Jess originally trained as a nurse in 1996 and has worked in, or as a commissioner of mental health services ever since. As a lifelong carer himself, Jess is passionate about co-production and the value of lived experience and has always strived to improve outcomes for service users and their families.

Jess is currently the Deputy Chief Executive of a large Mental Health & Learning Disability Charity offering services across the Midlands and south east of England.

Elena is FCMA, CGMA, CPA. She has worked in the private equity industry for 25 years as a General Partner, an investor and an M&A advisor.

Elena has 20+ years of board level experience in executive and non-executive capacities in public, private and non-profit organisations. Her current non-executive portfolio includes Herts Mind Network, North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust, Delta Motor Group, Essex Partnership University NHS FT and Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust.

Will’s background is in technology and software development, having spent 10+ years working in various environments ranging from FTSE 100 to startup companies. He currently leads multidisciplinary teams as Head of Engineering at Attest, a high-growth company in the market research industry.

With a passion for mental health and giving back to the community, Will is keen to utilise his experience and to support our organisation in any way he can.

In his spare time, Will enjoys running, astronomy, playing the piano and cooking good food.

Helena has an extensive background in the public sector including housing and education. Helena is a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Adviser with significant experience of working with families and young people.

She is skilled at building positive relationships, enabling inclusion, participation and empowerment, influencing, peer mentoring and modelling effective communication in addition to extensive experience in disagreement resolution and mediation.

She has strategic operational leadership and service development skills.

Helena is currently a freelance adviser and trainer, disability consultant and project lead supporting learners looking to return to work or training. Additionally Helena is involved in programmes supporting health and wellbeing through nature and horticulture. She is a keen gardener, enjoys craft activities and travelling in addition to singing and spending time with the family. Other interests include Qigong, Mindfulness and Indian Head Massage. BSc (Hons) Psychology; Masters in Early Education.

Tracey has been a nurse in the NHS for 35 years and has worked as an executive chief nurse for the last 9 years. Safeguarding, vulnerability and engagement to improve health inequalities are areas of great interest to support the communities of Hertfordshire.

She currently works as the executive chief nurse at Kings College Hospital Foundation Trust.

Tahlia is a registered and practicing consultant social worker. She has been in front facing roles, working with vulnerable adults and children for over ten years. Tahlia has previous experience working within the Drug & Alcohol sector, Housing, the Department for Work & Pensions, and the Prison Service. She has worked for the Children & Adolescent Mental Health, and the Adult Mental Health sector in a clinical social work role.

Tahlia has a particular interest in mental health and domestic abuse. She is a Domestic Abuse Champion Lead within her current organisation and is keen to bring her knowledge and skills to Herts Mind Network to support the charity to grow and evolve, and to continue to deliver crucial mental health support to the local community.

Tahlia is currently working in the social care sector and has experience working in frontline child protection roles within Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub, Family Safeguarding, and the Specialist Adolescent Service.

Tahlia is passionate about the value placed on service users as experts by experience, and about co-production in mental health services. Tahlia believes that the right mental health support, dictated by the individual, at the right time is vital to support people to recover and build a life worth living where they are able to thrive.

Ritu is a non-practising solicitor, originally qualifying in 2005 and specialising in mental health law. She has experience in advising and representing a cross section of people facing severe and enduring mental health issues and personality disorders who, as a result, were deprived of their liberty and the human rights issues that flow from this. Through this work as well as being a carer herself, she understands the vital role access to community support plays in improving outcomes for service users and their families. 

Ritu worked in mental health law for many years before moving into the sphere of risk and compliance at the largest provider of publicly funded services.

She remains dedicated to ensuring the mental health community and their families are able to access high quality support and services and feels privileged to be able to use her experience to support the organisation.