Direct Help & Advice

The Team & Trustees

meet the team

Karla Cook

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Karla joined Direct Help and Advice in 2015 and has been the CEO for over 5 years and prior was the Deputy CEO for 2 years.

Has over 20 years’ experience of leading a team at Executive management level. Driving sustainability, cultural change, efficiency, high performance, quality and governance.

Karla has worked across all sectors Charitable, Private Sector and Local Authorities. She has a proven track record of building high performance teams, delivering complex contracts and exceeding targets in a changeable landscape. Karla does this by recognising staff strengths and taking everyone with her in delivering DHAs vision.

Spending many years in training, education and welfare to work sectors, Karla is a skilled manager, counsellor, trainer and auditor using these tools to drive forward and deliver DHAs Strategic plan.

Karla is passionate about driving forward Direct Help and Advice and feels privileged to be at the helm of an amazing charity that changes people’s lives.

Kate Banks

Director of Finance & Services

Kate is responsible for finances, budgets, and financial planning and has worked in commercial and charity sectors as a Chartered Fellowship Accountant for over 35 years.

Kate has weekly reviews with the CEO on all aspects of the finances & budgets and has on-going reviews with the Heads of Departments. Finances are also reported to the Trustee Board on a bi-monthly basis.

Suzanne Walker

Head of HR & Advice

Suzanne is an Associate CIPD and has worked at DHA for over 25 years and has over 15 years in management of HR and evaluating and monitoring systems and is responsible for all HR related activities, as well as the policies and procedures including recruitment and client care.

Suzanne has extensive knowledge of the advice department having worked on Legal Aid Contracts for over 17 years. She has monthly reviews with the CEO and is responsible for management / ongoing review of the Legal Aid Contracts including quality standards, KPI & Target management, Complaints, data protection and ensuring all contract requirements are met.

Meet The Trustees

Leysa Relf

Trustee

Leysa is an environmental and health & safety professional, with over 25 years’ experience working across the responsible business agenda. Leysa is successful in delivering award-winning people, planet and community focused strategic activities and change management programs.

Leysa is a community and people-focused individual who strives to make a difference in the local area by supporting vulnerable individuals. Having worked with DHA through her current employer, Leysa is very aware of the impact that DHA can make and is delighted to be working on the Trustee Board at DHA and contributing towards making a difference in the local area.

Jonathan Merritt

Ambassador

Dr Jonathan Merritt has 30 years’ experience of teaching and researching law. He has led research projects which have made findings of international significance and which are impactful on the community.

Jonathan is currently a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader at De Montfort University Law School.

David Walsh

Vice Chair

David is a financial services professional with over 30 years extensive experience in regulatory compliance and risk management, particularly in the retail lending and consumer credit sector.

David aware of the difficulties faced by individual and families, especially with regards to ongoing increases in the cost of living, financial pressures and the close connection between debt problems and mental health.

David has provided advice and guidance to financial services organisations in the implementation and development of policies, procedures and training in the area of consumer financial difficulties.

Justine Claxton

Chairman

Justine has been a Lawyer since 1999 and has worked as a criminal solicitor for all but a couple of those years. She had a brief spell as a Senior Crown prosecutor and Care lawyer before returning to a life of crime! She has been at The Smith partnership since 2005 and is based in the Derby office.

As a criminal lawyer the bread and butter of her work is legally aided cases, and she has a day-to-day experience of dealing with the public funding body The Legal Aid Agency. In addition, Justine has an empathetic view and is fully aware of the difficulties facing individuals and families in housing crisis and is an advocate for legal aid.