Our team
Diane Morton
Chair & CEO
Diane founded Wag & Company in 2015 and leads the charity operationally in line with our Articles of Association.
Leanne Dodd
Visiting Services Manager
Leanne’s been with Wag from the early days, she is a specialist in our visiting services, particularly…
Susan Bogue
Home Visiting Advisor
Susan specialises in our home placements and works with Leanne and Emma across the team to make…
Emma Hansom
Visiting Services Advisor
Emma works with Leanne and leads applicants through our all our volunteering processes from dog assessments right…
Emma Horton
Income & Projects Lead
Emma supports our income generation systems and activities, our Friends of Wag supporters scheme, our office IT,…
Penny Bland
Grants Specialist
Penny leads our work on fundraising grants remotely from Shrewsbury part time. Penny is ‘mummy’ to labradors…
Ann Rutherford
Team Secretary/Administrator
Ann manages everything administration for Wag as well as our online document and policy library and our…
Our patron
Her Grace, The Duchess of Northumberland, became our Patron in 2018.
Best known for redeveloping The Alnwick Garden, the Duchess of Northumberland has served as Lord Lieutenant of Northumberland since 2009. An avid dog lover, the Duchess has also been key to the development of the Elderberries Programme at Alnwick, a social project bringing people together to socialise and build friendships.
Her Grace told us:
“Being a lover of dogs, I understand and appreciate how they can enhance life for their owners and elderly friends. Loneliness is a killer and if dogs can help to address this scourge of the 21st century then I am fully supportive and I am honoured to be a Patron of such a worthy initiative.”
Our trustee board
Diane Morton
Chair & Operations Director
Chair & Operations Director, Diane, retired in 2010 from her role as Group HR Director for Northumbrian…
Alison Hall
Director and Company Secretary
Alison is a solicitor working for Hay & Kilner in Newcastle.
Doug Morton
Trustee Director - Risk
Doug’s career began in 1976 as an engineering apprentice in the public sector
Sean Churchill
Trustee Director
Sean Churchill is Regional Sales Manager for Arco Ltd, has worked for Arco since 1984 and has…
Sophie Carvin
Trustee Director
I’ve always been motivated by making a difference to people. I’m Founder and Principal Coach at Deror,…
Richard Blackett
Member
I have worked in the financial planning industry since I left University with a BSc (Hons) in…
Our ambassadors
John Mowbray
John Mowbray OBE is Deputy Lieutenant Tyne & Wear, Trustee MAC Trust & Sunderland Culture and Co Chair Sunderland Empire Theatre Trust.
James Ramsbotham
Chair of Newcastle Buidling Society and recently retired Chief Executive of the North East of England Chamber of Commerce, James is very highly regarded in our region.
Our advisors
Dr Tim Nuttall
Animal Health & Wellbeing Expert Advisor
Tim is Head of Dermatology and a Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Veterinary Dermatology at The Royal…
Vicky Welsh
Animal Behaviour Expert Advisor
Vicky is a Clinical Animal Behaviouralist specialising in dog behaviour problems. She has a Master’s Degree in…
Our assessors
Caroline Penistone
Leeming, North Allerton
I am a dog trainer with over 20 years experience. I offer training in Leeming, Northallerton. I…
Charlotte Husband
Washington, Tyne & Wear
I hold a Masters Degree in Animal Behaviour and Training, I’m also a qualified Dog Groomer and…
Heather Stevens
Richmond, North Yorkshire
For around 40 years, I have been a trainer and behaviourist and specialise in all forms of…
Louise Birkett
Berwick upon Tweed, Northumberland
I’m Louise Birkett and I started dog training 10 years ago after achieving my BSc (Hons) degree in…
Vicky Welsh
Various locations, via Wag office
I am a clinical animal behaviourist specialising in dog behaviour problems, and I also run pet dog…