Our trustees
Jessica Bondy
Founder
Jessica is a senior strategic communications and marketing consultant who has spent over 20 years supporting some of the world’s leading organisations and brands. As well as being a director of a number of global PR agencies, she also founded a multi-award-winning boutique corporate and consumer communications consultancy, Bondy Consulting.
For several years, she has coached and mentored young people to help them realise their potential. She has also supported corporate development at Cancer Research UK and advised senior policy writers at the CBI. She is a published writer for a variety of national media including The Sunday Times, Independent, GQ and Good Housekeeping.
In establishing Words Matter, Jessica has found her purpose, transitioning from a corporate career to devoting herself to an issue that has affected her personally as one of the two in five.
Rebecca Hickman
Rebecca is a commercial litigation solicitor at a magic circle firm in London and co-chairs its mental health network which aims to destigmatise mental illness, create a culture of openness around mental health and develop systems of support and resources for employees. Rebecca’s previous experiences include working in corporate sponsorship in a leading global foundation in New York and in human rights research and communications in Copenhagen.
Rebecca was a Gurnee Hart Scholar at the University of Cambridge and an undergraduate at the University of Warwick. Throughout this time, she was actively involved with various charities including Child.org which exists to spark progress in global maternal, neonatal and child health, through the discovery, designing and delivery of solutions that keep mothers, babies, and children safe, alive and healthy.
Rebecca is a commercial litigation solicitor at a magic circle firm in London and co-chairs its mental health network which aims to destigmatise mental illness, create a culture of openness around mental health and develop systems of support and resources for employees. Rebecca’s previous experiences include working in corporate sponsorship in a leading global foundation in New York and in human rights research and communications in Copenhagen.
Rebecca was a Gurnee Hart Scholar at the University of Cambridge and an undergraduate at the University of Warwick. Throughout this time, she was actively involved with various charities including Child.org which exists to spark progress in global maternal, neonatal and child health, through the discovery, designing and delivery of solutions that keep mothers, babies, and children safe, alive and healthy.
Ed Kamm
Treasurer
Ed is an experienced international executive with 25+ years’ experience covering multiple sectors including energy, broadband, travel and technology.
He has significant experience and accomplishments in driving growth, digital transformation, implementing customer-focused change, business scale-ups and turn-arounds. He most recently was CEO at Shell Energy Retail, the household gas and electricity retailer, which was created from the acquisition of the digital disrupter First Utility, which he helped build from 50k to 2m customers. Previously, he spent 18 years at Sabre Holdings, including nine years at online travel specialists Travelocity and lastminute.com, during which time he was President, COO and CFO.
He is also a Trustee of the charity Transforming Autism.
Aimée Luther
Chair
Aimée is Managing Director of The Liberty Guild, an exciting model advertising agency, delivering the best strategic and creative solutions to Fortune 500 businesses on an ‘on demand’ basis. She was previously Managing Director of multi-award-winning advertising agency BMB.
She sits as a Trustee on two charity boards in addition to Words Matter. Having worked with CALM since 2000, Aimée encouraged the creation of the charity in 2006, from which point she became a founding Trustee. Aimée is also on the Board of Trustees for The Langa Township Pre-School Trust in South Africa, which works to help mums pull themselves out of poverty.
Chair
Aimée is Managing Director of The Liberty Guild, an exciting model advertising agency, delivering the best strategic and creative solutions to Fortune 500 businesses on an ‘on demand’ basis. She was previously Managing Director of multi-award-winning advertising agency BMB.
She sits as a Trustee on two charity boards in addition to Words Matter. Having worked with CALM since 2000, Aimée encouraged the creation of the charity in 2006, from which point she became a founding Trustee. Aimée is also on the Board of Trustees for The Langa Township Pre-School Trust in South Africa, which works to help mums pull themselves out of poverty.
Our independent advisors
Nana Owusu
Nana is a respected mental health leader, public speaker, and campaigner with 20 years of experience as a registered CAMHS Clinical Nurse Specialist and Therapist. She is currently the Head of the Clinical Division at Anna Freud, where she oversees the strategic development and clinical management of programs aimed at promoting young people’s mental health. Nana is also an independent mental health consultant for Electronic Arts, providing advice and support for their gamers and staff during major game events.
Previously, Nana served as the Director & Clinical Lead for Children and Young People’s Services at MIND (HFEH), where she conceived and designed the Circle, the UK’s first high street crisis prevention cafe. Nana also serves on the boards of New Horizon Youth Centre and MGUK Foundation, reflecting her commitment to supporting youth mental health initiatives.
Nana has particular experience in working with cultural influences and differences as she advocates for the importance of nurturing communication in fostering children’s mental and physical well-being.
Nana is a respected mental health leader, public speaker, and campaigner with 20 years of experience as a registered CAMHS Clinical Nurse Specialist and Therapist. She is currently the Head of the Clinical Division at Anna Freud, where she oversees the strategic development and clinical management of programs aimed at promoting young people’s mental health. Nana is also an independent mental health consultant for Electronic Arts, providing advice and support for their gamers and staff during major game events.
Previously, Nana served as the Director & Clinical Lead for Children and Young People’s Services at MIND (HFEH), where she conceived and designed the Circle, the UK’s first high street crisis prevention cafe. Nana also serves on the boards of New Horizon Youth Centre and MGUK Foundation, reflecting her commitment to supporting youth mental health initiatives.
Nana has particular experience in working with cultural influences and differences as she advocates for the importance of nurturing communication in fostering children’s mental and physical well-being.
Dr Fiona Pienaar
Fiona is a child and adolescent mental health specialist, coach, and a former teacher with over 30 years’ experience. She is Senior Clinical Advisor at Mental Health Innovations (MHI)/Shout 85258 and was previously Clinical Director at Place2Be.
Fiona spent many years as a teacher in primary and intermediate schools, special needs education, and counselling in schools. She has also undertaken mental health research and developed educational and mental health resources. She has taught on the postgraduate counselling/ psychotherapy programmes at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and the University of Cambridge, plus the CONTED programme at the University of Oxford. Her research has focused primarily on children’s experiences of stress and coping. Fiona has a PhD in Behavioural Science from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland and an MEd in Counselling.
Fiona is a child and adolescent mental health specialist, coach, and a former teacher with over 30 years’ experience. She is Senior Clinical Advisor at Mental Health Innovations (MHI)/Shout 85258 and was previously Clinical Director at Place2Be.
Fiona spent many years as a teacher in primary and intermediate schools, special needs education, and counselling in schools. She has also undertaken mental health research and developed educational and mental health resources. She has taught on the postgraduate counselling/ psychotherapy programmes at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and the University of Cambridge, plus the CONTED programme at the University of Oxford. Her research has focused primarily on children’s experiences of stress and coping. Fiona has a PhD in Behavioural Science from the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland and an MEd in Counselling.
Lord Dennis Stevenson
Dennis is a serial entrepreneur who over the last 40 years has been involved in investing almost exclusively in start-ups. He has also Chaired a number of large companies.
The remaining 50% of his time he has spent for the last 50 years on not-for-profit activities. The key ones apart from mental health have been chairing the commission to advise the then Prime Minister on the application of ICT in education. He was also Chairman of the Trustees of the Tate for 10 years during which they built Tate Modern, and he was also Chairman of Aldeburgh Music for about 15 years.
He is a long-time campaigner for greater understanding and treatment of mental illness, including speaking out about his own experiences of depression. Dennis founded MQ: Transforming Mental Health, ‘the UK’s leading mental health research foundation’, and promoted a Private Members’ Bill – the “Mental Health (Discrimination) Bill” – which removed several of the key discriminations against people who suffer from mental illness.
Dennis is a serial entrepreneur who over the last 40 years has been involved in investing almost exclusively in start-ups. He has also Chaired a number of large companies.
The remaining 50% of his time he has spent for the last 50 years on not-for-profit activities. The key ones apart from mental health have been chairing the commission to advise the then Prime Minister on the application of ICT in education. He was also Chairman of the Trustees of the Tate for 10 years during which they built Tate Modern, and he was also Chairman of Aldeburgh Music for about 15 years.
He is a long-time campaigner for greater understanding and treatment of mental illness, including speaking out about his own experiences of depression. Dennis founded MQ: Transforming Mental Health, ‘the UK’s leading mental health research foundation’, and promoted a Private Members’ Bill – the “Mental Health (Discrimination) Bill” – which removed several of the key discriminations against people who suffer from mental illness.
Delyth Lynch
Delyth has over 25 years’ experience of teaching and senior leadership in education. She is currently Director of Safeguarding at Wellington College.
Delyth is passionate about the area of safeguarding and speaks regularly about culture within schools and the work that she has pioneered at Wellington on values, behaviours and attitudes interviewing and low-level concerns. Her work has been recognised on the national stage by being awarded the Safeguarding and Child Protection Association’s ‘Outstanding initiative award’ for two consecutive years and her work has been cited by IICSA.
She is a co-author of the Farrer & Co guides: “Developing and implementing a low-level concerns policy: A guide for organisations which work with children”; and “Addressing child-on-child abuse: a resource for schools and colleges”. Delyth is also an active member of the National Association of Designated Safeguarding Leads (NADSL); Vice Chair of Governors at an independent school in Wokingham; and on the Executive Board of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Association (SACPA).
Delyth is an NSPCC accredited trainer and trained in supervision, plus the delivery of Safer Recruitment Training. She is the author of “Beyond Compliance: The DSL’s guide to creating a school-wide culture of safeguarding”.
Delyth has over 25 years’ experience of teaching and senior leadership in education. She is currently Director of Safeguarding at Wellington College.
Delyth is passionate about the area of safeguarding and speaks regularly about culture within schools and the work that she has pioneered at Wellington on values, behaviours and attitudes interviewing and low-level concerns. Her work has been recognised on the national stage by being awarded the Safeguarding and Child Protection Association’s ‘Outstanding initiative award’ for two consecutive years and her work has been cited by IICSA.
She is a co-author of the Farrer & Co guides: “Developing and implementing a low-level concerns policy: A guide for organisations which work with children”; and “Addressing child-on-child abuse: a resource for schools and colleges”. Delyth is also an active member of the National Association of Designated Safeguarding Leads (NADSL); Vice Chair of Governors at an independent school in Wokingham; and on the Executive Board of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Association (SACPA).
Delyth is an NSPCC accredited trainer and trained in supervision, plus the delivery of Safer Recruitment Training. She is the author of “Beyond Compliance: The DSL’s guide to creating a school-wide culture of safeguarding”.
Jen Hyatt
Jen is Regional Director and Co-Chair of Words Matter’s Australia Board. She is an established social policy leader with cross portfolio experience in public service. Her career is focused on systems review, reform and developing high-impact policies to support children and families, including in justice, disability, housing, child protection and family violence settings.
She has extensive experience building and managing multi-disciplinary and diverse workforces, and has been part of executive leadership teams at the forefront of progressive social policy development, law reform, evidence platforms, systems change and implementation. As well as establishing landmark and historic agreements, delivery partnerships and securing sustained investment in broad range of initiatives and programs.
Jen holds postgraduate qualifications in adolescent health, development and law.
Jen is Regional Director and Co-Chair of Words Matter’s Australia Board. She is an established social policy leader with cross portfolio experience in public service. Her career is focused on systems review, reform and developing high-impact policies to support children and families, including in justice, disability, housing, child protection and family violence settings.
She has extensive experience building and managing multi-disciplinary and diverse workforces, and has been part of executive leadership teams at the forefront of progressive social policy development, law reform, evidence platforms, systems change and implementation. As well as establishing landmark and historic agreements, delivery partnerships and securing sustained investment in broad range of initiatives and programs.
Jen holds postgraduate qualifications in adolescent health, development and law.
