Our people

anna-clare.temple@step-together.org.uk

deborah.saw@step-together.org.uk

admin@step-together.org.uk

laura.dobson@step-together.org.uk

sarah.doherty@step-together.org.uk

sally.houlihan@step-together.org.uk

helen.kington@step-together.org.uk

mel.head@step-together.org.uk

alice.abrahams@step-together.org.uk

jack.waters@step-together.org.uk

paul.riding@step-together.org.uk

Jamie is from a small town in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG in Vancouver, Canada before moving to the UK in 2007. Jamie commenced her financial services career in London where she started in internal audit. She subsequently worked in compliance and risk in asset management and now manages a finance and HR team. Jamie is a successful leader and loves managing people and watching them gain confidence as they increase their skillsets. She sits on her company’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Consultation Group and volunteers for a charity that promotes asset management as a solid career choice for young women. Jamie is passionate about travel, and also enjoys sailing and photography.

Originally from a small and mostly unknown mining town in the northern part of South Africa, Scharmarie now lives with her partner in a small village just south of Bristol. Scharmarie's background has been primarily in corporate finance and accounting and more recently she has moved into asset/wealth management and financial advisory, an area that she feels more passionate about, where she can help people with financial education. Scharmarie has international offshore funds and finance experience, having lived in Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Bermuda. She currently works in investments and finance for a small company in the Cotswolds. Outside of work Scharmarie attends gymnastics and trampolining classes (her childhood sports of choice) and also does Ballroom dancing with her partner. She is an avid Crossfitter and always up for anything outdoors and adventurous.

Maurice, or Moz as he's known, has a background in the media industry having started in publishing before moving into branding, advertising and digital marketing. He currently works for a London based marketing agency as Resource Manager, and has over 20 years managerial experience. Moz has held a lifelong passion for sport, including supporting Watford FC, and still enjoys keeping fit. Moz was introduced to Step Together via an offer of pro bono support to help us with our brand refresh and clearer messaging. Together with his contacts in the industry, who also offered their support pro bono, Moz provided Step Together Volunteering with a vibrant new logo and simple, concise messaging. Having shown such a keen interest in the charity and its work, Moz was subsequently invited to join the Board of Trustees, and was appointed in July 2020.

Holly has worked for charities and third sector organisations in the young people and education sectors for over 15 years, in a range of leadership and management roles spanning service, operations, people, and governance. Currently, Holly is Head of Service and Operations at Reach Volunteering, the leading skills-based volunteering charity in the UK, and the single biggest source of trustees for the voluntary sector. Her passion lies in supporting all people to develop the skills and confidence to thrive. Outside of work, Holly loves spending time with her young son, volunteers at her local school, and is a keen gardener, knitter and singer.

Mary Mawhinney is Chief of Staff at the British Red Cross, a key strategic leadership position working across the span of domestic and international operations. Mary collaborates with, advises and supports the Board, Committees and Executive to make sound, evidenced based decisions and to maximise impact for people in crisis. She provides counsel to the Chief Executive and her Executive team, and to the Board of Trustees as their Head of Governance. Mary engages broadly with colleagues across the organisation, actively contributing to ensuring the organisation is run effectively, transparently and accountably. She has spent her career advising leaders at the highest level, including the United Nations in New York; and at the apex of the Australian Government, serving as Private Secretary to the Prime Minister; and adviser to the Trade Minister. Mary was raised in an Australian country town. She holds a BA (Hons) in Political Science and International Relations; an MSc in Development and Demography; and most recently an LLB. She joined the Board of Step Together Volunteering in February 2024. She is an avid traveller, reader, committed humanitarian and incurable optimist.

Tracy Fraisse is Director of Undergraduate studies for the business school at UWE. This strategic leadership position involves developing and delivering future proofed degree programmes for student both in Bristol and at partners overseas. Tracy collaborates with academics and industry to ensure the degree programmes develop strong employability within graduates and importantly to develop young people who are equipped to run ethical and sustainable businesses for the future. In addition, Tracy’s research interest is within the area of understanding how higher education can better support neurodivergent individuals in their learning at University and she is studying for a PhD in this field. UWE is a second career for Tracy who changed direction when she started her family. Prior to working at UWE Tracy was Global Head of Marketing for Speedo and Director of Planning for Levi’s in Brussels. Tracy brings to STV her background in understanding businesses together with her passion for supporting young people who lack confidence in their skills. Tracy volunteers for a local swimming club, and due to her PhD studies she doesn’t has time for any hobbies at the moment but she does dream of retiring to France with her French husband in the future.

Lee is originally from Darlington and began his career in the Royal Air Force, working in logistics in the Scottish Highlands. Since then, he has built a career in the telecoms sector, initially managing operations teams of support and development engineers, and now working as a project manager. A standout moment in his career was taking on the role of NOC Manager for Orange Thailand. Lee joined Step Together Volunteering as a trustee after seeking a role where he could contribute outside of his day-to-day work. He feels a strong connection to the charity’s mission, particularly given his own background in the military and his experience of leaving education early due to challenging circumstances. This is Lee’s first trustee role, and he brings with him a wealth of experience in project management, operations, and military service. He is keen to use these skills to support Step Together Volunteering’s work and help make a meaningful impact. Lee has supported charities in the past, but this is his first direct role with an organisation. Outside of work, Lee enjoys family holidays both in the UK and abroad, with skiing being a particular favourite.