What Works Wellbeing operated from 2014 to 2024. This website is a static repository of all assets captured at closure on 30 April. It will remain publicly accessible but will not be updated.  Read more

Our People

The What Works Centre Wellbeing operated from 2014 to 2024.

It was led by a board of voluntary Directors and activities were delivered by a diverse, multidisciplinary team, supported by additional freelance and contracted expertise and a wide
range of collaborating partners.
A wider voluntary advisory panel representing key sectors and audiences gave quality assurance.

Here is the staffing record from the time of closure
on 30 April 2024

Meet our teams

Kate Shurety

Interim Programme Director - Campaign to End Loneliness

Kate Shurety

Interim Programme Director - Campaign to End Loneliness

Kate joined the Campaign to End Loneliness in January 2024 and has supported the team to deliver on their work programme and to plan and ensure a lasting legacy for the Campaign’s resources.

Suzy Morrissey

Interim Corporate Services Manager

Suzy Morrissey

Interim Corporate Services Manager

Suzy joined the Centre in December 2023 on a fixed-term basis to support the organisation’s planned closure.

Previously, she worked on wellbeing at NZ Treasury, where she led the policy and engagement work for the Living Standards Framework, the basis for the ‘Wellbeing Budgets’.

Suzy has a PhD in Taxation (policy and gender) and started her career by qualifying as a Chartered Accountant (CA) and was subsequently awarded Fellowship (FCA).

Suzy’s research focus is gender equity and paid and unpaid work.

Tilly Trinder

Senior Communications Officer - Campaign to End Loneliness

Tilly Trinder

Senior Communications Officer - Campaign to End Loneliness

Shahina Kabir

Communications and Editorial Manager

Shahina Kabir

Communications and Editorial Manager

Shahina has over 10 years of experience working in communication roles for the charity sector, including organisations that specialise in mental health, caring and bowel cancer.

Shahina joined the Centre in April 2023, leading on the Centre’s flagship weekly blog and newsletter and the planning, strategy and management of  social media channels.

Shahina Kabir Blogs

See all

Nancy Hey

Executive Director

Nancy Hey

Executive Director

Nancy Hey is a global leader in the field of wellbeing.

Prior to setting up the Centre, she worked in the UK Civil Service in nine departments as a policy professional and coach, delivering cross UK Government policies including on constitutional reform. 

She has worked with the UK’s top civil servants to introduce wellbeing into public policy and to establish the professional policy community in the UK. She has degrees in law and in coaching and development, specialising in emotions, and is a passionate advocate for learning systems.

Nancy Hey Blogs

See all

Joanne Smithson

Head of Implementation & Learning

Joanne Smithson

Head of Implementation & Learning

Joanne works with governments and health organisations bringing expertise in wellbeing policy and practice.

Joanne joined the Centre in 2019 as Implementation lead for Local Government & Health.  In 2021 she was appointed Head of Implementation & Learning.

During her time with the Centre she has delivered a wide portfolio of projects including maximising the wellbeing impact of place-based policy, improving staff wellbeing in schools and colleges and understanding how Board-level wellbeing roles, including NHS Health & Wellbeing Guardians were being delivered in practice.

She provided expert advice to international governments and major global cities on the development of wellbeing frameworks including London, Manchester, Vancouver and Stockholm, and worked with the UK Office of Health Improvement & Disparities on wellbeing profiles for UK towns and cities. Her research on working with terminal illness was awarded Marie Curie’s Clair Fisher Research Impact Award 2024.

Joanne Smithson Blogs

See all

Stefanie Barczy

Head of Corporate Services

Stefanie Barczy

Head of Corporate Services

Stef joined the Centre in September 2019 as Head of Corporate Services in June 2023, leading on operational delivery for the organisation.

Margherita Musella

Evidence Associate

Margherita Musella

Evidence Associate

Margherita Musella is an evaluator and researcher with over 10 years’ experience in mixed-method research, impact evaluation, and rapid systematic reviews of public health, employability and social interventions.

Margherita joined the Centre in July 2019 to lead on the review and synthesis of evidence from wellbeing evaluation research, including management of rapid evidence assessments.

She possesses in-depth knowledge of evaluation approaches and evidence translation practices. She holds an MSc in Social Policy, and is currently pursuing a PhD in Systematic Review methodology.

Margherita Musella Blogs

See all

Ingrid Abreu Scherer

Senior Civil Society Lead

Ingrid Abreu Scherer

Senior Civil Society Lead

Ingrid works with charities, social enterprises and those who support them to develop effective programmes and build the evidence on what really works. 

Since joining the Centre in 2015, she has commissioned and managed numerous evidence projects, including on the role of volunteering on wellbeing, the creative pathways to wellbeing, and the impact of Covid-19 on wellbeing inequalities. 

She has developed a number of guides and resources for charities, including the Online Guide to Measuring Wellbeing Impact, a Brief Guide to Measuring Loneliness, and a Guide to Effective Case Studies.

She supports voluntary organisations, civil society funders and policy makers to develop wellbeing theories of change and robust and proportionate evaluation approaches.

Ingrid Abreu Scherer Blogs

See all

Rachel Viomesnil

Team Administrator

Rachel Viomesnil

Team Administrator

Rachel joined the Centre in 2022, to provide essential operational support to the team. 

Rachel possesses a solid foundation in accounting and administration.  She is currently studying business and law, incorporating functional expertise with learning.

Stewart Martin

Community Wellbeing Lead

Stewart Martin

Community Wellbeing Lead

Stewart is a passionate community wellbeing advocate with extensive experience in evidence-based policy implementation and project management.

Stewart joined the Centre in October 2021, where he collaborated with organisations and researchers to address evidence gaps, develop resources, and facilitate the use of global knowledge on wellbeing, focusing on civil society and community wellbeing projects. 

He is currently pursuing a PhD studying the implementation of wellbeing frameworks, and is mission lead for The National Lottery Community Fund’s England Portfolio review, leading on ‘supporting communities to come together’.

Stewart Martin Blogs

See all

Robyn Bignall-Donnelly

Head of Communications and Digital

Robyn Bignall-Donnelly

Head of Communications and Digital

Robyn is an experienced communications professional who drives change and innovation in social-purpose organisations.

Since joining the Centre in June 2022 she has spearheaded the organisational strategy refresh, delivered the Centre’s first Impact Report FYE 2022-23, and evolved the organisation’s brand identity. 

She has previously worked on strategic comms, social media and copywriting across higher education and performing arts.

Robyn Bignall-Donnelly Blogs

See all

Mhairi Grant

Head of Content and Engagement - Campaign to End Loneliness

Mhairi Grant

Head of Content and Engagement - Campaign to End Loneliness

Mhairi is an engagement and content specialist, working at the intersection of content design, community engagement and strategic programme management.

Mhairi joined the Campaign to End Loneliness in July 2021, leading on content strategy, loneliness training, strategic partnerships, and community engagement. 

During her time at the Campaign, she produced three international conferences, developed e-learning modules and loneliness awareness training, and successfully ran an online community on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

 

Richard Crellin

Associate Research and Policy Manager

Richard Crellin

Associate Research and Policy Manager

Richard joined the Centre as an Associate in 2023 to support work focused on children and young people and on wellbeing measurement.

Richard managed the Centre’s rapid review of the Life Satisfaction measure which brought together intervention and observational studies demonstrating change in life satisfaction. He also supported the centre to provide bespoke support for local authorities working on the youth elements of their suicide and self harm strategies.

Richard Crellin Blogs

See all

Dr Helen MacIntyre

Head of Evidence - Campaign to End Loneliness

Dr Helen MacIntyre

Head of Evidence - Campaign to End Loneliness

Helen is an experienced social researcher with expertise in social relationships and loneliness. 

Helen joined the Campaign to End Loneliness in April 2022, leading on work to build the loneliness evidence base, engaging with academic researchers, practice professionals and policy makers to do so. Key areas of work were tackling loneliness interventions and their evaluation, and the built environment and loneliness.  

She also worked with the Campaign team to shape their wider programme of activity.

Michael Kyriakides

Head of Finance

Michael Kyriakides

Head of Finance