Senior Leadership Team
Our Senior Leadership Team works alongside our trustees to lead the organisation to achieve its strategic aims and objectives and ensure it remains true to its values.
Bernie Mayall
Interim Chief Executive
Bernie Mayall
Interim Chief Executive
Bernie has a long backstory across the sectors in paid and pro-bono activity and is a serial CEO, Chair, Governor and NED.
After training as a nurse many years ago and working through the ranks and then doing the same in statutory social services she launched her own consultancy. This gave her an opportunity to work across some fascinating organisations and meet diverse and interesting people including a memorable tenure working alongside HMPS, and she has consistently delivered turnaround and troubleshooting activities as well as supporting growth and development across the sectors with a primary focus on Beyond Profits.
She currently holds a number of non-executive and executive director roles. Some of these are: Lead Governor and chair of several committees with East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Director and Vice-Chair of Dover Big Local CIC and Dover Big Local LTO, TLAP Associate, NED with Nest&Grow CiC, Founding Member of the Academy for Social Justice Commissioning Board based in the MoJ, school governor with several schools both primary and secondary, voluntary aided and academy, and previous Town Councillor. She has also several times been a judge with the Great British Care Awards.
Joe Donnellan
Director of Operations
Joe Donnellan
Director of Operations
Joe worked with Lewisham Nexus Service since its foundation in 1993, progressing from support worker through a number of roles to the post of Service Manager responsible for managing supported living services. In November 2021, he became Director of Operations for Aurora Nexus.
He gained a diploma in applied psychology of learning disabilities from the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent in 2002 and his specialism is in setting up and managing services for people with autism or those who display challenging behaviour.
Joe works full-time and can be contacted through our main office.
Mich Jewell
Director of Compliance
Mich Jewell
Director of Compliance
Jacqui Shepherd
Director of Practice Development
Jacqui Shepherd
Director of Practice Development
Jacqui started her career as a care assistant in older adult services over 34 years ago. She then worked in a number of roles from direct support to development and management roles within learning disability services. In November 2021, she became Director of Practice Development.
Fahmeeda Amode
Director of Finance
Fahmeeda Amode
Director of Finance
Fahmeeda has more than fifteen years of experience working in finance, joining Aurora Options in 2008. In November 2021, she became Director of Finance.
Fahmeeda ensures that the organisation has strong and robust financial systems in place so that it can adapt and evolve in a changing environment.
Fahmeeda works full-time and can be contacted through our main office.
Gail Nicholls
Director of Housing and Development
Gail Nicholls
Director of Housing and Development
Gail joined Aurora Options in 2007 as a service manager. She has more than 30 years of experience in social care, starting her career as a student nurse in the NHS in Surrey, where she supported people to move out of hospitals into the community. She has worked in the voluntary sector since 1991. In November 2021, she became the Director of Housing and Development.
At Aurora Nexus, Gail’s responsibilities include developing new initiatives and she is involved in a number of quality groups locally and nationally.
Gail works full-time and can be contacted through our main office.