Our team
Diane Morton
Founder, Exec Chair
Diane founded Wag & Company in 2015 with a small group of Trustees including her husband Doug…
Leanne Dodd
Befriending & Partnerships Lead
Leanne joined Wag in 2017, only a year after launch, with the support of a grant from…
Emma Griffiths
Volunteer Services Lead
Emma supports all our income generation systems and activities and events as well as the administration of our…
Sue Turner
Befriending Specialist
Sue joined us at the end of November as our Befriending Specialist. She has worked for many…
Ann Rutherford
Team Secretary/Administrator
Ann is our secretary, keeps us all right and amongst other things manages banking, our uniform stock,…
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
Chair, Diane, retired in 2010 from her role as Group HR Director for Northumbrian Water Group after…
Alison Hall
Director and Company Secretary
Alison is a solicitor working for Ward Hadaway in Newcastle.
Doug Morton
Trustee Director - Risk
Doug’s career began in 1976 as an engineering apprentice in the public sector
Claire Riley
Trustee Director
Claire, recently appointed an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours is Chief of Corporate Services for the…
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,…
Keira Hall
IT Director & Trustee
I’m Keira Hall, a Solutions Architect at Waterstons, where I’ve spent the last eight years working across…
Richard Blackett
Member
I have worked in the financial planning industry since I left University with a BSc (Hons) in…
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
..to be contacted directly
Caroline Penistone
Leeming, North Allerton
I am a dog trainer with over 20 years experience. I offer training in Leeming, Northallerton. I…
Melissa Stephenson
Bradbury, Stockton on Tees
Available on weekends at Bradbury, Stockton on Tees I have worked at Wear Referrals Veterinary Hospital in…
Anouska (Nou) Rogers-Smith
Bradbury, Stockton-on-Tees
I am a Veterinary Nurse/Clinical Nursing Manager, with 11 years experience, for Wear Referrals in County Durham,…
Julie Irving
Durham area
I have owned dogs all of my life and want to be the best trainer/dog handler possible so I have…
Alnorthumbria Veterinary Group (Morpeth)
Morpeth
Introducing Alnorthumbria Vets Alnorthumbria Vets are proud to give the highest quality of veterinary care for pets. …
Scott Mitchell Veterinary Care
Hexham
Scott Mitchell Veterinary Care Ltd offer veterinary care around the clock, 365 days a year at our…
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…
Magda Jelinska
Billingham
I’m an animal lover deeply committed to spreading the word about animal rights and welfare. I’m passionate…
Louise McLellan
Chester le Street
My name is Louise, and I am a professional dog trainer with over four years of experience….
Special assessors
..ad hoc organised by Wag office team
Cris Brown
Newcastle upon Tyne area
I am a dog trainer with over 20 years experience. I offer training classes in Walker and…
Vicky Welsh
Various locations
I have been a dog trainer and animal behaviour consultant in the County Durham area for many…
Becky Robinson
Stokesley
I have been a small animal Veterinary Surgeon since 2013 and am now Clinical Director at Clevedale…
Charlotte Husband
Newcastle upon Tyne
I hold a Masters Degree in Animal Behaviour and Training, I’m also a qualified Dog Groomer and…