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

Mich started with Lewisham Nexus Services in December 2020.  She previously worked for another learning disability charity as a Project Manager of ew services for seven years. Mich has experience in commissioning and the importance of ensuring compliance across an organisation, with a focus on quality and support.  In November 2021, she became Director of Compliance for Aurora Nexus.
 
Mich believes in equality for all and is always keen to find ways in which people can work together for a better and brighter future. 
 
Mich works full time, however she is currently on maternity leave until November 2022.

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.

Jacqui has always lived and worked locally and is well-connected. Jacqui’s passion is to support people to have the life they want and have a   voice and in-put into issues that affect them, she believes that services should be led by the people that use them.
 
Jacqui works full-time and can be contacted through our main office.

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.