As a charity, our activities are overseen by our Board of Trustees. These trustees are appointed collectively and volunteer their time at regular meetings, complying with our governing document and the law and acting with skill and care in order to:
- Ensure Grassroots Suicide Prevention is carrying out its purposes for the public benefit
- Act in Grassroots Suicide Prevention’s best interests
- Ensure Grassroots Suicide Prevention is accountable
- Manage Grassroots Suicide Prevention’s resources responsibly
Chair Emma Mills-Sheffield
Emma is an independent business consultant and coach who has spent 15 years in industry-leading major projects, training delivery programmes, workshop facilitation and coaching.
She has experience working at KPMG, WSP and in the creative and digital industries and has worked extensively across the private, public and charity sectors. Her experience brings project management and business skills to the board.
Having been bereaved by close family suicide, Emma is using not only career experience, but also her experience of recovery in her work with Grassroots Suicide Prevention. She’s passionate about making a positive difference to those who need support in the community and through Grassroots Suicide Prevention’s work.
Emma is also a volunteer for Re-Engage and a mentor for local businesses at the Sussex Innovation Centre and students at the University of Sussex. In January 2020 she was named as one of 100 female entrepreneurs in the UK as part of the small business campaign f:Entrepreneur and she is also a Fellow of the RSA.
Trustee Chris Adams
Chris brings expertise of all things digital to help guide Grassroots growing portfolio of digital projects and products.
He is Chief Technical Officer at Madgex and has the technical and commercial experience to deliver high-quality software development. With over 16 years of experience in web development Chris is clued into the changing technical landscape, especially in the current environment of mobile web and mobile applications, and cloud infrastructure.
He also brings keen governance and oversight experience, honed through his time as Governor of Elm Grove Primary School, and Director of the Elm Grove Out of School Club, a parent-led not-for-profit company that provides wrap-around care for the children of Elm Grove School and holiday care for the children of Brighton and Hove. As a Director of the company, he works with other parents to ensure the business is successful and provides quality after school care to the children.
Trustee David Rainford
David earned his Chartered Accountant (ACA) and Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualifications while working at a private equity-backed firm in Brighton. After eight years there, he now serves as a Tax Manager at Carpenter Box, based in Brighton and Worthing.
Having been bereaved by the suicide of a close friend and being a previous fundraiser for Grassroots Suicide Prevention in the past, David was keen to join as a Trustee to support their lifesaving work. Making sure that they have as stable a financial base as possible means that the rest of the team can focus on what they do best.
David’s background includes supporting a wide range of businesses and charities, with experience of finance across many sectors, allowing him to bring a broad viewpoint to the financial management of Grassroots Suicide Prevention. He also offers insights into the management of a charity as a business.
Trustee Dr Lisa Marzano
Dr Lisa Marzano is Professor of Psychology at Middlesex University and Co-Director of the Centre for Abuse, Trauma and Suicide Studies (CATS). With over two decades of experience in suicide and self-harm prevention, Lisa brings extensive expertise in research, policy, and practical interventions.
Previously a Research Fellow at the University of Oxford Centre for Suicide Research, Lisa leads important work on suicides in public locations. Her research has informed influential prevention initiatives, including the award-winning Small Talk Saves Lives campaign and national and international media guidelines for responsible suicide reporting.
Recognised by Universities UK as a “Nation’s Lifesaver” in 2019, Lisa also received a Lifesaver Award from Transport for London. She advises numerous organisations such as the Met Police, British Transport Police, Samaritans, and international bodies on suicide prevention strategies.
Trustee Karen Lascelles
Karen is a Senior Lecturer in Mental Health Nursing at Oxford Brookes University, with 35 years’ experience in mental health nursing. Over the past decade, she has specialised in self-harm and suicide prevention, combining clinical practice with research to improve outcomes.
Her work spans adult and older adult populations, delivering training and supporting individuals and teams managing complex suicide risk cases. Karen has held key leadership roles, including Suicide Prevention Lead Nurse and Nurse Consultant at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
Clinically, she works in psychiatric liaison, supporting people who present to Emergency Departments with mental health crises, predominantly involving self-harm and suicidality. She also plays an active role in research and quality improvement initiatives.
With extensive frontline experience and academic expertise, Karen is deeply committed to advancing evidence-based suicide prevention through both practice and research.