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CFAB Staff
CFAB is staffed by professionally qualified social workers with a wide experience in the UK and overseas, and knowledge of the relevant UK and international legislations and Conventions. You can read our staff handbook here.
Andy Elvin, Chief Executive
Andy Elvin joined CFAB as Chief Executive on 6th July 2009. He was previously been the project manager for Surestart Children’s Centres at the London Borough of Richmond.
Andy’s first degree was in Media and Cultural Studies. He later travelled to the USA where he worked as a childcare worker and foster parent in Portland, Maine for two years at a NGO for children with profound emotional and behavioural issues. He then returned to the UK and took a Masters Degree in Social Work before working as a children and families social worker at a family assessment centre and in two London Boroughs.
From 2001 - 2006 Andy was the Director of the Soho Family Centre, a Charity that offers a full range of childcare, early education, family support and community projects to the diverse community of Soho.
At CFAB Andy has been involved with the process of ending child detention in the immigration process and is working with the Government on international social work issues including private fostering, child trafficking and FGM. Andy is also on the panel of experts for the Permanent Bureau of the International Hague Convention in relation to the 1996 Hague Convention.
Marek Ganther, Assistant Manager
Marek graduated from the LSE in 1973 with a degree in Social Administration, and has been a Qualified Social Worker for more than 30 years. He has been at CFAB for nearly 10 years and is responsible for the Family Reunion and Travel Assistance Projects.
Meena Enawalla , Operations Manager
Meena is a registered Social Worker who graduated from the Staffordshire and Nottingham Universities in Sociology and Social Work respectively. Meena has over 13 years post qualifying experience specialising in child protection and project development. In late 2009, Meena was appointed as the Operations Manager for the registered charity Children and Families across Borders (CFAB). Meena is responsible for managing the team of inter-country social workers, conducting specialist research and developing services. Her recent work at CFAB contributed to making the government’s pledge to end child detention for immigration purposes, a reality. Before joining the Charity, Meena worked as a Consultant to private fostering agencies and was a member of a local authority fostering panel. For the 2 years prior to that Meena was the Group Manager of the innovative consultant led social work units based at the Homerton University Hospital. Here, her work specialised in child protection and working with families affected by perinatal mental health and drug issues. Meena also worked for Action for Children where she set up a successful parenting project in a deprived inner London borough. Meena was also instrumental in developing a fostering service for adolescents requiring specialised foster carers. In her new role at CFAB, Meena’s interest rests in raising awareness on international social work issues, promoting good practice, and working towards better outcomes for children in the U.K. affected by separation and requiring international social work interventions.
Hannah Moran, Campaign Appeal Director
Having completed an MA in Archaeological Research at the University of Nottingham, Hannah began a 5-year career as a conference director and strategic project manager in both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors. She joined CFAB in September 2010 as Campaign Appeal Director, leading the development and implementation of a new fundraising appeal to cover the expansion of CFAB's services. This appeal will mean our unique services will be available to more children, families and vulnerable adults.
Hannah has done a lot of travelling, whilst at university and since. Her most memorable trip was the time spent in South Africa, where she worked as a volunteer in a residential drug rehabilitation centre for 13-17 year olds. This experience reinforced her concern for the protection of vulnerable children, which led to some volunteer fundraising for The Children's Society. She is delighted to be part of CFAB, helping to make a positive difference to the lives of children and vulnerable adults across the globe.
Stuart Barker , Assistant Manager
Stuart graduated with a degree in Politics and History at Bradford University. After this he worked in a number of positions within social care including youth work, children in care and adults with learning disabilities. Stuart completed a Masters in Social Work in 2000 and worked in the field of Youth Justice Social Work across London. This included setting up and developing an innovative and high profile programme for persistent and high-risk offenders and the co-ordination of a Restorative Justice Programme. Following a period of travel in Asia and Australia, that included working within a drug and alcohol withdrawal unit, Stuart returned to the UK and took on a position within a specialist recruitment agency which involved training social workers in court report writing.
Prior to joining CFAB he worked as a Children and Families Social Worker for over three years specialising in Children Looked After and Leaving Care and Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children. For the past two years Stuart has been training as a counsellor and hopes to gain a Diploma in Counselling in June 2010.
Stefanie Ahlemann, Intercountry Social Worker
Stefanie joined CFAB in December 2009. After graduating from University Stefanie worked in a Safeguarding Team as well as in a Children Looked After Team in Germany before moving to the UK in April 2007. During her studies Stefanie specialised in working with young people in the care system and focusing on fostering and adoption work. Prior to joining CFAB Stefanie worked for the London Borough of Richmond in the Children Looked After Team.
Shaziah Wasiuzzaman, Intercountry Social Worker
Shaziah graduated with a degree in Social Work and Information and Communications Management from the National University of Singapore in 2003. Following this, she worked as a social worker in Singapore for 4 years dealing mainly with issues relating to children and young people. Shaziah moved to London 3 years ago where she completed her Masters in Development Studies in 2008 and continued her work with children and young people in different capacities, most recently conducting a review on youth homelessness and supported housing for one of the local boroughs in London.
Chris Platt, Office Manager
Chris has been with the Charity for 18 years but his association goes back 28 years as a volunteer with the Spring Fair. He is responsible for the administrative function with the support of his vital team of Mark and Christina.
Mark Hunt, Finance and Statistical Officer
Mark has worked at CFAB for 13 years, beginning in 1995 as an Admin Assistant. Mark thoroughly enjoys his work with the Admin team and assisting the Social Work and Fundraising teams as well as giving support to the Director, Chairman and Trustees. Before he came to CFAB Mark worked in the Medical Records Department of Orpington Hospital and as an electrician, as well as obtaining a Business Admin NVQ.
Christina Turner, PA to the CEO
Christina joined CFAB in August 2009 after gaining valuable experience of working in the sector through two previous internships at a research consultancy for not for profit organisations and a professional body for chairty communicators. Christina provides full support to the CEO as well as assisting in Fundraising and Event planning tasks for the charity. Christina lived in Brazil and Spain before settling in London.