Who We Are

Nick Hine joined the Royal Navy in 1985, enjoying a series of promotions through to his most recent role of Second Sea Lord and Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff, where he was responsible for a £7bn annual budget and the employment of over 30,000 people. He served as commanding officer of HMS Blackwater, as Executive Officer of HMS Splendid and has held several senior Navy and Government positions. In 2015, he was given permission to wear the Bronze Star Medal awarded to him by the President of the United States, and he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2018. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and holds degrees from City University and King’s College, London. He has since retired from the Navy in April 2022.

Nick was diagnosed as autistic in 2010 and comments that it felt like a weight had been lifted in terms of understanding of who he is, whilst also giving him a new understanding of how the world looked – designed by neurotypical people for neurotypical people. He has always been clear that his autism is a gift, but recognises that others often need more help. Nick’s public stance on neurodiversity, the need for support for those on the autistic spectrum and his championing of the strengths of people on the autistic spectrum led to him establishing the Neurodiversity Network for colleagues, to create an inclusive culture where diversity could be embraced.
Email: nick@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Abi works at C-Suite and Board levels in the social and corporate sectors as a communications and development consultant. She has spent the past 15 years working directly in the not-for-profit sector, specialising in fundraising and development, communications and stakeholder engagement.

Abi has worked as a consultant since January 2019 with clients as diverse as the Legal Services Board, Industrial Dwelling Society, Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trust, and HSN Care, alongside her work in the charity sector.

As Director of Marketing and Fundraising at Norwood (disability charity with £34m turnover), Abi had responsibility for delivering £10m voluntary income a year and the performance management of two departments. Abi joined as a new RfA Trustee in March 2020 as she feels passionate about changing society’s narrative around Autism.
Email: abiy@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Brian Linden is a chartered accountant and founding partner of the private equity firm Cinven since 1985 where he remains a director. Following his time at Cinven, Brian founded and chairs the charity 2nd Chance which offers personalised programmes young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve their education and gain sustainable employment. Brian is also the chairman of Student Cribs, one of the leading student accommodation businesses for second and third year university students in the UK. Brian is particularly keen on making sure that adults with profound autism gain the support that they so badly need.
Email: brian@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Caroline Montgomery is a graduate of the University College of Wales and has spent her entire career in publishing, predominantly as a Literary Agent.   Her connection to RFA began at its inception, as her parents were both founding members of the charity, her mother a board member until her death in 2017. Caroline was proud to be invited to continue her mother’s work as a Trustee and looks forward to being part of RFA’s ongoing journey.
Email: carolinem@resourcesforautism.org.uk

President of Resources for Autism. Barrister and Author. Did research on Autism. Initiated the first debate in Parliament on Autism in 1995. Helped Found Resources for Autism the following year. Held various public offices.
Email: hartley@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Raymond is Resources for Autism’s treasurer and Company Secretary. He has been a board member since the organisation was formed and is a solicitor with extensive personal experience of Autism.
Email: raymond@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Ritu is a graduate from the University of Oxford, with 14 years of experience in Consulting and HR and founded ‘Aubilities’ in 2020 to help organisations support a neurodivergent workforce, specializing in autism, as well as serving the autistic community with finding meaningful and supported employment.

As a parent of a child on the autistic spectrum, Ritu has lived experience of a carers journey from diagnosis through to education.

She is passionate about scaling resources and services to make them accessible to the autistic and associated community made up of children and adults on the spectrum, parents, carers, schools and organisations, to ensure support can be reached when needed, regardless of location.
Email: ritu@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Ruth is an LSE graduate with 15 years in the Recruitment industry, both in the UK & Australia. As a parent of an Autistic child she has direct experience of the diagnostic process, and how vital it is to engage with the necessary support networks to
ensure the best possible outcome for both the individual on the spectrum, and their family members. She is passionate about delivering a service that bridges the gap between medical and educational services, that is fully accessible to the broad and diverse communities we represent.
Email: ruth@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Dolyanna joined Resources for Autism as CEO in January 2020. She brings vast strategic and operational management experience in the voluntary and statutory sectors spanning across Mental Health, Social Care and Education.

During the last 15 years she held senior roles in large children’s charities such as NSPCC and Norwood, developing special interest in Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing, as well as in Special Educational Needs and/or Autism.

Dolyanna is passionate about authentic leadership and creating a work environment where people can feel safe to be themselves and to thrive. To her, this is the only way one can bring positive and sustainable change to the lives of those in our society most in need due to trauma, disability or any form of exclusion.
Email: dolyanna@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Maria joined RfA in December 2017. She brings with her a background of European Languages studies and politics, having lived and worked abroad as an interpreter and translator as well as being part of the numerous third sector charities and NGOs in a variety of roles but always with the focus on staff and volunteer recruitment and their engagement. Her focus at RfA as Head of Workforce is that of staff and volunteer wellbeing, recruitment, retention and training. Maria also ensures the smooth running of all central functions of the organisation by working closely with the Business Manager and admin team.
Email: maria@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Iris has been a part of Resources for Autism since 2010. She originally joined as a volunteer but quickly became a part of the team; having since been involved in setting up and running a range of services.  

Iris brings a broad background of experiences in Education, special needs and psychology. She has worked across a range of services, both voluntary and statutory, supporting individuals with special needs and poor mental health. Iris has developed an interest in providing care for individuals holistically by looking at their circumstances, and the needs of their family in relation to their strengths.
Email: iris@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Davina has been a part of Resources for Autism since joining as a playworker in 2005. Over the last 15 years she has worked across a variety of settings within the autism sector including education, social care, early intervention, adult services and other national autism charities. Davina has a passion for autism and behaviour which comes directly from her hands on experience with autistic individuals of all ages and needs. Davina has completed a Positive Behaviour Support certification and is also one of Resources for Autism’s qualified Team Teach trainers. Davina is also a qualified therapeutic counsellor specialising in integrative art and has a special interest in providing this for adolescents with autism / additional needs.
Email: davina@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Rajan Thevasagayam is our Finance Manager who has joined our team on a part time basis. He is a qualified Chartered Certified accountant who has over thirty five years of audit and accountancy experience in many different sectors such as auditing, banking, retailing and for the last 14 years has been working in the charity sector including  a  9 year role as  head of finance of a major international charity. He has also worked in both Sri Lanka and UK.
Email: rajan@resourcesforautism.org.uk

Hugh joined RfA in 2016 after training as a music therapist at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama. From 2008-2016 he held a variety of roles within mainstream and special education as a music teacher, youth worker and workshop facilitator. Alongside his individual and group work with RfA service users, Hugh continues to introduce different musical and improvisational experiences to the wider RfA community with experiential parent support groups, staff training, open mic nights and online staff jamming sessions!
Email: hugh@resourcesforautism.org.uk