Meet the team
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Senior Leadership Team
Mary Hailes
Mary joined the charity in 2007 and is now GDA’s Head of Operations 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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Martha Avery
Martha is our Head of Services. She joined GDA in 2019 as an Equipment Technician. Martha has quickly learned Levels 1,2 & 3 & 6 BSL.
Sarah Tavner
Sarah joined in May 2025 and is our Head of Fundraising and Communications. Sarah is BSL Level 3 and is hearing.
Caroline Trickey
Caroline joined GDA in June 2024 as our Finance Officer. She is now Head of Finance. Caroline completed her BSL Level 1 recently and is hearing. ​​​​
Gilson Sly
Gilson joined GDA in 2021 and is now our Head of Growth and Partnerships. He looks at how GDA can grow and forge partnerships or collaborations with like minded organisations. He is Deaf and a BSL user.​​​​​​
Managers
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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Staff
Samantha Ward
Sam joined GDA in May 2025 as our Office Administrator. Sam is qualified in BSL Level 2. Sam is hearing
Emily Kirby
Emily is our new Bookings Co-ordinator Assistant. She joined the GDA team in August 2022. She is BSL Level 2. She is hearing.
Emma Jenkins
Emma is our Equipment Technician. Emma is hard of hearing. She has previously worked at GDA, and we are happy to welcome her back onto the team.
Shannon Mackriell
Shannon joined GDA in January 2024 and is our Children, Young People and Families Officer. Shannon is qualified in BSL Level 3. Shannon is hearing
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.
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
Kat Taylor
Kat joined GDA in April 2022 as our Finance Assistant. She is Hard of Hearing (HOH) and is BSL Level 2. Kat now works one day a week for the Wellbeing Team and 3 days a week for Equipment Services.
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.
Louise Barks
Louise joined GDA in March 2024 as a Bookings Coordinator. team. Louise has a mild hearing loss and is BSL Level 1.
Trustees
Reg Cobb
Reg joined the trustees as Interim Chair. Reg is Deaf himself and has worked in the charity sector for many years as well as previously worked at GDA.
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.
Paul Hancox
Paul joined us early 2025 as a Trustee. His background is in IT and systems. He is hearing.
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.
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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.