Meet the team

CEO

Chair

Michelle Lewis has over 20 years’ experience in holding Director-level and senior management roles in the utility and charity sector. She brings experience of good Board governance, effective partnership working, strong service delivery and impactful communications and engagement to the role.

From Leeds, she is proud to have been invited to become a Trustee at Behind Closed Doors in July 2020. She values the opportunity to play a part in creating an organisation where the team know they are valued and can excel in helping people throughout Leeds whose lives are affected by domestic violence and abuse.

Treasurer

Secretary

Charlie Mynard is the founder and director of a charity recruitment consultancy that supports organisations across Yorkshire and beyond. With a deep commitment to the charity sector, Charlie brings a wealth of experience in recruitment, consultancy, training, charity operations and the Third Sector landscape across Leeds. Charlie joined the board after being profoundly inspired by its life-transforming work. Motivated by a desire to contribute to its mission, she brings her expertise and passion to support the charity’s ongoing success and impact.

Trustee

Trustee

Carl joins the board of Behind Closed Doors as an experienced business leader from the charity and education sector. A diverse professional background that includes time spent serving in the military, working in professional and grassroots sports before moving into the 3rd sector.  Carl adds depth in our safeguarding and training and development structure.

Carl is delighted to join the BCD board having lived experience of growing up in an environment that was impacted by domestic violence and wanting to support such a valuable charity.

Personally Carl is married with 2 young boys and believes its important to manage a positive work life balance, making the most of time with his family.

Trustee

Alison is the founder and director of Mason & Sutter, a sustainability and corporate reputation consultancy based in Leeds. She has 30 years’ experience in corporate communications and sustainability, including six years in the USA, working with charities, public sector organisations and businesses across a wide range of sectors. Alison joined Behind Closed Doors as a Trustee in January 2020. Living in Leeds, and seeing first-hand some of the issues Behind Closed Doors addresses, she wants to contribute to the charity’s vital work supporting people who might otherwise go unheard, bringing her experience of running her own business and working with corporates to help develop the charity’s Governance and business fundraising work.

Trustee

Karen Llewellyn has worked mainly in the education sector in senior positions in schools and universities in teaching, research and strategic change management. More recently she ran her own business in Executive and Business Coaching, specialising in coaching women in education, sport and health and also pro bono work in third sector organisations. Joining the Board of Trustees in January 2024, Karen is highly committed to supporting the values-led vision and mission of Behind Closed Doors and the delivery of its 2023-2026 strategic plan.

Trustee

Guilaine Brutus, MSc, brings over two decades of expertise as a migration consultant specializing in human mobility. Her dedication to identity formation and community empowerment is evident through her leadership of The Knowledge Project, where she manages youth language and arts programs, community cohesion initiatives, and migration support services. Holding a BA (Hons) in International Relations and Global Development, as well as an MSc in Migration, Mobility, and Development from SOAS University of London, Guilaine is equipped with extensive academic qualifications. Additionally, she is a certified Speaker and Counsellor registered with the John Maxwell Group and holds a British Council certification as a UK agent and counsellor.

Trustee