangible difference through their support.

Niamh thrives on turning ideas into action and is driven by the belief that strong communities are built through genuine relationships and shared experiences. Being part of LinkAble allows her to combine her professional expertise with her passion for creating inclusive opportunities for everyone.

Outside of work, Niamh enjoys attending live music events, discovering new places, and is currently working on launching her own grassroots festival.

Sophie - Children and Young People Team Leader

Sophie joined LinkAble in November 2021 on a government kickstart role working with over-18 groups and supporting LinkAble's Head of Services. 

She officially joined the office team in June 2022 as the Services Support Assistant for both over and under 18s. Sophie took on the role of Services Coordinator in May 2024 and is loves getting involved across all areas of LinkAble!

In her spare time, Sophie likes watching films/tv, and spending time with friends.

Emily - Services Team Leader 

Emily joined LinkAble as a sessional facilitator in 2018. Since then, she progressed to the role of Group Deputy and then to Group Leader with both over and under-18 groups. In April 2023, Emily became Services Team Leader, offering a fantastic opportunity to use her vast LinkAble experience to help ensure the charity's services are the best they can be. 

Emily's goal is to support people with a learning disability and autistic people of all ages so they can lead a happy, independent and healthy life. She strives to support LinkAble's attendees and staff alongside the service managers to create a safe and welcoming environment.

When not at work, Emily enjoys going to concerts, looking after animals and spending
time with her friends and family.

Millie - Children and Young People Services Team Leader

Millie joined Linkable in Summer 2024 as a sessional worker for work experience, and after the summers scheme  asked to stay on — she had completely fallen in love with the role! Millie went on to group-lead Saturdays and After School Club before stepping into the position of Children and Young People Team Leader in June 2025.

Millie's younger sister, who has a rare disability called CDG MAN1B1 and also attends Linkable, is her biggest inspiration. Millie is extremely passionate about supporting and empowering children, young people, and their families to build independence and develop life skills through play.

Outside of work, Millie spends most of her time with family, her horse and two dogs, as well as spending time with friends.

Alex - Finance Assistant 

Alex has been studying Finance and Accounting for the past two years. He has previously volunteered for charities such as the British Heart Foundation and the London School of Basketball in Lambeth, London.

During his free time Alex likes to record music (he has two studio albums), loves following various sports as well as being an avid walker.