Our team

Simon Wright QGM

Chief Operating Officer

Simon’s role is an enabling one which encompasses oversight of all Charity HR, contracts, governance, health and safety, information systems and technology, insurance, infrastructure, strategic planning, risk management and mitigation, amenities funding and Company secretarial duties.

Danny Egan

Director of Health & Wellbeing

Danny leads the Health & Wellbeing team from our Portsmouth Office – delivering the charity’s Health & Wellbeing delivery outputs to support the Corps Family.

Caroline Casey

Director of Fundraising & Communications

Caroline leads the Charity’s communications and fundraising teams, responsible for managing voluntary income derived from community fundraising and major events, and for the marketing and communications strategies across all platforms. She is principally based at the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.

Tom Wilson

Director of Development

Tom is responsible for the management and leadership of the major donor, corporate, trusts and legacies income generation and relationships
with the business network. Tom works collaboratively with the wider fundraising team, to develop a strategy and revenue streams that enable the delivery of the charity’s crucial outputs. Tom is based principally in London.

Richie Puttock

Operations Director East

Richie’s wide-ranging role includes the planning and conduct of membership events, including key the London events, Graspan and Spean Bridge parades.  He plays a vital role in the promotion of the development of new branches.  His captive areas are The South, South East, Midlands, Scotland and Northern Ireland.  He works across Portsmouth and the Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.

Phil Gilby MBE

Operations Director West

Phil’s role includes the planning and conduct of membership events.  Additionally, he plays a vital role in the promotion of the development of new branches, holding responsibility for specialist non-geographical branches. Phil is also the Event Director for the Royal Marines Commando Challenge, held annually on Woodbury Common and the liaison for troop reunions. He is principally based at Commando Training Centre RM.

Wendy Sheen

Executive Assistant

Wendy is the Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive. She is responsible for timely preparation of materials required by the Chief Executive and acts as the first point of contact between the Chief Executive and outside parties.

Nick Holloway

Relationships Manager, Scotland

Nick is the Relationships Manager in Scotland, responsible for delivery of the fundraising strategy in Scotland. This includes our Scottish events, including Commando Country, a network of Scottish businesses and the Bi-annual Scottish Dinner.  He also works with the Employment and Education team to provide assistance to resettlement activities in Scotland.

Sue Holloway

Health & Wellbeing Service Development and Casework Manager

Sue works alongside Director of Health & Wellbeing (HWB) providing support to all pillars of delivery in developing the services offered to the Corps family. In addition to line management of TSOs and Tribunal Advocates she is responsible for administration and management of HWB case recording system and provides casework guidance and direction to team.  She is also responsible for team training, charity Safeguarding training and HWB policy.

John Reed

Welfare & Grants Manager

John is responsible for delivering and managing our grants to the Corps Family.  He works with other charities and SSAFA caseworkers to almonise grants and provide the best possible support to the Royal Marines Family.

Hazel Maxwell-Payne

Clinical Psychotherapy Lead (contractor)

Hazel supports veterans and their families to access psychological treatments primarily through the NHS and when this is not available, via RMA – The Royal Marines Charity funded psychotherapists.

She provides ad hoc crisis support and advises the Health & Wellbeing team on mental health issues.

Jim Morris MBE

Transition Support Officer (South & Wales) and RMA Support Volunteer Manager

Jim provides our vital vulnerable service leaver support. He identifies holistic need which includes physical and financial needs and links the service leaver with the most appropriate support, helping them develop new strengths and ensures they still feel that important sense of identity and belonging to the Corps family.  Jim also supports veterans leaning back into the charity requiring support.  Recently he has begun managing our group of 45 Support Volunteers who provide valuable assistance to the Health & Wellbeing Team.

Jim has been in post since 2017 and currently works out of Bickleigh Barracks, Plymouth.

Paul Barrett

Transition Support Officer North (and Scotland, Northern Ireland)

Paul provides our vital vulnerable service leaver support.  He identifies holistic need which includes physical and financial needs and links the service leaver with the most appropriate support, helping them develop new strengths and ensures they still feel that important sense of identity and belonging to the Corps family.  Paul also supports veterans leaning back into the charity requiring support.   Paul has been in post since 2021 and currently works out of Condor Barracks, Arbroath.

Paul Kirby

Welfare & Grants Officer

Paul works within the Welfare & Grants team. He is responsible for assessing new assistance requests and decides on the level of assistance given. Paul makes decisions on both financial or non-financial support, whichever is appropriate to the case.

Steve Willett

Tribunals Advocate & War Pension Advisor

Steve works alongside Kevin Jensen as one of our Tribunal Advocate and War Pensions Advisors. They provide advice on Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) claims, War Pensions (WP) and compensation. He also represents serving and former Royal Marines beneficiaries at WP and AFCS tribunals – ensuring they receive the best possible compensation following injury.

Steve works out of Stonehouse, Plymouth.

Kevin Jensen

Tribunals Advocate & War Pension Advisor

Kevin works alongside Steve Willett as one of our Tribunal Advocate and War Pensions Advisors. They provide advice on Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS) claims, War Pensions (WP) and compensation. He also represents serving and former Royal Marines beneficiaries at WP and AFCS tribunals – ensuring they receive the best possible compensation following injury.

Kevin works out of Stonehouse, Plymouth.

Vivienne Laing

Welfare & Grants Administrator

Vivienne assists in the assessment and delivery of welfare grants to both serving and veteran Royal Marines and their families.

Paul Gray

Transformation-Collaboration and Consensus Project Officer

Paul is our Transformation-Collaboration and Consensus Project Officer.  His role is to deliver the Transformation-Collaboration and Consensus Project.

Kate Stoakes

Clinical case Administrator

Kate works within the Health & Wellbeing Team, coordinating the clinical case administration.

Tina Thorpe

Addiction Case Administrator

Tina works within the Health and Wellbeing Team.  She is based at Stonehouse Barracks.

Zoe Darnbrough

Head of Employment and Education

Zoe ensures the delivery of Employment and Education strategy. She supports and maintains a relationship with potential employers. She is responsible for the management of caseloads and ensures the best possible support is given to those facing medical discharge.

Laurie Hawkshaw

Employment & Education Grants Officer

Laurie is responsible for the facilitation of Employment and Education grant requests. She works closely with all  beneficiaries in identifying training needs and engaging with relevant training providers to deliver the most up to date courses, to support all compulsory discharged, veterans and spouses.  

Tony Radford

Employment & Employer Relationship Coordinator

Tony has a focused approach to growing our employer relationships. He is responsible for supporting all compulsory discharged, veterans and spouses into sustainable long term employment. Tony delivers careers advice and guidance to all applicable as well as signposting to charity partners and relevant training providers.

Gaby Applegate

Membership Office Manager

Gaby is responsible for coordinating memberships for Association Members. She also is responsible for the PR activity of the Charity.

Sharon Seabrook

Membership & Finance Coordinator

Sharon is part of the Membership Team, managing all aspects of RMA – The Royal marines Charity membership. She is based at CTCRM.

Adrienne Kamester

Membership Coordinator 

AJ is part of the Membership Team, managing all aspects of the charity’s membership. She is based at CTCRM.

Lucy Ekins

Membership Coordinator

Lucy is part of the Membership Team, managing all aspects of the charity’s membership. She is based at CTCRM

Zan Whale

CRM & Major Events Manager

Zan is responsible for database, office and fundraising administration within the Charity.

Colin Hunt

IT Database Manager

Colin is our IT and Database Manager, specialising in networks, systems and databases.

Tom Eaton

Development Manager

Tom works on the management and delivery of the charity’s research and tracking programme. He is also responsible for supporting the delivery of events organised by the charity’s Department for Development.

Lindsey Barry

Community Events and Fundraising Manager

Lindsey is Community Events and Fundraising Manager and is responsible for fundraising through events and challenges. She is based at CTCRM.

Hannah Pym

Fundraising Officer

Hannah assists the Fundraising Manager and Team with various events throughout the year, helping to raise much-needed funds for the RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.

She is based at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines.

Sarah Birbeck

Communications Manager

Sarah is our Communications Manager. She works closely with the PR Officer and Director of Fundraising and Communications, to help deliver the Charity’s communication strategy.

Liz Sheridan

Public Relations Officer

Liz is the charity’s Public Relations Officer, working within the communications team.  She is responsible for helping raise the charity’s profile by seeking out newsworthy stories and coming up with creative ideas to spread the word as far and wide as possible.