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Executive Team

Through the Chief Executive, the Executive Leadership Team reports to the Board of Trustees.

Jolanta Lasota profile image

Jolanta Lasota

Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism

Jolanta is Chief Executive of Ambitious about Autism, including the School Trust. She Chairs two sector infrastructure bodies - Autism Education Trust and the Autism Alliance. She is a Trustee of UK Youth. Her career includes Director roles in national voluntary sector organisations, including I CAN and the Governance Hub (a national body set up to support the governance of the third sector).

Paul Breckell Ambitious about Autism

Paul Breckell

Deputy Chief Executive

Paul is the Deputy Chief Executive at Ambitious about Autism. Prior to this, he was the Chief Executive of Action on Hearing Loss from 2012-2018. He is the Honorary Treasurer of NCVO and a past Chair of the Disability Charities Consortium and of Charity Finance Group. He is a passionate advocate for volunteering and social change.

Danae Leaman-Hill

Danae Leaman-Hill

Director of External Affairs and Development

Danae works at Ambitious about Autism, where she oversees the charity’s national services, external affairs and fundraising. She is also a Trustee of ELHAP and a board member of GAIN (Group for Autism, Insurance and Neurodiversity).

Her career includes roles at Childline, NSPCC and Tommy’s, always led by her motivation to enable better life outcomes for children and young people.

Mark Ospedale

Mark Ospedale

Director of People and Culture

Mark is the Director of People and Culture at Ambitious about Autism. Prior to this, Mark has been in the charity and not for profit health and social care sector since 2006 and was the Director of Corporate Services at United Response, Director of HR at Certitude and Deputy Director of HR at Action for Children. Mark also has worked with the NHS and the RAF as well as the private sector. He is passionate about people having opportunities to do well in their life.
 

Michael Michaelides

Michael Michaelides

Director of Property and Information Technology

Michael joined Ambitious about Autism in October 2023 as the Director of Property and Information Technology (IT) and is responsible for Property, IT, Health and Safety and Sustainability for the charity. He is an experienced education professional and has spent the last 21 years working in the further education sector, mainly for London-based colleges.

Throughout his career, Michael has held a variety of senior leadership roles and has a breadth of experience within resources and front-facing learner services. He is a member of the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management and is also a qualified PRINCE2 project manager. Michael is passionate about learning, inclusivity and helping others to achieve their goals and aspirations. 
 

Louise Honeysett - Director of Finance and Planning

Louise Honeysett

Director of Finance and Planning and Company Secretary

Louise joined Ambitious about Autism in early 2022 and is responsible for the finance, planning and governance functions at the charity. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, having qualified as a chartered accountant with audit firm BDO LLP. She has spent the last 13 years working in the voluntary sector, most recently as Director of Finance and Resources at the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. She is a firm believer in business partnering and empowering colleagues to grow and develop within their roles.

Louise has been an active volunteer throughout her professional life working with children’s charities, disability charities and charities with a focus on supporting refugees and homeless people. Prior to a relocation she was a Trustee at Croydon Mencap. She is currently a Beaver Scout Leader, and is passionate about providing equitable access to scouting for all young people.

Paul Van Walwyk

Paul Van Walwyk

Director of Education

Paul is the Director of Education for Ambitious about Autism, supporting the work of our schools and colleges. Prior to joining the organisation in 2024, Paul was Director of Education for a Multi Academy Trust of special schools and has also been Head of a Residential Special School, achieving Outstanding OFSTED ratings for both education and care. Throughout his career, Paul has worked within a variety of SEND settings in education and care, and before retraining as teacher, was a senior social worker for children and families. Paul completed his Doctorate in Education through the University of Reading and is also a Trustee of The Elliot Foundation Academy Trust.