ADUK has a small dedicated team of staff and trustees that work alongside the membership.
Vicky Worthington
Executive DirectorVicky is responsible for the executive management of ADUK. She supports the Trustees and the membership and manages a range of thematic knowledge-sharing networks and projects.
With nearly 20 years of experience working in the third sector, Vicky’s area of expertise lies in the development of umbrella organisations and membership structures.
Ash Robertson
Head of Learning & AllyshipAsh leads the Education Team to support member learning and development, and ADUK’s Corporate Allyship Programme, connecting with service providers to raise awareness of the rights and needs of assistance dog partnerships.
Ash has extensive experience in various voluntary sector organisations, particularly within Animal Welfare and Education.
Emily Marston
Ambassador CoordinatorEmily oversees and supports all of our volunteer ambassadors.
Emily has worked within the charity and education sectors. She is passionate about raising awareness of assistance dogs and representing the people who rely on them. She is an assistance dog user herself and can often be seen accompanied by her black Labrador named Nieve, who was trained by ADUK member, Medical Detection Dogs.
Ellie Roberts
Policy and Campaigns ManagerEllie is responsible for helping build our policy positions and furthering our campaigning aims to advocate for a standards-based approach and raise awareness of the legal rights of disabled people who rely on highly trained assistance dogs.
Ellie has extensive experience working alongside policy makers Westminster, in charity policy and in the education sector.
Nicola Sutherland
Administrative OfficerNicola is ADUK’s first port of call for all enquiries and helps to keep our website fresh.
Nicola has extensive experience working with international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as community based user-led charities and initiatives.
ADUK Trustees
Pat Stafford MBE
TrusteeADUK welcomed Pat as Chair in October 2023. She is very experienced in leadership and governance, and in helping organisations to maximise their impact. Pat is also Vice Chair at Battersea Dogs & Cats’ Home.
Dr. Claire Guest OBE
TrusteeClaire has been professionally involved in the training of assistance dogs since 1987 and specifically in the training of dogs in the detection of human disease through scent since 2002. She is the Co-Founder, CEO, and Chief Scientific Officer of ADUK member Medical Detection Dogs
Lucy Eldred
TrusteeLucy has been CEO of Canine Partners since March 2025, following three years as the charity’s Director of People. A former Royal Logistic Corps Officer with over 15 years’ experience as an HR professional across a range of sectors, she brings expertise in leadership, strategy, and organisational change. Lucy is passionate about collaboration and driving meaningful, positive impact.
Ed Bracher
TrusteeEd joined the board in April 2023 and brings extensive experience as a charity leader to the board as the former CEO of Riding for the Disabled and as the current Chair of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust. Ed is the CEO of Dogs for Good.
Liam Flynn
TrusteeLiam is one of ADUK’s newest trustees and brings with him a wealth of both professional knowledge and lived experience with assistance dogs.
Liam is also a trustee of the Seeing Dog Alliance and a guide dog user.
Rita Howson
TrusteeRita is one of ADUK’s founding members and continues to be committed to seeing ADUK develop its work and build reach and influence.
Rita is the CEO of Support Dogs.
Garry Botterill
TrusteeGarry joined the board in April 2023. He joins the board keen to share his passion and knowledge of providing support to veterans and people working in the armed forces and emergency services.
Garry is the Founder and Operations Director at Service Dogs UK.
ADUK Ambassadors
Talya Newman
Volunteer AmbassadorTalya is from our member organisation Dog AID
Sophie Jackson
Volunteer AmbassadorSophie is from our member organisation Medical Detection Dogs
Alison Hendry
Volunteer AmbassadorAlison is from our member organisation Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Jordan Chapman
Volunteer AmbassadorJordan is from our member organisation Service Dogs UK
Hannah Baker
Volunteer AmbassadorHannah is from our member organisation Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Hannah Wilson
Volunteer AmbassadorHannah is from our member organisation Dog AID
Noah Caborn
Volunteer AmbassadorNoah is from our member organisation Autism Dogs
Martin Peagam
Volunteer AmbassadorMartin is from our member organisation Hearing Dogs for Deaf People
Assistance Dogs UK is a registered charity – number 1119538
ADUK does not represent or claim to represent all assistance dog charities or owners. Not all assistance dogs in the UK will have been trained by an ADUK member organisation.