Our People

Joy Ward - Funding Strategy & Retail Support Manager

I first became involved with Headway following my son’s accident. The information, advice and support given was remarkable, Headway has helped my son to come to terms with his disability and has provided him with strategies that have enabled him to live with the long term effects of brain injury.

In 2005 I was able to take a sabbatical from my career as an HR professional which enabled me to assist Headway by raising awareness and funds. Through the support of my colleagues, friends, family, grant makers and the local community, we raised almost a million pounds towards the development of our new building and service.

On returning to my previous job I found I couldn't settle and knew that I wanted to continue to assist Headway in raising funds to support the service it provides.

You will find lots of information and ideas on fundraising initiatives here on this website however I would love to hear from you if you are considering undertaking a personal challenge to raise funds for us or if you wish to discuss any other aspect of raising funds in order to support the services we provide.

I would really like to showcase fundraising challenges on our website, so if you, your colleagues, friends or family are thinking of doing something new, exhilarating or just plain daft for Headway don’t forget to let me know!

Sue Bowler – Chairperson

My links with Headway Portsmouth & South East Hampshire began through my professional connections. I am a partner at regional law firm Coffin Mew LLP. For a number of years I was Head of the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence Department and I then lead the whole Private Client group of teams within the firm before taking a break for maternity leave.

I specialize in dealing with cases for clients who have suffered serious brain injury as a result of either an accident or medical negligence and this work brought me into contact with Headway. I quickly realized the enormous value that the support of Headway brings to those who have suffered such injuries, their families and carers.

A great deal of my work for my clients involves coordinating and monitoring rehabilitation and care packages, including working with specialist case managers. This work has also involved many of my colleagues who have assisted my clients with matters such as wills, probate, moving house, family break-up, employment disputes and Court of Protection Deputyship. I act as professional Deputy for all of Coffin Mew’s Court of Protection clients.

My professional experience has therefore given me a wide understanding of the issues faced by those who have suffered brain injuries and their families. This has helped me in my role as a Director of Headway, a position which I have held since 2005, apart from a break of 18 months when my daughter was born. My leadership responsibilities in my “day job” have helped with my role as Chair and similarly my work with Headway has added to my professional skills.

Rebecca Brown - Secretary to the Board

I qualified as a Solicitor in September 2010. I chose to specialise in Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence after spending 8 months of my 2 year training contract in this department. As a department we deal with cases where clients have acquired brain injuries as a result of an accident or as a result of clinical negligence. I currently have 6 of these cases and I also assist on several others.

I first found out about Headway and the work it does when I started to work in the Personal Injury and Clinical Negligence team. I have had contact with clients that have been and still are service users of Headway. I believe that Headway provides a very important service to those who have suffered a brain injury and I wanted to get involved in supporting this very worthwhile charity. I got involved through Sue Bowler, who I work with, and I became a director in October 2010.

Whilst I was training to be a solicitor I was a committee member for the Junior Lawyers Division. This provided me with experience of running a small organisation, managing budgets, organising events, working with and fundraising for charities,

Douglas James Miller – Finance Director

I am a legal executive and the team leader of the Clinical Negligence and Personal Injury Team At Coffin Mew LLP. I was introduced to Headway by Sue Bowler and have been a director since October 2010 but involved at board level since July 2009. I act for approximately 20 brain injured children and 4 brain injured adults.

I also have a father-in-law who suffers vascular dementia. My involvement with Headway helps me to assist and understand the needs of my clients as well as my family situation.

I am responsible for the operations and development of my team and report to a management board. I feel my business skills are an asset to Headway in tackling the challenges ahead.

I am a fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives and hold a Bsc First Class Honours in Environmental Studies. I am also a Cub Scout leader in my spare time and have served as a School Governor, and a parish council member.

Nick Carter – Director

I am a brain injury case manager and a clinical specialist Occupational therapist in brain injury rehabilitation. I have been a director on the board at Headway Portsmouth and South East Hampshire since April 2007.

I graduated as an Occupational therapist in 1992 as a second career following 11 years in the armed forces as a musician.

I have spent the past 19 years working in Neurological rehabilitation and have a wide experience of working with people with brain injury both in the united kingdom and in rehabilitation units in the USA where I worked for 2 ½ years. I am an advanced member of the British association of brain injury case managers. During my work as a brain injury case manager I have attended court on numerous occasions and currently provide support and rehabilitation to 7 clients with acquired brain injury.

I have been a member of the board of directors since 2007 and have seen the service grow significantly during the last 4 years. I enjoy assisting the service to move forward, particularly maintaining an interest in the delivery of programs where my clinical experience can be useful. I am very keen to assist in fund raising events where the opportunity arises to support the service.