Meet our Team

Andrew is Deputy Head of Operations at the Shamley Green site. He brings over 15 years of experience working with children and young people in all sorts of settings. Before moving into education in 2022, he built a solid background in safeguarding, behaviour, and operations: skills he now uses every day to help keep things running smoothly. When he’s not at work, you’ll probably find him outdoors with his family or standing in the firing line as a hockey goalkeeper (on purpose!).

Graham Hockley is our Deputy Head of Education and Learning at Elysian. Graham is a skilled teacher with extensive experience in using the outdoor environment as stimulus for exciting and engaging learning. He founded North Devon’s only ‘Sea School’ and spent several years developing a unique curriculum, teaching a wide range children and young people through the context of the coastline. Graham is a Science Subject Leader and sat on the Science Advisory Panel for the Southwest Region. Additionally, he chaired the Science Hub for Teachers in North Devon, focussing on developing good practice. Graham has a great deal of experience in supporting children with SEND and helping them to engage with their learning, by building trusted relationships and facilitating next steps towards good progress. He has worked a great deal with young people with ASD, anxiety, depression, and ADHD. With years of operational management experience, he has collaborated with different teams ensuring efficiency in daily processes as well as delivering training to new staff and apprentices. Graham understands the need for clear communication and adaptive practices to best meet the needs of individuals and groups. In his spare time, if Graham is not walking up the biggest hill he can find with his family, he is more than likely to be found at the beach in a wetsuit, either in or under the water. Graham’s qualifications are: PGCE Primary specialising in Science and PE BSc Hons Degree in Marine Biology and Coastal Ecology Science Subject Leader – Level 3 Sea Green Schools Qualification – Level 3

Luke is an experienced mathematics teacher who has a heavy focus on student focused teaching and solid understanding of fundamentals. Previously a Deputy Head of Learning for Maths and English at an FE college, Luke has led teams through outstanding Ofsted inspections, curriculum redesigns and a pandemic. As a mathematics specialist, Luke has focused heavily on fundamental skills and confidence, specifically for learners returning to education after a break or with gaps in their knowledge. Luke likes to bring the real world into his teaching to anchor student’s knowledge in things they already know be it music, art, history or sports.

Jane has dedicated over forty years to education, working across nursery, pre-school, primary, secondary and further education settings. Before entering education she worked in banking and finance, developing strong skills in organisation, management and communication. She has extensive experience supporting children, young people and families from a wide range of backgrounds, and is passionate about inclusion, engagement and raising aspirations. Her specialist areas include curriculum development, assessment, project-based learning, specific learning difficulties, SEND, neurodiversity, and family and community outreach. Jane has held a variety of leadership and advisory roles, including Head of Year, Key Stage Leader, Head of Department, SENDCo, Exams Manager, Assistant Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher and Local Authority Adviser. Her broad experience provides a deep understanding of education, inclusion and learner development. Her guiding principle is to help young people recognise their strengths, develop confidence and resilience, and achieve their full potential.

Qualifications and professional training

• BSc (Hons) Environmental Science
• PGCE in Secondary and Primary Education (Distinction), specialising in Science, Mathematics, English and Transition
• Level 7 Specific Learning Difficulties, specialising in Dyslexia and Dyscalculia
• Level 7 Assessor Qualification (CPT3A) Psychometric Testing
• British Psychological Society Test User Educational Qualification
• Access Arrangements Course
• Level 3 Forest School Instructor
• CEVAS (Countryside Educational Visits Accreditation Scheme), trained in farming, environmental education and outdoor learning

Ami has over 20 years of experience working in education, specialising in supporting children and young people with SEND and SEMH needs. She has taught in schools and colleges, led specialist provisions, developed bespoke curriculums and held senior leadership roles where she developed whole-school behaviour strategies. As a qualified Thrive Practitioner, Ami is passionate about creating inclusive, nurturing environments where young people can achieve and grow. She is committed to building strong relationships with pupils, families and professionals to ensure every learner feels supported and valued Before moving into teaching, Ami worked in residential and community support roles with children and young adults with complex needs, which shaped her passion for inclusive education and individualised support. She is deeply committed to helping every learner reach their potential, with creativity, encouragement and resilience at the heart of her approach. Outside of teaching, Ami enjoys sport and wellness, pottery, painting and photography, finding balance and inspiration through creativity and time outdoors.

With a background as a professionally trained actor, Anna was first drawn into teaching after a powerful experience directing a primary school production. That spark quickly grew into a deep passion for education, leading her to complete her PGCE at the University of Sussex in 2017, where she was awarded a distinction. She began her teaching career in mainstream secondary schools in Hackney, London: challenging but formative environments that taught her the importance of adaptability, empathy, and creative expression. Over time, she felt increasingly called to work with young people who needed something different from traditional settings, which led her into SEN-based alternative provisions. These experiences solidified her belief that education must be inclusive, flexible, and human-centred. A lifelong animal lover, Anna resonates deeply with Elysian’s therapeutic approach, where nature, animals, and creativity come together to support young people holistically. This ethos perfectly aligns with her core values. She is passionate about changing the face of education: championing a system that truly supports the most vulnerable learners, fosters connection, and recognises each individual’s worth. Anna is committed to making sure that education really is for everyone. – BA Hons in Acting (Performing Arts) – PGCE in Secondary Education (Distinction)

Caroline has always followed her passions, turning childhood dreams into reality. From a young age, she was drawn to the world of hospitality and has since built a successful career in hotel management, later transitioning into education: a role she finds deeply rewarding. Another lifelong ambition was to become a riding instructor, fuelled by her love for horses. Caroline began riding at the age of 8 and was an active member of her local pony club, taking part in camps, earning various pony club tests up to her B test, and particularly enjoying one-day events and show jumping.

Her professional journey has taken her around the world, working in the hotel and catering industry before specialising in HR and recruitment. It was during this time, training and mentoring new staff, that she discovered her true passion for teaching.

Caroline spent nine years as a Learning Support Assistant and 1:1 support for children with ADHD, autism, and anxiety before retraining as a teacher. She has since enjoyed nine fulfilling years teaching at a vibrant, three-form-entry primary school.

Outside of work, Caroline loves spending time outdoors with her Westie, Piper, going on long walks and doing dog agility. She also shares a horse and enjoys relaxing rides whenever she can. A keen traveler, she’s always looking forward to her next adventure exploring new places around the globe.

Chris has spent the past decade delivering trauma-informed, SEN-adapted learning for an incredible range of neurodiverse learners. Before that, he worked as a youth worker and spent ten years as an animal trainer in UK zoos, advising on how to implement free choice and positive behavior training to support animal welfare and husbandry. He’s passionate about psychology, history, the performing arts, and all things superhero-related – and loves weaving these interests into his lessons. Outside work, Chris enjoys drawing, painting, reading, and playing the drums with enthusiasm (and volume), the guitar with determination, dancing like nobody’s watching, and singing with the hope that nobody’s listening. Chris is deeply aligned with Elysian’s ethos and is excited to be part of the team.

Keira has been working in education since 2020 and brings with her an array of experience from both mainstream and pastoral roles. She has previously worked as Head of Religious Studies, Head of PSHE, and Duke of Edinburgh Assistant Coordinator, and has always enjoyed being a committed and caring form tutor. Her approach to teaching is rooted in compassion, connection, and creativity and she always places the wellbeing of the young person at the centre. Drawn to Elysian’s holistic and nurturing ethos, Keira feels deeply aligned with the values of nature-based, therapeutic education. She has always loved animals and the outdoors, believing strongly in their power to support emotional growth, regulation, healing, and belonging. Outside of teaching, Keira enjoys practising yoga and focusing on wellbeing, going on long walks with her dog Sunny, reading, hiking, and spending time in or near water. She feels most at peace when surrounded by nature – especially when fluffy animals are involved!

Kirsty has 25 years teaching experience and latterly has been the head of a large special needs Centre for children with social communication needs. Kirsty has been a SEND teacher and a senior leader. She loves Elysian’s therapeutic ethos which compliments her trauma informed training. Her favourite animals are cats and horses.

Rebecca has been working in education for the past six years. During her first year in education, Rebecca worked as a 1:1 teaching assistant supporting KS3 pupils with autism and other special educational needs. For the past five years, Rebecca has worked as a Primary School Teacher spending most of her time teaching Year 6. Rebecca was the subject lead for Design and Technology and Art at her previous school as these are her favourite subjects, but she also loves teaching Maths and English. In her spare time, Rebecca enjoys reading and camping in her campervan with her dog Rocket. Rebecca’s qualifications include: BA (Hons) in Education Studies PGCE in Primary Education (with QTS)

Tom is an experienced teacher with over ten years' experience working across both mainstream schools and Social, Emotional and Mental Health settings. He is passionate about creating positive, engaging learning experiences that help children and young people build confidence, develop new skills and discover their individual strengths. With experience working alongside dogs in school environments, Tom has a particular interest in the positive impact that animals can have on learning, wellbeing and emotional development. Tom has a strong passion for creative subjects, particularly music, art and design technology. He loves using creativity and practical activities to engage learners and encourage self-expression, curiosity and a sense of achievement.

Jane moved to Hampshire in 2023 having worked at an International school in London for 9 years as an English, French and Drama teacher. Jane worked as an actor in her 20s, solicitor in her 30s and retrained as a teacher in her 40s. She lived in France for 5 years loving the space and food. Jane continues to love acting, singing and dancing and takes part in local amateur productions. She’s grown up with cats and dogs since childhood though her latest animal friend is a rescue tortoise called Gus!

Jo is a Teacher at Elysian. She brings over 18 years’ experience as a teacher in mainstream education, teaching and leading a wide range of year groups and subjects. Jo has supported children and young people with a variety of complex needs, helping them access and thrive in school. Her approach is inclusive, nurturing, and tailored to each learner. Now combining her understanding of education with a love for animals and the outdoors, Jo is passionate about the benefits of nature-based learning. She believes in the power of Animal Assisted Interventions to boost confidence, well-being, and a love of learning. Known for her calm and caring manner, Jo creates a safe, supportive environment where learners feel respected and empowered to grow at their own pace. Qualifications: BA (Hons) in French PGCE with a specialism in French Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) Training in Autism, ADHD, Behaviour Management, Prevent and Safeguarding Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Autism In her spare time, Jo enjoys family life, being creative, countryside walks and relaxing with a good book.

Jo is a dedicated teacher with 18 years' experience and a genuine love for outdoor and experiential learning, having taught a range of year groups from Years 1 to 6 and held a range of leadership roles, including leading phonics, reading, writing and MFL.

Jo has predominantly worked in schools in challenging contexts, with significant experience of managing children with complex behaviour and SEND needs. She joined Elysian, Liss and Froxfield in September 2025 as a Higher Level Teaching Assistant, planning and leading phonics and reading interventions for SEND young people, supporting the Animal Care and Equine teams, and using animal-assisted interventions to help young people regulate and engage.

Jo is passionate about inspiring, motivating and nurturing children, building a strong rapport with them, parents and staff, and is keen to keep developing her knowledge of animal-assisted interventions and outdoor learning.

Alishia is an Equine Learning Support Assistant with a strong background in education and horsemanship. With a degree in Education and a diploma in Equine studies, she combines academic knowledge with a hands on experience to help create engaging, supportive learning environments. Her equine experience includes working with younger horses, developing their skills and confidence, as well as teaching others the essentials of horse care and riding. Alishia also has had experience in a school setting, helping her tailor support to each learners needs. Alishia’s hobbies include attending concerts and going out on fun rides with her friends.

Belinda is a LSA at the West Horsley site, who loves the outside, connecting with the seasons and getting some jobs done. She has various experience of working with young people, some of which include messy, processful, art workshops. Belinda’s hobbies include keeping bees and cycling.

BA ( Hons) in Fine art Elklan speech and language ELSA Prevent Safeguarding

Corey is an Animal-Based Learning Support Assistant who began as a volunteer. He studied Animal Management at Merrist Wood College and now applies his knowledge to ensure the highest standard of care for the animals. Outside of work, Corey enjoys caring for his reptiles and researching the best possible ways to look after them.

Imogen is an Equestrian specialist SENTA with Elysian. She has worked for over a decade in the international independent education sector making her very adept at supporting young people going through periods of extreme sometimes sudden change. Imogen loves animals she has two dogs, one crested gecko ‘Aurora’, a timor shield mantis ‘Paphos’ and an Irish sports horse ‘Lily’. Imogen was part of the Chiddingfold Pony Club and now does less gymkhana games and more cross country and fun rides. Imogen studied at the University of the Arts London, the University of Sheffield and the University of Buckingham. She has a BA in Landscape Architecture with Planning, specialised in Arts and 3D design at UAL and a PGCE from Buckingham. Recently Imogen has been supporting students communication using her learning gained from the Elklan training program. She has had the wonderful opportunity to follow her passions and be the Artist in Residence and take Forest School lessons in another educational setting, creating many exciting pieces with the young people including a world mural. She has a true love for creative learning outside. Imogen hopes to inspire a love for art, nature, and animals.

Panda has over 10 years of experience working with children in a variety of different settings. She holds a Level 3 teaching assistant qualification, supporting learners with SpLD. Growing up on a farm has given her a great love for all animals. In the past, Panda evented in BE but now rides purely for pleasure. She also holds a certificate in Equine Facilitated Learning, a Level 2 Reiki qualification, and a diploma in Equine Healing and Communication. In her free time, Panda enjoys spending as much time in nature and around animals as possible, as well as traveling, skiing, practicing yoga and meditation, and spending time with family and friends.

Rachel is a learning support assistant at Elysian. As well as graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, she has a history of working with children with special educational needs as a play worker and an LSA. She is passionate about making education accessible and fun for young people of all abilities. Rachel has previously worked with small animals and dairy cattle, and loves all the animals at Elysian. Throughout cat-sitting and volunteer work, she has earned her reputation as a cat-whisperer. She enjoys a range of creative hobbies in her free time, and loves to share her enthusiasm for arts and crafts with children and young people. Qualifications: -BSc in Psychology -Level 2 Certificate in Understanding Children and Young People’s Mental Health -CPD training in SEND support, behaviour management, safeguarding and first aid

Sonja has a wealth of experience, supporting young people with additional needs and their families. She completed her ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) training in 2007, making her one of the longest practicing ELSAs in the UK. This enables her to help young people with behavioral, emotional & social problems, supporting them to recognise, express and manage their emotions in a positive way. Sonja is also a Forest School Level 3 Leader. This experience covers a combination of practical skills (tool use, fire lighting, campfire cooking, knot tying, identifying and using natural materials) and theoretical skills (holistic development, self-esteem theory, learning theory, learning through play). Sonja has achieved a range of other qualifications, including 500-Hour Yoga Teacher Training and a BA (Hons) in Humanities with Philosophy. In her spare time, Sonja enjoys yoga, cycling, walking, foraging, gardening and camping.

Sue is a TA with Elysian. She has previously worked in several education settings, including as a Senior Teaching assistant and HLTA, and has many years experience in support students and young adults with severe social communication difficulties, complex learning disabilities and challenging behaviours. She has used her experience and compassion to help them to learn and to achieve relative to their individual needs and to reach their full potential. Regular CPD has ensured that she has continued to learn and improve her practice, in both her teaching and in any other tasks that she has undertaken. She takes a lead as required, has a nurturing nature and a proactive approach to working with a whole range of needs. Qualifications Higher Level Teaching Assistant Status March 2020 BPhil Special Education Autism (children) 2017 University Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders 2015 Understanding the Autism Spectrum 2010 NCFE Level 3 Diploma in Specialist Support for Teaching and Learning in Schools 2010 Diploma in Preschool Practice 1996 Diploma in Radionuclide Imaging 1988-1989

Jo is a Learning Support Assistant. She has a Zoology degree and a postgraduate diploma in Companion Animal Behaviour Counselling from Southampton University. She has worked for the RSPCA and Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and has seen how valuable animals are and the strength of the human-animal bond. Jo has also worked in a school for children with speech, language and communication difficulties on the behaviour team and always wanted to combine her passion of working to support children and her love of animals. She is passionate about the environment and is working to turn her garden into a wildlife haven for bees and butterflies.

Bela is a qualified Integrative Child and Adolescent Counsellor and a member of the British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP). She holds a Diploma in Child and Adolescent Counselling, a Certificate in Counselling Children in Schools, a PGCE in Primary Education, and a BA (Hons) in European Business & French. Her training at the Institute for Arts and Therapy in Education combined psychotherapeutic theories, the latest research in neuroscience, and creative, empathic approaches. Bela values the power of play, metaphor, and symbolism to help young people explore and process difficult feelings and experiences in a safe and meaningful way. Before qualifying as a counsellor, Bela worked as a class teacher in London and New York across state and private schools. She has also lived in Canada and spent many summers in Portugal, her parents’ homeland: experiences that have enriched her appreciation of cultural diversity and difference. Bela has supported children and young people with a range of emotional needs, including anxiety, trauma, attachment difficulties and neurodiversity. She works creatively and relationally, drawing on play therapy, sandplay, and art media within a nurturing, inclusive, and child-led approach. Bela is excited about integrating these creative interventions with the therapeutic benefits of animals, nature, and the great outdoors at Elysian. Outside of work, Bela enjoys time with family and friends, cycling in Richmond Park, getting lost in a good book and baking with her children.

Lizzie is one of our Animal Assisted Therapists at West Horsley. She is a qualified Art Psychotherapist with a background in creative approaches to mental health. She holds a BA(Hons) in Creative and Therapeutic Arts and a Master's degree in Art Psychotherapy.

With a special focus towards working with children and young people, Lizzie combines her therapeutic training with the unique support of animals to create a safe, calming, and engaging environment for clients. Her approach is rooted in empathy, play and the belief that animals and creativity can open pathways to resilience and self-discovery.

Outside the therapy space, Lizzie is an avid traveler and has explored remote corners of the world including her favorites: The Amazon Rainforest, Madagascar and New Zealand.

Nova is a therapist at Elysian. She is a qualified BACP counsellor specialising in working with children and young people. Nova listens to each child and young person's needs and tailors her work by drawing from different counselling models. She does her very best to provide a safe and healing space with warmth and understanding.

Having worked in both a school setting and as a private practitioner, Nova has gained experience in working with children and young people with a variety of emotional, social and behavioural difficulties, including additional needs. With a background in a creative profession, Nova loves to bring creativity and play to her work.

Travelling the world and living in different countries, as well as working in diverse settings, have deepened Nova's understanding of equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion, which supports her work. She aims to help children and young people be who they want to be and feel safe, respected, heard and valued.

Nova spent her childhood holidays at her grandparents' farm helping them take care of the animals, so she knows how healing spending time with animals and being outdoors can be. Gardening and walking in nature with a dog and a friend by her side is her favourite way to spend her spare time, as well as painting and working creatively.

Nova is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. Her qualifications include a Diploma in Person-Centred Counselling and a Certificate in Counselling Children and Young People. She has training on safeguarding, suicide awareness, domestic violence and abuse, unconscious bias, and neurodiversity, and she has a sound understanding of child development theory, attachment theory and theories of working with trauma.

Tabitha is our Therapeutic Interventions Specialist. She is a passionate educator who has worked in special educational needs for the last 20 years, supporting children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, language and communication challenges, and profound autism. Growing up on various farms in South Africa, fostered her love for animals and nature.

Driven by a passion for empowering individuals, Tabitha transitioned from education to occupational therapy. Over the last decade, she has focused on supporting and improving the function and independence of children and young people with autism.

Tabitha's dedication to children and young people has remained strong. As she continues in her role in occupational therapy, Tabitha eagerly anticipates bringing together her passion for supporting young people and her love for animals at Elysian.

Claire is a support worker with Elysian. Claire has extensive experience in residential childcare, working with autistic and vulnerable young people. Claire is organised, proactive and able to think outside of the box. She is a good problem solver even under pressure and enjoys working as part of a team. Claire has worked in residential childcare for over 10 years and understands the impact therapeutic work can have on young people and their mental health. Claire’s qualifications are: Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and management in residential Childcare Level 2 Diploma in Mental Health Level 3 Diploma in Children and Young people’s workforce First Diploma in Health and Social Care

Karen supports therapeutic and Learning sessions at Elysian. She is very passionate about making a difference to the lives of children and enjoyment of the outdoors. She has lots of experiene working with children and young people, and this has included working as an LSA, supporting children and young people with a variety of needs, and also teaching dance and drama. Karen has studied childhood and youth studies, and has a solid track record of experience and training to equip her to work with a whole variety of needs, with compassion, understanding, warmth and skill. She has training in both mental health and behaviour management, as well has Horse Care and management training. She has previously run her own doggy day care service. She has lots of passions and skills in utilising the outdoor pursuits regardless of what the weather brings, including cycling, hiking, horse riding, dog walking, swimming/paddle boarding, dancing; tap/ballet. Karen has also completed the London walking marathon and even a Tapathon TWICE. Karen is experienced with equine of all types, and also enjoys reading, painting, drawing and photography.

Qualifications:

LSA Diploma with distinctions Skilled in behaviour management/ safeguarding/PACE Higher Education in child and youth studies. NCFE CACHE level 2 in understanding Children and Young people’s Mental Health NCFE CACHE Level 2 in behaviour management Diploma Horse care and Management with full distinctions BHS Challenge Award in Horse Health

Vicky is a Therapeutic Support Worker here at Elysian and supports with all learning and therapeutic activities. She is also part of the Equine team and supports with the Equine based learning sessions. She is very passionate about making a difference and believes that animals can have a hugely positive influence on young people’s lives. Vicky is particularly interested in the unique therapeutic approach that Elysian offers, especially equine therapy. Vicky is horse mad and has a passion for all animals. She loves being outside with her horses and dog and has lots of equestrian experience. She is positive, pro-active and loves working in a team. Vicky has a BSc Sociology degree.

Abi supports the Saturday program and sometimes in the holidays at Elysian, at Westland farm. She started as a volunteer and now supports the weekend volunteers to make sure people have lovely visits and animals are well looked after. She is super multi-skilled and knows all the animals at Elysian inside and out. Abi is also a good rider, and aspire to study to become a vet in the future.

Gabrielle is a senior equine groom at Elysian. She is passionate about horses and has a love for all animals. Gabrielle has owned horses from a young age and has previously worked at a livery yard as well having experience working in a childcare setting. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors with her horse and dogs as well as going out freediving. Gabrielle’s qualifications: Diploma of higher education (FHEQ Level 6) in Anthropological Studies Full Paediatric First Aid

Jonathan works as an animal instructor at Elysian’s Shamley Green site. He worked in the catering industry as a qualified chef for quite a few years before making a career change and following his passion of working with animals. Before joining Elysian, Jonathan worked at Birdworld in Farnham for 8 years. He has a wealth of knowledge concerning the animals at Elysian and is always willing to share. In his spare time Jonathan can be found relaxing by the fishing lake catching fish, assisting at a wildlife charity and looking after a variety of exotic animals at home.

Louise is a passionate dressage rider who has just moved back to the UK with her Spanish stallion Caramelo and French bulldog Peppa Pig. In her spare time she enjoys competing, long walks in the countryside and eating scones with clotted cream.

Sarah is an Equine Groom at Elysian, Liss. She has recently moved to Hampshire after working as a Riding Instructor in London for the past 6 years. She has many years’ worth of experience working with horses as well as having her own from the age of 7. Sarah currently has her BHS Stage 1 Ride and care also, Stage 2 Ride, Lunge and Care. Sarah is very passionate and caring, in her spare time Sarah enjoys exploring new places with her daughter, walks with her family’s dogs and baking.

Mike Holland is Elysian's named finance contact for commissioners and auditors.

Mike is our Business and Finance Coordinator and is part of the team that helps support Elysian in meeting its goals.

In his own words, Mike had spent too many years in a large corporate environment and is excited to be part of the Elysian team.

When not in the office, Mike enjoys family time, walking and being out in the countryside.

Sylvia Coetzee manages Elysian's recruitment process, including the safer recruitment route to recruit@elysianuk.org.

Sylvia is our Recruitment Officer. She was a high school teacher and has a degree in Psychology. Sylvia has experience working in mental health and with special needs individuals. She has also spent time working in the NHS. She is well organised, friendly and enjoys working with people and helping others.

Amanda works within our training operations team. She is passionate about people, animals and getting things organised. After working in a corporate career for several years in marketing, innovation and client support, she left to focus on a Masters in Psychology and has recently finished another Masters in Consciousness, Spirituality & Transpersonal Psychology. She has been a volunteer at the Royal Surrey Hospital in the Spiritual Care team, visiting patients facing a variety of conditions. When not working or studying, Amanda likes to walk in the countryside with her husband and dog, practice yoga, and see friends.

David Boxall is the Training/Development Coordinator at Elysian. As an experienced teacher and training facilitator, David has worked in a range of schools and settings including the Harbour School, Portsmouth, Autism Hampshire and the National Autistic Society. David was also on the steering committee of Cambridge University’s Autism Centre of Excellence. David has worked with children and young people that have additional needs for many years and has written and delivered training to schools and businesses around the UK. David has also worked with young people and Animal Assisted Interventions as an education officer at Staunton Farm in Hampshire. Qualifications: BA Ed Primary Science MA Autism Studies Level 3 Counselling skills Emotional First Aider

Before joining Elysian Debbie worked in the care sector for 10 years as a Human Resources Officer. This is where she studied and gained her CIPD level 3 & 5 in Human Resources Management. Prior to this Debbie worked in accountancy and has gained her AAT level 2,3 & 4 qualification. She has a bubbly personality who loves people and helping others. When Debbie’s isn’t working she enjoys spending time with her son, walking, listening to music and attending aqua fit classes.

Fliss is our Executive Lead Administrator for Hampshire. She has had a 13-year career in administrative roles within the Advertising industry in London; providing support to senior team members on both large and small scale ad campaigns.

She is a Mum to two young children and enjoys going on lengthy walks with her Husky Odin. She is qualifying as a spin instructor in her spare time and cannot go a day without jumping on her Peloton bike!

George is our Business and Finance Assistant here at Elysian, based at our new offices in Godalming. George joins us from an interesting and varied background, with roles ranging from customer service and sales to recent years spent honing his skills in the world of business administration. Outside of work he enjoys spending time with friends and family, music and film, walking and exploring the British countryside, and playing tennis when the weather is kind!

Hannah is Elysian’s Senior Communications Officer, bringing over 12 years of experience in digital marketing across e-commerce, agency, and in-house roles. She has won two national awards for her work and is passionate about using strategic communications to help Elysian grow and connect with its audience. At Elysian, she leads the communications team, driving engagement through digital strategy, storytelling, and community-building. With a lifelong love for animals and a strong interest in wellbeing and psychology, Hannah feels right at home at Elysian. Hannah enjoys mooching around garden centres and spending time with her family on their farm.

I have an extensive background in Education and Administration from mainstream to special needs schools. Having realised that there is a great need for SEN learning and therapeutic approach, I am excited to be part of the Elysian team. In my free time; I am an avid reader, I enjoy getting lost in a good book and exploring new genres and authors. I love spending time with my family and dog, and pottering around in the garden.

Phillipa is our Executive Lead Administrator based in Liss. Phillipa has over 15 years of experience working in administration in a large corporate environment, including training staff overseas. She is friendly, organised and enjoys helping others. Outside of work, she enjoys baking, walking Ellie the family dog and visiting new and exciting places in the UK and abroad.

Sharon is our administrator/receptionist at West Horsley. She has a wealth of experience in administration and organisational roles. Sharon has worked with children with SEND and enjoyed finding creative ways to engage them. She loves the outdoors and enjoys running and dance exercise classes. She has a soft spot for animals, especially elderly rescue dogs.

Tash is the Administrator at Elysian’s Liss site, where she enjoys welcoming the young people, supporting staff, and helping to keep things organised. With a background that spans private aviation, a BCOM in Sports Management, and work as a professional photographer, she brings a mixed tool kit to the role. Tash has a passion for people, animals, music and cultural diversity, and thrives in the lively, ever-changing world at Liss. She is a long way from her Southern Hemisphere-an roots, but for over a decade has made England her home. Outside of work, she can be found shouting for the Springboks, knitting yet another blanket and playing tennis. She’s very proud to have appointed herself as the Designated Safeguarding Lead of the office cats, while simultaneously working hard on becoming besties with Roy, the bossiest sheep in the all the land.

Zoë is a valued member of the Elysian team, keeping our Liss site spotless and welcoming. Alongside her role here, she works as a freelance groom and dog walker, a passion she has pursued for over 14 years. Zoë loves being outdoors in all weathers and caring for animals. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her husband and children, whether relaxing on the sofa watching films or taking part in Hogmoor Junior Parkrun every Sunday morning.

Melanie has worked for many years in administration, accounts and HR. Working in Children’s Homes, Children’s Hospices and in the Corporate world. She enjoys yoga, long country walks and being a Granny.

Emilie is Elysian's Art Workshop Lead. She runs art workshops for children and young people across all three provisions.

Amy is one of our Events, Activities and Community Coordinators. With over six years of experience planning and delivering events, alongside more than four years volunteering as a Brownies Leader with Girlguiding, and a lifelong love of animals, this role combines all her experience and passions in one. Amy is passionate about creating engaging, high quality events and activities that give people memorable experiences. With a positive, can-do attitude, and as a self-proclaimed people person, she particularly enjoys working with young people and seeing their confidence and curiosity flourish through meaningful interactions with animals. Outside work, Amy is highly sociable and rarely turns down an invitation to spend time with friends and family. She enjoys live music, exploring London, tackling escape rooms and hosting game nights. At home she has a very spoiled Cavapoo who firmly believes she is in charge.

Phil is our Maintenance Manager, and he is in charge of all things Maintenance and Development at Westland Farm. Young people enjoy getting involved in Phil’s projects, from building works, to fencing and all the associated farm duties of running a medium scale farm. Phil has been in the building trade his whole life, and there is nothing he cannot do. Phil is an independent building contractor and he used to oversee house builds from scratch as a site manager, and many other builder and carpentry roles that has made him the expert he is today. Phil has been involved in developing Elysian since its origin in 2015, and Elysian would not be what it is today if Phil had not been part of the team, his skillset has allowed us to utilise space and buildings in the best possible ways.

Duncan is our Maintenance and Grounds Worker and has a wealth of experience in fencing, maintenance, groundwork and gardening. Duncan can put his hand to anything Duncan is confident and hardworking at his job, and an excellent team player, which ensures maintenance is kept to a high level at Elysian. Duncan loves the countryside and spends a lot of time walking. He also has an interest in falconry and photography.

Alison is one of our Advisory Team Members Alison is a Built Environment Specialist Nurse who has a particular interest in disability access and neurodivergence. She also has personal experience of caring for a young person with autism and the school SEN process. She loves animals and horse riding and occasionally rides Elysian horses. She strongly believes in the Elysian therapeutic approach and the impact that animals can have on peoples’ lives. As well as being a Registered Nurse, Alison has a BA (hons) in Health Service Management, a Diploma in Nursing and is a qualified Emergency Nurse Practitioner.

Angelika is one of our Advisory Team Members. Angelika is a trained Social Pedagogue and a registered social worker, she is also a qualified Child and Adolescent Therapist with many years experience in this field. Angelika has a longstanding interest in animal care, natural horsemanship, and in establishing cooperative relationships with animals. She owns an Irish Draught horse and has been a volunteer at Shamley Green for many years, experiencing first hand how the Elysian approach supports children’s education and growth. Angelika is a strong advocate for experiential learning and how the relational approach at Elysian, combined with the farm environment, benefits people’s wellbeing.

Emma is the Owner and Director of Duty of Care Pet Services UK and Principal at the Animal Academy. Emma graduated in 1999 with a BSc (Hons) in Applied Animal Science. Whilst completing various Further Education Teaching Qualifications, she went on to enjoy a 17-year career as a College Lecturer, specialising in Animal Science, Behaviour and Welfare. During her time in Further Education, she undertook a variety of senior management roles, including Director of Merrist Wood (Land-Based College) and Harmonisation Director. Emma is the former Training Director for the Hybrid Breeders Association, promoting ethical breeding of dogs, and was also a Standards Verifier for Pearson/Edexcel Animal Care Courses. She also volunteered for The Blue Cross as an Education Officer. Her passion and enthusiasm for education, involving animals, is well-founded and long-lived. She appeared on Channel 4’s It’s Me Or The Dog as Britain’s leading dog intelligence expert, and also featured on BBC Radio’s The Barking Hour launching the Pet Alert Scheme. She regularly represents “Vet On Set” as a Welfare Officer, monitoring the use of pets on film, commercial and TV shoots. Emma’s primary “day” job is providing a Veterinary Ambulance service throughout London and the South East.

Paul supports Boards and leadership teams in their school improvement journeys. He is an international accreditation advisor with the Council for International Schools. For a period of 12 years, Paul led two large and successful state-maintained schools in the UK. The second of these received an Ofsted outstanding judgement and became a Teaching School during his tenure. Paul supported the Department for Education as a National Leader of Education during this time. In 2017 Paul relocated to the Netherlands to take up a headship and then executive headship in a multi-campus school in The Netherlands. He worked for Ofsted as an inspector for ten years un 2023 and relocated back to the UK in 2024. Paul started his career as a Chemistry, Physics and Biology teacher. Paul’s first degree is in Pharmacology (University of Liverpool). He holds a PGCE from Christ’s College, Liverpool, an MA (Ed) from the Open University and the Professional Qualification for School Inspectors (PQSI) from Liverpool Hope University. He is an alumnus of Said Business school, Oxford. A strong advocate of professional learning, Paul has supported the National Professional Qualification in Headship (NPQH) as a course writer, lead facilitator and assessor for many years. He is a Board member of an Academy Trust in the West Midlands and a trustee for a UK charity which supports disadvantaged students gaining access to career work placements. Paul is a keen road cyclist and trains for triathlon.

With 20 years of experience in the animal industry, Rich brings a wealth of knowledge, passion, and dedication to her work. Her career has spanned from farm management, international animal experience, and specialist roles supporting young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN). For the past 18 years, Rich has been an Animal Management tutor at Merrist Wood College, where she has played a key role in educating and inspiring the next generation. Alongside her teaching, she has developed extensive expertise in supporting neurodiverse learners within the Further Education sector, creating inclusive, engaging, and supportive learning environments. Committed to ongoing professional development, Rich regularly attends CPD training in both farm animal welfare and SEN, ensuring her knowledge remains current and her practice continues to evolve. Rich’s unique combination of industry experience and educational practice allows her to bridge the gap between practical animal care and learning, ensuring that individual’s she works with are empowered to succeed and make great progress on their learning journey.

Sara is a qualified teacher and senior leader with experience across education, data, and the creative industries. As a Data and AI Coach at Multiverse, she supports professionals and organisations through human-centred digital transformation. A long-standing Elysian volunteer, Sara spends weekends riding and helping care for the horses. A keen rider and animal lover, she is passionate about the connection between creativity, nature, and wellbeing, bringing empathy, strategic insight, and innovation to her role on Elysian’s Advisory Board. BA, MSc

Sheila began her career as a History and English teacher and has also worked as a long-term examiner for Pearson and AQA. She progressed to Head of History and Deputy SENCO, where her interest in Special Educational Needs led her to complete a Master’s in Inclusion and Special Needs, alongside NASEN and PAPAA qualifications. Her area of expertise includes managing exam stress and anxiety, as well as supporting students with cognitive processing delays. Sheila has held two SENCO roles before moving into senior leadership. She is currently Head of a Senior School, where she oversees pastoral, academic, and operational aspects of school life.

Duncan has taught both in the UK and internationally. He is a graduate of Manchester University where he studied History and Politics. He completed his PGCE at Liverpool University and his PGDE at Bath University. He taught for twenty-nine years in the United Kingdom in the independent sector before moving to the international sector. Duncan has held senior leadership positions in COBIS schools in Kenya and Romania and has been principal of COBIS schools in Morocco and Nigeria. He has lead schools through COBIS accreditation and High Performance Learning World Class School accreditation. He retired from school leadership in 2024 and now enjoys working as a Lead Improvement Partner with schools which are seeking COBIS membership or reaccreditation. Duncan is also an Associate Director of High Performance Learning and is a trained peer accessor and works with candidate schools for HPL World Class School accreditation. He is also an accredited Associate of the Association of Education Advisers.

Myfanwy Bournon is an Assistant Head at James Allen’s Girls’ School (JAGS), where she plays a key role in shaping the academic and pastoral experience of students during the transfer to secondary school in the early secondary years. She is passionate about curriculum development and ensuring that pupils are supported to thrive both academically and personally. Her work reflects a strong commitment to inclusive education and fostering a positive school culture. Myfanwy has a particular interest in teaching and learning strategies that engage and inspire young people. Alongside her leadership role, Myfanwy is an English and Drama teacher with a deep passion for literature. Outside of school, she spends her weekends at the stables, caring for her son’s ponies, mucking out, grooming, and getting them ready for him to ride. She’s also getting back into the saddle herself after a long break. At home she has a lively collection of animals including a tortoise, stick insects, cockroaches, a dog and some fish.