Trustees
Dr. Bernard Roberts
Chair
Bernard is a Training and Supervising Analyst and a Child and Adolescent Analyst with the British Psychoanalytical Society, where he has served as Head of the Child and Adolescent Clinic and currently holds the role of Safeguarding Lead. He has been involved with the Brent Centre for more than 30 years, initially as a clinician. Bernard held two consultant posts within the NHS, initially as Medical Director with Kingston and District Community NHS Trust and later as Head of Psychotherapy at CNWL Foundation NHS Trust. He now works in private practice with adults and adolescents and is also involved in the Education Scheme of the British Psychoanalytical Society.
Randy Mannie
Treasurer
Randy is the Deputy Director of Finance for NHS England. He is a qualified (CIMA) accountant and holds an MBA from Cass Business School. He brings more than 20 years' experience in financial and operational roles, including leading finance teams and managing healthcare transformation projects.
Pessi Elias
Trustee
Pessi is a Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist who specialises in working with children, adolescents and their parents and has been practicing for over 20 years in New York and London. She was previously a staff member at the Brent Centre for Young People and brings a wealth of integrated knowledge and experience to the Board.
Simon Dodds
Trustee
Simon has been a trustee since 2018. He is active in the non-profit sector as a supporter and adviser to a number of charities. Amongst other things, he is Chair of Governors of Central Foundation Boys' School, a comprehensive school located in the City of London.
Simon is a corporate lawyer by background. He spent the greater part of his professional career in the legal and compliance functions at Deutsche Bank, a major financial institution. At different times, Simon was Global Head of Compliance and co-Global General Counsel. Simon is currently Of Counsel at the international law firm, A&O Shearman.
Ian Barnes
Trustee
Ian has held several senior management roles across manufacturing and service companies. His experience in successfully guiding organisations through periods of significant change is a valuable asset to the Brent Centre as it adapts to the challenges of today’s increasingly complex operating environment.
Anoushka Babbar
Trustee
Anoushka is the Head of Sustainable Investment Index Policy at the London Stock Exchange Group and a Chartered Financial Analyst. She brings a wealth of experience in the financial sector to the Brent Centre.
Gideon Hadary
Trustee
Gideon served as the Head of a Child Psychotherapy Service in the NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service for 15 years. Later he led the Child and Adolescent Department at the London Clinic of Psychoanalysis. Currently he works in private practice with adult, children and adolescent patients, and teaches and supervises in the UK and abroad. He is a Psychoanalyst and Child and Adolescent Analyst, and a Clinical Psychologist by background. He trained at the Tavistock Clinic and the Institute of Psychoanalysis in London.
Leadership Team
Valentina Levi
Chief Executive Officer
Valentina is a Senior Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist and has been working at the Brent Centre for over a decade. She also has experience working at CAMHS and in private practice. She stepped into the Chief Executive Officer role for the Brent Centre in 2024, after serving as the Head of Clinical Services for four years.
Anna Honeysett
Head of Branding & Development and Head of Private Clinical Services
Anna is a Child & Adolescent Counsellor and Psychotherapist who trained at Birkbeck, University of London. She has worked at the Brent Centre since 2009 in a range of programmes, including the Schools Project, the Youth Offering Service Project, the In-house Service and the Private Service. Before taking on her current role, she was the Centre’s Outreach Coordinator and Clinical Administration Manager.
Barney Dunn
Clinical Development Manager & Co-Manager In-house Clinic
Barney is a Child and Family Psychodynamic Psychotherapist, who trained at the Tavistock & Portman NHS Trust. Since joining the Centre in 2020, he has worked across various clinical services, including Sport & Thought, Schools and the Brief Intervention Service. Before becoming a psychotherapist, Barney established a hospital-based youth work service for vulnerable adolescents in South London and worked with care-experienced young people in supported accommodation.
Jameel Ukaye
Administration and Finance Manager
Jameel has more than 25 years’ experience working in the charity sector in a range of roles, including finance, administration and human resources. He has been working at the Brent Centre for more than 10 years, and his knowledge and work is essential to the effective operation of the charity.
Niall Henderson
Head of Data & Impact
Niall is an evaluation and impact specialist with over 10 years experience in the third sector. Prior to joining the Brent Centre for Young People at the end of 2020, Niall worked in Glasgow, developing frameworks to monitor the impact of early years and social care services in areas of significant economic and social deprivation. Niall has also worked in academia, for a Member of Parliament and volunteered at the Scottish Refugee Council.
Berhanu Kassayie
Fundraising Manager
Berhanu is an experienced fundraising and programme development manager with a strong background in fundraising, research and evaluation. He is passionate about supporting young people to improve their mental health.