Our Staff & Trustees

Nina joined the CJA as Director in July 2018. She was previously Head of Policy at Prisoners’ Education Trust, where she set up the Prisoner Learning Alliance. She began her career as a criminal defence solicitor and then ran various prevention, rehabilitation and resettlement projects for Catch22, the Prisons Advice and Care Trust and Women in Prison. In 2018, Nina was awarded a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship and travelled to the United States and around Europe to research prison university partnerships and lived experience leadership.

Contact Nina at nina.champion@criminaljusticealliance.org.uk.

Annette joined the CJA as its first Deputy Director in May 2021. 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 a Trustee of Hibiscus Initiatives, a member of the CJA.

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

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

Holly joined the Criminal Justice Alliance in April 2023 as the first 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 communications roles at the NHS charity CW+, and the Prisoners’ Advice Service. In addition, Holly spent time mentoring students through Debate Mate and Team Up, helping disadvantaged pupils to improve their academic attainment and develop essential communication and problem-solving skills.

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

Eulina joined the CJA in April 2023. Eulina began her career as a social researcher, and have worked in a range of charities (Barnardo’s, Mencap) as Press/Media Officer. Eulina was also a lecturer for A level Sociology at the Open University and various colleges. Most recently, Eulina worked as an employment coach at The Forward Trust, supporting people in prison with employment and education opportunities. Fully committed to helping people tackle disadvantage and improve life chances, Eulina is a volunteer mentor at ReachOut, a national mentoring and education charity.

Louise joined the CJA in June 2022. She is the Finance Officer and works alongside the team in preparing and maintaining financial records. Most recently, Louise was the Administrator for Student Minds, a mental health charity for university students. In this role, she was responsible for the administration of recruitment, finance, and office management. She was also part of the People and Culture team that was responsible for the wellbeing of the team. Prior to this, Louise was a Law and Criminology teacher in various secondary schools in Yorkshire.

Contact Louise at louise.tighe@criminaljusticealliance.org.uk

Kevin joined as a trustee in April 2019 and became Chair in September 2020.  Kevin is a Reader in Community Justice and Associate Director of Criminal Justice at the Policy and Evaluation Research Unit (PERU), Manchester Metropolitan University. He is Co-Editor of the British Journal of Community Justice and the founder and Director of the Manchester Crime and Justice Film Festival. He was formerly Assistant Director at Nacro, and a manager at Citizens Advice, developing services for Black, Asian and minority ethnic people.

CJ joined the board of trustees in 2018 and became Vice Chair in 2022. She also chairs the ELEVATE CJS advisory group. 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 ex-Longford Scholar who achieved a first-class honours law degree while in prison. She is also a Trustee of The Longford Trust.

Carol has been a trustee since January 2019 and was appointed as Treasurer in April 2020. Carol is an experienced finance director and company secretary with 30 years of experience in the charity sector, including at the Princes Trust, the Royal Voluntary Service and the United Nations Association UK. She has also been Treasurer of the Fawcett Society and Peace Direct.

Alex joined the board of trustees in July 2023. Alex is a Professor in Criminal Justice at the University of Kent, 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 will be published by Bristol University Press in January 2024. 

Jason joined the board of trustees in July 2023. 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. 

Lucie joined as a trustee in October 2021. She has over 30 years’ experience of senior leadership in a range of third sector social justice organisations. She is currently the CEO of Street Doctors, empowering young people affected by violence with emergency first aid skills and increasing their understanding of the consequences of violence. Lucie is a qualified social worker, was one of the founders of the Big Issue, and set up its charity The Big Issue Foundation. She also has a range of senior level communications and campaigning expertise including in Director level positions at the Prison Reform Trust, YoungMinds, the Young Foundation and at The Barrow Cadbury Trust.

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 Aviva Investors 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.

Rod joined the board of trustees in January 2019. Rod is Professor Emeritus of Criminal Justice at the University of Bristol, Visiting Professor at the University of Sussex and an Associate of the Birkbeck University Centre for Prison Studies. He was formerly Chief Inspector of Probation and Chairman of the Youth Justice Board. He has also served on an IMB, as a magistrate, a Parole Board member and an advisor to the Council of Europe.

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.