We see a society where autistic people can live happy and fulfilling lives.

All our staff and volunteers are autism trained and our services are designed to be welcoming and accepting of users, whatever their level of need and support.

We are constantly developing new projects and are always happy to hear from anyone who would like a tailored provision from us.

Our Trustees

Nick Hine, Chair
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Nick Hine joined the Royal Navy in 1985, enjoying a series of promotions through to his most recent role of Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, where he was responsible for a £7bn annual budget and the employment of over 30,000 people. He served as commanding officer of HMS Blackwater, as Executive Officer of HMS Splendid and has held several senior Navy and Government positions. In 2015, he was given permission to wear the Bronze Star Medal awarded to him by the President of the United States, and he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2018. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and holds degrees from City University and King’s College, London. He has since retired from the Navy in April 2022.

Nick was diagnosed as autistic in 2010 and comments that it felt like a weight had been lifted in terms of understanding of who he is, whilst also giving him a new understanding of how the world looked – designed by neurotypical people for neurotypical people. He has always been clear that his autism is a gift, but recognises that others often need more help. Nick’s public stance on neurodiversity, the need for support for those on the autistic spectrum and his championing of the strengths of people on the autistic spectrum led to him establishing the Neurodiversity Network for colleagues, to create an inclusive culture where diversity could be embraced.
Email: nick@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Brian Linden
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Brian Linden is a chartered accountant and founding partner of the private equity firm Cinven since 1985 where he remains a director. Following his time at Cinven, Brian founded and chairs the charity 2nd Chance which offers personalised programmes young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve their education and gain sustainable employment. Brian is also the chairman of Student Cribs, one of the leading student accommodation businesses for second and third year university students in the UK. Brian is particularly keen on making sure that adults with profound autism gain the support that they so badly need.
Email: brian@resourcesforautism.org.uk
Caroline Montgomery
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Caroline Montgomery is a graduate of the University College of Wales and has spent her entire career in publishing, predominantly as a Literary Agent.   Her connection to RFA began at its inception, as her parents were both founding members of the charity, her mother a board member until her death in 2017. Caroline was proud to be invited to continue her mother’s work as a Trustee and looks forward to being part of RFA’s ongoing journey.
Email: carolinem@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Dr Hartley Booth OBE
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President of Resources for Autism. Barrister and Author. Did research on Autism. Initiated the first debate in Parliament on Autism in 1995. Helped Found Resources for Autism the following year. Held various public offices.
Email: hartley@resourcesforautism.org.uk
Marc Hommel
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Marc Hommel has enjoyed a 40+ year career as a strategic management consultant to large and complex multinational corporations, private enterprises, investors, governments and regulators — covering leadership, people and workforce management, business transformation, reward and pensions.  He was a partner in PwC for 17 years, where he sat on their global and UK leadership boards for people and workforce advisory.  He has also built and runs his own enterprises and been CEO of an innovative and ground-breaking financial services subsidiary of a FTSE100 company.  Today he works with, coaches and mentors leaders and enterprises in a range of areas, including helping improve outcomes and vitality for businesses and their people through better embracing inclusivity.

Marc has four daughters, two of whom are autistic – and he is currently going through the autism diagnostic process himself.  He is a passionate and compassionate advocate for greater neuro-inclusivity in society, education, medicine and the workplace.  Both neuro-divergent and neuro-typcial people need greater help to understand, respect, benefit from and engage with peoples of all diversities, including neuro-diversity.

As a father, husband, son and brother, Marc has for many years raised charitable funds for autistic and other challenged children and adults, including through his interest in long-distance cycling challenges.
Email: marc@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Raymond Esdaile
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Raymond is Resources for Autism’s treasurer and Company Secretary. He has been a board member since the organisation was formed and is a solicitor with extensive personal experience of Autism.
Email: raymond@resourcesforautism.org.uk
Ritu Kiran-Jackson
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Ritu is a graduate from the University of Oxford, with 14 years of experience in Consulting and HR and founded ‘Aubilities’ in 2020 to help organisations support a neurodivergent workforce, specializing in autism, as well as serving the autistic community with finding meaningful and supported employment.

As a parent of a child on the autistic spectrum, Ritu has lived experience of a carers journey from diagnosis through to education.

She is passionate about scaling resources and services to make them accessible to the autistic and associated community made up of children and adults on the spectrum, parents, carers, schools and organisations, to ensure support can be reached when needed, regardless of location.
Email: ritu@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Ruth Rainbow
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Ruth is an LSE graduate with 15 years in the Recruitment industry, both in the UK & Australia. As a parent of an Autistic child she has direct experience of the diagnostic process, and how vital it is to engage with the necessary support networks to
ensure the best possible outcome for both the individual on the spectrum, and their family members. She is passionate about delivering a service that bridges the gap between medical and educational services, that is fully accessible to the broad and diverse communities we represent.
Email: ruth@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Meet Our Leaders

Phil Cook (He/Him)

CEO

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Phil started as CEO in April 2024. He is passionate about equality, fairness and wellbeing. Phil endeavours to lead with these values as well as honesty and integrity. Always keen to learn Phil is a Mental Health First Aider, has completed training in Inclusive Leadership, Autism Awareness and has qualifications in Leadership & Management via the ILM.

 

Phil has gained experience in many areas along his career journey including work in prisons, schools and sales and has developed high level skills in marketing, fundraising, people management, contract management, networking, building management and more. Phil brings many years of senior management and CEO experience to RfA.

 

Inspired by the work of Resources for Autism and motivated by his own personal experience of autism within his own family Phil is driven by the opportunity to make a difference to the lives of autistic people and their families every day.

Email: phil@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Dean Owens-Cooper BA Hons, MCIPD (He/Him)

Head of People

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Dean has worked in the public sector for around 25 years in various senior roles. Dean’s background is as a Senior Advanced Practitioner in complex mental health. Dean is an Elected Director for the British Association of Social Workers (BASW) and sits on BASW council. Dean is also a Non-Executive Director for Southway Housing Trust (SWHT) Dean has a specific special responsibility for EDI. Dean also sits on the Delivery Group at Greater Manchester NHS Foundation Trust for Complex Emotional Relation Needs (CERN).

Dean is a gay disabled person and a keen advocate for Equality, Diversity, & Inclusion and resides in the Manchester City Region. In Dean’s spare time he enjoys the great outdoors and often goes camping in his camper van. Equally Dean really enjoys walking. Dean volunteers in his spare time in the third sector and is passionate about Human Resources and People Services.


Email: dean@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Iris Korczyn (She/Her)

Head of Services

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Iris has been a part of Resources for Autism since 2010. She originally joined as a volunteer but quickly became a part of the team; having since been involved in setting up and running a range of services.  

Iris brings a broad background of experiences in Education, special needs and psychology. She has worked across a range of services, both voluntary and statutory, supporting individuals with special needs and poor mental health. Iris has developed an interest in providing care for individuals holistically by looking at their circumstances, and the needs of their family in relation to their strengths.
Email: iris@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Davina Feder (She/Her)

Head of Behaviour, Training and Quality

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Davina has been a part of Resources for Autism since joining as a playworker in 2005. Over the last 15 years she has worked across a variety of settings within the autism sector including education, social care, early intervention, adult services and other national autism charities. Davina has a passion for autism and behaviour which comes directly from her hands on experience with autistic individuals of all ages and needs. Davina has completed a Positive Behaviour Support certification and is also one of Resources for Autism’s qualified Team Teach trainers. Davina is also a qualified therapeutic counsellor specialising in integrative art and has a special interest in providing this for adolescents with autism / additional needs.
Email: davina@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Rajan Thevasagayam

Finance Manager

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Rajan Thevasagayam is our Finance Manager who has joined our team on a part time basis. He is a qualified Chartered Certified accountant who has over thirty five years of audit and accountancy experience in many different sectors such as auditing, banking, retailing and for the last 14 years has been working in the charity sector including  a  9 year role as  head of finance of a major international charity. He has also worked in both Sri Lanka and UK.
Email: rajan@resourcesforautism.org.uk
Nick Drew (He/Him)

Head of Fundraising

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Nick joined RfA after more than a decade in arts fundraising. He originally started his career as a management consultant but then moved into policy and strategy roles within the voluntary sector, first working in youth volunteering and then moving into  VCS liaison roles in local and central government before taking on his first fundraising role as Director of Development at Worcester Cathedral. His first contact with RfA was when his then-8 year old son started at a Birmingham Saturday club (he is now 13 and still attends).
Email: ndrew@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Our Working Specialist Groups

The working specialist groups and panels explore different aspects relating to our ongoing and future work.

Details of other groups and panels will be added to this page in due course

Fundraising Sub-Committee

The role of the committee is to provide the charity with expert insight and fulfil the governance requirements for the detailed scrutiny and oversight of the Fundraising Strategy and delivery. The Fundraising Subcommittee reports to the Board of Trustees.

Current Members are: Abi Levitt (Chair of Fundraising Subcommittee/Trustee), Dolyanna Mordochai: (CEO), Ruth Rainbow (Trustee), Brian Linden (Trustee/Treasurer), Caroline Montgomery (Trustee) and Sylvania Wong (Expert by experience, mother of an autistic adult).

 

Diversity and Inclusion Group

Looking at all areas of Diversity and Inclusion at RFA, but mostly concentrating in the last year on disability and race. Leading training sessions on racial inequality and LGBTQIAA, developing our policies and appointing Diversity Champions within the organisation who have lived experience of the issues and can support other staff. Also creating links with local race equality boards who are looking to hear from people with autism and BAME about shaping better experiences for those who have double discrimination.

Current members: Sidd Sampla, Emily Rhoades, Kenny Shaw and Ka McCarthy.

 

Co-Production Group

Our Co-Production has just finished year one and looks at a number of issues or areas that RFA has, taking advice from our panel as to how to improve upon them as well as looking at starting new projects. We will be advertising for the cohort of 2022 soon.

 

Wellbeing Group

Developing wellbeing best practices and an embedded wellbeing strategy.

Current members: Dolyanna Mordochai, Jayne Hurley, Maria Baldwin, Milla Gregor