Our Brighter Futures Growth Team

Emma Walker is a passionate advocate for neurodiversity, who supports neurodivergent individuals to explore their strengths, plan for the future, and feel confident in who they are. With a background in IT and HR—and over six years as Regional Director at auticon, an organisation that helps autistic adults thrive in tech careers—Emma brings deep experience in creating inclusive spaces where people can succeed by being themselves. Emma now focuses on person-centred planning and one-to-one coaching, working alongside individuals to identify what matters most to them and take steps toward their own goals—whether that’s education, work, independence, or building confidence. Her warm, supportive approach helps people feel heard, understood, and empowered to move forward in a way that works for them. She also brings years of leadership and mentoring experience, and a strong belief in the power of neurodivergent thinking—not just in the workplace, but in all areas of life. Emma has seen first-hands some of the challenges neurodivergent people can face through supporting her own autistic son through university and into work, where he is thriving. At the heart of Emma’s work is the belief that everyone deserves the chance to shape their own future and she understands how important it is to create plans that are tailored to the individual, not a one-size-fits-all. Emma’s vision is rooted in the belief that the best plans start with listening, trust, and seeing the person first.

Chris has six and a half years’ experience of working with neurodivergent adults in a range of different professional environments as well as over 50 years’ experience of being autistic himself. He is a powerful advocate in the workplace and in life for the contributions that can be made by neurodivergent individuals. He has been a mentor to others supporting them on their journey. He is passionate about helping people achieve their success, by bringing their full and honest selves into the workplace environment. From personal experience, he has an understanding of the challenges and joys that neurodivergence can bring.

With over 30 years of experience in a supporting role, Maureen’s primary area of expertise lies in working with individuals with additional support needs. As a qualified Careers Adviser, she brings a unique combination of career development expertise and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by disabled individuals. Her passion lies in empowering people to access meaningful opportunities that enhance their quality of life. She has had the privilege of working with a range of partner organisations throughout her career, each contributing to her knowledge and reinforcing her commitment to person-centred, inclusive support to offer Person Centred Planning, Job coaching and Careers Advice and Guidance.

An experienced and CIPD-qualified Generalist HR Professional with over 20 years of supporting people and businesses across the leisure and hospitality sector, private healthcare, and cutting-edge engineering environments. Throughout her corporate career, Annie has developed a strong focus on career development—something she now brings into her personalised 1:1 coaching, helping individuals navigate change, build confidence, and achieve their goals. She has a particular passion for supporting neurodivergent individuals, blending her expertise in HR with advanced training in NLP (Master Practitioner level) and neuroscience. As a holistic practitioner, she also incorporates traditional practices like meditation to support overall wellbeing and balance. Whether it’s through coaching, consultancy, or HR support, her approach is person-centred, compassionate, and designed to empower meaningful, lasting change.