Our people

Our team

Diane Morton

Director

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

Leanne Dodd

Home Visiting Lead

Leanne specialises in home placements and safely providing and supporting much needed Wag friends for older dog…

Jackie Handley

Visiting Services Team Lead

Jackie leads the team supporting our recruitment, applicants, volunteers and care/medical placements as well managing the Wag…

Jo Jobling

Visiting Services Advisor

Jo works with Jackie to provide information and support to our applicants, volunteers, dogs and our care…

Samantha Langrish

Senior Administrator

Sam focusses on our fundraising events and income generation activities, our Friends of Wag supporters scheme and our…

Penny Bland

Grants & Projects Lead

Penny leads our work on fundraising grants and a number of performance improvement projects; she works remotely…

Nicky Jeffrey

Finance Manager

Nicky manages our finances part time and she is also a Wag volunteer, visiting a lady in…

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 Finance Director of BW Medical Accountants Limited, a Newcastle based specialist accountancy, tax and…

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.