I am CEO at EDA. A proud autistic and care leaver. EDA was borne out of my lived experience of being sectioned in secure and intensive care units for 4 years due to struggling to manage my emotions safely. Now I am a youth mental health advocate, having delivered a TEDx event, published a book and I have spoken at international conferences. I have a film made about me and 6 accolades to my name including a British Citizen Award and Diana Award. I strive to be the person to others that my past self needed.

When I am not being CEO, I am a student studying Human Neuroscience where I intend to study medicine and become a psychiatrist.

I have an autistic daughter who also struggles with her mental health. Trying to find support was nearly impossible and we just got passed from pillar to post, so when I met ZeZe and she told me her vision for the EDA, I had to get involved so we can help families like mine.

I'm Jake, a Technology Director with over 10 years experience in the Leadership, Governance and Strategy space. I care deeply about helping organisations use technology to drive their impact. I advise EDA on our Digital, Technology and Growth strategy. I make sure we have working and secure tools/systems/data that helps us provide our serices to young people. I also have ADHD.

As an ex-headteacher and someone who has always had a great professional interest in improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of children and young people, I was delighted to be asked by Zaynab (ZeZe) to consider becoming a Trustee of EDA. I also have a personal interest in becoming involved in the Charity in that my young grandson has a diagnosis of autism and pathological demand avoidance (PDA). I first met Zaynab when she was a student at my school and was delighted, when I met her again as a young adult, to invite her back into school to talk to our pupils about her newly published book and her personal mental health journey.

Although recently retired, I am still working on a part-time consultancy basis with schools on matters pertaining to emotional wellbeing and mental health and am also a school governor. I am very excited to be a Trustee of the Charity and am very much looking forward to working with Zaynab and my fellow Trustees on improving the outcome of children and young people who may be struggling with their own autism-related emotional difficulties.

I’m Lowri, I am Mum of two, and an academic researcher specialising in young people’s mental health. I have a PhD and over 14 years’ experience of delivering clinical research within the NHS.

I have lived experience of mental health problems and I have experienced first-hand the everyday challenges of close family members who are neurodivergent. This has driven my passion for wanting to deliver real change to improve outcomes for young people struggling with their mental health.