Meet the OPCC Team

Simon has significant experience of the police, crime and community safety sector both locally and nationally, and has worked across the public, private and third sector. Simon provides independent evidence-based governance and policy advice and has a passion for building improved public services that are transparent and accountable to the public purse.  

Simon joined the Office of the PCC in May 2016, prior to this he was the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Bedfordshire PCC, and before this spent several years at the Home Office in a variety of policy and research posts including latterly as Head of Localism Policy. He started his policing career as a Community Safety Partnership analyst. Outside of work, he occasionally writes for Policinginsight.com and, for the past 20 years, has been a volunteer coach for a community sports charity.

Adam joined the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in May 2016, moving across from Dorset Police.  He has worked within the Force’s Communications and Engagement Department in a variety of roles, most recently as the Deputy Head of Department, and oversaw media relations for Dorset Police during the 2012 Olympics.

Prior to 2008, Adam worked for numerous print, broadcast and online media organisations. He is a qualified journalist and an Accredited Practitioner at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations.

Away from the office, Adam enjoys time with his family, watching football, listening to obscure music and enjoying his home town, Poole.

Julie joined the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in September 2019, taking up the role of Chief Finance Officer. Prior to this, she worked for 20 years in a variety of senior finance roles within Local Government in Dorset, gaining significant experience in partnership working. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her family, reading and baking.

Lewis joined the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in September 2017 as the Grants and Commissioning Officer. His main responsibilities are the management of the Community Grants Scheme and the Safer Dorset Foundation Charity.

Lewis has worked for Dorset Police since 2004 initially joining as a Modern Apprentice studying Business Administration. After gaining the qualification he has held various roles for Dorset Police such as Supplies Supervisor and Custody Detention Officer.

Most recently Lewis was employed by Devon & Cornwall Police between 2014 and 2017 working for the Southwest Police Procurement Department.

Away from the office Lewis enjoys spending time with his family, training for triathlons, going to the gym and football.

Jason joined the Dorset Police Authority in 2008 and transferred across to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in November 2012. His responsibilities are many and varied and include directly supporting the PCC and Chief Executive with research, briefings, report writing, consultation responses, correspondence handling, presentation and speech writing, performance monitoring and liaison with internal and external partners.

Prior to working in policing his previous experience includes roles with a housing association, local authority and NHS Trust. Jason is a graduate of De Montfort University, Leicester where he studied History and Politics. In his spare time Jason enjoys music, sport and spending time with his young family. He does a bit of running and, despite a love of football, supports Peterborough United (Up the Posh!)

After studying for a degree in resources science at Kingston University, Helen spent 22 years working in local government on environmental projects, community development and for the last 16 years of that time, on crime and disorder reduction and community safety. The community safety work involved working in partnership with a wide range of other agencies in and tackling anti-social behaviour, hate crime (discrimination), and domestic violence and abuse. Helen also co-ordinated safeguarding and child protection work.

Helen joined the OPCC as the Restorative Justice Project Manager in July 2014 with responsibility for developing and implementing a ‘Restorative Dorset’ strategy in partnership with other agencies - to provide access to victims for restorative justice. This has been to improve victim satisfaction in the ways anti-social behaviour and crimes are brought to justice. Helen now works as a Policy Manager with a focus on justice related work, including reducing reoffending. 

Desney joined the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in April 2014 to work on the Victims’ Bureau and victim services commissioning. As a professionally qualified Project Manager she is responsible for improving the service provision, the accessibility and the support available for victims of crime in the Dorset Area. This is valuable work to improve victim satisfaction and to provide appropriate support to victims to help them cope and recover from their ordeal.

Prior to working for the OPCC, she worked for Dorset Police for 11 years, working in partnership to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on the roads of Dorset.

Desney relocated to Dorset 13 years ago from Surrey where she worked for Surrey County Council in road safety engineering and analysis.

Susan joined the OPCC as the Head of Communications and Engagement in August 2017.

Prior to working at the OPCC, Sue worked for Bournemouth University, as a Marketing Manager and has over ten years of multi-sector Communications and PR experience.Sue's role is to develop and deliver innovative and effective communications and engagement for the OPCC.

Conrad Astley joined the OPCC in November 2018 as a Communications and Engagement Officer after moving to Dorset with his family from Greater Manchester.

Prior to working at the OPCC, Conrad worked as a press officer for the University of Salford, and has previously worked in local government communications roles and as a journalist for various print media organisations.

Outside of the office, Conrad enjoys travelling, spending time with his family, and scuba diving.

Yvonne joined the Dorset Police Authority in 2007 and transferred across to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in November 2012.  Her main responsibilities include providing governance support to the Chief Executive and OPCC staff, management of the Independent Custody Visiting Scheme and servicing various committees and panels.

Prior to joining the Dorset Police Authority, Yvonne had a number of roles working in financial services in London and with the NHS in Dorset.

In her spare time Yvonne enjoys spending time with her family, socialising, motorbiking, practicing reiki and making a big fuss of her two black cats, Wally and Olly. 

Tom joined the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in March 2017 as Interim Governance Manager before taking his role as Governance Advisor. He was appointed as Scrutiny Manager in August 2018. Tom is a qualified Chartered Secretary and  was Company Secretary for a financial services company.

His role includes representing the OPCC on relevant Force Boards and meetings, improving the effectiveness of the independent scrutiny panels, Out of Court Disposals, Use of Force and Stop and Search powers. 

In his spare time he enjoys DIY, walking and recreational swimming.  He has recently completed building a Dutch barn shed and a summer house. 

Cathy joined the Dorset Police Authority as Administrative Support Officer in October 2002, transferring across to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in November 2012.  Prior to this she worked as PA/administrator in both the public and private sector. 

In December 2012, Cathy was successful in her application to become PA to the Police and Crime Commissioner, providing essential support and information to enable the Commissioner to carry out his duties.

Away from the office, Cathy enjoys time with her family, walking the dog, watching football and avoiding the gym.

Jenny has performed a number of roles since returning from travelling after university, mainly working for local government providing administrative assistance to managers within Adult Services and Safeguarding. She joined the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in April 2013 as Administrative Support Officer and gained promotion to PA to the Chief Executive in August 2013. She returned to work from maternity leave in January 2017, part time, as the PA to the Senior Management Team.

Jenny enjoys spending time with her family and friends, eating cake, and trying to keep fit!

Fran joined the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner in October 2018 as a Policy and Commissioning Officer, with the initial remit to work as a Project Officer on the Complainant Advocate project.

Fran worked for 8 years previously for Dorset Police as HR Performance Analyst. She comes from a background in secondary and higher education (teaching and administration) in Italy and the UK.

 In her spare time, Fran enjoys travelling off the beaten track, walking and cooking from scratch.  

Eddie joined the OPCC as a Policy and Commissioning Officer in December 2018.  Prior to joining the OPCC, he worked for Tesco as a superstore general manager for nearly 14 years’, which was extremely challenging, but enjoyable.  Before joining Tesco, Eddie also served in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy for over 30 years’ seeing combat in the Falkland’s war and taking part in numerous demanding and dangerous operations world-wide.  He came up through the ranks to become an officer in 1988 and left as a Lt Cdr in March 2005. 

Eddie enjoys keeping fit and following rugby union, in particular Leicester Tigers.  He has been married to Veronica for 35 years’ and they have a daughter, Charlotte.