Ray Brown, General Manager

After gaining his primary degree in history and politics, Ray worked in the marketing division of a multi-national, financial services organisation. A spell as a management trainer followed, before he became Regional Manager for a national retailer. A further three years was spent as Operational Director for a locally based marketing services group, before Ray took up his present role with Staffcare.

Ray completed his Masters in Business Administration in 2004 and is entering his third year at Robert Gordon University, where he is researching therapy evaluation tools as part of his PhD.

Ray is an accredited trainer with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation and holds membership of EAPA Ireland, IACP and the Emergency Planning Society.

The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, recently commissioned Ray and his colleague Linda Skeats, to write a Critical Incident Stress Management Guide for Fire and Rescue Service personnel.

Linda Skeats, Professional Services Manager

Linda Skeats has many years experience within the community and voluntary sector. After graduating, she became involved in community development, facilitated cross community dialogue, worked with groups who had been directly affected by the Troubles, women’s groups and managed several community education programmes.

After retraining in Gestalt psychotherapy she managed a therapeutic family centre and attached projects. Linda then directed a Sure Start project, before taking up the post as Manager of the Counselling Services within Staffcare.

Linda is an accredited trainer with the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.

Emma Johnston, Business Administration and Finance Manager

Emma graduated from Queens University in June 2004 after completing a BSc Honours in Management. She joined the South and East Belfast HSC Trust as a Payroll Officer and was subsequently promoted to Payroll Supervisor at the Belfast City Hospital, where she completed the Health Service Management Training Scheme.

Emma joined Staffcare in 2007 and has since modernised and streamlined the administrative functions and introduced computerised records management and finance systems. In addition to these technological advances, Emma is aiming to further improve her team’s effectiveness through improved communication techniques and by networking and strengthening customer relationships.