Meet Our Team

The celebrated electric House, Funk, Disco and Soul DJ has announced his support by becoming our 1^st Charity Ambassador. Famous for his high energy sets at super clubs including Ministry of Sound, Turnmills and Miss Moneypenny’s, Brandon, who has an upcoming UK tour this summer, cemented his superstar DJ status in the 90s through residencies at well-known Ibiza clubs. Parallel to his career going from strength to strength, Brandon suffered from severe anxiety, paranoia and imposter syndrome which led to drug dependencies. In 1996 he attended a residential detox facility and embarked on his recovery journey. During his recovery, Brandon discovered SMART which he credits as instrumental and he has been a SMART Facilitator since 2005. As our Ambassador Brandon will champion what we do and raise awareness of our recovery programme.

“I am delighted and honoured to be joining the SMART Recovery UK team. The charity’s evidence-based approach empowers individuals to overcome addictions and contributes to international research efforts to enhance understanding of the recovery process. This is urgent and important work.

I identify strongly with the organisation’s inclusive ethos and values, and I am looking forward to engaging with our volunteers, staff, and my fellow trustees. Together we will build on SMART’s impressive track record and work to improve the lives of many more individuals, their families, and their friends.”

After graduating with an honours degree in Business Studies, Lesley has acquired over 25 yrs. of HR experience in the corporate financial services industry and now specialises in employment law and employee relations.

In her time as a global leader, a member of her team had addiction issues and she found that there was very little support in the workplace to help guide her. She has found it is much more widespread than people think – and she strongly believes more needs to be done to get rid of the stigma about it. As a result, Lesley is passionate about raising awareness of addiction in the workplace, helping employees and employers to be more confident in opening up about it and she is keen to equip people with knowledge of how to support the whole workforce more effectively.

Becoming a Trustee of UK SMART Recovery not only allows Lesley to promote the awareness of what we do but gives her an amazing opportunity to give back by providing support, counsel, advice and guidance to help SMART continue to grow and thrive.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-mcgeoch-06587310/

This is Ian and he is our Treasurer

Ian volunteers a huge amount of his time and expertise on the UK SMART Board.

He is a member of The SMART Recovery International Brand and Communications Committee and plays a pivotal role in the development of the first global SMART Fundraising Campaign which is due to launch in April this year.

Ian has over 40 years experience in business spanning the retail, international trade, manufacturing and not for profit sectors.

This includes experience of leading the implementation of organisational change to improve business performance. He is experienced in operational excellence.

He first encountered SMART Recovery meetings in Fife, Scotland where he now lives.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aktiv8/

Alan Maclean KC has been in practice at the Bar for 27 years.  He is a member of Blackstone Chambers.

Alan was educated at a state school in the West of Scotland and then at University College, Oxford, where he obtained a double First in PPE and at Harvard University, where he was a Kennedy Memorial Scholar.

Alan was called to the Bar, First in his year, in 1993 and took Silk, at his first attempt, in 2009.

Alan has a varied and busy practice, ranging across many aspects of commercial litigation and arbitration (in such fields as civil fraud, energy, sanctions, telecommunications and sports law) as well as public, regulatory and competition law.

In addition to his work in England and Wales, Alan has appeared as leading Counsel in Gibraltar, the BVI and before both the Cayman Island and Eastern Caribbean Courts of Appeal.

Alan was a member of the Attorney General’s Panel of Counsel until his appointment as Queen’s Counsel (1999 – 2009) and has acted for and against a vast array of different government departments and public authorities, including the Charity Commission

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-maclean-qc-79609013/

Shiv is a Peer Trustee who has been on the Board of Trustees for UK Smart Recovery since 2016 .

He first encountered SMART Recovery meetings in his hometown of Hounslow.

He went on to become a Peer Meeting Facilitator and a volunteer in his local drug and alcohol service, which led to his employment as an Engagement and Recovery Worker.

In his spare time Shiv helps out at the Outside Edge Theatre Company, which works with and for people with substance misuse issues.

Shiv represents the UK on the SMART Recovery International Board and plays a pivotal role in the development of the Global Strategy to develop the programme and its reach.

He helped set up SMART in India where a group of psychologist are trained to deliver the programme.

Natalie is a strategic communications and policy leader with more than 20 years’ experience across utilities, parliament, media, and the third sector.
Natalie has a proven record of shaping narratives, protecting reputations, and influencing public policy at a national level, and is recognised as a trusted advisor to boards and senior executives.
Her career has spanned senior roles at Scottish Water, the Scottish Parliament, and leading national newspapers, where she has led campaigns that achieved measurable behavioural and policy change. As a former health reporter, many of her stories improved the lives of people in need and sparked debate on a range of issues.
Alongside her professional expertise, Natalie has a deep commitment to good governance, community engagement, and creating lasting social value.
Natalie has served on local authority appeals panels, taught overseas, volunteered as a mentor for disadvantaged young people, volunteered as a journalist visiting and highlighting various human-interest stories across Africa and supported charities with communications and fundraising

David is a marketing agency leader with a passion for creativity, innovation and inspiring change. This enthusiasm began when he pivoted out of Law, the subject which he studied at University, and took up a graduate position at one of the UK’s most successful marketing agencies. In the intervening 25 Years, David’s career has seen him work for some the UK’s most exciting agencies, allowing him to shape and champion award winning campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands both in the UK and Internationally.
In 2018 David was invited and honoured to become a Fellow of the Marketing Society. He currently directs an integrated marketing agency based in Edinburgh and Manchester.
Outside of work, David sits on the Marketing Professional Advisory Group of Edinburgh Napier University and supports and volunteers for a number of industry and education focused charities.
David is ardent supporter of the promotion, awareness and sustained growth of UK SMART Recovery. He’s delighted to support its vital work helping those living with the challenges of addiction.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-roberts-30a07a18

I left University with a Ph.D in Human Toxico-pathology in 2002 from the University of Liverpool. I studied the effects of maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy on the placenta and baby. During this time I gained significant knowledge of addiction, addictive behaviours and the pathological effects of addictive substances. Since then I have led and managed large portfolios of clinical research in the public sector mainly in paediatrics. Working closely with children and their families for over 20 years has given me a deep appreciation of the importance of a good start in life. In my most recent position working across health, education and social care I led a programme of health innovations which included behavioural science, biosensors and community projects.

I have been fortunate to benefit from 6 years of leadership and personal development by Ashridge Business School which means that I am able to lead an organisation on a journey of discovery, improvement and growth. I am a campaigner by nature and as such have been involved in significant fund raising for Alder Hey’s Charity where research was their leading campaign for many years (£3.2M). I have worked with all top 10 UK health charities delivering contract research which improves their evidence base of diseases, conditions and treatments. In all my appointments to date I have enabled significant growth and diversification in both the business and non-commercial sectors. I endeavour to instil a culture where everyone can thrive and reach their full potential and I hope to do this, and more, for UK SMART Recovery.

I am a busy full time working mum of 2 young boys and my husband is a care worker for vulnerable adults. I have lived experience of addiction in my family and am passionate about empowerment models of care. I believe in the philosophy that everyone should be able to Love the Life they Live and Live the Life they Love. I am very pleased and proud to be your Chief Executive.

Emma was first introduced to SMART Recovery in 2011 whilst working in a local substance-misuse service. Having facilitated meetings within her role as a Recovery Worker over the past decade or so, she has seen first-hand the profound effect SMART can have on individuals who choose to use the tools. As such, she was excited to join the UKSR team in 2023 as the Community Co-ordinator for the West Midlands and South West of England, helping SMART to reach even more people who wish to engage with it and helping to build strong recovery communities.

Emma stepped into the position as Operations Manager in June 2025 and is pleased and proud to support the UKSR team in their hard work.

Emma has a passion for health and wellbeing, both her own and others, and also runs her own therapy practice, with an emphasis on Emotional Freedom Technique, a tool which allows individuals to move on from trauma and become “unstuck”. She also volunteers for an organisation which provides welfare and harm reduction advice at music festivals, which has become one of the most meaningful aspects of her summers.

She strongly believes that with the right support we can all strive to become the best version of ourselves and live a life of deep fulfilment.

Tina is the Chief Finance Officer for UK SMART Recovery. She joined the organisation in August 2019 as a temporary member of staff before being taken on permanently in January 2020. Since leaving school Tina worked as a Sales Advisor in the insurance industry and for the previous 10 years she moved into the Facilities Management industry where she worked her way up from Administrator to Team Leader. Tina has a vast knowledge of administration and accounts experience.

Matthew is the Business Co-ordinator for UK SMART Recovery. He joined the organisation in April 2016 on a part time basis before taking a full-time position in November of that year.

Matthew has worked in the charity sector since 2008. Firstly, as a volunteer for the British Heart Foundation locally, before joining the Citizens Advice Bureau in Cheadle, Staffordshire, also as a volunteer shortly after. A paid position followed on from his volunteering Citizens Advice a year later, where he remained until starting work for UK SMART Recovery. He remained involved with Citizens Advice after joining UK SMART Recovery and was on the Board of Trustees for Citizens Advice up till 2021.

Hi. My name is Kelly and I am the Community Coordinator in Central Scotland.
I was introduced to UK SMART Recovery in 2017. After my first meeting, I really wanted to get involved as I felt it refreshing to be welcomed and knowing a person wasn’t labelled or judged in a mutual aid setting. I attended meetings regularly whilst volunteering in a recovery community and studying social care in college. Over the years working with UKSR, I have gained so much knowledge and experience working with people from all over the country. Delivering training to develop communities has been absolutely amazing! To see more and more people learning the UKSR 4-point program to deliver in their own communities is something I feel very passionate about and can’t wait to support and develop more facilitators in the future.

Kenny has worked for a homelessness charity for the last 11 years as a support worker. During this period he was seconded to UK Smart Recovery for two years to promote Smart Recovery across 10 local authorities in Scotland. Kenny found this an exciting and fulfilling experience and loved the ethos of UK Smart Recovery and the positivity of the organisation.

When the opportunity to join the team on a permanent basis came along he was delighted to accept and help develop Smart across Scotland. Previously Kenny has worked in residential and community rehabilitation services and is dedicated to promoting recovery and believes that the Smart tools can empower people live more balanced lifestyles.

Hi, I’m Danny – Community Coordinator for the North West region. I originally had a background in furniture making and carpentry until I became a Recovery Coach in Calderdale, West Yorkshire. I completed the SMART Facilitator training and got further involved with the programme, facilitating weekly meetings for the next couple of years. I have always been interested in working with people, particularly within the recovery sector and have found the SMART Recovery tools to be extremely helpful. It’s an honor and a pleasure to work for the charity and help further its causes across the North West!

After seven-plus years as a SMART Participant & Facilitator, I’m delighted to join the team at UK SMART Recovery as Community Coordinator for the South of England. I’m returning to the world of work after five years semi-retired & volunteering: with SMART; my local Drug & Alcohol service; Citizens Advice; & a few other worthwhile enterprises.

Before that, I was very fortunate to have a near-40-year career of Public Service, split into two halves: the Police and then NHS management.

SMART’s behavioural & mindful approach is central to my life in Recovery. As a Facilitator, I hope to get across the messages that I took from my very first meeting: 1. we are not alone in this; 2. we can begin to tell the truth; & 3. change is possible.

So: applying those messages – these days, as part of my balanced life in Bath, I play the ukulele & the bass guitar (but not at the same time)…

I completed the SMART Recovery Facilitator Training and founded meetings while working in the Recovery Team at Solihull Integrated Addiction Services (SIAS), wanting to pass on the practical, evidence-based tools that supported my own recovery.
Before joining SIAS, I had worked across a range of fields. Gaining freedom through the cognitive and behavioural tools of Rational Recovery and REBT gave me a lasting respect for self-management and rational thinking in recovery.
I now aim to help others discover the same clarity and practical strength that SMART offers, and to support the continued growth of meetings and facilitators across the Midlands and London.

Chris is a former Royal Navy serviceman. He is an experienced addiction practitioner and equine facilitator for human development, with a background in group facilitation and harm-reduction practice. As UK Lead for the SMART Veterans Programme, Chris brings both professional expertise and lived understanding of military culture to the delivery of UK SMART Recovery’s evidence-based 4-Point Programme. He is committed to creating psychologically safe, non-judgemental peer-led spaces where veterans can build motivation, manage urges, strengthen problem-solving skills, and develop more balanced, fulfilling lives beyond service. His work is grounded in harm reduction, recovery, self-management, mutual aid, and a respect for the resilience and strengths of the armed forces community.