Introducing our Steering Group

Our Steering Group is made up of inspirational women from across all three Services who champion and support the small FVTP team.

Ali Brown:

Ali Brown served for 27 years in the Army where she served in a variety of appointments with deployments to Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bosnia, Croatia and Kosovo. Ali is Chair of the COBSEO Female Veterans Cluster, a Trustee of Fighting With Pride (LGBT+ Veterans charity), the Army Central Fund (ACF) which supports the serving community, the Adjutant General’s Corps Museum Trust and retains an advisory role within the WRAC Association.

Nicky Murdoch:

Nicky Murdoch completed 30 years in the Army and left to become CEO of a Defence Charity which included being on the Cobseo Executive.  For the last 8 years she has been the Independent Chair of the Patient and Public Voice Group for NHS England’s Armed Forces Healthcare Commissioning Team.  She spent 3 years on the Government’s Veterans Advisory Board and was on the Advisory Board for the Independent Review of the LGBT Veterans.

Paula Rogers:

Paula began her career as a BBC Radio presenter and producer – 15 years which included two years at the helm of Children In Need.  Moving to HM Prison Service, Paula took up the role of Head of Prison Radio, managing the technical roll-out and devising the schedule and content of the new National Prison Radio Service. The radio station is now a much respected and multi award-winning tool in the education and rehabilitation of offenders.

As the daughter of a retired RAF Group Captain she began consulting for RAF charities and the RAF Museum, going on to work with the Royal Military School of Music at Kneller Hall, and with Help For Heroes at Catterick Garrison with which she published a children’s storybook aimed at supporting the children of injured Service personnel.  Prior to Covid-19 she was part of a charity which took D-Day veterans back to Normandy each June.

Paula has served as a Trustee on the Board of two national charities and currently Chairs a local charity supporting older people with multiple needs.  She is looking forward to working with the Vice President and Board of Trustees on the Association’s strategic direction.

Ellie Ablett:

With over 28 years as a Royal Navy Logistics Officer achieving promotion to Commodore, Ellie retired from the Navy in February 2022.  She is an Executive Coach, a Public Speaker and an Adventure Activities Leader and Instructor, using her wide-ranging leadership experience to enhance the quality of life and workplace performance of individuals and teams. She joined the Royal Navy in 1993 in the first wave of women to serve on the same terms as men following the integration of the Women’s Royal Naval Service. Highlights of her naval career include extensive service at sea and on joint operations, serving as Executive Assistant to the First Sea Lord and 2 years in Command of the Navy’s main training base, HMS RALEIGH - the first woman to do so. Ellie is also dedicated to promoting inclusive leadership and nurturing diversity, founding the Naval Servicewomen’s Network in 2013. She was awarded the MBE in the 2014 New Year’s Honours List and her commitment to supporting other women and Defence’s Diversity and Inclusion agenda was further recognised when she was awarded The Spirit of everywoman.com Award in 2013, WeAreTheCity’s Rising Star Champion Award in 2018 and a Commendation from the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff in 2022. 

Jane Chalmers:

Jane served in the RAF for 22 years, initially as an air traffic control officer and then latterly in a range of command and staff appointments in the UK and USA.  Since leaving the RAF in 2008 she has run her own business providing interim management and consultancy services primarily to the NHS.

Jane is a Non-Executive Director of The Forces Pension Society

 She lives in Hook, Hampshire with her husband and 2 rescue dogs

Amanda Hassell

Colonel Amanda Hassell joined the WRAC in 1989 and then AGC (SPS) in 1992 on disbandment of WRAC. She spent 35 years in the Army (Regular &Reserve). 

She have been a WRAC Trustee for 6 years

She lives in Winchester with husband Michael and Casper, her 3 year old Labrador. 

She is looking forward to working with the FVTP over the next few years.