Mind's senior management team
The senior management team is responsible for Mind's strategy, management, leadership, and overall performance.
The team focuses on Mind's overall strategy and ensures its activities are effectively carried out.
Find out more about our senior leaders on this page.
Our team
- Dr Sarah Hughes - Chief Executive Officer
- Phil Walsh - Executive Director of Finance and Infrastructure
- Emma Ackerman - Executive Director of Income Generation
- Jemima Olchawski - Executive Director of Social Impact
Dr Sarah Hughes - Chief Executive Officer
Sarah has worked in mental health and social justice for 35 years. She has held a number of Chief Executive roles in the voluntary sector including for the prestigious think tank The Centre for Mental Health.
Sarah holds a number of board roles for organisations including One Small Thing, Global Leadership Exchange and is a fellow of Sciana Health Leaders Network and Salzburg Global.
She regularly appears in the media and is called on by governments and private companies across the world for her mental health knowledge and commentary.
Sarah holds a professional doctorate on the topic of women and leadership and was given an honorary doctorate by Hull University where she happily studied social work in the mid 90’s. When she’s not at work you can find Sarah spending time with her amazing family and large number of pets.
Phil Walsh - Executive Director of Finance and Infrastructure
Phil is the Executive Director of Finance and Infrastructure at Mind. He joined Mind in 2019 having previously held similar roles at the Design Museum, the RAF Museum and the Wallace Collection.
Phil has been a trustee of two charitable foundations for many years, both of which support raising awareness of mental health. This work led to his move from the Arts sector to be a part of that mission at Mind.
Originally from Lancashire, Phil has been a qualified chartered accountant for over 20 years and lives in North London with his wife, two children, and cat.
Emma Ackerman - Executive Director of Income Generation
Emma is the Executive Director of Income Generation. She joined Mind in January 2026, and has dedicated the past 25 years to social impact across charities, education and major funders in the UK and USA. She has led on significant income growth projects, partnerships, and organisation-wide change. Emma has delivered mental health programmes, and has senior executive leadership experience.
Emma is committed to working with colleagues across Mind to strengthen income, partnerships and momentum to meet today’s mental health challenges, ensuring Mind is well positioned for the years ahead.
Jemima Olchawski - Executive Director of Social Impact
Jemima is the Executive Director of Social Impact. She joined Mind in April 2025, and brings over 20 years’ experience in social justice and equalities, most recently as Chief Executive of the Fawcett Society.
Jemima’s passion for meaningful change and her dynamic leadership will be instrumental in driving our advocacy, campaigning, federation support and service impact forward.
