Our board
Deborah Russo - Chair
Deborah is a Solicitor in England & Wales with over 14 years’ experience in the human rights, public law and prison law fields. She is currently undertaking the MSc Criminology & Criminal Justice at the University of Edinburgh.
Prior to her move to Edinburgh, Deborah was co-Director of the Prisoners’ Advice Service (PAS) in London, a position she held for five years. She was previously the lead solicitor in women prisoners’ casework at PAS for nine years, identifying strategic issues with a disproportionate impact on women prisoners. She continues to be involved with PAS as a Consultant. Deborah is also the founder of the Women Prisoners’ Justice Group in England, which she continues to lead, and a member of the Women for Justice Group in Scotland.
Laura James
Laura James currently works at the Improvement Service and leads work to support councils and their partners embed a trauma-informed approach across policy and practice. In previous roles, she has worked in the violence against women sector, including coordinating a network of Cedar projects that support children who have experienced domestic abuse.
Before this, Laura completed a PhD in literature and women’s studies in the US and she has volunteered for a number of organisations. Laura is particularly interested in prevention and early intervention work to end violence against women and is delighted to contribute to Zero Tolerance’s work.
Margaret Hughes
Jodie McVicar
Jodie's worked in the women's sector for almost two decades, in frontline, policy, and training spheres. She served as a Trustee with Fife Women's Aid for 3 years and now works for Scottish Women's Aid.
Jodie is passionate and committed to eradicating men's violence against women and girls in its many forms and wants to support the Zero Tolerance team in whatever way is most helpful.
Hope Robertson
Hope runs a leadership development, coaching and culture consultancy, supporting leaders to develop emotionally-intelligent cultures withing their teams, and achieve trust and engagement, to drive success through the human connection.
Hope is passionate about women's rights and feminism, which form part of the underpinning framework of her leadership training programme. Hope has over 12 years experience in learning and organisational development and informal and community learning leadership, supporting organisations to achieve strategic aims through learning, engagement, professional development and operational implementation. Hope has worked across social care, youth work, homelessness, community development and healthcare sectors.
Hope has an MAHons in literature, a PgDip in Community Education, and is working towards a coaching diploma and CIPD Chartered Membership.
Mollie McGoran
Jen Nel
