Taking action for your needs.

Meet theLeadershipTeam

Craig Crowley
Craig Crowley

CEO

Chief Executive Officer
Craig has pioneered many prominent leadership and management positions over the past 25 years within the Deaf and Disability Sectors, obtaining an MBE in recognition of his work. Craig is co-chair of the BSL Advisory Board under the UK Government’s Disability Unit and Trustee of Royal School for the Deaf, Derby. A Deaflympian, he also served as the 8th President of Deaflympics 2009-2013 and Honorary President of UK Deaf Sport 2014-2022.
Karen Draper
Director of Finance & Operations
Director of Finance & Operations
Karen is an accountant who has extensive experience in both public and private financial accounting and has worked in educational establishments and charitable organisations.
Charlotte Jefferies
People Executive
People Executive
Charlotte is a qualified HR Manager who worked for a large telecommunications company before joining Deaf Direct. Charlotte joined AD following the merger with Deaf Direct in 2019.
Jayne Oakes
Jayne Oakes

Head of Business Development & Innovation

head of business development & INNOVATION

Jayne joined in February 2022 and has an extensive background in Sensory Services / Interpreting & Deafblind work, having worked previously for RNID / BID Services & Deafblind UK. At AD, her focus is on exploring new business and innovation opportunities for the organisation.

Phil Smith
Booking Manager
Booking Manager
Phil joined in May 2023 having worked previously as Bookings Manager for RNID. Phil has extensive experience in customer focused roles gained from working for Thomas Cook and also Watson Petroleum.
Mhairi Simpson
Head of Community & Care
Head of Community & Care
Mhairi worked for Places for People in Nottingham City. Since joining AD she has significant experience at all levels within the Community & Care Team, being instrumental in its continued growth. She is a qualified BSL Tutor and has previously worked as a Youth Worker.
Photo of Jessy Young
Jessy Young

Registered Manager, Community & Care

Registered Manager, Community & Care

Jessy joined AD in 2018 and has risen through ranks from being PA coordinator to Team Leader. She takes up acting Registered Manager role in January 2023.

Photo of Jonty Parry
Jonty Parry

Hubs Connect Manager

Hubs Connect Manager

Jonty has over 17 years’ experience in retail where he climbed up to a department manager. He has been the co-lead for the East Midland Deaf Children Camp since 2007. Jonty and his team look after our Hubs Services within Walsall, Oxfordshire, Herefordshire & Worcestershire.

Mags
Mags Smalley

Finance & Operations Manager

Finance & Operations Manager

Mags has around 20 years commercial management experience gained from working for Manchester Airport Group, TUI Holidays and Holland & Barrett, to name a few and now plays a key role in the Finance & Operations Department.

Photo of Mike Lane
Mike Lane

Digital Marketing Manager

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER

Mike has around 15 years marketing and social media experience, which he will use to help AD increase their awareness of the support they offer to the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Deafblind community within the UK. If you would like to reach out to Mike, please send an email to [email protected] or connect with him on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lane-action-deafness/.

Thank you for your support!

Action Deafness would like to thank Signapse who hove kindly translated our home page. Signapse are a team of Deaf and hearing people; entrepreneurs, engineers and researchers. They build artificial intelligence solutions for clients who want access to sign language translation and interpretation.

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