Introducing our Steering Group
In August, we had our first meeting in London with our new Steering Group. Real progress is being made with the programme, and the executive members help to guide the process. After this meeting, we wanted to introduce the inspiring women on the board!
Ali Brown:
Ali Brown served for 27 years in the Army where she served in a variety of appointments with deployments to Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo. Ali is Chair of the COBSEO Female Veterans Cluster, a Trustee of Fighting With Pride (LGBT+ Veterans charity), the Army Central Fund (ACF) which supports the serving community, the Adjutant General’s Corps Museum Trust and retains an advisory role within the WRAC Association.
Fiona Gardener:
Fiona commissioned into the Women’s Royal Army Corps in 1986, and on disbandment in 1992 transferred to the Royal Corps of Transport and subsequently the Royal Logistic Corps. Career highlights include being a young Captain in Berlin when the Wall came down, commanding 19 Tank Transporter Squadron RLC on Operation AGRICOLA in Kosovo, and commanding the Northern Ireland Combat Service Support Regiment. She had numerous staff appointments in the Personnel field including Deputy Chief of Staff of the 5th Division, Army Pay Colonel and Deputy
Head Service and Veterans Welfare. As a Brigadier she was Head of People Strategy in the Ministry of Defence, which included the lead for the introduction of Flexible Service into the Armed Forces. Her final tour was as Brigadier Army Staff in Army HQ.
She was awarded the CBE in the 2013 New Year’s Honours List, is a Fellow of the CIPD and a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Carmen and the City of London.
She served 4 years on the ABF The Soldiers’ Charity Grants Committee and was a lay member on the Independent Medical Expert Group; a Non-Departmental Public Body advising on Armed Forces compensation. Since completing 34 years Regular Service she has been active on the Army Service Complaints Appeal Panel, and became a Trustee of the WRAC Association in February 2020. She has been a member of the Trustee Strategy Review Team and assumed the appointment of Vice President and Chair of Trustees in March 2021.
Nicky Murdoch:
Nicky Murdoch completed 30 years in the Army and left to become CEO of a Defence Charity which included being on the Cobseo Executive. For the last 8 years she has been the Independent Chair of the Patient and Public Voice Group for NHS England’s Armed Forces Healthcare Commissioning Team. She spent 3 years on the Government’s Veterans Advisory Board and was on the Advisory Board for the Independent Review of the LGBT Veterans.
Paula Rogers:
Paula began her career as a BBC Radio presenter and producer – 15 years which included two years at the helm of Children In Need. Moving to HM Prison Service, Paula took up the role of Head of Prison Radio, managing the technical roll-out and devising the schedule and content of the new National Prison Radio Service. The radio station is now a much respected and multi award-winning tool in the education and rehabilitation of offenders.
As the daughter of a retired RAF Group Captain she began consulting for RAF charities and the RAF Museum, going on to work with the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall, and with Help For Heroes at Catterick Garrison with which she published a children’s storybook aimed at supporting the children of injured Service personnel. Prior to Covid-19 she was part of a charity which took D-Day veterans back to Normandy each June.
Paula has served as a Trustee on the Board of two national charities and currently Chairs a local charity supporting older people with multiple needs. She is looking forward to working with the Vice President and Board of Trustees on the Association’s strategic direction.
Ellie Ablett:
With over 28 years as a Royal Navy Logistics Officer achieving promotion to Commodore, Ellie retired from the Navy in February 2022. She is an Executive Coach, a Public Speaker and an Adventure Activities Leader and Instructor, using her wide-ranging leadership experience to enhance the quality of life and workplace performance of individuals and teams. She joined the Royal Navy in 1993 in the first wave of women to serve on the same terms as men following the integration of the Women’s Royal Naval Service. Highlights of her naval career include extensive service at sea and on joint operations, serving as Executive Assistant to the First Sea Lord and 2 years in Command of the Navy’s main training base, HMS RALEIGH - the first woman to do so. Ellie is also dedicated to promoting inclusive leadership and nurturing diversity, founding the Naval Servicewomen’s Network in 2013. She was awarded the MBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours List and her commitment to supporting other women and Defence’s Diversity and Inclusion agenda was further recognised when she was awarded The Spirit of everywoman.com Award in 2013, WeAreTheCity’s Rising Star Champion Award in 2018 and a Commendation from the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in 2022.
Jane Chalmers:
Jane served in the RAF for 22 years, initially as an air traffic control officer and then latterly in a range of command and staff appointments in the UK and USA. Since leaving the RAF in 2008 she has run her own business providing interim management and consultancy services primarily to the NHS.
Jane is a Non-Executive Director of The Forces Pension Society
She lives in Hook, Hampshire with her husband and 2 rescue dogs
Amanda Hassell
Colonel Amanda Hassell joined the WRAC in 1989 and then AGC (SPS) in 1992 on disbandment of WRAC. She spent 35 years in the Army (Regular &Reserve).
She have been a WRAC Trustee for 6 years
She lives in Winchester with husband Michael and Casper, her 3 year old Labrador.
She is looking forward to working with the FVTP over the next few years.