Dr Maria Callias is a consultant clinical psychologist and a founder of Children and War UK. She has worked in specialist clinical services for children and young people with autism, learning disabilities and other complex mental health issues including trauma, and their families. Maria has taught, researched and written widely on clinical psychology, and contributed to strategic policy and service development in the UK, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Until 2021 she was a director of Norway’s Children and War Foundation.

Julian Hale has worked for the UN, as a modern language text publisher and as a radio documentary producer for the BBC. He is the author of a wide range of non-fiction books on radio propaganda, Romania, the French Riviera, and the life of a portrait sculptor, as well as novels and short stories.

Lorie Halliday brings 20 years of advocacy and volunteering experience to helping achieve CAW’s vision and goals. She has worked and studied across Southeast Asia, primarily as a journalist, covering social justice and human rights. She now lives in the UK where her lived experience informs her compassionate leadership of Kanlungan, a charity serving East and South-east Asian migrants.

Jo Lehmann is a senior communications leader with more than 20 years of media experience. She spent a decade working for renowned news channels such as Al Jazeera, Associated Press, Bloomberg and Reuters before moving to in-house roles, managing reputations for the UK Government and not-for-profits like WaterAid and mental health charity St Andrew’s Healthcare. Jo excels in communicating strategic direction, enhancing brand identity and securing landmark media coverage.

Helen Likierman, a clinical psychologist, has worked with children, adolescents and families in hospital and school settings. Her research ranges from the psychological impact on children who sustained facial or body burns, to pre-schoolers’ peer relationships. She has co-authored three books for parents: on development in the early years, and on specific learning difficulties.

Mark Roe is an Executive Director at Nomura, a global investment bank. Mark’s initial career involved running projects and services for people with disabilities. Following studies in Criminology, Mark then pursued a career as a community safety adviser at local, regional and national levels in the UK. More recently Mark has worked in the financial services sector specialising in culture, conduct, risk management and operational resilience in the UK and Australia. 

Stephen Matlin is a Visiting Professor in the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London and a consultant to HI5 Governance, Geneva. He has worked in the fields of chemistry, health and education in academia, government and international agencies and NGOs. The focus of his recent work has included sustainable development, the global effort to eradicate polio, and the health of migrants and refugees.

John Smith is a founding and current board member of Hostage US and former Chairman of Hostage International; both charities provide practical and pastoral support for hostages and their families.  After service in the British Army in general and specialist roles he has worked in senior risk management roles. He is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and Manchester University where he read Psychology.

Laura Timms (aka Tomlinson) worked as a clinical psychologist in Guys and St Thomas’ Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for over 30 years, developing and applying psychological approaches to acute and emergency children’s services and neonatology.

Sarah Trevathan is a Psychotherapist and Clinical Manager, advocating for vulnerable communities internationally. From the United Nations High Comission for Refugees in Bangkok to The Centre for the Victims of Torture in Jordan and Relief International, Sarah has extensive experience of supporting humanitarian organisations by advising on protocol strategies and strategic vision, representing organisations to senior stakeholders and advising governmental bodies on mental health strategies in emergency settings.