Our Senior Leadership Team
 Leading by example is the motto of our senior team and you won’t find a more committed bunch to the Aldingbourne Trust’s goals.
Alex Brooks Johnson - CEO

Alex is an experienced Chief Executive and strategic leader with a track record of organisational turnaround, governance reform, and culture change across the charity, social care, and education sectors. Alex is recognised for shaping national policy, engaging diverse stakeholders, and delivering measurable social impact and brings extensive Board-level experience and expertise in strategy, financial stewardship, and high-level partnerships.
Alicia Gooderson - COO

Alicia joined the Trust as Chief Operating Officer in 2025, bringing with her a wealth of experience from diverse industries. Starting her career as a dental anaesthetic nurse, Alicia later spent two decades at Boots, holding leadership positions across pharmacy, operations, commercial, and head office. Most recently, she led the UK COVID-19 testing initiative, which was a pivotal role during a challenging time. Alicia is passionate about driving efficiency and fostering collaboration within teams to achieve the Trust’s goals and vision.
Michael Hackwell-Read – Finance Director

Michael brings over 18 years of finance experience to the Trust, with a career spanning agriculture, hospitality, consultancy, and the not-for-profit sector. Having held Finance Director and Managing Director roles across multiple organisations, he has developed a strong instinct for what effective finance functions and robust governance look like in practice.
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Michael joins Aldingbourne having served as Finance Director to a care and support charity, giving him direct experience of the values, accountability, and financial stewardship the sector demands. He is passionate about ensuring every pound of resource delivers maximum impact for the people the Trust exists to serve.
Emma Phillips – Head of People and Development
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Emma is an experienced People Director and strategic HR leader with over 18 years of experience leading people functions across a range of sectors. She has a strong track record of developing people strategies, driving culture change, and supporting organisational growth and performance.
Recognised for her people-centred and pragmatic approach, Emma brings expertise in organisational development, employee relations, workforce planning, and change management. She is passionate about creating values-driven workplaces where people feel engaged, supported, and empowered to thrive.​
Lu Dash – Deputy CEO
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​Lu joined us in November 2015, taking up the new role of Head of Support. Lu has over 20 years experience working in adult social care, and has for the last 13 years worked in senior management roles for  charities in West Sussex and Surrey developing specialist services for people with learning disabilities and people on the autism spectrum.  Lu has a degree in psychology and a PG Diploma in Leadership and Management. Outside of work, Lu volunteers for Sussex Search Dogs.