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Meet the team

HOME  /  MEET THE TEAM

 CEO

Danielle Neale

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Danielle has worked in the Third Sector for over 7 years, supporting charities and social enterprises on a wide range of projects and national initiatives, including mentoring CEO's to develop business and financial viability.  Danielle has also served as a Trustee for a charity and a Non-Executive for a Social Enterprise.  This is supported with over 15 years' experience at Director level within the Public Sector, working across the MoJ and the NHS, including a Non-Executive Director position held within the NHS.  

Senior Management Team

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Mary Hailes

Mary joined the charity in 2007 and is now GDA’s Office Manager as well as over-seeing BSL interpreter and Community Centre bookings. Mary is hearing and a CODA. She has recently passed her BSL Level 3 course.

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Gilson Sly

Gilson joined GDA in 2021 and is now our Support Services Manager. He ensures that all our services are well supported. He is Deaf and a BSL user.

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Sally Gillespie

Sally joined the charity in June 2023 and is the proud mother of a deaf child. Sally is our Head of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications. Sally is hearing and has completed our BEGIN BSL course and is about to start the BUILD BSL course.

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Ivanna Novikova

Ivanna started with the charity in 2023 as GDA's Finance Manager. Ivanna leads on all financial matters for the charity, including monthly financial management information, the production of the charity’s statutory Final Accounts and financial forecasting, payroll, cashflow and financial policies and processes.

Managers

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Jemima Buoy

Jemima joined the GDA staff in July 2020. She is the Training Manager and runs BSL College and providing Understanding Deafness courses. She is Deaf and a BSL user.

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Martha Avery

Martha is Deputy Support Services Manager. She joined GDA in 2019 as an Equipment Technician. Martha has quickly learned Levels 1,2 & 3 BSL and is now on a Level 6 BSL course. Martha is hearing

Staff

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Shannon Mackriell

Shannon joined GDA in January 2024 and is our Children, Young People and Families Officer.  Shannon is currently learning Level 3 BSL. Shannon is hearing

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Emily Kirby

Emily is our new Bookings Co-ordinator Assistant. She joined the GDA team in August 2022. She is on our BSL Level 2 course. She is hearing.

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Caroline Trickey

Caroline joined GDA in June 2024 as our Finance Officer. Caroline is hearing. 

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Sarah Cook

Sarah joined GDA in 2018 and is our Bookings Coordinator. Sarah is hearing.

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Kim Mackriell

Kim is a BSL tutor having joined the GDA team in January 2022. She teaches BSL at Level 1 and teaches extra-curriculum activities for other deaf people. She is Deaf and BSL user.

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Kate Ather

Kate is our Wellbeing Officer.  Kate started with GDA in 2019 as GDA’s Employment Project Officer and is now a key member of our Wellbeing team

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Kat Taylor

Kat joined GDA in April 2022 as our Finance Assistant. She is Hard of Hearing (HOH) and is learning BSL Level 2. Kat also works one day a week for the Wellbeing Team.

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Jessica Shepherd

Jessica is our Equipment Technician and runs our hearing aid clinics. She joined GDA in July 2022. Jessica is deaf and BSL user.

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Louise Barks

Louise joined GDA in March 2024 as a Bookings Coordinator. team. Louise has a mild hearing loss and is learning BSL 'Begin' Level at GDA. 

Trustees

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Louise Taylor

Louise joined the Board in April 2024, after having volunteered for the GDA Digital Drop In project. Louise runs her own business and, previous to this, worked within the legal industry for over 20 years. 

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Sam Stocken

Sam joined us in September 2021 as a Trustee. She has twin boys, one who is Deaf since birth with bilateral hearing loss, and is enthusiastic about supporting the Deaf Community. She is hearing.

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Jamie Sleigh

Jamie is a mental health coach with a passion for helping business owners and teams improve their wellbeing and performance.  With extensive experience across business sectors, Jamie brings a blend of leadership, practical business skills and personal development expertise to the GDA Board of Trustees. 

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William Stavert

William is profoundly Deaf and has experience of working in the Deaf Education sector for 21 years. Previously, he was the chairperson of Deaf Direct for 11 years and is now a Trustee for Action Deafness. William joined GDA as a Board Trustee in 2023. William is continuing to work as a Freelance BSL Teacher and tutors deaf children and parents who have a deaf child. He is based in Malvern, Worcestershire.

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Abbie Warren

With a diverse background, Abbie initially trained in Law at University, then transitioned to the private sector before retraining as a Youth Worker at a local charity.  Currently, Abbie serves as the CEO of Sunflower Suicide Support, a charity she founded in 2018

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Vicky Sheen

Vicky joined GDA as Trustee Treasurer in December 2022 after previously working with GDA on  a professional basis.  Vicky was keen to continue her relationship with GDA after seeing what great work they do for the hard of hearing and deaf community of Gloucestershire and the wider area.  Vicky has worked in finance all of her career – very nearly 40 years.

Living confidently with 
deafness and hearing loss

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