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.’

Martin Oxley

Depute Chief Executive

Martin has senior management oversight for our services and support delivery, engagement and income generation, and shares responsibility for the growth and development of Health in Mind. Martin also supports the governance work of the Board’s Risk and Compliance Committee.

Martin joined Health in Mind in 2019. He’s previously had senior operational and strategic responsibility for a range of public health, health, care and support services, including managed and agency-managed projects and services (both accommodation- and community-based and prisons), social enterprise projects and other community initiatives.

How Martin looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘I try to walk five miles a day and spend at least an hour a day reading (normally Tartan Noir).’

Alana Genge

Head of Engagement and Income Generation

Alana leads and shapes Health in Mind’s communications, brand, fundraising and income generation digital information services work.

Alana joined Health in Mind in 2018 and previously worked in communications roles at national family charities. She’s an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and is a Chartered Marketer.

Alana won the Charity Comms Inspiring Communicator Award in 2020.

How Alana looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘I love to cook, read and spend time with family and friends. I also enjoy learning and am normally signed up to a creative class – anything from flower arranging to calligraphy.’

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.’

Lisa McBurney

Head 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.’

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 as Head of Internal Audit for Distell International and C&C Group plc, and is now the Group Head of Internal Audit for Baxters Food Group 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.’

Jeneen Gill-Graham

Risk and Compliance Chair

Jeneen qualified as a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in 2014 after spending four years at Ernst & Young focusing on actuarial audit and product related roles. Following a short stint at Prudential Group managing the insurance risks in the Asia business, she moved to Scotland to focus on UK longevity risk.

In 2016 she moved to Standard Life, now part of The Phoenix Group to carry out a variety of roles across Finance, Proposition and Change before taking the role as Head of Open Strategy and Change Risk within the Open Division. This role focuses on ensuring risks across the Change portfolio are well understood and managed; supporting the business to grow whilst keeping customers safe.

How Jeneen looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘Having struggled with both anxiety and depression in the past, I am really conscious to carve out time to do the things that help me manage my own well-being – especially being mum to two young boys that keep me very busy! That looks like making time to get out for a walk or (when time allows) a run, trying to create some space to practice yoga and lifting something heavy in the gym to destress after a long day at work. I find spending focused time with loved ones really fills my cup and when I can I try to get down to London to spend time with my parents and childhood friends’

Barry Johnstone

People Committee Chair

Barry is the Director of People of Caledonia Housing Association, a large and complex social housing charity providing homes and services primarily to people in housing need.

As Director of People, Barry provides strategic leadership in the development of people, organisation and culture. His remit includes human resources, organisational development, internal communications, and health, safety and wellbeing.
Barry has significant executive and non-executive experience in governance roles. He also had leadership roles managing significant organisational change and transformation.

Working for over 20 years in social housing has highlighted to Barry how improved mental health awareness and support is vital to help people fulfil their potential and create resilient communities.

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.’

Karen Gray

Karen has worked in the not-for-profit sector for 20 years – in countries including the UK, New Zealand and the Philippines – and has extensive experience in communications, marketing and fundraising. Since 2015, Karen has worked for the international school meals charity Mary’s Meals and is currently its UK Director of Communications. Her previous roles have been at organisations including UNICEF, Central Office of Information (UK Government) and British Heart Foundation.

How Karen looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘I maintain my own wellbeing by getting out into the lovely green spaces in Glasgow where I live, setting aside some quiet time for prayer and journaling, and catching up with family and friends. I also love travelling overseas to explore new places.’

Erica Moore

Erica is the Founder & Managing Director of eteaket leaf tea co, empowering tea drinkers all over the world to develop their own personal tea routines so that they can pause, rebalance and thrive more every day. With around 15 employees, Erica is primarily responsible for business development and overseeing the running of eteaket’s Wholesale, Export, Ecommerce, Tea Room & Shop business streams.

She was previously a litigation lawyer where she worked on high profile civil and insurance litigation cases, including assisting in taking a case to the House of Lords.

Erica is a regular speaker on all things tea, business and mental wellbeing related. She’s also a business mentor, long-term Health In Mind supporter, Mental Health First Aider, NLP Practitioner, Vedic Meditator, Women’s Enterprise Scotland Ambassador, mother of girls, campervan lover & occasional surfer.

How Erica looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘I look after my own mental health and wellbeing by ensuring I pause regularly for tea so that I can rebalance by doing a breathing or gratitude exercise.’

Barbara Osborne

Barbara is Chief Executive of Music in Hospitals & Care and has an extensive experience within Fundraising, Marketing and Health. With over 20 years of working in the voluntary sector in roles including Director of Income Generation & Marketing at Myeloma UK, Head of Volunteer Fundraising (Scotland/Northern Ireland) at the British Heart Foundation, and Regional Fundraising Manager at Children’s Hospice Association Scotland, she’s also an active member of the Institute of Fundraising.

How Barbara looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘I recognise the importance of ensuring I make time to do things I enjoy – such as socialising with family and friends, enjoying the outdoors with a walk along the beach, tending to my garden or exploring woodland trails with a four-legged friend in tow. Swimming and yoga are essential tools for grounding myself; and music is invaluable for my wellbeing – enjoying live music brings me so much joy.’

Alice Tucker

Alice is Human Rights and Equalities Development Officer at EVOC and has recently moved to Edinburgh from Birmingham for the role. Before this, Alice has held a variety of roles both within the charity sector and higher education, including Volunteer Coordinator at Living Well UK and a trustee position at the University of Birmingham Guild of Students.

Alice completed her MA in Human Rights while working at Living Well UK, which demonstrated to her the fundamental role that supporting mental health and wellbeing plays in improving the livelihoods of individuals and communities.

How Alice looks after their mental health and wellbeing

‘I maintain my wellbeing by going for walks or running around Edinburgh’s green spaces. Also, spending time away from screens, either with friends and family or in solitude with a good book is key for me to unwind.’

Brian Young

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.

Pia Helbing

Pia is a Lecturer in Finance at the University of Edinburgh. She holds a PhD in Finance from Trinity College Dublin. Pia’s research interest is in the area of corporate finance and entrepreneurial finance. She is passionate about governance and finance. In her 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.’