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  • whos-who
  1. About Us
  2. Meet the team

Our People

Such an individual service requires the involvement of many dedicated professionals. The North East Autism Society employs a wide range of people with different skills and expertise. Please see below for details of our Trustees and Senior Management Team members.

John Phillipson - Chief Executive

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John Phillipson has been involved in social care and education since 1975. He has managed a very wide range of services having worked as an Assistant Director with Barnardos North East for several years before joining North Tyneside L.E.A. as Manager for S.E.N.  

John went on to be Head of Children’s Services and latterly Director of Social Services in North Tyneside. Since 2005 he has been Chief Executive at the North East Autism Society where services are being modernised and transformed to improve outcomes for autistic children, young people and adults.

CEO Blog

Published: 6th November, 2013

Updated: 22nd July, 2022

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Gavin Bestford - Chair of Trustees

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Gavin Bestford, Chain of the Board of Trustees

Gavin Bestford is a retired Local Government Finance Officer and Accountant having worked for over 30 years for the City of Durham from where he retired in 2000 as Head of Financial Services and Deputy Director of Finance. He lives in Durham and is married with two children. His connections with the Society began in 1990 when his son, then aged 4 became a pupil at the Society’s school and from which he progressed through to a placement with our Adult Services. Gavin became a Trustee of the Society in 2002 and was appointed as its Chairman in 2005.

Published: 6th November, 2013

Updated: 14th August, 2015

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Dr Rakesh Chopra OBE - Trustee

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Dr Rakesh Chopra OBE, Trustee

Rakesh is a GP in Ashington Northumberland where he has worked for the last 24 years. He is married with 2 children.His son is autistic and became a day pupil at Thornhill Park School at the age of five. He has now progressed through to a placement with adult services.


Rakesh has taken on the role of Trustee in order to help the Society take forward its excellent work with children, young people and adults with autism as well as supporting their families.

Published: 6th December, 2013

Updated: 14th August, 2015

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Jillian Crumbie - Trustee

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Jillian Crumbie, Trustee

Hello, I live in Durham. I studied at New College Durham acquiring a HND in Business and a Hon's Degree in Social Work. At present I am a full time carer for my son who has autism. I have three children and my middle son has attended the school, college and New Warlands Farm since 2003 as a day pupil. Even though I am always juggling my time I found I have gained a great deal by joining the organisation in 2005 as a Trustee of the Society.

I believe it is important that the views of parents should be heard. Still to this day I feel privileged that I am part of such a fantastic organisation that is known throughout for its first class care. It has been wonderful to see at first hand how with the Society’s support our children, young people and adults have a wonderful future being in such caring and importantly enabling environment and how the Society continues to expand.

Published: 6th December, 2013

Updated: 14th August, 2015

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John Hodgson - Trustee

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John Hodgson - Trustee

John has been married to Julie for 33 years and has two grown-up children. With vast experience in senior positions in the Construction Industry and having served as Chairman for the North East Region of the Building and Engineering Services Association, he has previously sat on school Governing Bodies, where he has enjoyed contributing to the development of young people and he is now proud to serve as a Director and Trustee for the North East Autism Society. John is a proud North easterner who likes to be involved in making a difference.

As a family, John was first introduced to the North East Autism Society in 2010, when he was looking for an appropriate service provider for his son, Connor, who is autistic. John wants to help drive the Society forward during challenging Economic times.

Published: 17th July, 2017

Updated: 12th January, 2021

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David Parker - Trustee

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David graduated from Newcastle University with a degree in mathematics before training as a Chartered Accountant in the audit department of a national accountancy firm in Bristol. After qualifying he moved back to his native north east where he worked for a local independent accountancy firm before moving to be the Financial Controller of IAM Sold, a Fast Track 100 property auction house. Following this he worked at Newcastle United Foundation heading up their finance team as Finance Manager, before moving to Home Group's accounts team. He has extensive experience of working both for and with a wide range of charities and is proud to have the opportunity to use these skills developed to serve as a trustee of NEAS.

Published: 18th July, 2017

Updated: 19th September, 2018

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Brian Stoker - Head of Care

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Brian Stoker, Head of Care

After serving five years in the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards Brian left the army in 1990 looking for a career which he would find both challenging and rewarding. He found this career at the North East Autism Society. Brian initially worked within Children Residential Services for five years before moving to be part of the development of Adult Services. After spending five years as a Residential Home Manager he moved to the role of Head of Adult Care Services.


Brian believes the challenge remains to provide a person-centred approach in planning and providing flexible personalised services for  autistic people and their families.


We achieve this by adapting services to meet the needs of the individual and through the development of a highly motivated staff team who have the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills to support individuals.

Brian is a Caldicott Guardian Deputy for the Society. 

Published: 9th October, 2017

Updated: 6th April, 2021

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Chris Dempster - Director of Education

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Christine Dempster, Director of Education

After working 15 years for the NHS, Christine joined the Society in January 1990 as a Classroom Assistant. Christine played a lead role in developing post 19 provision within the Society. After spending several years as Deputy Head of Adult Services she became Principal of Thornbeck College in December 2006 and Director of Education in 2013.


Christine finds working with autistic children, young people and adults extremely rewarding. She is personally driven to deliver a range of services that enables every individual to achieve their full potential.

Christine is a Caldicott Guardian Deputy for the Society. 

Published: 9th October, 2017

Updated: 6th April, 2021

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Lisa Waller - Trustee

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Lisa Waller has over 30 years’ experience working in management positions in a wide range of sectors including Travel & Tourism, Recruitment, Welfare to Work and most recently as Head of Business Development at Derwentside College. 

Derwentside College is one of the largest apprenticeship training providers in the country and as Head of Business Development Lisa is responsible for the strategic direction of the apprenticeship and adult education teams, working with some of the regions largest employers in both the public and private sectors on their learning and development strategies. 

Away from the busy office Lisa enjoys spending time with family and friends, visiting the countryside and going to the theatre. With a love for musical theatre Lisa has been an active member of Fatfield Musical Stage Society for 40 years both on and off stage! 

Published: 12th July, 2021

Updated: 23rd August, 2021

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Showing 10 of 9

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  • Adult Day Services - ‏‏‎‎‏‏‎ New Warlands Farm

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  • Volunteering opportunities

    Volunteering opportunities

    Volunteering is all about making a difference to other people's lives. Taking time out to change things for the better can be great fun. Find out about the list of roles available and the benefits volunteering can have.

  • Why work for us?

    Why work for us?

    We recognise that the work we do wouldn’t be possible without our incredible team of dedicated employees. With opportunities within our care, education, employment and family support services, there’s a career for you at the North East Autism Society.

  • What We Believe

    What We Believe

    We provide a wide – and ever growing – range of services for autistic children, young people and adults, and those with other examples of neurodiversity.

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Make a donation

Make a donation

Help us to continue making a positive difference to the lives of autistic individuals, and their families, across the region. Read more

Donate Fundraise

Published: 6th November, 2013

Updated: 20th September, 2021

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North East Autism Society | 15 Lumley Court | Drum Industrial Estate | Chester-le-Street | County Durham | DH2 1AN


Tel: 0191 4109974 or E-mail: [email protected]

Registered Charity No. 1028260   |   Company Limited by Guarantee No. 2859620

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