Our Team

Kate is the Chief Executive Officer of Hounds for Heroes. She brings extensive experience from across the health and charity sectors, having previously served as CEO of The Hospice of St Francis for eight years.

Alongside her executive leadership, Kate is also a Health & Social Care Trustee and Vice Chair of The Royal Navy & Royal Marine Charity.

Kate leads Hounds for Heroes in its mission to support serving and former members of HM Armed Forces and the Emergency Services through the provision of specially trained assistance dogs.

Ravinder joined Hounds for Heroes in November 2014. He is responsible for the Charity’s financial processes and brings experience of working within a finance environment for 25 years. He enjoys working in the not-for-profit sector because of the difference it makes to communities.

Ravinder likes to keep fit and healthy, is active in many sports and took up running in 2018, since then he has completed 3 marathons. In 2022 he ran both the London Marathon and the Great South Run in support of the Charity.

Debbie joined Hounds for Heroes in February 2022 as the Fundraising Manager and brings 5 years previous experience in Income Generation. Debbie is honoured to be part of the team as it’s a Charity very close to her heart.

Debbie is immensely proud of her daughter who is currently studying Adult Nursing at Cardiff University. Debbie enjoys cruising, cooking, pottering in the garden and spoiling her cat Angelo!  However most weekends are spent “doing jobs” around the house with her partner who is also a volunteer for Hounds for Heroes. 

Jean joined Hounds for Heroes in August 2024, bringing with her over a decade of experience in fundraising. With a background of 20 years volunteering with the RSPCA, she is thrilled to be part of a committed team that help transform lives through the power of assistance dogs.

She lives by the sea, and in her spare time enjoys being in a choir and tap dancing. A keen traveller, she also likes to spend holidays volunteering on conservation projects.

Sandra joined Hounds in October 2016; her role is to oversee the training of the pups, the application process for working dogs and the aftercare program once the dogs are placed. Before joining Hounds, she had worked within the Assistance Dog world for 20 years. Her sidekick is a Golden Retriever called Rookie who before retiring in 2022 used to support Hounds as a demo/fundraising/media dog as well as a ‘meet and greet dog’ for the applicants.

In her spare time, when she has some, she likes to make sure family memories are not lost by creating scrapbooks and journals.

Sarah is the longest serving member of the team. She began as a volunteer in 2011 and became a member of staff in 2012. During this time Sarah has seen her role grow from general administrative support to coordinating the whole office. Sarah loves her job and says she is honoured to be involved in making such a positive difference to people’s lives.

Sarah’s spare time is spent gardening, enjoying country walks and runs, arts and crafts, volunteering, beekeeping and looking after her various pets: German Shepherd Samson, Labrador Colonel, Chickens Punks and Foxtrot and Guinea Pigs Teasel, Bramble and Twiglet.

Rita joined the Charity in November 2014 and coordinates fundraising and awareness events. This includes speaker requests, supporting fundraisers and volunteers.  Rita enjoys her job, especially meeting the wide variety of people who choose to support Hounds for Heroes. She is continually amazed at the commitment, effort and generosity of the supporters.

Rita enjoys the outdoor life including hill and mountain walking, kayaking and camping. In her spare time, Rita volunteers at The Rowans Hospice.

My role is to oversee the team of amazing trainers and the training of pups, adolescent dogs, advance dogs and the aftercare once placed with a partner.  Also looking after the dog’s health and welfare needs.

Joined Hounds for Heroes in July 2025 after 34 yrs in the Metropolitan Police, over 20 years of which was spent working with service dogs as a handler and then as training Instructor at the MPS dog training Est. 

My shadow is my retired Police dog, Daisy, the Labrador who is a graceful 11 years young.

Away from work I love swimming and reading as a way of unwinding and spending time outside in a natural setting, especially on the coast. My 2 Kidults have graduated from Uni, and I love having them to stay, despite the mess!

Lexi joined Hounds for Heroes in March 2015. Lexi's role is within the dog department which includes both Aftercare and Advanced Training. She has always been a huge animal lover and also always wanted to help people so this role which combines both, is perfect! She loves the variation of her job and how no two days are the same. She enjoys the challenge and being part of the incredible journey to having an assistance dog. 

In her personal life, Lexi has two young children and Wren who is a retired demonstration dog for the charity. She loves family days out, country walks and spending time with friends and family.

Alison joined Hounds for Heroes in February 2019. She works across the training department from the initial stage of picking up the puppies from the breeders until they go on to be matched with a partner. She has recently continued following the journey by doing Aftercare with the partner and their dog. Her experience as a volunteer puppy parent is invaluable in her role. Alison enjoys the fact that her days are varied and filled with new challenges.

In her personal life she is an artist who works with fabric to create textile maps after completing a Degree and Masters in Fine Art at The University of Chichester. 

Charlotte joined the team in 2021 after completing a degree in Canine and Feline Behaviour and Welfare and volunteering at charities such as the RSPCA and Hearing Dogs For Deaf People. Dogs have always played a massive role in her life and since a young age it has been her dream to train them to help people. Now she is lucky enough to be doing just that as one of the Dog Trainers at Hounds for Heroes.

Aside from work Charlotte’s favorite thing to do is take her three dogs for long walks in the countryside; a Border Collie called Gem, a Dalmatian called Belle and a Dalmatian called Cooper. When not walking her three dogs she loves teaching them new tricks and Belle is particularly good at dog agility. 

Lauren joined Hounds for Heroes in January 2023. Lauren is part of the dog training team. She mostly works with the younger dogs from the age of 8 weeks up to 12 months old. She supports our wonderful puppy parent volunteers to help prepare the puppies for their advanced training.

When she is not at work Lauren is usually out and about with her dogs, Lola and Alfie. She enjoys finding new places to walk, especially if there is a cake shop on route.

Lauren is currently enjoying maternity leave.

Jess joined Hounds in February 2024 as an Assistant Dog Trainer. Having volunteered alongside her family for Hearing Dogs for Deaf People while growing up, she loved seeing each puppy learn and develop into a qualified assistance dog. Her dream of helping to train assistance dogs only grew from there.

Jess is now our Trainee Trainer in the Advanced Dog Department; her role involves training the older dogs and supporting the placement process.

In her spare time, Jess enjoys spending time outdoors birdwatching with her partner, searching for the nearest coffee shop, or indoors painting the birds and wildlife she has seen on her walks.

Kate joined the Hound for Heroes Dog Training Team in September 2024. Her role is predominantly to work with our adolescent dogs, to help get them ready for their Advanced Training. Although she is always happy to help out with our puppies too! Kate previously worked with the RSPCA, helping dogs to find their new forever home and is passionate about the benefits of positive relationships between people and dogs. Kate has two rescue dogs at home. 

In her spare time Kate enjoys beach and countryside walks, finding a new coffee and cake venue, and spending time with her family, friends and dogs. Kate loves animals, she has a particularly soft spot for Alpacas and enjoys an Alpaca walking experience as a treat.

Megan joined Hounds for Heroes in August 2025, bringing with her a wealth of experience from running her own dog walking business, which she set up during her final year of studying Animal Behaviour and Welfare. With six years of academic study behind her, it’s safe to say Megan has a real passion for animals. She also taught agility and loved seeing the bond between dog and owner grow as they trained and had fun together.

Megan has always been in awe of the life-changing impact of assistance dogs and the incredible training that goes into preparing them for their vital role. She feels very grateful for the opportunity to be part of this work and we feel just as lucky to have her on the team, supporting the Dog Training Department while Puppy Trainer Lauren is away on maternity leave.

Outside of Hounds for Heroes, Megan’s time is often taken up with her spaniel, Obi, who she competes with in agility. Together they have even competed at Crufts, proudly taking home a 2nd place rosette. A big music fan, Megan hopes to learn to play the drums and is always happy to chat about her favourite rock, metal, grunge and indie bands. She also treasures time spent with her partner, family, and friends, creating lasting memories.