Meet our team
We’re passionate about changing lives.
Yorkshire Team
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Co-Founder, CEO & CSO
Steve has worked in the criminal justice system since 1986. Starting at HMP Wormwood Scrubs he worked with some of the most notorious criminals in the UK. Since then, he has led on several offender rehabilitation initiatives in prisons across the North of England. He worked as Business Development Manager at HMP Leeds, and it was during this time he developed a successful model for rehabilitating ex-offenders based around sustainable employment.
Seeing the power of changing lives is what inspired Steve together with M.D and co-founder Val Wawrosz to set up TN.
As the CEO of Tempus Novo, Steve works on an array of day-to-day activities for the charity including managing the overarching strategy and vision of the charity, managing the funders and funds, leading on marketing, and overseeing stakeholder relationships.
Steve is recognised as an influential leader on prison reform and is a member of a select alliance working with the Centre for Social Justice think tank on future policy.
He sits as an executive in residence at Sheffield Hallam University and contributes as a member of the employer advisory board.
He is also a Leadership Fellow of St Georges House, Windsor Castle, where leaders from all sectors come together from across the globe to effect change for the better in society.
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Co-Founder & Managing Director
Val joined the prison service in 1988 and was posted to HMYOI Huntercombe where he worked for 2yrs before transferring to HMP Leeds in 1990.
He has a comprehensive understanding of offender management having overseen Offender Management teams in prisons, and currently sits on the MOJ Employment Advisory Board at HMP Hatfield.
Val is also recognised as an influential leader on prison reform and is a member of a select alliance working with the Centre for Social Justice think tank on future policy.
He sits as an executive in residence at Sheffield Hallam University and contributes as a member of the employer advisory board.
He is also a Leadership Fellow of St Georges House, Windsor Castle, where leaders from all sectors come together from across the globe to effect change for the better in society.
As Managing Director, Val oversees the charity's operations. A key element of which includes managing the relationships between the prisons, business partners and the employers.
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Office Manager
Leanne started a career in insurance from the age of 18, working predominantly as project manager but also having experience in Process improvement, HR, Training and IT.
Following this, Leanne wanted a change of direction and came across the role here at Tempus Novo. Her role is extremely varied as no two days are the same, which is what Leanne enjoys most. From dealing with admin and IT, to talking to various corporate partners and meeting service users…
“When I heard about the opportunity to be a part of the Tempus Novo team, I knew immediately it was something I wanted to do. To wake up every morning knowing you are going to make a difference and make a real positive change to people’s lives is very special and it is a journey I am very proud to have joined the Tempus Novo team on.”
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Operations Manager
Fiona worked as a prison officer for 12yrs and so she has that unique skillset developed in prisons. She understands prisoners and the problems they face trying to reintegrate back into society and is passionate about helping them.
A lot of her time in prison was spent working with the most vulnerable people, those at risk of taking their own lives and those struggling with addiction. Her dedication in this role resulted in a nomination for Prison Officer Of The Year.
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Operations Manager & Sustainability Officer
Mel started working at a volunteer at Tempus Novo 2 years ago while studying for an Undergraduate Degree in Forensic Psychology, before being taken on as a permanent member of staff.
Mel feels passionate about the work that the TN team does in the rehabilitation of offenders, and knows that helping people to find sustainable employment is key to this. Mel now works part-time whilst studying for a Masters in Forensic Psychology and Mental Health at the University of Manchester, and is looking forward to being able to go full-time in September.
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Assistant Caseworker
Emily was introduced to Tempus Novo by one of her lecturers at University, and one of our Ambassadors.
“After hearing about the work TN do, I was keen to volunteer here. Volunteering at TN has been an absolute privilege and it's been a pleasure to witness individuals' flourish and re-introduce themselves into main-stream society. I am very passionate about the work TN do and becoming an official member of the team is a wonderful opportunity. I have recently graduated with first-class honours in Forensic Psychology and now work part-time here whilst studying for a Masters in Forensic Psychology at Leeds Trinity University.”
Emily now supports Kath, aiding in assessments, supporting service users, and also liaises with job centres and probation.
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Executive Assistant
Lenaia studied a Business Degree majoring in Human Resource Management and Employment Relations which she completed in 2021. She has a strong background in hospitality and enjoyed many positions within the industry from waitressing to bar management.
On completion of her degree, Lenaia began her career working for a small Joinery company as an HR and Procurement Assistant, but quickly progressed to become the HR & Health and Safety Officer within the first year. Lenaia began volunteer work facilitating online happiness courses in 2023 which led her to discovering Tempus Novo and they work they do. She was immediately drawn to our charity, and felt connected to our mission.
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Caseworker
Caroline comes to TN with a wealth of experience gleaned from working for over 35 years in the Private Sector. She is a seasoned professional in Customer Service, Project Management and Business Development.
In addition to her professional expertise, Caroline has served as a Magistrate on the West Yorkshire Bench for the past 10 years, demonstrating a deep commitment to community service and fair judgment.
Passionate about second chances and driven by a strong sense of empathy and social responsibility, Caroline is eager to contribute to Tempus Novo's mission and is committed to helping individuals rebuild their lives, leveraging her experience to provide tailored support, and fostering inclusive communities.
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KTP Associate
Chinedu is a young enthusiastic changemaker who is passionate about supporting impactful organisations to make data and research-driven decisions. He believes that the primary aim of research should be to inform decision makers on the interventions required to improve people and society.
His core competences include project management, cross-functional collaboration, business development and problem-solving. He is also skilled in qualitative and quantitative data analysis using different statistical and analytical tools.
Using these skills, Chinedu has completed a bachelor’s degree in economics, a master’s degree in economics, and a master’s degree in energy policy. Currently, he is completing his PhD degree, focusing on strategy and business innovation at the Open University Business School.
Chinedu has fully embraced the significant impacts that Tempus Novo are having on the lives of ex-offenders and the UK criminal justice system and is committed to utilising his knowledge and skills to further enhance the social value impact and growth of Tempus Novo.
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Development Director
Sophie Jerrold is an accomplished Development Director with over 20 years of experience in fundraising, strategic partnerships, and stakeholder engagement. She has excelled in roles across the non-profit, arts, and scientific sectors, specialising in securing high-value investments, developing innovative funding programmes, and driving sustainable growth.
Her notable roles include Development Director & Interim Chief Executive of the British Neuroscience Association and Managing Director at Square Food Foundation.
Sophie is a human-centred leader with expertise in Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and a proven track record in managing large-scale initiatives.
With a strong commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Sophie has been instrumental in developing scholars’ programmes for underrepresented groups and designing inclusive initiatives that foster diversity in leadership and research.
Sophie’s role at Tempus Novo will focus on driving strategic development and cultivating sustainable income streams to support the organisational growth of TN. She brings a wealth of experience, a results-driven mindset, and a passion for empowering communities through innovative, mission-aligned projects.
Sophie says:
"Tempus Novo’s work is critical in addressing the urgent challenges facing the UK’s prison system. With reoffending rates alarmingly high, we must create pathways for change that offer genuine opportunities for rehabilitation. By building trust and providing tailored support, Tempus Novo helps individuals break free from the cycle of crime, benefiting not only those involved but also their families and communities. It’s a transformative mission that demands our collective attention and action to build a safer and more compassionate society. I am looking forward to working with visionary partners and people to support and sustain the work long into the future.”
The South
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Operations Manager, Midlands
Ross has got extensive experience within Welfare to Work, Recruitment and Learning & Development industries. He has worked across Traineeships, Apprenticeships and many different Government funded programmes to support and guide different demographics into sustainable outcomes.
Ross firmly believes in the Tempus Novo model, and is determined to build on the great work that TN are doing to remove the stigmas attached to ex-offenders by moving them into employment and ultimately changing lives for the better.
Finance Team
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Finance Director
Mike holds several Board level appointments, alongside his role as advisor at Drink Warehouse UK Ltd, an award-winning drinks wholesale business. He also co-founded a SAAS business in 2015, offering online sport education in the equestrian field. He is also co-founder of a company that promotes women in motorsport and advises two charities on financial matters. He recently sold another business he co-founded in 2016, offering business mentoring to tech start-ups, to the management team.
His passion is partnering with CEO’s, executives and entrepreneurs helping them understand the business numbers and providing practical advice on strategy execution and acquisitions. He has seen the drink wholesale business grow from £4.2m in 2015, when he became involved to £13.5m by the end of the current financial year in May 2019, a CAGR of 34%.
With many years in a diverse range of business sectors ranging from industrial chemicals to high end branded goods, he helps simplify the mystique around finance and helps entrepreneurs to manage their respective businesses more efficiently.
He qualified as an Accountant and holds an MBA in International Finance.
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Fundraising Manager
Steve has worked in the charity sector for many years. In 1985 he established DISC (now Humankind) a major charity which, as Chief Executive, he built up to covering the north of England with 500 staff and a range of services embracing employment, housing, substance misuse and young people. For the past 10 years he has worked as business adviser, consultant and bid writer in the charity sector.
Marketing Team
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Social Media Manager
Safiya’s creativity and love for all things digital steered her into Marketing following her University Degree. Having worked in various social media and marketing roles, Safiya launched her own marketing business, HG1 Social, in 2020 and has been partnering with businesses to help them grow their brand identity online every since.
From the first moment of crossing paths with Tempus Novo, Safiya became an advocate for their amazing work and enjoys bringing the team’s achievements to life on social media and digital marketing avenues.
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Social Media Manager
Keiran worked at a number of large corporates as a Social Media Manager before co-launching HG1 Social with Safiya.
With a passion for strategising and a vision for helping brands to spread their story far and wide online, Keiran works alongside Tempus Novo to bring the brand to life on social media.
The Ripple Effect
We had the pleasure of collaborating with Tempus Novo ambassadors, Joe and Dave from The Dunwells, on our very own Tempus Novo tune. Watch below to hear the finished song and see how it came together!