Our People

Our people are the key to our success. We are governed and supported by an expert Board of Directors, with activities planned and delivered by our skilled, experienced and dedicated staff team based across Wales.

Board members

  • Sioned Williams

    Sioned Williams

    Chair

    Sioned has worked in a range of employability, digital inclusion and development roles in the third sector. She is currently Housing Support Grant Manager in Conwy Council, overseeing the development of early intervention and preventative services to help people access and maintain a stable home. Sioned was elected Chair of the Board in 2025.

  • Steve Ray

    Steve Ray

    Vice-Chair

    Steve has worked in community justice since 1974 in a range of roles, from practitioner for the Probation Service in England and Wales through to Deputy Chief Officer of North Wales Probation before his retirement in 2011. Steve was a founder member of the RCS Board in 2008.

  • John Parkinson

    Professor John Parkinson

    Professor John A Parkinson is currently the Dean for the Faculty of Social Sciences and Technology at Arden University. Prior to this, he was Head of School at Bangor University (2013-2025) and Dean for the College of Human Sciences (2020-2025). He has a PhD from Cambridge and is a qualified counsellor. His research expertise is in behavioural psychology, with a focus on positive psychology and the promotion of optimal functioning.

  • Gareth Matthews

    Gareth Matthews has over 50 years’ experience in the employability and skills sector. He is a Director of Itec Training Solutions Ltd, a 100% employee-owned business delivering apprenticeships and youth employability programmes. Gareth’s previous roles include Director for Welfare Services at Serco and Executive Director with Working Links, as well as senior roles in Jobcentre Plus where he worked for 27 years.

  • Edith Frodsham

    Edith Frodsham

    Edith has over 40 years’ management experience, with senior roles in Jobcentre Plus including staff recruitment, partnerships and financial management. Edith is a qualified mentor and training officer, and since her official retirement continues to work as a finance officer for a small legal firm.

  • Julia Cain

    Julia Cain

    Julia was RCS’s Partnerships Manager until her retirement in 2021. She has a long work history in welfare to work, having previously been employed by Working Links and a trustee of the Links Foundation. Julia has contributed to the development of many bespoke, innovative solutions to issues of unemployment and worklessness.

  • Ruth Collinge

    Ruth Collinge

    Ruth is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team at COPA Training. A committed educator, Ruth is an experienced Head of Contracts with twenty-five years’ experience in the Work Based learning sector coupled with extensive Welfare to Work Programme knowledge.

Senior leadership team

  • Ali Thomas

    Ali Thomas

    Chief Executive Officer

    Guiding the company’s strategic development and making sure our work has a positive and lasting impact on people and communities.

  • Joanne Bartlett-Jones

    Joanne Bartlett-Jones, MCIPD

    Head of Resources

    Ensuring robust financial management and fostering a culture of inclusion and wellbeing within the workforce.

  • Kerry Jones

    Kerry Jones

    Head of Operations

    Driving and overseeing the planning and performance of our programmes of work and ensuring high quality standards across all areas of service.

  • Vanessa Trimble

    Vanessa Trimble

    Business Engagement Manager

    Leading our business engagement work and helping employers to shape and implement creative and tailored workplace wellbeing strategies.

  • Communications Team

    Our communication and engagement team are key to driving up awareness of our services and activities, and to sharing and amplifying our impact.

    • Communication and Engagement Manager

      Sian Parry

    • Team members

      Emma-Jane Roberts
      Hope Tran

  • Client Support Team

    Our customers are at the centre of everything we do: our client support team provides empathetic, individualised support at each step of the way.

    • Operations Manager

      Dawn Jones

    • Green Careers Project Coordinator

      Clare Brass

    • Area Managers

      Rachel Davies
      Jade Neal

    • Client Support Team

      Peter Brannan
      Keely Golden
      Lucy Hirst
      Debra Holmes
      Freya Hughes
      Sarah Jones
      Jessamy Lambert-Drewery
      Naomi Shilling
      Helen Williams

  • Administration Team

    From handling enquiries and processing referrals to completing project documentation, our team provides efficient and streamlined administrative support, putting customer service at the heart of our operations.

    • Administration Manager

      Jan Jones

    • Team members

      Charlotte Chitty
      Mayuresh Cholkar
      Gemma Clifton
      Jacqueline Davies
      Kim Prime
      Sheena Roberts
      Gemma Smith-Williams
      Cerri Steel
      Nicola Williams
      Nicola Wynne

  • Therapeutic Team

    We deliver holistic person-centred therapeutic support through a growing in-house team and a large network of qualified, professional associates across Wales.

    • Therapy Services Manager

      Eve Pugh

    • Counsellors

      Laura Saxon

  • Training Team

    Our training team delivers a fresh and dynamic training portfolio, creating and adapting interactive content to resonate with any audience.

    • Training Manager

      Claire Lynch

    • Team members

      Anne Greenall
      Sara Timothy

  • Resources Team

    This team provides invaluable support with looking after our people, money and premises.

    • Team members

      Gareth Jones
      Lesley Taylor-Williamson
      Rebecca Tillotson

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