It’s been said that we are unusual, quirky, a bit different. It’s true. We are.
It’s something that emanates from our Board of Directors and permeates through the whole organisation.

We think it comes from having an eclectic mix of people who can combine the rigour of FTSE 100 companies with the sense of adventure, enterprise and love for what we do that started PossAbilities in the first place.

They are PossAbilities kind of people like:




Professor Donna Hall CBE – Chair

Donna was appointed as Chair of PossAbilities in January 2021. She was formerly Chief Executive of Wigan Council, and is currently Chair of the New Local Government Network and Bolton NHS  Foundation Trust. Donna has been described as a “public service pioneer” by the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham. […]


Rachel Law – Chief Executive

After years of making cuts to Rochdale’s Adult Social Care Services, Rachel decided that there had to be a better way, and began a two year quest to parcel up the Learning Disabilities Service and take it out of local authority control. This process involving winning political support, developing a […]


Marylin Smith FCMA CGMA – Finance Director

Marilyn is a qualified Chartered Accountant with over 15 year’s experience in finance at a senior level. She joined Possabilities in April 2014 on the basis that if she was able to police the police, our money would be safe – her previous role was as an accountant with Greater […]


Colette Crookes – Operations Director

It took some time before Colette decided that a career with vulnerable people was for her. It must have been the right decision she’s worked her way up from front line support worker to Operations Director, doing every job along the way working with people with learning disabilities and challenging […]


Claire Ogden – Staff Director

Claire has worked in health and social care since the mid 1990’s, first with the NHS before moving over to social care. She was one of the original group of staff that transferred from Rochdale Council to PossAbilities as part of our ‘spin-out’ in 2014. In fact, she was part […]


Sheldon Walsh – Non-executive Director

Sheldon is a director of one of the UK’s leading Architectural Practices. He leads a talented team of designers to produce some of the most creative award-winning projects across the health and care landscape. He has a passion for working closely with stakeholder groups that are as diverse, challenging, and […]


Andrew Laird – Non-executive Director

Andrew is a co-founder and Director of Mutual Ventures, a consultancy focused on delivering better and more sustainable public services. He is passionate about supporting public services to be more entrepreneurial and has advised at a senior level across a huge range of public services including, adult and children’s social […]


Angela Smith – Non-executive Director

Angela was formerly the People Director to Virgin plc and Sir Richard Branson. She now runs her own Human Capital Consultancy based in London and Cheshire.


Freya Bleakley – HR Director

Freya has held a number of HR leadership roles within several different industries. After working in housing and education she realised that she loved working for organisations that had a social purpose and with people who were passionate about what they do. She was drawn to PossAbilities due to its […]






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