Meet the Management Team

Marie Casey, Chief Executive

As Director of Hastings Voluntary Action, Marie prioritised service user involvement and established the first advocacy projects in Hastings and Rother - XPRESS, My Choice and Mental Health Advocacy. SEAP grew out of these projects. Marie has extensive experience of supporting community activities, project and organisational development, managing people and resources and promoting consumer rights. In addition Marie has chaired a wide range of voluntary organisations, multi-agency groups and public bodies including an NHS trust. She has lived and worked in Hastings for 21 years.

Marie was chair of the SEAP Board of Trustees from it’s inception in 2000 until 2009 and continues to be a trustee until she takes on her new role of CEO. Marie has also been CEO of Care for the Carers and has established links with service users, third sector colleagues and statutory bodies at local, regional and national level.

Marie will take up the post of CEO at the end of February 2012.

Jon Wheeler, Deputy Chief Executive

Jon has worked in the statutory and voluntary sector for 23 years and has experience of managing advocacy projects and working with vulnerable client groups. In 1995 Jon was employed by Hastings Voluntary Action to set up an advocacy project for people with a learning disability, originally called Partners in Advocacy, then renamed as MY CHOiCE, which is still managed by SEAP.

His role as Deputy Chief Executive includes responsibility for Operations; Risk Assessment and Management; Health and Safety and Service User Involvement.

Neil Smith, Head of Quality and Organisational Development

Neil takes responsibility for Quality Systems, Processes & Quality Marks, Internal Audit, Risk Assessment, Social Enterprise, ICT, Learning & Development, SEAP’s partnership with Kate Mercer Training [who deliver Qualifications in Independent Advocacy (QIA)], Marketing, Cavendish House Premises and contributes to Corporate Audit.

With 30 years experience in banking, finance, information technology and business management, most recently contracting to the Department of Health, Neil has brought to SEAP a business perspective that is of real benefit to the organisation.

Simon Hicks, Finance Manager

Simon is responsible for financial policy and procedures, strategic and operational finances and internal and external financial reporting. He works closely with the management team, particularly in relation to budgets and financial control issues and takes care of SEAP’s insurances, coordinates facilities management and oversees SEAP’s approach to environmental issues.

Simon has over 20 years experience and has previously worked as Head of Finance for Creating Futures Ltd, Sussex Oakleaf Housing Association and Knowsley Care Society. Voluntary roles have included serving on the Board of Prospect Housing Association, Collingwood Housing Association and as Honorary Treasurer of Mid-Sussex CVS.

Tania Freezer, Interim HR Manager

Tania is responsible for all ‘people’ matters within the organisation. She leads a professional team of HR Advisors who providing the full range of HR services to SEAP employees.

Tania has over 20 years experience working within HR for a variety of organisations including Cathay Pacific (based in Hong Kong), The Grampian Country Food Group and Goodwood where she was HR lead for all group areas including the estate, farms, racecourse, motor sport events and flying school. Tania has extensive experience of being the HR lead in business transformation, managing employee relations and establishing HR functions from scratch. Tania also sits as Trustee for a multi site Not-for-Profit Trust.

Samantha Self, Interim Operations Director

An experienced strategic and operational director, Sam has a track record of delivering outstanding performance through energetic leadership, identifying and meeting stakeholder needs and delivery of innovative marketing strategies. Sam has 20 years senior management experience in commercial and third sector organisations and worked as an interim for Bupa at American Express before joining SEAP in February 2011 to facilitate challenging organisational change programmes for improved efficiency and competitiveness.

Sam shares her SEAP colleagues’ passion for providing support, advocacy and empowerment to all people and gained her understanding of the challenges facing individuals and communities at risk of disadvantage and exclusion as a senior executive for the The Scarman Trust and for Action in Rural Sussex.

Barrie Howard, Acting (SE) ICAS Project Director

After a successful police career Barrie joined SEAP in 2004 as a Team Manager. Now, as Acting Service Director for ICAS he is strategic and operational lead for ICAS across the South-East. Also responsible for driving service quality he oversees the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) programme for SEAP-ICAS. In December 2010 the service was awarded ‘Recognised for Excellence (3*)’ status. He is a qualified EFQM Assessor and an in-house trainer.

Barrie is a qualified barrister and in his spare time does pro bono advocacy at Social Security Benefit Appeals and Employment Appeal Tribunals all over the country.

Chris Noble, Acting (SW) ICAS Project Director

Chris joined SEAP at the start of the ICAS contract in 2006 after working for the Citizens Advice Bureau as a Mental Health Project worker helping people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties, including representing their interests at Tribunals. After achieving both a Law Degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Law, Chris’s career focussed on working in the voluntary sector. Now Acting ICAS Service Director for the SW region, she has considerable experience of providing, developing and managing advocacy services with ICAS as well as delivering advocacy training for the QIA.

Dave Harris, Service Manager, Mental Health

Dave joined SEAP in 2009 and has 18 years experience managing mental health services within the statutory sector across East Sussex.

He provides operational and strategic management to SEAP’s mental health projects across the South West and South East region, supporting teams in the development of clear communication protocols with commissioners, contracts officer and local stakeholders. Dave plays a key role supporting the Business Development Team and also works across SEAP to support organisation-wide and service specific quality performance marks. He also facilitates the SEAP service user forum which ensures that operational and business developments remain focused on service user need at the local level.

Paulene Hamilton, Learning and Development Manager

Paulene has worked in the Learning and Development field for over 20 years in the voluntary, charity and commercial sectors. Paulene joined SEAP in December 2010 and her role is to develop the newly centralised Learning and Development function for the organisation and to implement the Learning and Development Strategy and Operational Plan. Her role also involved managing and developing the Advocacy Training joint venture partnership (with Kate Mercer Training) that delivers the Qualification in Independent Advocacy to the sector.