Meet the Board
Chair
Tony Young
A former Director of Social Services, Tony will supply the Board with comprehensive knowledge and experience of a multi-agency approach to safeguarding issues and significant leadership experience.
Vice-Chair
Lin Slater
Lin has significant experience as a clinical leader in the NHS. She is committed to partnership working and has taken lead roles in the development of multi-agency arrangements for safeguarding practice both in Wales and England.
Members
Tessa Hodgson
Tessa is a confident communicator with a broad range of skills and a record of constructive challenge and scrutiny. A County Councillor and Cabinet Member for Safeguarding and Social Services, she will have a significant contribution to make to the strategic development of the National Board.
Carys James
Carys is a former Director of Social Services with over 35 years’ experience in social care, both in Children & Adult services. Carys has extensive experience of, and is committed to, multi-agency working. A first language Welsh speaker Carys currently works as an Independent Social Work Consultant.
Des Mannion
Des Mannion has undertaken a leadership role in services for children and families in both the statutory and voluntary sectors. Des has experience in service innovation, research, and the development of policy to support effective practice. Des has also been a member of a number of multiagency safeguarding forums at both a local and national level within Wales.
Artie Meakin
Artie has an extensive background in fostering and adoption in both the local authority and voluntary sector. She has chaired various fostering and adoption panels in South Wales ensuring that all safeguarding concerns are robustly addressed. She also has considerable training experience relating to Looked After Children.
Dr Jo Aubrey
Jo brings experience as an academic, consultant and senior manager with a track record of leadership, management and training working with children and families at local, national and international levels. This experience has included advising on a range of issues relating to the development of children’s services – including strategies and policies for protection and safeguarding.
Karen Minton
Karen has played an important role in the Third Sector in Wales within safeguarding. She brings wide experience both as a safeguarding board member and author of a number of reports and reviews reflecting upon safeguarding practice.
Jane Randall
Jane brings to the National Board a track record as a highly experienced clinical leader in health and multi-disciplinary safeguarding and public protection as a former Head of Safeguarding in a Welsh health board. A skilled and effective communicator, she is able to provide expert specialist advice and knowledge and make decisions on complex issues.
Jan Pickles
Jan is an experienced social worker and has worked in the Probation Service, the police, government and third sector. Jan led the development of the multi-agency risk assessment conference (MARAC) reducing the risk for adults and children who experience domestic and sexual violence and abuse. Jan is a member of the Velindre NHS Trust, the Contextual Safeguarding Advisory Board and the Centre for Expertise in Child sexual abuse Advisory Board. Jan has a thriving safeguarding consultancy business working for Local Authorities, Charities and the Private sector, most recently working as part of the review teams on historic sexual abuse in football and the Church.