Meet our friendly and super engaged team



Philippa Stahelin
Chief Executive
Philippa has been involved with Headway since 2008, first as a fundraiser and now as Executive Director, responsible for strategy and overall management of the charity. With a background in sales management and publishing, she brings her enthusiasm to every aspect of her role as Executive Director. Philippa sits on various boards in the island, including Chair of the Lloyds Bank Foundation, so has a wide knowledge of charitable organisations across the Channel islands.
Whilst not at Headway, she is heavily involved in island sports, playing hockey, padel and cricket. If there is snow to be found, she’ll likely be off skiing, but loves nothing better than getting out and about in Guernsey, walking her 7 year old black lab, Tilly (more of her later!)


Orla-Marie Manning
Service Director
Having volunteered for Headway Guernsey since its launch in 2006 in between University terms, Orla-Marie then spent 2 years working at Headway Portsmouth devising and running the cognitive brain training modules. In 2011, when Headway restructured their services, Orla-Marie returned to the island and since then she has developed a breadth of services, with particular emphasis on cognitive modules, peer support and early intervention. Orla-Marie is impassioned about supporting people who have suffered a brain injury and their families having lived experience as a family member herself. She assesses all individuals who engage with the Headway services and liaises regularly with the brain injury team at the PEH and other community agencies.
Outside of the work environment, Orla-Marie is a busy Mama of 2 children and owner of Milton the pup.


Geraldine Williams
Activities Co-ordinator
Geraldine began volunteering before becoming a member of staff in August 2007.
Geraldine has lived experience of brain injury due to her son suffering a TBI at the age of 11. Geraldine utilises her organisational skills to manage activities and events for all members and family members. She makes the office tick! Geraldine is responsible for the gym buddying scheme and particularly enjoys working with the Neurophysios at the PEH and supporting our members in the gym setting. Geraldine feels like Headway is like her second family and working for Headway is a great pleasure.
In her spare time Geraldine enjoys playing darts and has represented Guernsey many times. Geraldine is an animal lover and owns three cats (or they own her!!). She enjoys dog sitting and loves time with Tilly and Milton. In the summer she loves nothing more then going across to Herm to camp with her family and friends.


Nick Bennett
Chairman
Nick has been involved with Headway since 2008, originally supporting the charity from a fund-raising perspective by undertaking an ultra-marathon in the Amazon jungle as part of a team from Schroders, before joining the board in 2012. Nick has a background in financial services having previously sat on the offshore boards of two City of London banking institutions. Since 2014 Nick has owned and operated a mid-market debt advisory business, Navitaur Limited, which specialises in structuring debt for UK commercial and residential real estate assets. As Chair of Headway Nick leads the board ensuring that the board is effective in its task of setting and implementing Headway’s direction and strategy. Whilst not working he can be found enjoying the south coast cliffs and beaches, walking his two Shih Tzus and travelling to far flung places to meet his daughter whose life is currently spent circumnavigating the globe with her boyfriend on their sailing yacht!


Richard Stapley
Treasurer
As a practicing local accountant, Richard brings many years of experience and knowledge to his role as Headway’s Treasurer.
Richard loves being outdoors and currently spends much of his leisure time sailing (or in the gym getting fit for sailing!) but was previously a keen runner, cyclist and triathlete. Richard competes in sailing races with his wife on their racing yacht. Richard still runs and when off Guernsey he is likely to be found enjoying long distance walks in the mountains.


Sally Buckley
Director
Sally’s background is in financial services and she is currently a compliance officer. She combines a role at a consultancy company with work as a supply teaching assistant at primary schools. Both of those roles allow her to support and mentor others. Sally adores Guernsey and all it offers especially as a keen all-season sea swimmer. When not in the sea you will find her riding her native pony or walking her dog. Being a part of Headway is an important part of her life and she feels privileged to offer skills and time to the Headway family.


Tilly
Tilly is Headway’s therapy dog and is registered with WAG. Although technically she belongs to Philippa, in reality she is very much shared by everyone at the charity. She is a 7 year old labrador, with a calm and gentle nature, always in tune with members, who often rely on a stroke and a cuddle for reassurance and confidence. In return she demands nothing other than her daily massage and the chance at any opportunity to snaffle crumbs or even better, a plate of biscuits or flap jacks left unattended. In that regard she is true to the labrador breed!


Milton
Milton is the newest recruit to the team. He is the much adored pup of Orla-Marie and there is hope of training him as a therapy dog due to his mild mannered temperament. When he is not asleep underneath his owner’s desk, in his spare time Milton enjoys being spoilt with cuddles, eating grass and chewing flip flops.