Make Justice Work Team

Roma Hooper – Founder and Director of Make Justice Work

Roma has worked in and around the criminal justice system since 1992, when she was asked to help set up Britain’s first prison radio station at Feltham Young Offenders’ Institute. She has a Masters in Criminal Justice Policy from the London School of Economics, is Chair of the Griffins Society (supporting women in the criminal justice system), Vice-Chair of the Foundation Training Company (which runs a series of prison and community based resettlement and development programmes) as well as Chair and Founder of the Prison Radio Association (which was named Best New Charity at the 2008 Charity Times Awards and a double Gold Award winner at the Sony Radio Academy Awards this year).

Her pioneering work at Feltham Young Offenders’ Institution and with the Prison Radio Association was recognised with a Lord Longford prize in 2006.  Most recently she has set up Make Justice Work, a new media campaign highlighting the cost of short term prison sentences and to improve public confidence in community sentences.   Roma was a finalist in this year’s Sheila McKechnie’s Social Inclusion Campaign Awards.

Nick O’Shea – Company Secretary

Nick leads the Adult Facing Chronic Exclusion Programme, a cross Government initiative to test new ways of working with people who are on the margins of society – including people in prison or who have a history of offending. He is on secondment from the Revolving Doors Agency where he was the Director of Development. Nick has worked for the Home Office, the Bank of England and the Social Market Foundation. He is a Trustee of Liberty, a volunteer for Lewisham Mencap and a Governor at a primary school in Catford, south east London. Nick’s involvement with Make Justice Work is independent of any organisations listed above and he is not representing their interests or views here.

Dr Roma Walker – Research Assistant

Roma works as an independent criminal justice consultant with particular focus upon the penal system and the voluntary sector. She has a Masters in Criminal Justice, a Ph.D in criminology, and is the author of a number of publications. Roma has worked for the Council of Europe as a short-term expert on the development of the Turkish penal system, and was formerly the Deputy Director of the Inside Out Trust. She has been a Trustee and member of the management committee of Clinks and is a former Trustee of The Revolving Doors Agency. She also served as a Magistrate for five years and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Rose Grimond – Economic Advisor

Rose runs Orkney Rose, a company designed to route custom from London to local producers in the Orkney Islands. It trades at Borough Market and wholesales to eminent restaurants. Before creating her company, Rose worked with Hooper Walker helping organisations to reduce the re-offending rate in London. Prior to that she worked as a sub-editor for various publications including The New Statesman and The Economist.

Thomas Lawson – Media Advisor

Thomas is the Deputy Chief Executive of Prisoners Abroad, a UK based charity that provides practical support and campaigns on behalf of Britons held overseas. Before joining Prisoners Abroad Thomas built up over 15 years experience in the voluntary sector, working for the National Peace Council, UNICEF (UK), the Terrence Higgins Trust and NAM (the HIV information charity).

Company Directors

Susanna Cheal OBE

Susanna has had a wide ranging experience of the public, private and voluntary sector in a whole range of capacities – Executive Chair, Vice-Chair, Advisor, Trustee, Director, Consultant and Chief Executive. Her earlier work encompassed campaigning in paediatrics, maternity services, disability, child mental health, social services, education, families and children. She has developed many organisations including BLISS (as founder Chair) to support neonatal services. Susanna’s most recent full-time role from 1995-2007 was as Chief Executive of The Who Cares? Trust, a national charity working to improve public care for 60,000 children and young people in the UK. Through links with many stakeholders and parliamentary and media campaigning for new legislation, policy and practice across education, health and preparation for independent living, she expanded the organisation’s vision, role and influence to improve the way care is delivered.

David Defty

An experienced accountant David spent 17 years with Colgate Palmolive as Finance Director of a number of subsidiaries internationally before being appointed Director of Corporate Finance in the company’s head office in New York. He returned to the UK in 1984 and held positions of Director of Finance for Guinness, Finance Director of Woolworths, Finance Director of IDV Ltd, Deputy Finance Director of Grand Metropolitan Plc, and then Finance Director of Sears Plc.

In early 2000, David embarked on a new career path and launched his own company, DADs Enterprises Ltd, which provides entrepreneurs with mentoring support to help them launch their own companies and help them unlock their business potential. He invests in his client companies and acts as their Chairman. David now also devotes significant time and energy into the charity sector and is currently Chairman of Street League and Charity Gift Voucher Marketing Ltd. David is a Fellow of the ACCA and was a member of its council. He is also a Fellow of the ACT and of the RSA.

Jon Furmston

Jon joined BT in 1988, qualified as an accountant, and worked in a number of areas, including the International division, Corporate Strategy, Broadcast Services and the Business Customers Headquarters.  In 1997 he moved into BT’s Small & Medium Enterprises division where he was Director of Marketing. In 2002 he joined BT redcare as CEO.  In this capacity Jon took the business to well over £100m turnover through both acquisition and organic growth. In 2005 Jon became Director of the Equality of Access Office (EAO) where he runs the team that supports the Equality of Access Board.

Linda McDonald

Linda has had over 30 years experience in UK and international fundraising working with environmental and children focused charitable and not-for-profit organisations. Recent positions include 8 years as Development Director at the Eden Project and 6 years as Chief Executive of the International Youth Foundation in the UK. Her expertise includes developing funding strategies, planning fundraising activities, advising on donor research, high level donor acquisition, managing donor relationships, event planning, brand development, marketing and sponsorship.