About

Hello, and welcome, my name is Tonia and I’m a professional consultant committed to helping individuals and organisations achieve meaningful and lasting results. My work is grounded in trauma awareness, excellence, integrity and a genuine belief in the potential of people, teams and organisations to be the best versions of themselves.

I believe that great work starts with real and meaningful connection, I care about what matters to you, what challenges you’re facing and what kind of support will make the biggest difference.

My approach is grounded in empathy, clarity, and collaboration. I work alongside clients as a trusted partner, helping them navigate complex challenges and change, strengthen their teams, and move forward with confidence, creating environments where people can thrive. Every project is an opportunity to create something meaningful together, and I bring both expertise and heart to that process.

If you’re looking for someone who listens deeply, thinks strategically, and genuinely wants to see you succeed, you’re in the right place.

Experience

I am an experienced leader, mainly working in the charity and local authority sectors, with over 30 years’ experience in management and leadership roles.

Leadership and Project Management

I have a wealth of experience in leadership and people‑centred management, having supported a wide range of teams through growth, challenge, and change. My background includes supervising, coaching and supporting individuals at different stages of their development, leading diverse groups, and creating environments where people feel safe, valued, and able to thrive.

I work with a trauma‑aware approach, always mindful of the human stories behind the work. Supporting people to reach their potential has been at the heart of my career, and I’m proud to be known as a leader who listens, empowers, and brings out the best in others.

Domestic Abuse, Stalking and Sexual Violence specialist

I have extensive experience in domestic abuse management and strategic leadership, built over many years of supporting individuals, teams and communities. My work began at a refuge, where I managed frontline services and supported women and families through some of the most challenging moments of their lives.

As my career progressed, I went on to lead specialist domestic abuse, sexual violence and stalking teams across five counties and seven local authorities, shaping high‑quality services at every risk level. My leadership has included developing and managing perpetrator programmes, dispersed and inclusive male refuges, specialist stalking clinic, strengthening multi‑agency responses, and ensuring that trauma‑aware, person‑centred practice sits at the heart of every intervention.

I am an experienced MARAC Chair and have played a key role in coordinating effective safeguarding responses across complex systems. I have written and delivered training for a wide range of professionals, and am a Safe Lives trained Police Domestic Abuse Matters trainer, supporting officers to respond with confidence, compassion, and clarity.

I have also chaired DHR’s and am currently developing as a DARDR author, continuing with my commitment to the wider learning and development of domestic abuse practice. My strategic insight, combined with my frontline understanding, allows me to bridge the gap between policy and real‑world experience—helping organisations build safer, more responsive, and more effective services.

Business development and growth

In my recent role as Director of Operations and Business Development for a south‑coast charity, I played a key role in shaping both the strategic direction and day‑to‑day delivery of services. I oversaw contracts totalling more than £6m a year and secured new opportunities through successful tenders and grant applications to local and national funders.

I firmly believe that excellence should be the standard when working with people and communities. I believe I led my teams with that principle at the heart of everything they did, supporting them to achieve—and consistently maintain—national accreditations.

My leadership has been central to building and developing commissioned services across five counties and seven local authorities. Colleagues and partners know me for my commitment to trauma‑aware practice, people‑centred and personalised support, and a drive for innovation grounded in research and real‑world insight.

Style and Ethos

My training and practice as a person‑centred counsellor, and my experience and practice of change management, has shaped the way I approach my work. This foundation and understanding has offered me insights, and experiences, of how people think, feel and respond to change—insight that has become central to my leadership and consulting style.

It informs the way I listen, the way I build trust, and the way I support teams and organisations through complex challenges. It also underpins my trauma‑aware approach, ensuring that services, strategies, and systems are built with compassion, clarity, and respect for the people they serve.

This blend of professional expertise and human‑centred practice is what enables me to guide organisations with both confidence and care, helping them create environments where people can genuinely thrive.

Services

Here is an overview of the services I offer, I am open to discussion about how I can help you and your organisation, and would welcome a conversation to talk about how we can work together.

Domestic Abuse

As a domestic abuse specialist, DARDR author, and experienced strategic leader, I offer consultancy that supports teams, local authorities, and commissioning bodies to strengthen their responses to domestic abuse in a practical, compassionate, and evidence‑informed way. My work is grounded in years of frontline and senior‑level experience—from managing refuge services to leading multi‑county teams, chairing MARACs, and shaping high‑risk, high‑impact interventions. I bring a deep understanding of the complexities of domestic abuse, the realities faced by practitioners, and the pressures on systems and services. I support organisations with: •Service development and improvement - Helping teams design, review, and strengthen domestic abuse services that are trauma‑aware, person‑centred, and aligned with best practice. •Training and workforce development - Delivering engaging, reflective training for practitioners, managers, and multi‑agency partners, including specialist sessions informed by my work as an experienced trainer, MARAC Chair and rep, DARDR Chair and rep. •Strategic leadership and consultancy - Working with senior leaders and commissioning bodies to shape strategy, improve pathways, and build coordinated, effective responses across local systems. •Reflective practice and professional support - Offering supportive spaces for teams and individuals to reflect, learn, and grow in their practice, grounded in my counselling background and extensive supervisory experience. •Policy, research, and writing - Drawing on my experience to support organisations with policy development, research‑informed practice, and high‑quality written materials. My approach is warm, collaborative, and rooted in a belief that meaningful change happens when people feel supported, valued, and equipped. I work alongside organisations to build confidence, strengthen practice, and create safer, more responsive services for the communities they serve.

People and Practice

I’m passionate about supporting, mentoring and coaching people in their practice and helping them grow with confidence. Whether someone is new to their role or bringing years of experience, I meet them where they are and work alongside them to strengthen their skills, reflect on challenges, and celebrate progress. My approach is gentle, practical, and grounded in real‑world experience. I create a space where people feel safe to explore what’s working, what’s getting in the way, and what they need to move forward. Together, we focus on building confidence, deepening understanding, and developing approaches that feel authentic and sustainable. I believe that everyone has the capacity to grow, and I see my role as a supportive partner—someone who listens, encourages, and offers thoughtful guidance. Whether through reflective practice, coaching, supervision, or training, my aim is always to help people feel more equipped, more grounded, and more connected to the heart of their work.

Policy

Change can feel overwhelming, even when it’s the right step forward. I offer change‑management support that brings calm, clarity, and compassion to the process. My approach is grounded in real experience of leading teams, shaping services, and guiding organisations through periods of growth, challenge, and transformation. I work alongside leaders and teams to understand what’s happening beneath the surface—what people need, what they’re worried about, and what will help them move forward with confidence. Together, we create practical, people‑centred plans that make change feel manageable rather than disruptive. Whether you’re reshaping services, strengthening culture, or navigating complex organisational shifts, I bring a steady, trauma‑aware, and relational approach. My aim is always the same: to support you in creating positive, sustainable change that your people can genuinely engage with and feel part of.

Training

As an experienced and qualified trainer, I write and deliver engaging, reflective training for practitioners, managers, and multi‑agency partners, including specialist domestic abuse sessions for front line staff and managers, informed by my work leading domestic abuse teams, and as a MARAC Chair and rep and DARDR Chair and rep.

I am a qualified Trauma Aware trainer and offer engaging trauma awareness training for practitioners, front line staff and managers.

Contact me to talk about commissioning bespoke training for your teams and organisation.