Media team

Ed Ware

Head of News

Ed oversees the News Team. He sets strategic direction, manages the reputation of national Mind, helps place senior spokespeople as thought leaders and makes sure Mind’s news work is at the cutting edge of media industry trends. Ed also acts as a spokesperson for Mind.

Luke Merlini

Media Relations Manager (News)

Luke manages the News Team. He helps to set and implement strategic direction, manages the reputation of local Minds across England and Wales, helps place senior spokespeople as thought leaders and makes sure Mind’s news work is at the cutting edge of media industry trends. Luke also acts as a spokesperson for Mind.

Nancy Laws

Senior Media Officer

Nancy helps amplify our political campaigns, for example on benefits and NHS care. She also promotes Mind’s services, like the Infoline, Side by Side and network of local Minds, in the media. Nancy can help journalists and producers with comments, briefings, interviews and background conversations with case studies, spokespeople, and other in-house experts. Nancy also supports media work for our network of local Minds across England.

Jack Holloway

Senior Media Officer

Jack leads the news work to amplify our political campaigns, for example on benefits and NHS care. Jack promotes Mind’s services, like as the Infoline and Side by Side, in the media. He can help journalists and producers with comments, briefings, interviews and background conversations with case studies, spokespeople, and other in-house experts. Jack also supports media work for our network of local Minds across England.

Jess Childs

Senior Media and PR Officer, Mind Cymru

Jess helps amplify our political campaigns in Wales, for example on NHS waiting times, stigma around mental health and on standards of care. She also promotes Mind’s services like our helplines, Side by Side and network of local Minds in the Welsh media too. She can help journalists and producers with comments, briefings, interviews and background conversations with case studies, spokespeople, and other in-house experts who are available to contribute bilingually in both English and in Welsh. Jess also supports media work for our network of local Minds across Wales.

Steph Cade

PR and Media Volunteer Manager

Steph leads the media and PR for Mind’s fundraising, appeals and awareness campaigns, and manages our media volunteer strategy.

Dina Valton

Senior Media Officer

Dina leads the media for Mind’s public fundraising, including community and events and Mind-owned products. Dina also supports our corporate partnerships PR.

Bryony Acketts

Media Volunteer Officer

Bryony manages and supports our Media Volunteers. She works closely with people with lived experience of mental health problems to share their stories in the media. And she helps involve them in our campaigns and corporate partnerships.

Sean Downs

Head of Influencer Relations

Sean is the strategic lead for all of Mind’s work around celebrities and influencers. Sean manages the recruitment and stewardship of our ambassadors. And he's responsible for delivering maximum impact from Mind’s use of influencers.

Frances Noble

Senior Media and Celebrity Officer

Frances coordinates Mind’s ambassadors and high-profile supporters. These include celebrities and influencers.

Sarah Copleston

Senior Influencer Relations Officer

Sarah recruits influencers for Mind’s corporate partnership and fundraising work. Sarah makes sure influencer-represented campaigns are delivered to the highest of standards.

Nikita Bonner-Lewis

Influencer Relations Assistant

Nikita leads influencer involvement for Mind’s charity shops and Mind’s influencer program for Wales. Nikita supports the Influencer Relations and wider media team in its day-to-day duties.

Leah Parker-Turnock

Senior Media Engagement Officer

Leah leads our media advisory service. The service helps producers, researchers and writers of soaps and dramas to create accurate, sensitive storylines about mental health. We advise on initial concepts, story outlines and give feedback on scripts. We work with case studies to give people’s real-life experiences. And we can also advise on-set.