Our Staff & Trustees

Annette joined the CJA as its first Deputy Director in May 2021 and was appointed Director in April 2024. Annette was previously Deputy Director at The Death Penalty Project where she was responsible for organisational development including strategic planning, fundraising, financial management and charity governance, as well as leading on criminal justice reform projects across different jurisdictions. Annette started her career as a solicitor at Allen & Overy LLP and holds a Master of Laws from Columbia University, New York. She is a Clore Social Leadership Fellow and is currently Co-Chair of Board of Trustees at Hibiscus Initiatives, a member of the CJA.

Contact Annette at annette.so@criminaljusticealliance.org.uk.

Mark has worked across the voluntary and community sector for more than three decades. He has a broad range of experience from both the criminal justice and race equality sectors. He was previously Criminal Justice Policy Officer at Action for Race Equality (formerly BTEG). More recently he has worked in police consultation as Project Manager for Camden Safer Neighbourhood Board and directly in two prisons as a consultant helping to progress the Lammy Recommendations.

As Policy Manager, Mark leads the policy, public affairs and research work of the CJA.

Contact Mark at mark.blake@criminaljusticealliance.org.uk.

Holly joined the Criminal Justice Alliance in April 2023 as Communications and Engagement Manager. Before joining the CJA, Holly was Senior Communications Officer at criminal justice watchdog Fair Trials, where she raised awareness of fair trial rights issues internationally. She has also held fundraising and communications roles at the NHS charity CW+, and the Prisoners’ Advice Service.

Holly leads on all communications for the CJA including press and media inquiries, amplifying the work of our 200 members.

Contact Holly at holly.brooks-burgin@criminaljusticealliance.org.uk 

After an 8-year career in the care sector, supporting individuals through rehab and crisis, Tasha spent just under 5 years working in social housing. She managed a community centre and developed Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) programs to reduce anti-social behaviour and improve community cohesion in areas of high deprivation. She also worked for a charity supporting child survivors of domestic violence and their families.

Venturing into social enterprise, Tasha specifically developed programs and courses for young people experiencing the criminal justice system (CJS) to increase their employability, social, and life skills. This includes partnering on the Culture Exchange Program, led by London’s own Social Ark.

Tasha leads the CJA’s leadership programme, ELEVATE CJS, which aims to promote the redistribution of power to people with lived experience of the criminal justice system.

Contact Tasha: tasha.cowperthwaite@criminaljusticealliance.org.uk

Gemma was appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees in July 2024. Gemma is a Reader in Criminal Justice at City, University of London where she is Co-Director of the interdisciplinary Centre for Justice Reform. Gemma sits on the Executive Board of the British Society of Criminology and chairs its Women, Crime and Criminal Justice Network. She is a trustee at Elizabeth Fry Approved Premises in Reading, and a Mentor with the Longford Trust.

CJ joined the board of trustees in 2018 and became Vice Chair in 2022. CJ currently works at the Mayor of London’s Violence Reduction Unit and leads on their Education and Parenting work. Previously CJ worked at St Giles Trust for over seven years, on the national SOS+ Service, aimed at preventing young people’s involvement in gangs and youth violence.  CJ is an award-winning Longford Scholar who achieved a first-class honours law degree while in prison. She is also a Trustee of The Longford Trust.

Bernard joined the board of trustees in December 2024 as Treasurer.  His professional background is in financial management in banking at a senior level, including roles at Chase Manhattan and Barclays. He also has experience in managing organisational change and in consultancy. His pro-bono career includes being chair of the Haemophilia Society and founding and chairing Number Champions, an educational charity supporting primary school children in numeracy.

Alex joined the board of trustees in July 2023. Alex is Chair in Criminology at the University of Sheffield, a trustee of Harm Reduction International, and chair of the Drug Science Enhanced Harm Reduction Working Group. He is a previous member of the UK Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and President of the International Society for the Study of Drug Policy. He is currently researching police drug diversion schemes and services for people being released from prison. His latest book on Drug Policy Constellations was published by Bristol University Press in January 2024. 

Jason joined the board of trustees in July 2023 and currently chairs the CJA ELEVATE CJS advisory group. Jason is a lived experience researcher and practitioner who works to improve outcomes for people within the mental health system. Currently working for the NHS, the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Healthy Brains Global Initiative, and King’s College London working on a programme of research investigating recovery colleges. Jason sits on several mental health advisory boards including the NIHR Applied Research Collaborative for Kent, Surrey, and Sussex; Mental Health Implementation Network; and University College London’s Institute of Mental Health. Jason has degrees from Goldsmiths, University of London, City University London, University of Glasgow, and completed the Pathways to Success programme at University of Oxford. 

Nick joined the board of trustees in October 2021. He is a finance leader with over 15 years’ experience in the film and television sector, having worked for Disney, Paramount Pictures and Universal. In his current role at Warner Media, Nick focuses on business performance, strategy and risk management. A qualified accountant, he originally trained with PricewaterhouseCoopers where his diverse client list included a number of national and local charities. Nick has also spent a year volunteering as a mentor with Chance UK, an early intervention children’s charity.

Nick joined the board of trustees in July 2023. Nick is a former prison officer with a background in policy, working across the adult male and female estates. He has lectured at the University of Law and is undertaking a PhD examining human rights in prison healthcare settings at the University of York. He has previously served on the board of the Kirklees Citizen Advice and Law Centre, and currently works in governance for a consumer regulator. 

Rachel joined the board of trustees in October 2021. Rachel works for AIG and leads on learning, talent and inclusion where she helps employees to develop their skills and knowledge and supports the organisation to become more diverse. She has a background in teaching adults and started her career training people in prison and those with convictions, working for organisations including Nacro and St Giles Trust. Rachel was previously trustee for Headway and two sexual health charities.

Stuart joined the board of trustees in June 2023. Stuart is a newly retired chartered accountant and chartered management accountant with a long career in financial management. He spent over 30 years in the not-for-profit sector in a number of senior positions, including 14 years as Finance Director of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy and its associated charities. Stuart is an experienced trustee and treasurer having served with the Orbit Housing Group, Central and Cecil Housing Trust and the University of London Union. 

Tom McNeil is the CEO of The JABBS Foundation, a grant giving organisation seeking to prevent women and girls falling into the criminal justice system. Previously, Tom served as Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner for the West Midlands, where he led innovative projects around community rehabilitation, court reform, ethics in law enforcement technology and early intervention for families in crisis. Prior to this role, Tom was a charity and social enterprise lawyer. Tom has also held policy fellowships and visiting practitioner roles, including at Cambridge University, and has a PhD in Social Policy and Criminology from the University of Birmingham.