Our people

Our team

Catriona Taylor

Community & Operations Director

Catriona manages the Wag operation with particular emphasis on community engagement, income generation and achieving our growth…

Leanne Dodd

Visiting Services Manager

Leanne’s been with Wag from the early days, she is a specialist in our visiting services, particularly…

Jackie Handley

Home Visiting Advisor

Jackie specialises in our home placements and works with Leanne and Jo across the team to make…

Diane Morton

Chair & CEO

Diane founded Wag & Company in 2015 and leads the charity operationally in line with our Articles of Association and on…

Jo Jobling

Visiting Services Advisor

Jo specialises in recruitment and supporting our applicants, volunteers and care and medical placements too working closely…

Penny Bland

Grants Specialist

Penny leads our work on fundraising grants remotely from Shrewsbury part time. Penny is ‘mummy’ to labradors…

Nicky Jeffrey

Finance Specialist

Nicky manages our financial accounting and reporting process remotely, part time. She is also a Wag volunteer,…

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

Sean Churchill

Trustee-Director

Sean Churchill is Regional Sales Manager for Arco Ltd, has worked for Arco since 1984 and has…

Suzanne Tait

Finance Director, Trustee

Suzanne Tait is Head of Finance at BW Medical Accountants Limited, a Newcastle based specialist accountancy, tax…

Mike Madine

Trustee-Director

Mike Madine is Head of Wastewater Service Planning, Quality and Performance at NWL, based at Head Office…

Richard Blackett

Member

I have worked in the financial planning industry since I left University with a BSc (Hons) in…

Sophie Carvin

Trustee Director

I’ve always been motivated by making a difference to people. I’m Founder and Principal Coach at Deror,…

Diane Morton

Chair & Operations Director

Chair & Operations Director, Diane, retired in 2010 from her role as Group HR Director for Northumbrian…

Doug Morton

Risk Director

Doug’s career began in 1976 as an engineering apprentice in the public sector

Alison Hall

Director and Company Secretary

Alison is a solicitor working for Hay & Kilner in Newcastle.

James Ramsbotham

Chief Executive, North East of England Chamber of Commerce

As Chief Executive of The Chamber, James heads up the region’s biggest business group and leads campaigns for businesses as well as providing support services, including training and global trade advice for its 4,000-plus members.