Our Team

CEO

Andy Elvin joined CFAB as Chief Executive on 6th July 2009. He was previously been the project manager for Surestart Children’s Centres at the London Borough of Richmond.

Andy’s first degree was in Media and Cultural Studies. He later travelled to the USA where he worked as a childcare worker and foster parent in Portland, Maine for two years at a NGO for children with profound emotional and behavioural issues. He then returned to the UK and took a Masters Degree in Social Work before working as a children and families social worker at a family assessment centre and in two London Boroughs.

From 2001 - 2006 Andy was the Director of the Soho Family Centre, a Charity that offers a full range of childcare, early education, family support and community projects to the diverse community of Soho.

At CFAB Andy has been involved with the process of ending child detention in the immigration process and is working with the Government on international social work issues including private fostering, child trafficking and FGM. Andy is also on the panel of experts for the Permanent Bureau of the International Hague Convention in relation to the 1996 Hague Convention.

Operations Manager

Meena is a registered Social Worker who graduated from the Staffordshire and Nottingham Universities in Sociology and Social Work respectively.  Meena has over 13 years post qualifying experience specialising in child protection and project development. In late 2009, Meena was appointed as the Operations Manager for the registered charity Children and Families across Borders (CFAB). Meena is responsible for managing the team of inter-country social workers, conducting specialist research and developing services. Her recent work at CFAB contributed to making the government’s pledge to end child detention for immigration purposes, a reality.  Before joining the Charity, Meena worked as a Consultant to private fostering agencies and was a member of a local authority fostering panel. For the 2 years prior to that Meena was the Group Manager of the innovative consultant led social work units based at the Homerton University Hospital. Here, her work specialised in child protection and working with families affected by perinatal mental health and drug issues. Meena also worked for Action for Children where she set up a successful parenting project in a deprived inner London borough. Meena was also instrumental in developing a fostering service for adolescents requiring specialised foster carers. In her new role at CFAB, Meena’s interest rests in raising awareness on international social work issues, promoting good practice, and working towards better outcomes for children in the U.K. affected by separation and requiring international social work interventions.

Fundraising & Development Director

Having completed an MA in Archaeological Research at the University of Nottingham, Hannah began a 5-year career as a conference director and strategic project manager in both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors. She joined CFAB in September 2010 and is responsible for the charity's fundraising, leading the development and expansion of the fundraising activities to enable our unique services to be made available to more children, families and vulnerable adults.

Hannah has done a lot of travelling, whilst at university and since. Her most memorable trip was the time spent in South Africa, where she worked as a volunteer in a residential drug rehabilitation centre for 13-17 year olds. This experience reinforced her concern for the protection of vulnerable children, which led to some volunteer fundraising for The Children's Society. She is delighted to be part of CFAB, helping to make a positive difference to the lives of children and vulnerable adults across the globe.

Office Manager

Chris has been with the Charity for 18 years but his association goes back 28 years as a volunteer with the Spring Fair.

He is responsible for the administrative function with the support of his vital team of Mark and Christina.

Assistant Manager

Marek graduated from the LSE in 1973 with a degree in Social Administration, and has been a Qualified Social Worker for more than 30 years.

He has been at CFAB for nearly 10 years and is responsible for the Family Reunion and Travel Assistance Projects.

Assistant Manager

Prior to beginning her social work career, Diana obtained a degree in Psychology and worked in the clinical research field. She later graduated with a Master of Social Work degree in the USA and is currently a Licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) in New York.

After her studies, she specialised in children with severe emotional and behavioural issues in both a clinical and case management role. In 2009, Diana moved to London and continued her work with children and families as a social worker in a Safeguarding and Care Planning Team for a London borough.

She joined CFAB in October 2011.

Intercountry Social Work Assistant

Becky graduated with a degree in International Relations from the London School of Economics in 2010 and joined CFAB as an intern in November of that year.  She previously worked for Buckinghamshire County Council in both Child Protection and Looked After Children departments, and before her degree completed an Open University Course in Social Sciences.  She is currently undertaking a course entitled Introduction to Social Work.

Becky joined CFAB full time in March 2011 as our first Social Work Assistant and has produced audits on our duty calls and Social Workers Travelling Overseas, as well as taking on casework and Advice Line calls.  As a French speaker, Becky has facilitated casework in France and promoted links with the local authorities there.  

Intercountry Social Worker

Ruth joined CFAB in September 2011, having just graduated from Queen's University Belfast in social work. Ruth previously studied European studies with French at Durham University.

She maintained an interest in international issues by volunteering in a community centre in Spain with the European Volunteer service and completing a student exchange in a refugee camp in Hungary.

Intercountry Social Worker

Shaziah graduated with a degree in Social Work and Information and Communications Management from the National University of Singapore in 2003. Following this, she worked as a social worker in Singapore for 4 years dealing mainly with issues relating to children and young people. Shaziah moved to London 3 years ago where she completed her Masters in Development Studies in 2008 and continued her work with children and young people in different capacities, most recently conducting a review on youth homelessness and supported housing for one of the local boroughs in London.

Social Work Assistant

Dickson grew up in Ghana before coming to the UK in 2003 after graduating with a BA in Political Science from the University of Ghana.

Dickson went on to complete an MSc in International Development Studies at London South Bank University with a focus on poverty reduction and empowerment, forced migration and resettlement, and social and economic injustice.

Before joining CFAB in October 2011, Dickson spent many years working with vulnerable children, young people and families in the UK and West Africa for both the voluntary and statutory organisations.

Dickson previously worked with two London Boroughs specialising in Children Looked After, Leaving Care and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children.

PA to CEO

Christina joined CFAB in August 2009 after gaining valuable experience of working in the sector through two previous internships at a research consultancy for not for profit organisations and a professional body for chairty communicators.

Christina provides full support to the CEO as well as assisting in Fundraising and Event planning tasks for the charity.

Christina lived in Brazil and Spain before settling in London.

Events Manager

Emma graduated in 2007 from St Andrew’s University where she studied History of Art. After completing a Masters in Museum and gallery Studies she did various internships both in the UK and USA, gaining valuable experience in the third sector.

Emma has recently joined CFAB after two years at The Cure Parkinson’s Trust, with a similar events role. In her free time Emma helps to organise fundraising events for “Future Hope” a charity in Kolkata which houses and educates street children. Emma has also spent time in India working at the school, and tries to return each year!  

Finance & Statistical Officer

Mark has worked at CFAB for 13 years, beginning in 1995 as an Admin Assistant. Mark thoroughly enjoys his work with the Admin team and assisting the Social Work and Fundraising teams as well as giving support to the Director, Chairman and Trustees. Before he came to CFAB Mark worked in the Medical Records Department of Orpington Hospital and as an electrician, as well as obtaining a Business Admin NVQ.