Meet the STAMMA Trustee team and find out about their roles, backgrounds and interests.
Joanna Gaukroger
TRUSTEE TYPE: CHAIR, ELECTED 2020
My role
I Chair the six Board meetings that we hold throughout the year, some in person and some via Zoom, and I sit on the Finance Committee. I work closely with Jane, our Chief Executive, and Vice Chair Paul Fix, keeping in close touch with all Trustees throughout the year, so that everyone is kept informed and any issues which arise between meetings can be dealt with swiftly.
About me
I left school at 16 and did many and varied jobs before discovering the world of further education in my mid-20s. I was appointed Principal of Kensington and Chelsea College in 1998 and Tower Hamlets College in 2006. I've also worked for the government on further education matters — leading inspections and supporting colleges in special measures.
I am originally from Solihull but I now live in Dartmouth, Devon with my husband, three cats and two tortoises. Regular visits from friends and stepchildren, work for our local charity Dartmouth Caring, walks on our wonderful coastal paths, gardening and STAMMA all keep me well occupied in retirement.
My interest in stammering
I have stammered as long as I can remember. A big passion of mine is helping those in education or employment who stammer to fulfil their potential and progress, should they wish, in their lives and careers.
My vision for STAMMA
During my term as Chair, I am keen to see us make real progress with accessing goods and services — addressing the ordeals many of us face with using the telephone or voice-activated systems. As an organisation, I firmly believe that we must gain our place at the table, and to seek to ensure that those who stammer are listened to and valued for the skills, qualities and insights they bring as individuals — rather than to be judged or written off because of their speech.
PAUL FIX
TRUSTEE TYPE: VICE CHAIR, APPOINTED 2022
My role
Being Vice Chair involves anything from deputising for the Chair to leading on projects or external engagements. I'm also on the Finance Committee, which involves reviewing the financial data for the charity, approving budgets and forecasting. In addition, I provide input on renumeration and I've been involved in recruiting staff and setting up a Trustee Alumni Group.
About me
I am originally from Essex but moved to Kent in 2010, so I spend a lot of time crossing the Thames to visit family and friends. I have one daughter and as a family of three, we spend lots of time travelling and seeing the world.
In my day job, I'm Head of People Development and Volunteering for a national charity; working with people and making sure they fulfil their potential is at the core of what I enjoy doing. In addition to STAMMA I'm a local trustee of a Scout Group (where my daughter is a Beaver!) and I lead a national project for another charity looking at the Culture of Volunteering.
My interest in stammering
I have always had a stammer and it's obvious; I don't try and hide it, it's part of who I am and how I talk. I have been a member of STAMMA since 2020 and was originally involved with supporting the CEO to recruit and interview staff. I ran workshops at the 2022 STAMMAFest and was interviewed on GB news to promote the event (pictured).
My vision for STAMMA
I'm passionate about ensuring STAMMA continues to grow, develop and maximise its potential by working with our members and volunteers.
Gillian Rudd
TRUSTEE TYPE: RE-APPOINTED 2021
My role
In addition to my core Trustee responsibilities, I am a Lead Trustee for Safeguarding. I'm also a member of the Trustee Support Group, which supports new Trustees and oversees the election process, and I'm part of the Research Committee, which oversees research-related projects and activities, including the Research Arena.
About me
I am originally from Lancashire and moved to the West Midlands 14 years ago. I live with my husband, our two children and our elderly cat called Captain Fury (we love a bit of Marvel in our house!). Life is pretty busy but we enjoy spending our free time together going to the park, reading, doing jigsaws and gaming (our current obsession is Disney's Dreamlight Valley).
I am a speech & language therapist by background and currently work as a Senior Lecturer and Joint Course Lead at Birmingham City University. I am particularly interested in how services are designed and delivered and the variation in provision across regions and I have campaigned for improved funding and provision for many years. I am hoping to explore this issue further as part of my Doctorate.
My interest in stammering
I have been a member of STAMMA for almost 20 years and am grateful to be part of such a dynamic, engaging and welcoming community. I joined when I was training to be a speech & language therapist and attended my first conference back in 2007 in Telford. I have remained an active member whilst practising clinically in the NHS and higher education and have been involved in a range of activities including a number of International Stammering Awareness Day events. I also co-founded the Birmingham Stammering Network with teacher Abed Ahmed (pictured).
My vision for STAMMA
Without wanting to sound too corporate, I believe wholeheartedly in STAMMA's mission and vision to create a world that makes space for stammering; to challenge discrimination, to provide support and information and to fight for services. Our voices are louder when we stand together: let's make people stop and listen.
DEBORAH JOHNSTON
TRUSTEE TYPE: APPOINTED 2022
My role
I currently sit on the Research Committee, which looks at applications to involve STAMMA members in stammering-related research and provides advice around it. I'm also part of the Fundraising Support Group, which supports the STAMMA fundraising team.
About me
I am a typical Londoner. Born in London (and living there again now), I'm actually of dual heritage (Irish/Pakistani) and lived for almost a decade in Southern Africa. My husband of more than 25 years is from Yorkshire, so Wakefield is my second home.
I have two children (one of whom stammers), a Yorkshire Terrier and two cats. I love art and craft and all things creative. In my day job I am the Deputy Vice Chair of a university and professor of development economics. I sit on several sectoral groups looking at disability.
I'm also a member of the international public speaking club Toastmasters. I became a Distinguished Toastmaster in 2020 (I'm wearing my little badge in the photo above) and have started public speaking groups at my last two universities. Everything from an accent to a speech difference can be perceived negatively. I think that for some people, acquiring public speaking skills can be empowering and I love to watch people grow in confidence.
My interest in stammering
I was first involved with STAMMA/BSA in the mid-1990s, when I joined a City Lit stammering therapy course. My special interest is stammering and education, particularly at university. In the 2010s, I contacted the brilliant Claire Maillet from Stammerers Through University Consultancy (STUC) and I've worked with her and others to provide more information for students and staff. I was 
particularly pleased when STUC, STAMMA and London South Bank University (my university) published a guide for university staff in 2021. I also facilitated a webinar on creating inclusive environments for people who stammer in 2022 (pictured).
My vision for STAMMA
My vision is that our way of speaking (in all diversity) is simply accepted in the future; and that people with a stammer will realise that they are not alone and, if they want help, that STAMMA is there for them.
MANDY TAYLOR
TRUSTEE TYPE: ELECTED 2022
My role
I currently sit on the Finance Committee, which involves reviewing the financial data for the charity, discussing and approving budgets, forecasting etc. I'm also part of the Trustee Support Group, which supports new Trustees and helps to support the election process.
About me
I am originally from Northern Ireland and moved to Cheshire 9 years ago after meeting my now husband through the stammering community. I have two sons, two step sons and a miniature dachshund called Peanut. We enjoy spending time at our caravan in Morecambe, where I try to keep up my running and walking across the beautiful surrounding landscapes. Other things I enjoy are cooking, quiz nights and playing daft games with the kids.
For my day job, I work in finance for an estate management company. I am also the Treasurer for a local nursery school which my youngest son attended.
My interest in stammering
I stammer, I have been a member of BSA/STAMMA since 2011 and this is my third term as a Trustee over the last 12 years. My special interest has been children and families as my own family has numerous members that stammer.
Over the years I have been involved in the Giving Voice campaign in Northern Ireland, a Belfast support group, the walking group STAMMA Striders, and I've attended conferences and fundraising events in London (pictured), Manchester, Glasgow and Iceland.
My vision for STAMMA
Being on the Board of Trustees is a fantastic opportunity to continue the work and progression of STAMMA. I look forward to seeing our charity continue to bring stammering forward to wider audiences, making the difference to all generations of people who stammer.
James Mawrey
TRUSTEE TYPE: APPOINTED 2022
My role
In addition to sitting on the Board, I am a member of the Trustee Support Group, which supports new Trustees and is the committee that helps to support the election process.
About me
I am originally from North Wales and moved to Cheshire three years ago with my family — my wife and two sons. My interests outside work are largely family based (taxi-ing to various sporting events) and I am a fair-weather cyclist. In my day job, I am the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of People at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust. My role there is to ensure that our workforce has the tools and support to be the best they can be in their roles. I lead the Trust's engagement, development and wellbeing programmes, I have a passion for inclusivity, and I strive to make sure we represent our diverse population and workforce in all that we do.
My interest in stammering
I stammer and my youngest son has both delayed language disorder and a stammer. I am relatively new to the charity, becoming a member in 2021. In this short time I have seen the brilliant work STAMMA undertakes to support our membership and I look forward to helping in any way I can.
My vision for STAMMA
It's really important to me that stammering is normalised and that people with stammers feel confident and comfortable in their surroundings, both in and out of work.
ALEXANDER HARRISON
TRUSTEE TYPE: ELECTED 2022
My role
As well as sitting on the Board, I'm on the Fundraising sub-committee. This was set up to maximise membership fundraising, and we work as a team of three Trustees alongside STAMMA staff members.
About me
I'm from Manchester originally but have lived in Sheffield now for 8 years. A lot of that time I've spent studying and filling my free time with visits to our fantastic local pubs and going on city breaks across the UK. I have nearly finished my training to become a speech & language therapist and plan to work with adults who need support with their communication or eating, drinking and swallowing.
My interest in stammering
I've stammered since I can remember, so STAMMA seems like my natural home! I experienced 10+ years of speech & language therapy, and now I'm luckily in the position to be a healthcare professional and use my lived experience to help change outcomes for people who communicate differently.
My vision for STAMMA
I want to help make STAMMA a truly diverse and inclusive organisation, using my position as Trustee to ensure that we speak for all people who stammer, including those from minoritised groups, such as certain ethnic and cultural backgrounds and LGBTQIA+. I hope to prove that it's OK to stammer openly. We have nothing to be ashamed of.
Peter Bryan
TRUSTEE TYPE: TREASURER, APPOINTED 2022
About me
I'm a recently-retired chartered accountant who has spent over 30 years in senior positions in a large financial services business, gaining a broad range of finance experience along the way.
My vision for STAMMA
As a stammerer I am keen to 'give something back' and want to help STAMMA to grow and develop from a sound financial base by helping to provide insight and guidance from both a financial perspective as well as more broadly.
Of the Trustees listed, Gill is the only one who doesn't have a stammer. To see when each Trustee was elected or appointed, and the dates when their terms come to an end, see the Trustee Tenures page.