Our Trustees.
Our Trustees work together to support and guide us through our long term and short term objectives, ensuring we stay on track and accountable to everyone involved in what we do. The Board of Trustees all give their time voluntarily and receive no remuneration for their services.
Gill Whensley – Chair
Gill is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD and has worked at a senior level both in HR and Training and Development. The breadth of her experience has been gained through applying her professional expertise within a range of organisations including finance, IT, housing, airline, charities, engineering, publishing and the legal professional services. She has achieved results with staff at all levels in these organisations.
Chris Goss, Treasurer
Chris is an economist with a background in global finance who also has experience in the voluntary sector locally having provided fundraising consultancy to a number of charities.
Daniel Chapman
Daniel was born and raised in Brighton and served as a local Councillor for four years and was Chair of the Children, Young People and Skills committee. He is aware of many of the problems that we face locally and how issues such as substance misuse and domestic violence can affect many families. Daniel currently works as civil servant.
Dr. Saleema Durgahee
Saleema is a Consultant Psychiatrist and has worked in mental health for the last 13 years, with experience in Consultation-Liaison, Addiction and Perinatal mental health. Saleema is currently Consultant Psychiatrist with the Sussex Specialist Perinatal Mental Health service, working with women whom are pregnant and postnatally living with mental illness, and their families. Saleema is a reflective practice facilitator and educator with an interest in clinician wellbeing. She is actively involved in developing clinician leadership capability and medical education. Her further interests encompass mental health quality improvement, governance and research.
Simon Flacks
Simon is a lecturer at the University of Sussex where he teaches family law and criminology. His research interests revolve around drug law and policy, with a particular focus on parental substance use. He has a background in children’s rights charities and regularly undertakes work on behalf of voluntary sector organisations. He previously trained as a Samaritan and worked as an Independent Board Monitor at Brixton prison, and as a trustee for North Kensington Law Centre.
Katie McHugh
Katie is a Development Producer, with over 15 years’ experience in Television and Radio, having worked extensively for both the BBC and with independent production companies. Originally from the Highlands of Scotland, Katie has worked her way south (via Glasgow, Manchester and London), and now lives with her family in Hove. Having lived experience of the impact of familial alcohol misuse, Katie understands the importance of Oasis Project’s work, in particular the positive impact the right support can have on young people’s experiences.