Niki Scordi

Chair

Niki joined the Board in March 2024.

Niki has worked with charities for over 20 years, both in the Violence Against Women and Girls’ and the mental health sectors, on the front line and at board level. With a background in strategic leadership, business development and systems change, she has over 20 years in the private sector, working internationally in financial services and luxury retail. In the last decade, she has been on the board of a women’s charity in North England, and, as Chief Executive of a specialist women’s charity, she has led it to become one of the largest national women’s charities.

Niki has championed partnership working and intersectional approaches to tackle systemic inequalities and influence system changes for social impact.  She has led the development of innovative community-based services, including the whole housing support service and a whole justice approach for women affected by domestic abuse, holistic community-based support for women in contact with the criminal justice system, and specialist early intervention support for young women and girls.

Niki has led on publishing practice-based reports to influence policy and best-practice responses on women’s abuse and trauma, including the impact on women’s mental health due to domestic abuse and trauma, domestic abuse survivors who criminalised and are mothers, diversion of women and out of court disposals, and the impact of young women’s early sexual relationships.

Maya Rodriguez

Treasurer

Maya is managing partner of AZR Capital Ltd and has over 10 years’ experience in asset management.

Prior to founding AZR Capital, Maya led 36 South’s global sales, marketing, branding and PR strategies. Maya has also worked for Barclays Global Investors as an investment strategist.

Woman's Trust free London counselling - Our People Debbie Hartley

Debbie Hartley

Debbie is a senior executive in the finance industry with over 20 years in banking and investment management.

She has extensive experience in initiating and developing strategic relationships. Debbie has held senior client relationship roles at Citibank, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, JP Morgan and Standard Chartered Bank. She is currently responsible for institutional investors in the UK and the US for Scope Corporation, a European rating agency.

Woman's Trust - Our People Anthonia Ifeanyi Okoro

Anthonia Ifeanyi-Okoro

Anthonia is a qualified project manager with over 10 years’ experience across the public and private sectors.

Anthonia specialises in implementing business strategy, risk management and training staff. She is committed to sustainable business strategy and is an experienced brand, change and stakeholder manager. Passionate about supporting vulnerable people within our society, Anthonia also serves as a member of the board of directors, for a local credit union.

Linda McHugh

Linda has over 25 years’ experience in the private sector, including significant experience as a Chief Executive.

She then moved into the public and voluntary sectors, initially working as a Management Consultant. Linda spent seven years as a Member of the Parole Board for England and Wales, serving on its Management Board and was Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. She was also on the Board of Community Housing Association for 12 years, as well as a long-standing Board Member of crime reduction charity, Nacro.

Laura McCarthy

Laura is a psychotherapist, counsellor and has more than 25 years’ experience in marketing.

Laura is a certified transactional analyst and has been awarded both a postgraduate diploma in counselling and an MSc. in psychotherapy. Certified by the UK Council for Psychotherapy, Laura is currently a supervisor-in-training at TA East, a counselling and psychotherapy training institute.

In her private practice, Laura works with survivors of domestic violence and mental and emotional abuse, as well as sexual abuse and violence.

Laura is also an active member of RAINS (Ritual Abuse Information Network and Support) as well as the Anti-Victim Blaming Trauma Informed Network.

Nadia Mahmud MCIPR

Nadia is a communications consultant with over 15 years’ experience in strategic communications.

An integrated comms specialist, Nadia has a background helping organisations across the commercial, public, and not-for-profit sectors to improve their reputations and connect better with their stakeholders on issues that matter. Through working in criminal justice, education, and housing, Nadia has had exposure to the intersectional elements of domestic abuse and she is committed to supporting initiatives that empower women, and promote diversity and inclusion.

Woman's Trust free London counselling - Our People Nicola Peers

Nicola Peers

Nicola is an experienced Marketing and Procurement Director, and Non-Exec Director.

Passionate about making companies more profitable, Nicola has worked for many FTSE 100 & 250 companies, as well as SMEs. She has worked on major global contracts in advertising and media and has strong stakeholder management skills. She is on the board of a local political party and the board of the Blackhealth Society, a charity for the preservation of Blackheath. Nicola also works for Save the Children.

Helen Smith

Helen Smith

Helen Smith brings significant experience of working in health and social care.

Helen has worked in the NHS and social care field as a clinician and senior executive for many years. In addition, she held academic posts at Kent and King’s College universities and worked for national policy think tanks such as The Kings Fund. She currently works with NHS Trusts in south east London, supporting new, sector-wide service developments.

Debbie Freeman

Debbie Freeman

Debbie has over 40 years experience as a people focussed, solutions-driven HR Business Professional, most recently as HR Director for NTTDATA business solutions. She has substantial and broad experience across the IT, Professional Services and multi-site premium and luxury retail sectors.  Her experience has delivered demonstrable management skills in HR from recruitment through to disputed terminations including: employment law, organisational management, people development and training. Debbie has supported significant growth and success as a member of a number of executive management structures where she has built and successfully led HR teams.She believes in building a stronger more successful company through effective and clear management of their people. Debbie is now looking forward to sharing her expertise with Woman’s Trust.