This page contains a photo, a short biography and an email contact link for each of our 16 staff members.
Director
Ben took up post in January 2009 and comes to his role with extensive experience of management in the National Health Service, Local Authority and Independent Voluntary sectors. He is also clinically trained in occupational therapy, psychology and psychotherapy.
Deputy Director & Head of Service Delivery
Andrew has been at the ACE Centre since its inception in 1984. A teacher by profession, he has worked in mainstream and special needs education for more than forty years. As Deputy Director and Head of the Service Delivery Team, his responsibility is to ensure that the centre's assessment and training services remain in the vanguard of assistive technology and augmentative & alternative communication.
Technical Adviser
David Colven is another staff member who has worked with us since 1984. He was trained as a scientist and after gaining his PhD from Imperial College, London, he became a teacher of physics, maths, electronics and computer studies. David's main responsibility is the day-to-day support of the Centre’s technology, but he is also an intregral part of the R&D team, and is particularly involved in development of software.
Head of Finance and Administration
Andrew Barrett joined the ACE Centre in October 1997 and has been responsible for implementing new accounting systems and streamlining all our financial procedures. Andrew also controls the day-to-day sales of software and publications.
Speech & Language Therapist
Rachel began here ten years ago as a locum speech and language therapist, and is now a full-time member of staff. She is an integral member of the assessment team.
Training Coordinator, Speech & Language Therapist
Katharine joined the ACE Centre in March 2003 after two and a half years as a SLT at the Frenchay Communication Centre in Bristol. She is the head of the training team, is a member of the assessment team, and has often been involved in research projects.
Occupational Therapist
Jackie is another ex-member of staff who returned to the Centre after an absence of several years. In the intervening period she has worked in the US, and has joined us from the Vale of Aylesbury Healthcare Trust.
Occupational Therapist

Will joined us in January 2009 following research into the use of movement to control computer games for children with neuromotor dysfunction. He previously worked as a web applications developer before retraining as an Occupational Therapist.
Service Level Agreement Manager
Ian is a teacher with experience of working in mainstream and special schools. He worked for 13 years as an Advisor for ICT and Special Needs, and joined us to coordinate our part in the Communication Aids Project (CAP). Since the end of CAP he has worked on other projects including the pilot phase of the Home Access Programme.
Head of Fundraising
Lena, who joined ACE in September 2008, is an Associate Member of the Institute of Fundraisers working towards her IoF Fundraising Certificate. Her three year plan is to raise the Centre’s profile both locally and nationally, to implement a volunteering programme and to develop new funding streams to ensure future financial stability.
Administrator
Joanne is your contact for all general and assessment enquiries. She joined the Centre in 2004 with extensive administration credentials to her name.
AAC and IT Technician
Simon joined the ACE Centre in 2001 and is the ACE Centre’s lifeline to fully functional AAC/ICT equipment and software as well as supporting the ICT network infrastructure. He is also involved with providing technical support for the Centre’s training, assessments and project work. In addition he works part of the week supporting SEN and ICT equipment within schools around Oxfordshire.
Head of Communication and Marketing
Mark returned to the ACE Centre after four years away as a designer at a psychometric test publishing company. He will be pushing forward the ACE Centre's information dissemination strategy and is the editor of our website.
giving the gift of communication