Staff

Robert joined Action on Elder Abuse as Director of Development in March 2018.

Following an earlier career in commercial marketing, in which he set up and ran his own company providing marketing and new product development consultancy to leading FMCG companies in the food and drinks markets, including Seagram’s, Campbell Distillers, Taunton Cider, Tofutti UK, Ben & Jerry’s and other major companies, he moved into fundraising in 1996.

In his professional fundraising career, he has held director level positions in several well-known charities including the Sail Training Association, Bournemouth University (where he was the university’s first Development Director), Crimestoppers, the National Army Museum and the children’s charity, Coram. 

Robert has wide experience across all major fundraising income streams including the Heritage Lottery but with particular expertise and achievements in working with high value individual donors, including trustees of grant making trusts & foundations, and the corporate sector.

Maggie has been with Acton on Elder abuse for over 12 years and deals with all aspects relating to our England operations. She also covers our Human resources and Elder Abuse Recovery Projects.

She has extensive knowledge of social care provision, having worked in social care at a Local Authority that was providing domiciliary and residential care. During her time with AEA she has developed knowledge, skills and experience on elder abuse, including its causes and effects, and is often called upon to advise on complex cases.

Veronica Gray, Director of AEA Northern Ireland

Veronica took up post as the first director of Action on Elder Abuse Northern Ireland in May 2015 with responsibility to develop the organisation in line with the local adult safeguarding and protection agenda.  Her remit includes influencing policy and practice in Northern Ireland specific to preventing the abuse and harm of vulnerable older people, working in partnership with all organisations and sectors to evaluate the local and UK wide adult safeguarding framework, and campaigning to end elder abuse and make Northern Ireland a safer place to age. 

Veronica has 15 years experience working with the community and voluntary sector across Ireland with particular experience and knowledge of adult safeguarding and protection issues.  Prior to her appointment to AEA Northern Ireland she was the safeguarding manager in Volunteer Now, responsible for managing the Our Duty to Care project which, among other achievements, developed and produced ‘Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults – A Shared Responsibility’, the regional standards and guidance for adult safeguarding in the voluntary, community and independent sectors.  She oversaw the development and delivery of the subsequent Keeping Adults Safe suite of training programmes which are based on the standards and guidance. 

Veronica represents AEA Northern Ireland on the Northern Ireland Adult Safeguarding Partnership (NIASP). She has primary and post graduate degrees and holds professional qualifications in community development and youth work, training and assessment, and leadership and management.

Rachael Nicholson, Director, Action on Elder Abuse Cymru

Rachael’s remit includes influencing policy and practice in Wales specific to preventing the abuse of vulnerable older people, working in partnership with all organisations and sectors to evaluate the local and UK-wide adult safeguarding framework, and campaigning to end elder abuse in Wales.

Rachael worked as a Probation Officer in South Wales where she had a special interest in domestic abuse and has worked in the Intake and Assessment team in Cardiff Children’s Service. She has also worked in the community and voluntary sectors including youth work, equality and mental health.

Lesley Carcary, Director of Action on Elder Abuse (AEA) Scotland

Lesley Carcary is the Director of Action on Elder Abuse (AEA) Scotland. She took up post in May 2015 to set up and develop AEA’s work in Scotland, the only country in the UK with dedicated adult safeguarding legislation. Prior to this, Lesley had a long career in the disability sector, including Senior Policy and Information Officer at Lead Scotland (and previously Skill Scotland), national charities which support and protect the rights and interests of disabled learners.

She also held various roles in the public sector, including policy and research posts at the Scottish Funding Council for Further and Higher Education, and the Scottish Government Education Department. She has a degree in Politics and Social Policy from the University of Edinburgh, and is married with two children.