We can’t possibly introduce you to everyone here, but you can find out more about our Senior Leadership Team and our Board of Trustees below.
Michelle is our Founder and Group Chief Executive. Michelle is passionate about ensuring everyone can benefit from safe, healthy and happy relationships.
Michelle is also a Non Executive Director at MSV Housing where she chairs their Customer and Communities Committee, a trustee of the BGF Foundation and trustee and treasurer at Christ Church Stockport.
Michelle holds a MBA, is a Clore Social Fellow (2017) and Acumen Fellow (2024). Michelle was highly commended as Charity Director of the Year at the North West Charity Awards (2017 and 2018), won the Manchester Young Talent Awards Entrepreneur of the Year (2019), is a Social CEO (2017, 2018 and 2019) and was highly commended as Digital CEO of the Year (2019) at the Just Giving Awards. Michelle was chosen as one of the Top 50 Northern GameChangers in 2024.
As Director of Services at TLC: Talk, Listen, Change, Anna collaborates with our Heads of Service for Mediation and Therapeutic Wellbeing to support our dedicated teams. Since joining TLC at its inception in 2017, Anna has been passionate about our mission and its life-changing impact. She is committed to embedding our values—safe, authentic, and person-centered—into all aspects of our work.
Anna is passionate about building strong, trusting relationships with like-minded organisations to support positive collaboration and strong partnerships. Her motivation comes from connecting with people and sharing our vision for high-quality, accessible, and safe services within the communities we serve. With over 20 years of experience in the voluntary sector, Anna has loved working directly with children, young people and families in a range of services (Youth work, NEET prevention, Parenting and Family support, as well as focusing on management and strategic leadership in recent years. Anna is also the designated safeguarding lead for TLC: Talk, Listen, Change
Emily is our Director of Development and is responsible for all our income generation, external relationships and partnerships, communications and marketing.
Emily has a background primarily in the voluntary sector and housing, having given time as a volunteer and trustee as well as a paid member of staff.
As the Director of Business Services at TLC: Talk, Listen, Change, Marian oversees the charity’s business and administrative functions, ensuring that our operations run smoothly and efficiently. With a focus on aligning processes with our mission and values, Marian leads key areas including Human Resources, policy development, health and safety, information governance and supporting with risk management and strategic planning.
Passionate about creating a safe, inclusive, and person-centred workplace, Marian plays a pivotal role in driving initiatives that support staff development and well-being.
When not working, Marian enjoys spending time with family and friends, dog walking or exploring nature, reflecting her belief in the importance of balance and well-being both professionally and personally.
Chris is responsible for overseeing our information and governance and leads on our internal digital projects.
Lisa is an experienced leader in the social care sector, specialising in domestic abuse prevention and intervention. With a career spanning over 15years in this field, she has dedicated her work to delivering victim services and, for the past five years, has focused on developing and implementing innovative programs aimed at addressing the root causes of domestic abuse.
As Head of Domestic Abuse Prevention Services, Lisa is committed to creating effective strategies that not only support victims but also engage perpetrators in meaningful change. Her approach is rooted in a deep understanding of the complexities of domestic abuse, emphasising the importance of holistic, evidence-based solutions.
Victoria set up the Mediation department in 2015 and is incredibly proud of the way if has grown and developed over the years. She passionately believes in the power of having options; in the need for open and difficult discussions; and in the growth that can come from compromise. Victoria remains committed to the Legal Aid contract and is driven by helping people move forward when other avenues are limited or more acrimonious.
When not at work Victoria loves family time with her kids, catching up with friends, a dance whenever possible, yoga when she finds the time, city trips and tasty food.
Sue is our Head of Therapeutic Wellbeing Services and is responsible for the delivery of sector leading mental health services (for both children, young people, and adults).
Sue has worked in the voluntary sector for the past 25 years and has a long career committed to improving the lives of the most marginalized people, affected by family breakdown, the care system and complex trauma associated with homelessness.
Alison is our Head of Marketing and Communications and is responsible for all our external communications including PR, social media, digital marketing and advertising.
Alison has a background in the private sector spanning FMCG, retail and travel & leisure. She is passionate about the work and programmes run by TLC and Now You’re Talking and is eager to raise awareness of the great work and significant impact it has.
Katy is our head of Finance and is responsible for managing the finance function on behalf of the TLC Group.
Katy has had over 35 years’ experience in the charity and social enterprise sector at a senior level, including as CEO and COO. She is driven by the need to work for organisations that make demonstrable positive social change and enjoys the challenge of working with organisations that are growing whilst adapting to the rapidly changing social funding environment.
Mike is educated to degree level in Law and has been a qualified Solicitor of the Supreme Court for nearly 40 years’. He previously worked in general property and commercial law but after finding his passion for work that can improve the lives of others, he began his 35 year career working specifically for housing associations. Mike has been engaging in charity and voluntary work to support a range of organisations for over 25 years.
In 2006 he became Manchester office Managing Partner at Trowers & Hamlins. He retired in 2019 and has been our Chair since January 2018.
Ged is the Executive Director of Valette’s Business School Manchester and has established five successful businesses. Ged’s consultancy assignments have included projects with many corporates and the British Council. In recent years, his work has taken him to many countries, worldwide.
His research interests include career transition, dimensions of business strategy and city branding. Ged has served as board member for three not-for-profit organisations.
Alvin is a Chartered Manager and IRCA certified Lead Auditor with extensive experience of business improvement, people management, risk management, and change management. He has worked across a wide range of industries in both the public and private sectors.
An award-winning leader in equality, diversity, and inclusion, Alvin has spearheaded numerous committees and working groups dedicated to enhancing representation and inclusion within his industry and the wider community.
Alongside this experience, Alvin brings a passion for supporting TLC’s aims in improving access to services, improving mental health and wellbeing, and ensuring everyone has safe, healthy, and happy relationships.
Barbara is a partner in the chartered accountancy firm Topping Partnership situated in Salford Quays.
Adiba is a Health Development Coordinator working for the Manchester Local Care Organisation. Adiba has experience in working in community development, one-to-one health coaching and developing partnerships across different sectors to reduce health inequalities in Manchester.
My name is Grant, and I’m one of the new trustees at TLC. Originally, I’m from South Shields on the Northeast coast, which is in fact where the Great North Run ends, however I’m not based there anymore as I’ve moved up and down the country as part of my work.
My professional background is mainly procurement supply chain, and I’ve been doing that for over twenty-five years. The majority of that was with a company called GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), and more recently with the Co-Operative group where I’ve been for about five years now.
I picked TLC because I’ve worked with organizations with a really strong purpose, and TLC really engaged me with their mission. I personally believe we need the amazing services that TLC deliver to be open to as many people as possible.
I’m Carolyn Blunt, and I’m delighted to be joining TLC as a trustee. I’m from Preston, Lancashire, and I’ve lived in the Northwest all my life. I currently work for a company called Davies, and my background is learning and development.
I’ve been in learning and development my whole career: I’m a learning consultant by trade. I’ve done lots of different designs and delivery; I’ve been an exec coach, a life coach, a motivational speaker, and an author. I do a lot of work in business development: I’m an entrepreneur by background, and that’s what I’d like to get involved with at TLC.
I would like to support TLC in growing its services and getting it out to more people because I think the work it does is fantastic.
My name is Charlotte, I am originally from Newcastle but currently live in London.
I started out as a wedding planner, which was amazing – I got to have some great experiences. It taught me a lot about running my own business as well, which I then took into the world of start-ups. I have since worked in various start-ups, building teams, putting lots of processes in place, and developing strategies, which I really enjoyed. I am really passionate about problem-solving and bringing creative ideas to life.
Personally, I can usually be found playing some form of sport or watching some form of sport. It’s just a really big part of my life, that providers a great outlet for whatever else is going on in the world.
I really believe that safe, healthy, and happy relationships are the bedrock on which we can build the rest of our lives. Having those relationships in the strongest place possible allows us to be the happiest and most fulfilled versions of ourselves, which really is just the most important thing. I think the work that TLC does across northern England is unrivalled, and the fact that it gives us the opportunity to strive for safe, healthy, and happy relationships is incredible and I’m really excited to be a part of that.
My name is Sarah Ingleby; I’m from North London but lived in Manchester since 1994, via Wirral, a bit of Liverpool, and Leicester.
Professionally, I started to be a student nurse in 1990 for a variety of jobs, working in attentive care, then leading projects in IT, children’s services, and then more operationally, supporting A&E, medicine, and surgery. Presently I’m the Divisional Director of Nursing for Tertiary Medicine at Salford Care Organisation, which is Northern Care Alliance.
Working with TLC will be a great opportunity: the ethos of safe, healthy, and happy relationships is one I absolutely aspire to in my personal and professional life. The energy, enthusiasm, and drive of the teams are tangible, and the culture is fantastic. I’m really excited about working with them going forward.
My name is Chong Liu. I am originally from Tianjin, China. Since 2015, I have been living in the UK for my master’s and PhD degrees, respectively in Birmingham and Leeds.
I am a sociologist doing research about young people, sexuality education and social stratification. Besides, I also have experience performing as sexuality education tutor, consultant and project coordinator cooperating with various organisations. In my personal life, I am a bookworm. I say hi to all animals I meet.
TLC’s work attracted me (to this role) when I first checked its website. Especially as a person researching sexuality education and young people’s sexuality and relationship experiences, I could not find any better place to transfer my capacity from academia to the practical field.
John has been in the direct marketing industry for over 30 years and is still involved in developing and running entrepreneurial start-ups. John is an international consultant and mentor having worked in USA, Canada, Italy, India and Australia.
John was a Trustee for TLC for 9 years and saw the charity grow substantially. He was delighted to be asked to be on the board so we can increase the help to people and communities as a Profit for Purpose company.
Carolyn has experience founding four very different companies over the past 20 years, she has navigated interesting challenges as well as changing market conditions along the way.
She will continue to be a Trustee of TLC and sit on both boards. She is looking forward to helping reach more people with the services that they need for a better wellbeing.
Caroline runs her own consultancy business, specialising in creating impactful company strategy, vision and values, and coaching senior executives new into role.
She is thrilled to be on the board of Now You’re Talking. She has seen the positive impact, on individuals and those around them, that the services that we deliver can bring. As a profit-for-purpose organisation, there is also the double benefit of both delivering much needed services and supporting TLC to expand our charitable reach.
Nick currently works for one of the largest financial services organisations in the UK, where he leads teams of engineers developing digital products. He also holds a university lecturer position where he shares his passion for science and technology with the next generation.
He is excited to be part of Now You’re Talking’s journey and is confident in the positive impact this profit-for-purpose organisation will make.
We prioritise safe, healthy and happy relationships in and out of the workplace.
Who have we helped and how?
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