People
The staff team at Unitarian HQ support the vitality of our wider movement.
Liz Slade
Simon Bland
Liz Slade (Chief Officer)
Our Chief Officer, Liz Slade, works with the Executive Committee and leads the staff team. She joined us in March 2019 after a senior career in the healthcare industry. Originally from Dorset, Liz joined our New Unity congregation in north London, starting her on a spiritual journey which led her through leadership in the Sunday Assembly movement to leading pilgrimages treating works of literature as sacred texts, before becoming our Chief Officer. She is excited by the role that Unitarians can play in bringing a cultural shift to make it easy for everyone to participate in a spiritually healthy community, and sees this as a necessary part of creating a society that is more equal and in balance with the natural world. Contact Liz.
Simon Bland (Ministry & Congregational Support Officer)
Simon works with congregations, ministers and lay leaders on all matters of operation and governance. He also provides the administrative support to the Ministry Strategy and Interview Panel. Based in Lincolnshire and with a history of community development and voluntary sector involvement, Simon enjoys the countryside, travel and change. Contact Simon.
Anne Danks
Gavin Howell
Anne Danks (Operations Director)
Anne joined us from Christian Aid, where she spent nine years in senior leadership roles. She also held senior roles at Trussell and has spent the majority of her career at charities working for social and economic justice. Anne, who is based in Coventry and grew up in Scotland, leads the operational side of the General Assembly’s work: governance, systems, property, and helping to manage the everyday infrastructure that congregations, districts and staff rely on. Contact Anne.
Gavin Howell (Safeguarding Lead and Youth Coordinator)
Put simply, Gav makes space which meets need. He works in collaboration with groups to cocreate safe and enabling spaces for all. With the support of volunteers, he coordinates several youth and family initiatives on behalf of The General Assembly. His background is in education with Nurture being his specialism. Originally from Co. Down, he now lives in Norwich and is a member of The Octagon Chapel. He values play, spontaneity, and occasional bouts of rascality. Contact Gavin.
Lizzie Kingston Harrison
Audrey Longhurst
Lizzie Kingston-Harrison (Congregational Connections Lead)
Lizzie loves building authentic and meaningful connections with people and creating spaces where ideas can be shared freely and creatively. She cares deeply about Unitarian principles and left her career in teaching to contribute to this loving and vibrant community. Her role is to find new ways to connect our congregations so that we can share resources, serve our communities, and inspire each other. Lizzie grew up in Norwich and now lives in Suffolk with her husband and daughters. The beautiful coastal countryside and the grounded and welcoming community at Framlingham Unitarian Meeting house have helped her to find a spiritual home. Contact Lizzie.
Audrey Longhurst (Administrator)
Audrey is the voice you will hear if you call the Essex Hall switchboard and deals with general enquiries. Book sales fall under her remit, together with a variety of administrative tasks and liaises closely with the Accounts team. Audrey worked for many years in Human Resources before joining the GA. She loves living in Central London and is based at Essex Hall and so enjoys walking home along the South Bank of the River Thames during the balmy spring and summer evenings. Contact Audrey.
Ann Howell
Nick Butler-Watts
Ann Howell (Social Action Officer)
Ann has been galvanising our social action work since October 2022. Working with the Social Justice Network she aims to highlight the important issues that concern Unitarians around the country and support congregations and groups in their efforts to address them. Her People So Bold podcast is a platform for showcasing Unitarians and friends who are living their values in an inspiring way. She lives in SouthEast London with her husband and is active with the Lewisham congregation. Contact Ann.
Nick Butler-Watts (Innovation Fund Manager)
Nick leads the Innovation Fund, supporting bold and experimental projects that help Unitarian communities grow, evolve, and reach new people. With a background in philanthropy, grant-making, and fundraising, he brings experience in supporting organisations to create positive change. Nick has been involved with several different Quaker communities in different roles, and is also a trustee of the Sir James Reckitt Charity, supporting Quaker projects and good causes in Hull/East Yorkshire. Nick is passionate about helping people turn great ideas into reality and fostering innovation within faith communities. Contact Nick.