Our Lived Experience Panel
We help look after those who look after our communities. Whilst we have many years of personal, lived experience, training and research, it is important that we learn from people who come from these communities. Having people "at the coal face", or who have many years being there, is critical so we can learn from them, work with them and benefit from a wide and deep understanding of their knowledge and experiences. They add to our knowledge and practice, alongside our Strategic Advisers.Our Lived Experience Panel (LEP) is drawn from the First Responder community (Fire & Rescue ♦, NHS and Health ♦, Police and Security ♦), and other people from the community ♦ with deep personal experience and who work with groups drawn from different areas of life (in alphabetical order):
LEP members
- Vicki ♦
Angie ♦
Angie is an experienced NHS Manager, working within a Mental Health Trust that serves a richly-diverse population.She originally trained and qualified as a Mental Health Nurse and now has over 40 years of dedicated service to the NHS. Thirty-five of those years have been in management positions, with a particular focus on mental health service delivery, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and health & wellbeing, either at trust or strategic health authority levels.
Angie's current role involves overseeing, planning and delivery for staff health and wellbeing priorities and monitoring contracts for Occupational Health and Employee Assistance. She is involved in policy development, staff training, and awareness-raising initiatives across a broad spectrum of workplace health issues, including, for example, mental health, menopause awareness, and wider workforce wellbeing which contribute to supporting staff to thrive both personally and professionally.
Cal ♦
Cal is an experienced, serving Police Officer, working within a front-line response unit. He is also a husband and father, and understands the additional challenges that this brings to front-line emergency services.Cal has first-hand experience of stress-related disorders and depression and is a firm advocate for breaking the stigma around discussing these conditions openly, both as a male and a Police Officer - both traditionally roles in which people do not speak out about mental health.
Cal believes that it is only through discussing our challenges that we will be able to overcome them and foster a more supportive environment, allowing all of us to thrive.
Ellie ♦ ♦
Ellie began her career at an international Accountancy firm, working within the small business accounts division, before transitioning into insolvency. Alongside her professional role, she served as an Army Reservist and spent eight years supporting the Regular Army within the Army Air Corps. During this time, she progressed through the ranks to Corporal, gaining valuable experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ellie volunteered with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, delivering essential PPE to businesses, Care Homes and frontline services across the county. Her dedication led to a successful appointment as a full-time Community Prevention Officer after just three months of voluntary service. This role also marked a significant personal transition, as she relocated to a new County and began building a new life and network from the ground up.
A passionate rugby player since the age of 16, Ellie has always found empowerment and fulfilment through team sports. Her continued involvement in the Uniformed Services and sport has deepened her commitment to collaborative working and community engagement. She is driven by a strong belief in the power of partnership to bring people together and create positive change for the benefit of all.
Estevão ♦
Estevão is an award-winning healthcare leader with extensive operational and strategic experience across NHS, private, and academic sectors. A Nuclear Medicine graduate and Chartered Manager, he is completing his Executive MBA at Warwick Business School to further enhance his strategic leadership and business acumen.He is currently, Clinical Service Manager at King’s College Hospital and has a proven track record in establishing new diagnostic services, enhancing regional imaging networks, and leading complex service transformations. He has delivered multi-million-pound cost savings, implemented pioneering cancer therapies including SIRT and PRRT, and launched advanced diagnostic services such as the cardiac Rb-82 PET-CT programme.
Estevão's resilience and determination are deeply rooted in personal experiences, including witnessing civil wars as a child, which shaped his drive to make a meaningful impact. A former professional footballer, he brings discipline, teamwork, and a commitment to continuous improvement to every role. Known for fostering collaborative, inclusive, and innovative work environments, Estevão is passionate about self-leadership, wellbeing, and empowering teams to thrive in challenging healthcare environments.
Graham ♦
Graham is a Firefighter, having been with LFB for 20 years, and recently completed the Incident Command Level 1 qualification. He served in Croydon on the night of the riots in 2011, and also as an Ambulance Technician / Blue Light ambulance driver during the COVID pandemic, assisting the London Ambulance Service. He sees his role as a Firefighter as a duty and privilege.Graham's family has a long history of public uniformed service. His father served in the Army and then the Metropolitan Police and his Grandfather served in the Royal Navy and as a Prison Officer.
Graham is a trained Mental Health First Aider and a Suicide Prevention trainer. Having been a Firefighter for 20 years, he understands the pressures that colleagues are under and has been directly affected by suicide, both at work and within his family.
He is keen to get involved with anyone / any organisation that prioritizes the mental health of it's staff and the wider public, especially those in the services / public sector, as they are at a greater risk of poor health, trauma and suicide. He regularly gets involved with men's walking / talking groups to share tools and initiatives.
Kim ♦
With nearly 40 years of experience as a nurse within the NHS, 30 of which were dedicated to front-line care, Kim most recently worked in Staff Wellbeing and Support. She takes great pride in her nursing career and has found each role rewarding, despite the inherent challenges. The demands of working in the NHS are considerable and these have intensified in recent years, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic.Kim believes that prioritising staff wellbeing is essential to ensure that they remain healthy and capable of delivering high-quality, compassionate care to patients. Enabling staff to look after their own wellbeing is crucial. Initiatives such as wellbeing workshops and resilience training are, therefore, vital. These programmes are not designed to encourage the acceptance of untenable working conditions, but rather to foster coping skills that address both professional and personal pressures.
Mid-life presents distinct challenges for staff, including those related to menopause for women and other life transitions for men. Kim’s commitment lies in ensuring access to relevant information, training and resources, so staff can successfully manage their working lives. Drawing on her knowledge and experience, she is keen to help and advise r2p on best practices to promote and sustain staff wellbeing within the organisation.
Simonetta ♦
Simonetta has devoted over 20 years to the NHS, starting as a chef, ensuring that the nutritional needs of patients were met with care, followed by six years in the domestic department, cleaning and portering.Simonetta’s dedication, adaptability and compassion led her to observe the commitment of Healthcare Assistants and Nurses and she was motivated to join their ranks. She started as a Bank Worker, gaining experience across different Wards, before securing a permanent role in patient care. She now has a broader responsibility, contributing to patient wellbeing.
Simonetta is now studying to become a Registered Nurse, with the support of the NHS, bringing her focus on high-quality care to her dedication and teamwork. As well as her native Italian and English as her second language, Simonetta also has knowledge of Arabic, Russian and other languages. She uses her linguistic skills to help break down communication barriers, ensuring that patients feel understood and supported.
Simonetta believes that the NHS thrives when staff show kindness to one another, communicate effectively and work with genuine passion for their roles. From her first day in the kitchen, to starting her studies to become a Nurse, she has been driven to make a difference through her dedication, compassion and commitment.
Travis ♦
Travis is a mental wellbeing and mindfulness advocate, and self-declared recovering alcoholic with four years of sobriety under his belt. He is a husband and a father of two sons.Travis says that he has struggled with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and a range of other mental ill health for as long as he can remember. He has recently found safety, security and a greater sense of self through the practice of mindfulness, acceptance and self-validation. He strongly believes that all men and all of humanity have this ability and understanding within themselves. He says that it is down to us to inspire them to join the conversation and show the way.
Travis has a Life Coaching Diploma TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems and is qualified in the Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults. He is a founder of a men's self-help group, an initiative promoting and creating the conversation surrounding men’s mental health, with the view of increasing the life expectancy of men and reducing the suicide rate currently witnessed.
Vicki ♦
Vicki is an experienced, operational Firefighter and Officer with more than 20 years’ service. She has a keen interest in the welfare and wellbeing of her colleagues, particularly helping them after ‘significant incidents'.Vicki believes in the power of coaching and the use of personality profiling to help support colleagues and in their development. As a Group Manager, she is enthusiastic and good at resolving problems, leading with change and keen organisational skills. She has responsibility for new trainees in their recruitment, training and developing their effectiveness.
Vicki has a wealth of qualifications, including from the Institute of Leadership and Management (performance coaching, team leadership and workplace assessment), NVQs (eg. Conflict Management, EDI and working with people with mental health issues). In addition, she has operationally-relevant qualifications such as Incident Command and Multi-agency working, as well as fire investigation, safeguarding, suicide prevention and defusing.
Our Lived Experience Panel
We help look after those who look after our communities. Whilst we have many years of personal, lived experience, training and research, it is important that we learn from people who come from these communities. Having people "at the coal face", or who have many years being there, is critical so we can learn from them, work with them and benefit from a wide and deep understanding of their knowledge and experiences. They add to our knowledge and practice, alongside our Strategic Advisers.Our Lived Experience Panel (LEP) is drawn from the First Responder community (Fire & Rescue ♦, NHS and Health ♦, Police and Security ♦), and other people from the community ♦ with deep personal experience and who work with groups drawn from different areas of life (in alphabetical order):
LEP members
- Vicki ♦
Angie ♦
Angie is an experienced NHS Manager, working within a Mental Health Trust that serves a richly-diverse population.She originally trained and qualified as a Mental Health Nurse and now has over 40 years of dedicated service to the NHS. Thirty-five of those years have been in management positions, with a particular focus on mental health service delivery, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and health & wellbeing, either at trust or strategic health authority levels.
Angie's current role involves overseeing, planning and delivery for staff health and wellbeing priorities and monitoring contracts for Occupational Health and Employee Assistance. She is involved in policy development, staff training, and awareness-raising initiatives across a broad spectrum of workplace health issues, including, for example, mental health, menopause awareness, and wider workforce wellbeing which contribute to supporting staff to thrive both personally and professionally.
Cal ♦
Cal is an experienced, serving Police Officer, working within a front-line response unit. He is also a husband and father, and understands the additional challenges that this brings to front-line emergency services.Cal has first-hand experience of stress-related disorders and depression and is a firm advocate for breaking the stigma around discussing these conditions openly, both as a male and a Police Officer - both traditionally roles in which people do not speak out about mental health.
Cal believes that it is only through discussing our challenges that we will be able to overcome them and foster a more supportive environment, allowing all of us to thrive.
Ellie ♦ ♦
Ellie began her career at an international Accountancy firm, working within the small business accounts division, before transitioning into insolvency. Alongside her professional role, she served as an Army Reservist and spent eight years supporting the Regular Army within the Army Air Corps. During this time, she progressed through the ranks to Corporal, gaining valuable experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds.In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Ellie volunteered with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, delivering essential PPE to businesses, Care Homes and frontline services across the county. Her dedication led to a successful appointment as a full-time Community Prevention Officer after just three months of voluntary service. This role also marked a significant personal transition, as she relocated to a new County and began building a new life and network from the ground up.
A passionate rugby player since the age of 16, Ellie has always found empowerment and fulfilment through team sports. Her continued involvement in the Uniformed Services and sport has deepened her commitment to collaborative working and community engagement. She is driven by a strong belief in the power of partnership to bring people together and create positive change for the benefit of all.
Estevão ♦
Estevão is an award-winning healthcare leader with extensive operational and strategic experience across NHS, private, and academic sectors. A Nuclear Medicine graduate and Chartered Manager, he is completing his Executive MBA at Warwick Business School to further enhance his strategic leadership and business acumen.He is currently, Clinical Service Manager at King’s College Hospital and has a proven track record in establishing new diagnostic services, enhancing regional imaging networks, and leading complex service transformations. He has delivered multi-million-pound cost savings, implemented pioneering cancer therapies including SIRT and PRRT, and launched advanced diagnostic services such as the cardiac Rb-82 PET-CT programme.
Estevão's resilience and determination are deeply rooted in personal experiences, including witnessing civil wars as a child, which shaped his drive to make a meaningful impact. A former professional footballer, he brings discipline, teamwork, and a commitment to continuous improvement to every role. Known for fostering collaborative, inclusive, and innovative work environments, Estevão is passionate about self-leadership, wellbeing, and empowering teams to thrive in challenging healthcare environments.
Graham ♦
Graham is a Firefighter, having been with LFB for 20 years, and recently completed the Incident Command Level 1 qualification. He served in Croydon on the night of the riots in 2011, and also as an Ambulance Technician / Blue Light ambulance driver during the COVID pandemic, assisting the London Ambulance Service. He sees his role as a Firefighter as a duty and privilege.Graham's family has a long history of public uniformed service. His father served in the Army and then the Metropolitan Police and his Grandfather served in the Royal Navy and as a Prison Officer.
Graham is a trained Mental Health First Aider and a Suicide Prevention trainer. Having been a Firefighter for 20 years, he understands the pressures that colleagues are under and has been directly affected by suicide, both at work and within his family.
He is keen to get involved with anyone / any organisation that prioritizes the mental health of it's staff and the wider public, especially those in the services / public sector, as they are at a greater risk of poor health, trauma and suicide. He regularly gets involved with men's walking / talking groups to share tools and initiatives.
Kim ♦
With nearly 40 years of experience as a nurse within the NHS, 30 of which were dedicated to front-line care, Kim most recently worked in Staff Wellbeing and Support. She takes great pride in her nursing career and has found each role rewarding, despite the inherent challenges. The demands of working in the NHS are considerable and these have intensified in recent years, particularly following the Covid-19 pandemic.Kim believes that prioritising staff wellbeing is essential to ensure that they remain healthy and capable of delivering high-quality, compassionate care to patients. Enabling staff to look after their own wellbeing is crucial. Initiatives such as wellbeing workshops and resilience training are, therefore, vital. These programmes are not designed to encourage the acceptance of untenable working conditions, but rather to foster coping skills that address both professional and personal pressures.
Mid-life presents distinct challenges for staff, including those related to menopause for women and other life transitions for men. Kim’s commitment lies in ensuring access to relevant information, training and resources, so staff can successfully manage their working lives. Drawing on her knowledge and experience, she is keen to help and advise r2p on best practices to promote and sustain staff wellbeing within the organisation.
Simonetta ♦
Simonetta has devoted over 20 years to the NHS, starting as a chef, ensuring that the nutritional needs of patients were met with care, followed by six years in the domestic department, cleaning and portering.Simonetta’s dedication, adaptability and compassion led her to observe the commitment of Healthcare Assistants and Nurses and she was motivated to join their ranks. She started as a Bank Worker, gaining experience across different Wards, before securing a permanent role in patient care. She now has a broader responsibility, contributing to patient wellbeing.
Simonetta is now studying to become a Registered Nurse, with the support of the NHS, bringing her focus on high-quality care to her dedication and teamwork. As well as her native Italian and English as her second language, Simonetta also has knowledge of Arabic, Russian and other languages. She uses her linguistic skills to help break down communication barriers, ensuring that patients feel understood and supported.
Simonetta believes that the NHS thrives when staff show kindness to one another, communicate effectively and work with genuine passion for their roles. From her first day in the kitchen, to starting her studies to become a Nurse, she has been driven to make a difference through her dedication, compassion and commitment.
Travis ♦
Travis is a mental wellbeing and mindfulness advocate, and self-declared recovering alcoholic with four years of sobriety under his belt. He is a husband and a father of two sons.Travis says that he has struggled with depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and a range of other mental ill health for as long as he can remember. He has recently found safety, security and a greater sense of self through the practice of mindfulness, acceptance and self-validation. He strongly believes that all men and all of humanity have this ability and understanding within themselves. He says that it is down to us to inspire them to join the conversation and show the way.
Travis has a Life Coaching Diploma TQUK Level 2 Certificate in Awareness of Mental Health Problems and is qualified in the Safeguarding for Children and Vulnerable Adults. He is a founder of a men's self-help group, an initiative promoting and creating the conversation surrounding men’s mental health, with the view of increasing the life expectancy of men and reducing the suicide rate currently witnessed.
Vicki ♦
Vicki is an experienced, operational Firefighter and Officer with more than 20 years’ service. She has a keen interest in the welfare and wellbeing of her colleagues, particularly helping them after ‘significant incidents'.Vicki believes in the power of coaching and the use of personality profiling to help support colleagues and in their development. As a Group Manager, she is enthusiastic and good at resolving problems, leading with change and keen organisational skills. She has responsibility for new trainees in their recruitment, training and developing their effectiveness.
Vicki has a wealth of qualifications, including from the Institute of Leadership and Management (performance coaching, team leadership and workplace assessment), NVQs (eg. Conflict Management, EDI and working with people with mental health issues). In addition, she has operationally-relevant qualifications such as Incident Command and Multi-agency working, as well as fire investigation, safeguarding, suicide prevention and defusing.