OUR TEAM

Meet the team standing together for women’s mental health.

Justine Howard WISH

Marissa Conway

Interim Director

Marissa is a transformation strategist and advocate for gender justice, joining WISH as Interim Director in July 2025. She brings over a decade of experience leading complex change at the intersection of human rights, gender equality, responsible technology, and security – aligning strategy, systems, and people to deliver measurable impact and equitable outcomes.

Previously, she served as CEO of the United Nations Association – UK and co-founded and led the Centre for Feminist Foreign Policy. Earlier in her career, she worked at a safe house for survivors of human trafficking in California, an experience that shaped her commitment to trauma-informed, feminist leadership.

Recognised by Forbes 30 Under 30 and Apolitical’s 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy, Marissa also speaks and writes regularly on gender, power, foreign policy, and human rights.

Joyce Kallavik WISH

Joyce Kallevik

Consultant 

Joyce joined WISH as Director in 2004. A key focus of her work over the last 20+ years has been empowering the organisation to become user-led, ensuring that WISH’s services are trauma-informed and responsive to the needs of those it serves. Joyce announced her retirement in July 2025, with Marissa Conway becoming Interim Director – Joyce will continue to support WISH over the summer as a consultant. Passionate about justice, Joyce considers it a privilege to work in the women’s and disability sectors. Drawing from her own personal experience of mental illness, she has a profound understanding of power imbalances within the system, motivating her unwavering drive for change.

Penny Bennet WISH

Penny Bennett

Community Link Manager

Penny joined WISH as a volunteer, drawn to the charity’s user-led approach. With almost two decades of experience in psychiatric units and prisons, she has cultivated meaningful and supportive connections with women both within the system and in the community. Penny remains dedicated to advocating for women’s rights for all women, firmly believing that this will create lasting positive change for all.

Justine Howard WISH

Justine Howard

Advocacy Manager

Justine has worked for WISH for over 20 years. As the manager of a small yet dynamic advocacy team, her expertise extends across High, Medium, and Low secure women’s services. Additionally, she actively works with Young People in low secure settings, PICU, and an acute ward.  Justine firmly believes that the efficacy of advocacy relies on strong partnerships, fostering collaboration and mutual respect. Emphasising the importance of maintaining independence, she encourages all advocates to work collaboratively within this framework.

Kelly Royer WISH

Kelly Royer

Counselling Manager 

Kelly’s journey with WISH began in 2008 when she eagerly joined as a volunteer, deeply drawn to the organisation’s unique and impactful work for women. Throughout her years of service, she has amassed a wealth of experience in the mental health field, solidifying her expertise. As a qualified therapist with over six years of clinical practice, Kelly’s commitment to justice and women’s empowerment drives her commitment to making a lasting positive impact in the lives of those she serves. 

Justine Howard WISH

Lucy Birch

Mental Health Advocate

Lucy joined WISH at the start of 2024. She brings a wealth of experience from her investigative law background, where she served in various capacities. This equips her with a multifaceted perspective that she is eager to leverage in her new role.

Lucy is passionate about ensuring all women and young people are heard, regardless of their circumstances. In particular, she is driven to ensure CAMHS patients are given the necessary time, patience and assurance to help them on their journey to recovery. She feels those significantly vulnerable must be empowered to use their voice, understood and championed for.

Justine Howard WISH

Karen Birbeck

Administration & Finance Officer

Karen joined WISH at the end of April 2025. She has worked for and with a range of charitable, local government and NHS organisations, including in commissioning, contracts, grants, housing, office, and database management. She’s a South London and Maudsley Foundation Trust Governor and she also reviews grant applications for the Maudsley Charity as a Lived Experience Advisory Panel member. She has also been involved in mental health research as Lived Experience Advisor since 2017, currently supporting three Oxford University studies.

Penny Bennet WISH

Jen Richards

Communications & Fundraising Lead

Jen first worked at WISH in 2018/9 as Policy & Communications Officer, and is pleased to be returning to the organisation as Communications & Fundraising Lead. She brings a wealth of experience working in the arts, heritage and charity sectors, producing content for websites, social media and newsletters that helps organisations reach new audiences. She is focused on growing WISH’s online platforms and developing and promoting fundraising initiatives with the wider team.

Design by INK105 // Copyright WISH - All Rights Reserved