Our team
At Sebastian’s Action Trust, we are a small but dedicated team united by one purpose: to give families of life-limited children the space, care and community they need. From the frontline staff at The Bluebells to our patrons, trustees and leaders, every person plays a part in bringing Sebastian’s wish to life.
Family Services
Our Family Services team is often the first welcome families receive.
Based at The Bluebells in North Waltham, they provide practical help, emotional reassurance and restorative family experiences that offer breathing space during the most challenging times. Their role is to listen, support and create moments that truly matter.
Our Trustees
Our Board of Trustees brings deep experience across finance, healthcare, leadership, HR, governance and the charitable sector. They ensure the Trust is well-governed, ethically led and financially secure.
Fiona Wright
Chair of Trustees, Company Director
Fiona Wright
Chair of Trustees, Company Director
Fiona has been a supporter of Sebastian’s Action Trust since 2010, when she introduced the Trust to her company. Fiona greatly admires the work of the charity. She has taken part in many fundraisers over this period. She is very honoured to be joining the Board of Trustees, and hopes her many years of commercial and more lately HR experience will support the ambition of the charity to deliver even more reach and impact.
Vicky Westbrook
FMCG Finance Consultant
Vicky Westbrook
FMCG Finance Consultant
Vicky started her own finance consultancy business in 2017, specialising in strategic business planning and financial analysis, while also studying for an MBA. In her free time she loves food, travelling and spending time with her two young daughters. Vicky is thrilled to be a trustee and looking forward to getting involved in many of the upcoming events.
Vanessa Avlonitis
Non-Executive Director
Vanessa Avlonitis
Non-Executive Director
Vanessa Avlonitis is a registered nurse with a wealth of experience. She has worked in the NHS for many years as a senior nurse and has also worked in differing senior roles in the charitable sector.Her last Trustee position was for Harlington Hospice where she transformed quality governance to comply with regulatory standards.
She currently works on the Board as a Non Executive Director at Solent NHS Trust and has also held Non Executive positions across commissioning and urgent care.
She is passionate about the quality of care service users receive. She has a Masters in Advanced Nursing Leadership.
Vanessa lives in Sandhurst and spends time with her family especially caring for her grandchildren. She enjoys walking the dog, reading and gardening.
She currently works on the Board as a Non Executive Director at Solent NHS Trust and has also held Non Executive positions across commissioning and urgent care.
She is passionate about the quality of care service users receive. She has a Masters in Advanced Nursing Leadership.
Vanessa lives in Sandhurst and spends time with her family especially caring for her grandchildren. She enjoys walking the dog, reading and gardening.
Simon Parsons
Non-Executive Director & Board Advisor
Simon Parsons
Non-Executive Director & Board Advisor
Simon has been a supporter of Sebastian’s Action Trust since 2015, before becoming a trustee in 2025. He greatly admires the work of the Trust and the difference it makes to all the children and families it supports.
Simon brings a wealth of experience from the corporate sector, having held CFO and general management roles in various private equity backed and listed companies, in the healthcare and other sectors.
His hobbies include cycling, rugby and golf, and he is married with 3 children.
Simon brings a wealth of experience from the corporate sector, having held CFO and general management roles in various private equity backed and listed companies, in the healthcare and other sectors.
His hobbies include cycling, rugby and golf, and he is married with 3 children.
Senior Leadership Team
Hazel Bedford
Chief Executive Officer
Hazel Bedford
Chief Executive Officer
Hazel has been the CEO at Sebastian’s Action Trust since May 2023. She said: “I’ve worked in the charity sector for 20 years mostly in fundraising, leading large national, geographically dispersed teams, and most recently, as Income Generation Director at Helen & Douglas House Children’s Hospice in Oxford. It’s a huge privilege to be part of the Sebastian’s Action Trust team. The charity does such important work supporting families living with the most difficult circumstances imaginable and I’m delighted to be part of a great team as we move the charity forward into the next phase of its development.
I live in West Sussex with my husband Zubin and our beautiful flatcoat retriever, Dudley. I am a keen gardener, and I love to read and travel. I have been a magistrate for 21 years, and sit in courts in east and west Sussex.”
I live in West Sussex with my husband Zubin and our beautiful flatcoat retriever, Dudley. I am a keen gardener, and I love to read and travel. I have been a magistrate for 21 years, and sit in courts in east and west Sussex.”
Assunta Soldovieri
Head of Family Services
Assunta Soldovieri
Head of Family Services
Assunta joined the team in February 2022. As Head of Family Services, her role within Sebastian’s Action Trust is strategic leadership and management to support the Family Services team by making sure they are able to provide the bespoke support that is vital to families of seriously-ill children and liaise with external partners.
Assunta has always worked in the charity sector, working in different roles within their operations departments. She says “I love working for SAT. Here, everyone involved really cares: we all know we cannot add days to children’s lives, but we all do our best every day to make sure we make their time as a family a little extra special by helping them to create unique memories.”
Assunta has always worked in the charity sector, working in different roles within their operations departments. She says “I love working for SAT. Here, everyone involved really cares: we all know we cannot add days to children’s lives, but we all do our best every day to make sure we make their time as a family a little extra special by helping them to create unique memories.”
Caroline Hall
Head of Finance
Caroline Hall
Head of Finance
Caroline joined as Finance Manager in May 2022. Most recently she was working within the local authority for a housing provision which was primarily created to assist local families who would otherwise be homeless. Previously to that, she has worked in the commercial world for global sports brands and started out her finance career working for a childcare company. Her business experience of driving profits has given Caroline a wealth of knowledge that she can now use to aid the charity in using every valuable donation to its maximum potential.
Outside of work Caroline is mum to three boys who always keep her on her toes and under a mountain of washing but loves nothing more than family trips with them and her rescue dog. She is also a very proud surrogate after helping two of her best friends become parents in October 2021.
Outside of work Caroline is mum to three boys who always keep her on her toes and under a mountain of washing but loves nothing more than family trips with them and her rescue dog. She is also a very proud surrogate after helping two of her best friends become parents in October 2021.
Jo Sumnall
Head of Fundraising & Engagement
Jo Sumnall
Head of Fundraising & Engagement
Jo joined Sebastian’s Action Trust at the beginning of 2025. She brings over 25 years’ experience of fundraising and marketing in organisations as diverse as Guide Dogs and Travis Perkins. “I’m very excited to be joining the Trust at such a pivotal time”, she says. “I feel honoured to be part of a charity doing such vital work and I look forward to helping grow our income, awareness and reach”.
Jo lives in Winchester with her wife and two cockapoos. When she’s not at work, she enjoys long walks, music and losing herself in a good crime thriller.
Jo lives in Winchester with her wife and two cockapoos. When she’s not at work, she enjoys long walks, music and losing herself in a good crime thriller.