Dr Asha Patel
CEO & Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Asha Patel is a pioneering clinical psychologist and the visionary founder of Innovating Minds, a multi-award-winning social enterprise dedicated to transforming mental health support through early intervention and trauma-informed practices.
After qualifying as a psychologist, Dr. Patel worked in forensic mental health services, where she witnessed firsthand the systemic delays and barriers to accessing timely psychological support. Motivated by these challenges, she took a leap of faith on Leap Day 2016 to launch Innovating Minds.
Under her leadership, Innovating Minds has grown into a national leader in delivering accessible, evidence-based mental health services in schools, workplaces, and communities.
Dr. Patel is widely recognised for her innovative contributions to mental health, her commitment to social justice, and her ability to bridge the gap between clinical expertise and real-world impact.
Christian Savvides
Chair, Non-Executive Director
Christian is a Partner at Rothschild & Co. He co-heads the market leading global debt advisory group, which comprises 200 professionals and provides advice to corporates, investment institutions and governments on capital structure, financing and restructuring. He is also UK Chairman of R&Co4Generations which coordinates the group’s philanthropic activities including grant funding, impact investing and pro bono advisory. Christian is an advocate for better quality and availability of mental health care and joined the board of Innovating Minds in 2020, becoming Chairman in 2022.
Dr Leanne Griffiths
Non-Executive Director
Dr Leanne Griffiths is Dean of the Faculty of Sport, Allied Health and Performance Sciences at St Mary's University Twickenham. In this role she leads and directs academic growth, research and enterprise within the faculty. Leanne is also founder of the charity Sophie's Stars. Sophie's Stars is dedicated to supporting family and friends of people who have a diagnosis of cancer. We understand that cancer affects everyone, even if you don't have cancer. The charity was established after Leanne lost her sister to Kidney cancer in 2017. Both of Leanne's roles gives her an understanding of the importance of communication, teamwork and respect for one another. She thoroughly enjoys her role as Director for Innovating Minds, and being involved in the hugely impactful work they do.
James Roe
Non-Executive Director
James has 25 years’ experience as a corporate finance lawyer in a city law firm. He advises on corporate finance, governance and sustainability. James comes from a family of teachers and lectures part-time at UCL. He coaches hockey at the weekend.
Dr Jo Nuthall
Non-Executive Director
I work as a Paediatrician in the NHS and see many children and young people who would benefit from the resources and help that Innovating Minds provides. I love to spend time with my family and friends, ideally outdoors with a cup of tea and cake.
Rachel Womack
Non-Executive Director
I am a communications consultant specialising in education, head of public relations for the Education World Forum and non-executive director at the charity Imagine If. Prior to this, I was, respectively, joint managing director and director at award-winning communications agencies, Mango Marketing and PLMR, and I began my career as a journalist.
Lisa Allen
Operations & Systems Manager
Having spent the last 15 years working as a business consultant I am obsessed with helping people turning their visions into a reality.
I am thrilled to be a part of a purpose driven organisation that enables me to use my skill set to ensure that we make sustainable changes nationally, to improve access to mental health support for children and families.
Outside of work I can be found providing a taxi service to my three teenagers/preteens.
Jess Winfield-Harris
Healing Together Programme Coordinator
My career to date has seen me working in the legal profession for almost a decade, supporting a huge range of clients in a wide array of different matters. I'm really passionate about providing help and support to individuals so that they can empower themselves and create change. Now, as a part of such a pioneering and groundbreaking organisation, I can truly fulfill this in the most meaningful way.
I love to travel and outside of work you can probably find me planning my next adventure to a far flung corner of the globe to add to my list of experiences from climbing a waterfall in the Caribbean to bathing an elephant in Thailand!
Jane Evans
Co-Creator of Healing Together, Lead Trainer and Childhood Trauma Expert
Jane Evans is a globally respected expert in trauma-informed care, with over 25 years of experience supporting families affected by early childhood adversity, domestic abuse, and complex emotional needs. As a sought-after speaker, author, and media contributor, Jane is known for making the science of trauma and attachment accessible, practical, and deeply human.
Her groundbreaking work includes bestselling children’s books, a widely viewed TEDx talk on anxiety, and the development of the popular “Meerkat, Elephant, and Monkey Brain” model—used worldwide to help children and adults understand their emotional responses.
Jane’s mission is to empower parents, educators, and professionals to create safe, connected environments where children can thrive, even after trauma.
Tanya Birch
Education Mental Health Lead Manager
Education Mental Health Lead Manager
My role as Education Mental Health Lead Manager sees me working with hundreds of schools all over the UK to develop, implement and embed their whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. I work with Senior Mental Health Leads through their core SMHL training right through to implementation, succession planning and long term sustainability.
I am incredibly passionate and committed to implementing strategic change across the education mental health sector. My Ma in Leadership of School Mental Health and Wellbeing along side my first-hand experience working across the education sector as a whole is what equips me with the expertise to support and influence whole school change enabling schools to thrive in a more mentally healthy environment.
Anita Galbraith
Clinical Supervison Administration Coordinator
I have worked as a Medical Secretary with the NHS for 15 years and have always had a passion for helping people. I am now excited to be working for Innovating Minds. I am looking forward to the new challenge working alongside dedicated colleagues who have the same passion to support and care.
Outside of work, my husband and I love to travel and have had the opportunity to visit some amazing places from the plains of the Serengeti to the rainforest of Guatemala.
When I am not doing this, you will find me walking my little rescue staffy, Tia.
Lex Pearce
Office Manager
With a substantial career within healthcare environments, including the NHS, I am delighted to be continuing my business operations journey with Innovating Minds as an Office Manager, supporting those dedicated to helping others.
Helping people has always been a key foundation in all aspects of my life, continuing to do this at work gives me great fulfilment and a sense of purpose.
Outside of work I have a great interest in motorsport, occasionally marshalling at motorsport events and driving any interesting cars I can get my hands on. I like to combine this with travel adventures wherever possible.
Lorraine Petersen
Senior Mental Health Lead Trainer
Lorraine has 25 years’ experience in the mainstream school environment as a teacher and Head Teacher. From 2004 – 2013 Lorraine was CEO of nasen, a charitable organisation supporting all those who work with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. As a result, Lorraine has many years’ experience of working with pupils with an array of special and additional needs and the teachers, SENCOs and support staff that work with them.
Julie Revels
Healing Together Trainer
Julie is a nationally renowned trainer and consultant. She is regularly called upon to deliver keynote speeches, facilitate workshops and support development to Local Authority teams. Julie is proud to work with a wide range of services and teams, schools and settings across the country to share and embed knowledge and understanding of attachment, trauma and resilience.
She is committed to delivering high quality CPD where all participants are warmly welcomed and involved in the sessions and who then have the confidence and knowledge to take their learning into their practice on a daily basis.
Katie Cunneen
Research Assistant
Since graduating with a degree in psychology in 2019, I’ve worked in patient centred roles, witnessing the effects of early intervention on people’s lives. I’m currently undertaking a MRes Clinical Psychology degree so I can gain a greater depth of knowledge and experience around mental health, interventions and evidence-based practice.
I’m working at Innovating Minds to be a part of a team that genuinely cares and adopts a client-focused approach in everything they do. I believe in their values and wish to adopt them in any future endeavours I take part in.
When not studying or volunteering I’ll most likely be playing and learning new instruments to add to my repertoire.
