Our People

 

Chief Executive – Kevin Williams

Qualifications: BA, MBA and Diploma in Community Development
Background: Kevin has worked in the voluntary sector since 1980, managing services for children and young people. Much of Kevin’s career has been in the YMCA Movement, being Chief Executive of YMCAs in Leicester, West London and finally of YMCA England. In 2006 Kevin left the YMCA to become Chief Executive of KIDS, the disabled children’s charity. During that time KIDS has completed a successful merger with Kidsactive the charity for disabled children’s right to play. KIDS now employs 900 staff and provides services across England for disabled children and their families. Under Kevin’s leadership KIDS has been at the forefront of responding to the Aiming high for Disabled Children agenda, creating services which meet the needs of the next generation of disabled children.
Skills & Experience: Extensive experience of creating and developing communities with children and young people at their heart. Experienced in running large charities and capital projects. Kevin is himself the parent of a son with severe autism.


Brand and Communications Director – Sarah Nelson

Qualifications:  MA (Hons) in Modern History
Background:  More than 13 years Communications and Brand experience, eight of which have been in the non-profit sector. Most recently employed at Medecins Sans Frontieres UK, Samaritans and Volunteering England. Prior to working in the charity sector, worked in a consumertech PR agency, delivering campaigns and media relations activity for consumer and B2B clients.
Skills and experience:  Extensive strategic communications experience across a range of sectors and disciplines, specialising in through-the-line campaign development, media relations, new media/digital marketing and brand strategy/implementation. Cares for a close family member with Dementia. 

Finance Director – Craig Edmonson

Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Mathematics, ACA
Background: After qualifying and spending eight years working in practice (including specialising in charity and not-for-profit work), Craig moved into the public sector, first working for a public corporation in education and then a charitable arms-length body, before joining KIDS as its Finance Director in September 2010. Craig has twice been nominated for BWMSCA Young Chartered Accountant of the Year. 
Skills & Experience: Extensive experience of charity, not-for-profit, public sector and business finance. Worked in the education sector for over five years. Previously a trustee of a small charity

London Regional Director – Warren Koehler

Qualifications: Qualified social worker
Background: Professional social worker and social work manager in London borough and county council settings.  Also has experience of running crèches and day nurseries in the private sector and Safeway stores.
Skills & Experience: Extensive direct work and management experience of providing services for children/young people and their families across both public and private sectors. Has held responsibility for managing operational budgets up to £5 million. Has a brother who is learning disabled.

South East Regional Director – Bridget Bevis

Qualifications: Qualified school teacher.
Background: 15 years working for KIDS. Developed the work in the South East from nothing to 25 projects with a turnover of £1 million.
Skills & Experience: Extensive experience of working with Disabled children and their families and is particularly good at engaging parents. Sits on the Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership Board for Hampshire

Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Director – Sue Cawkwell

Qualifications: Foundation level Banking Exams passed. Numerous training courses attended whilst employed by KIDS including a Certificate in Workplace Counselling, and training the trainer course.
Background: Twelve years spent in financial services sector, thirteen years spent working for KIDS in various capacities – Portage home visitor, parent partnership caseworker, parent partnership coordinator, assistant director and more recently acting regional director.
Skills & Experience: Extensive experience of working with disabled children and supporting their families. Sits on various strategic management boards within Hull City Council and the Primary Care Trust. Parent of three children, two with significant disabilities; giving a wealth of experience, knowledge and insight into the issues and challenges faced by families.

National Director for Direct Short Breaks – Emma Clarke

Qualifications: Working towards a Degree in Health and Social Care and holds Professional Certificate in Management for the non-profit sector.
Background: 8 years in the voluntary sector working with disabled children, young people and their families at Whizz-Kidz and Contact-a-Family with responsibility for budgets up to £1.4 million.  Lead on Common Assessment Framework and Lead Professional for City of London Children and Families Directorate.  Member of the International Short Breaks Association.
Skills & Experience: Extensive experience of the disabled children’s sector; managing services and leading on service development.  Cared for close family member with Dementia and has a disabled parent.

National Development Director – Julie Hathaway

Qualifications: Level 5 in both Operational & Strategic Management
Background: 20 years senior management in the voluntary sector, including Scope and the National Childminding Association.
Skills & Experience: Extensive experience of complex project development involving multiple stakeholders. Also experienced in growing and managing service delivery across a Region, building a Region up to a £1.6 million turnover.

Fundraising Director – Helen Mitchell

Background: Almost 20 years’ fundraising experience, principally in charities supporting children and young people. This has included the Scout Association, Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity and Fairbridge, a national charity supporting disadvantaged young people.
Skills & Experience: Particular expertise in the development and implementation of fundraising strategies and in donor development and account management, principally in the area of high net worth and charitable trust fundraising.

HR Director – Sally Storton

Qualifications: BA (Hons) Business Studies. Diploma in Marketing. Chartered Member of the Institute of Personnel & Development (MCIPD).
Background: 15 years and expertise within Human Resources, both within the public and private sectors.
Skills & Experience: Extensive HR experience gained with George Wimpey, Telewest (now Virgin Media), AXA and the University of Warwick. Covers the whole range of HR issues from generalist support through to organisational development and change management through to policy development.