Our people

Wendy Bates

Chief Executive

Wendy joined Health in Mind in 2001 as a Service Manager before becoming Depute Chief Executive in 2016 and Chief Executive in 2019.

Wendy has worked in the voluntary sector in a variety of roles since graduating with an MA (Hons) Psychology in 1995. She has broad experience in developing and delivering services to support people to lead meaningful and fulfilling lives. Wendy is also passionate about involving volunteers in our work.

How Wendy looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘To look after my own mental health as well as doing a job that I love and feel passionately about, I also enjoy having fun with my family.’

Lisa McBurney

Director of Finance

Lisa leads the strategic development and delivery of Health in Mind’s financial management, ensuring the financial health of the organisation.

Lisa is a qualified accountant and Fellow of ACCA. After 15 years in practice specialising in audit and annual accounts, she enjoyed two years in financial service before joining Health in Mind in August 2018. During her time in audit, Lisa’s portfolio included a variety of charity clients across Scotland and the UK, so a move to the charitable sector was a long-term ambition of hers.

How Lisa looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘The role here can be a busy one and so, to look after my wellbeing, I try and squeeze in some “me time” each day. Even if it’s just pottering about the house listening to my favourite podcast or brief walk at lunch time.’

Paul Wilde

Director of Operations

Paul leads our corporate services teams, supporting human resources, information governance, business support, communications, and quality, impact and evaluation teams. Prior to joining Health in Mind in 2025, Paul spent over a decade working across the third sector, building experience in project management, digital transformation, and marketing.

How Paul looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘I enjoy taking a walk in the woods with my kids. Nature, especially trees, have a deeply relaxing effect and there’s always so much to discover’.

Martin Oxley

Head of Business Development

Martin leads Health in Mind’s growth and development plans, overseeing fundraising, income generation and digital services. Martin joined Health in Mind in 2019. His background includes operational and strategic roles in community-based services, accommodation projects, prisons and social enterprises, having worked across public health, health, care and support services.

How Martin looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘Every day I try to walk six miles and spend at least an hour reading’

Tammy Kirk

Head of Services and Improvement

Tammy leads our operational Service Managers and their teams, ensuring that Health in Mind services provide high-quality support that reflects our values and promotes recovery and wellbeing.

Tammy joined Health in Mind in 2018 having previously worked for another Scottish mental health charity, where she worked in a variety of roles, most recently managing their Self Harm Project.

How Tammy looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘I enjoy comedy (particularly stand-up) which helps me look after my own wellbeing, as well as spending time with friends, cooking, listening to music, my cats and my Kindle.’

Jennifer Donnelly

Chair

Jennifer is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, having qualified as a CA with KPMG in Glasgow, as well as an affiliate member of the Institute of Internal Auditors. Her first move away from practice was with Shell, where she designed financial controls, before moving into FMCG industry as an Internal Auditor with William Grant & Sons.

She’s continued to work with iconic Scottish brands leading assurance functions for Distell International, C&C Group plc, Baxters Food Group, Edrington and is currently Head of Internal Audit for Scottish Water, where she continues her passion for compliance, assurance and drive for financial excellence.

How Jennifer looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘I am a keen musician and play the trombone in a few bands across Scotland, which helps me to switch off and relax. Also, spending time and talking with those close to me is extremely important in helping my mental health.’

Pia Helbing

Finance and Risk Committee Chair

Pia is a Senior Lecturer in Finance at the University of Glasgow. She holds a PhD in Finance from Trinity College Dublin. Pia’s research interest is in the areas of corporate finance and entrepreneurial finance. She is passionate about governance and finance. In Pia’s research, she examines how organisations finance themselves across their life cycle.

How Pia looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘I am a keen hill walker and enjoy the green spaces where I live. Being in nature helps me to switch off and relax.’

Brian Young

People and Governance Committee Chair

Brian has been working in the field of health and social care for 20 years, in both the public and voluntary sectors. He recently decided to take early retirement from Inverclyde Health and Social Care Partnership, where he was latterly their lead for organisational development.

Brian has held previous roles with Stirling and District Association for Mental Health, where he was a volunteer befriender, Information Manager (InTouch Stirling/Forth Valley) and Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator.

In 2006, he moved to Inverclyde Council, initially in a lead role for improving mental health and suicide prevention. Brian progressed into a wider health improvement policy role in 2010, before moving to his most recent post in July 2019.

Brian has a passion for behavioural change, reducing inequalities and helping organisations and individuals be the best they can possibly be, which is all augmented by his drive for professional and personal development.

Federica Cinosi

Federica has 16 years of international experience in Digital and Analytics, including team managerial roles. She’s worked in Italy, Switzerland, the US and the UK for leading companies including Nestlé Nespresso and Expedia. In 2017 pursued her dream to complete an MSc in Psychology of Mental Health at the University of Edinburgh, and has been living here ever since.

Federica is a graduate Member of the British Psychological Society and the UK Health Coaches Association. She’s an active mental health advocate and gets involved in many related projects, including being a crisis counsellor for Shout.

How Federica looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘I make sure to regularly spend quality time with family and friends, and I enjoy some manual hobbies such as pottery painting and fresh pasta making that help me to free my mind and relax. I maintain a healthy lifestyle through nutrition, exercise, and plenty of sleep. I take full advantage of the beautiful Edinburgh (and Scottish) landscape and walk everywhere as much as possible.’

Sheena Fontana

Sheena is a Public Health specialist with over 35 years’ experience across the public sector. She has worked in the NHS, Local Authority, and in third sector organisations at local, regional and national level, on mental health and healthy ageing workstreams. She is currently Senior Development Manager in Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership; in addition Sheena sits on a number of advisory groups including Ageing and Climate Change led by Heriot Watt University. She is passionate about working and co-producing with people with lived experience and applying that to projects that she is involved in.

How Sheena looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘For me there is a strong connection between physical and mental health so I love to walk and run around the green spaces where I live, connecting and spending time with family and friends is also key to my mental wellbeing.’

Rachael Tracy

Rachael qualified as a Chartered Accountant within audit at Deloitte LLP in Guernsey in 2014. Her next move took her to London where she worked in a range of roles covering professional  training compliance and corporate financial advisory. During Covid, Rachael moved back to Guernsey and worked as a consultant within multiple finance institutions sharing her skills and experience.

After taking some time out to travel the world, Rachael moved to Edinburgh in September 2023 into a new role at Menzies Aviation where she manages the global accounting function to drive efficiencies and consistency across the regions.

How Rachael looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘I love to hike. Walking allows me to switch off and focus on simply putting one foot in front of the other. I look forward to lots of Scottish hiking adventures now that I am based in Edinburgh.’

Danyal Mackenzie

Danyal has nearly a decade of experience in strategic communications and marketing within the third sector. They have also dedicated their time to working with vulnerable groups across Scotland and beyond, championing inclusivity and positive change. Currently, Danyal is part of the MCR Foundation, where they focus on spearheading innovative digital and technological initiatives. Their work connects young people with trusted adults, fostering opportunities that empower growth and development.

Danyal joined Health in Mind as a trustee because they are passionate about ensuring that everyone in Scotland has the opportunity to experience positive mental health and wellbeing. They are committed to breaking down barriers so that high-quality support is available to all who need it, whenever and however they need it.

How Danyal looks after their mental health and wellbeing

To maintain their own mental health and wellbeing, Danyal enjoys yoga, reading, walking, and spending time with friends and their two beloved cats, Freyja and Odin.

Sarah McAllister

Sarah has over 25 years’ experience in higher education supporting all aspects of the student journey. She has strategic and operational responsibility for a number of student facing services focused on financial support, funding, immigration compliance, and special circumstance. Sarah works on the development and enhancement of policy, systems and practice for students and staff. And acts as Programme Sponsor or Project Manager for University strategic projects engaging with wide variety stakeholders to improve provision.  She has previously worked within academic disciplines supporting both taught and research students alongside academic staff.

How Sarah looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘Taking time away from a busy job is important for me and I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also enjoy walking, podcasting, and travelling. I have recently taken up gardening with some successes. I also enjoy dreaming up new home renovation projects.’

Kathryn McLeod

Kathryn is an experienced and impactful Chartered Accountant who is passionate about sustainability and people. Extensive P&L responsibility and business partnering experience gained in senior finance roles at Heineken UK.  She is currently Head of ESG Reporting working on ESG reporting, net zero strategy and circularity.

Kathryn is also the functional lead for Heineken’s finance graduate programme and is a trained mental health champion, providing 1 to 1 colleague support and presenting to larger groups.

How Kathryn looks after their mental health and wellbeing

My kids really help me to switch off after a busy day in the office.  I also loan a horse and love the connection to nature that this gives me.

Caroline Hedges

Caroline has over 17 years of experience in asset management, having held senior leadership roles at Aviva Investors. She began her career as a fixed income fund manager and most recently served as Head of Public Fixed Income, where she led a global team of more than 85 people. Her work has spanned investment performance, strategy, client engagement, risk and governance, and business innovation. Known for her strategic mindset and collaborative leadership, Caroline now applies her expertise more broadly across the financial services sector, while supporting organisations with a social purpose.

How Caroline looks after their mental health and wellbeing

“I love being active – playing tennis and hiking are my favourite things to switch off. But my greatest joy comes from spending time with my family. I’m one of five siblings and have three children of my own, so family connection is a huge source of strength for me. I also love travelling and immersing myself in different cultures, it brings perspective and a sense of wonder that’s good for the soul”.

Cheryl Tudor

Cheryl is an occupational therapist with over 20 years of experience of working within mental health and employability services within the NHS, third sector and Scottish government. Through these roles, she developed a strong interest in the factors that support health, wellbeing, and performance at work, leading her to pursue a different career path in quality improvement, where she focuses on making system-wide changes to enhance the delivery of high-quality care. Cheryl currently supports team wellbeing and performance working as a Quality and Safety Improvement Lead within NHS Lothian, striving to continually improve the experiences of citizens, students and staff.

Cheryl previously worked at Health in Mind as a Project Manager in Midlothian and felt a strong connection with the organisation’s values and purpose. She joined as a trustee as she shares a deep passion for ensuring the provision of high-quality mental health services, if, when and how they are needed.

How Cheryl looks after their mental health and wellbeing

Cheryl loves getting up early to savour some quiet time before the day starts. At weekends she enjoys curling up with a coffee to watch a film before the rest of the household wakes up. Whenever she can, Cheryl enjoys exploring nature and spotting wildlife. She also loves camping with family and friends, and particularly likes waking up with the birds and having breakfast outdoors.