Executives & Directors

Maggie Gordon-Walker

Creative Executive

Maggie founded Mothers Uncovered in 2008 as a project for Livestock, the charity she co-founded, as a place for mothers to feel less isolated and create a community. She is an arts professional, social activist, campaigner for mothers’ rights and advocate for matrescence. Through her advocacy work, she has received several awards; including Women’s Champion for Social Enterprise UK, Big Issue Changemaker 2024, WISE Women 100, and Expert Citizens for Leadership. She spent many years as an actor in London and also writes articles and fiction. See http://www.maggiegordon-walker.com for more info.

She likes all things foodie, playing tennis (with enthusiasm outstripping ability), quipping with her two sons, pestering the disdainful cat, swimming in above tepid water, walking in beautiful countryside, dancing like there’s no tomorrow and travel.

Aradhana Kothari

Managing Executive

Aradhana brings over 15 years’ experience working with young people, communities, and organisations across the voluntary, public, and consultancy sectors. She first joined Livestock as a trustee before stepping into an executive role in 2018.                                                                                                                                                  With an MBA, Chartered Manager (CMgr) status, and a background as a qualified youth worker, Aradhana specialises in leadership development, organisational growth, and supporting teams to create meaningful, people-centred change. Her work spans training, facilitation, strategy development, and consultancy, with a strong focus on equity, inclusion, and reflective practice.

 Outside of work, she’s an avid traveller who loves discovering new cultures, meeting people, and getting lost in a really good book—always up for the next adventure.

Liz McDonnell

Compassionate and critical thinker Liz is currently a lecturer, researcher, and chair of the Ethics Committee at the University of Sussex. Liz can be found enjoying the hustle and bustle of noisy cities, soaking up all of the history or in tranquil places enjoying frozen lakes and peachy sunsets.

Liz enjoys having time to think, dancing, live music, yoga, seeing her kids joyful, eating with friends and her crazy dog appearing again after running off for a long time whilst walking among ancient woodland trees where her dog can sniff and explore. Liz’s ideal current dinner guest would be Bell Hooks.

Marcus Markou

Patron

Marcus studied History and Politics at the University of Birmingham before completing an MA in Legal and Political Theory at UCL. He was briefly an inflight magazine editor before going to LAMDA to train as an actor.

In the late 90s, he started Dynamis – a B2B internet publishing group which includes www.BusinessesForSale.com – the world’s largest website for buying and selling small businesses. He has written plays and made films, including Papadopoulos & Sons with Stephen Dillane, which he wrote, directed, produced and self distributed to acclaim in 2013 – selling the film to Netflix, ARTE and the BBC.

Christina Lewis, Chair

Christina is a mother to two daughters whom she refers to as ‘her biggest lesson.’ She has over 15 years of experience working within the International People & Culture space within the not for profit sector with a focus on Global Leadership, designing and implementing inclusive global operating models, diversity and inclusion and building high performing teams.

Christina is also a volunteer stylist for Smartworks (helping women getting back into employment) , an Aspire mentor, a podcast writer and producer as well as an advocate for feminist and inclusive leadership. You can also find her glued to reality TV at any given moment or scrolling cats on Instagram.

Claire Foss

Claire joined Livestock as a trustee in 2021. With a degree in illustration and an MSc in social work she is a wild mix of creative and health and safety obsessed! Claire went on to work as a social worker, working with young people with learning disabilities and their families and now works an Independent Mental Capacity Advocate supporting people to ensure their voices are heard and rights respected.

A mother to two gorgeous kiddos, Claire loves nothing more than hanging out with them, ideally outside in the sunshine, but also just on the sofa watching Frozen for the billionth time!

Fiona Haynes

Fiona had her first daughter in 2023, which initiated a series of unexpected experiences – love so deep it hurts, emergence of unforeseen vulnerabilities, a brief sojourn into existential thought, and most unexpectedly…. An untold joy in bird watching.

With a background as a Speech and Language Therapist, speciating in mental health, Fiona has spent her professional career consistently focused on addressing health inequalities for marginalised groups.

Her personal experience of motherhood has deepened her understanding of both its immense joys and inherent challenges, solidifying her belief in the power of community support, which makes her a passionate advocate for the work of Mothers Uncovered.

Liv Carr

A People and Operations Director for a specialist charity recruitment company, Liv has over 15 years’ experience working in service development, HR and operations roles within the private, charity and not-for-profit sector, including 9 years working at Mind. Liv is passionate about supporting charities, with a particular interest in mental health, women’s empowerment and young people’s charities.

Liv spent several years both living and travelling overseas before moving back to the UK and is always happy to chat about her favourite places she has been lucky enough to visit and explore. Outside of work, she is a keen runner and can be found running in the South Downs or along the Brighton and Hove seafront, watching the latest Nordic Noirs, working her way through a jigsaw or building Lego creations with her young son.

Jess Stephens

Jess Stephens joined the board of trustees at Mothers Uncovered in 2025, bringing her marketing experience to the team.  Based in Brighton, UK, Jess has founded and scaled multiple startups. Her expertise lies in driving international growth for purpose-led brands.

Recognised for her entrepreneurial achievements, Jess was named one of Management Today’s ’35 Women Under 35′ in 2017. Passionate about mentorship, Jess supports early-stage founders and frequently shares her insights on marketing, product strategy, and leadership at industry events. She lives in Brighton with her partner, her toddler, and two cats.

Facilitators

Maggie Gordon-Walker

Maggie is the founder and director of Mothers Uncovered. She has two boys. She advocates for ‘matrescence’ (the process of becoming a mother) and spends her time devising more projects but occasionally facilitates. She also performs and writes; you can see more about her other life on her website.

Heidi Brydon

Heidi has three daughters. She attended the first Mothers Uncovered group as she was having a tough time transitioning ‘from me to mum’ in 2008. She enjoys cooking, arts and crafts and is a volunteer for St John’s Ambulance.

Katherine Heritage

Katherine is an Art Psychotherapist and mum of a boy and girl. Katherine enjoys hearing people’s stories and learning about peoples lives. She loves the solidarity she has found being a parent.

Lucy Budge

Lucy is a solo mother by choice to her two daughters. She is a qualified counsellor with a professional background in the women’s sector. Lucy now works in the parenting space and is a trained matrescence and maternal trauma coach and facilitator, having developed a real interest in the ‘identity shock’ of motherhood, and the need for the ‘village’.

Lucy is a lapsed hobbyist stand-up comedian, who still enjoys attending gigs; is a member of her local ‘Singing Mamas’ group, and lives for being outside with her children on sunny days!

Caren Fisher

Caren has three daughters. She attended Mothers Uncovered in 2010 when the first was young, then returned five years later. She now lives in Worthing.

Alana Avery

Alana has a daughter and enjoys camping with her family. She’s a peer group facilitator and certified coach, with a background in communications, project management and supporting charities with operations. She’s experienced how groups can gain strength and support by coming together and connecting through creativity, chat and activism. She’s appreciated being with other mothers sharing a giggle and finding common ground.

Caz Wriglesworth

Caz has 2 girls. Her background is in youth and community work and she has been working in the field of children’s rights for the last 10 years. She really likes being outside and loves the beach. She loves to swim, preferably in the sea!

Carmen Brady

Carmen has one young daughter. She attended the Three Gen inter-generational support group in 2023 and is now facilitating the Younger Mothers project.

Ruby Jenkins

Ruby has two young daughters. Her professional background is in public service design, delivery and communication. She has deep respect for motherhood and knows the power of mothers coming together to share their experiences.

Felicity Erin-Robinson

Felicity has five sons. She feels passionately about the work women do as mothers being valued. She has seen the strength and creativity that comes from giving mothers a space to talk and be heard.

Jenny Milarski-Stermsek

Jenny has one son and is an artist. She is passionate about mother’s mental wellbeing after struggling with her own, and enjoys the positive effects sharing your lived experiences can have.

Karen Raingold

Karen is a mother to a boy and girl. She is an Art Psychotherapist working with children and families. Through her own mothering journey she is aware of the challenges, highs and lows, identity struggles and intense juggling involved. She is passionate about supporting other mothers and creating spaces where mothers can come together, share and be creative. She is an artist, dog lover and enjoys walking in the countryside and swimming in the sea.

Kirsty Nolan

Kirsty has one son. She attended the 3-gen younger mothers project in 2023 and found it valuable to be in a space where others were going through similar experiences and could be open and honest. She loves being outdoors, trying new creative activities, and is passionate about mother’s mental health. Kirsty is now working on the Younger Mothers Project.

Sarah Sesto

Saz is a mum to three children. She is a pastry chef by trade and has a keen interest in mental health, particularly for children and parents. She has been a volunteer for the Samaritans and first discovered Mothers Uncovered when she was struggling with her eldest.

Ione Milner-Gulland

Ione has two children. She is currently studying Art History at UoS, and finds making art and writing to be an invaluable outlet to cope with the pressures of motherhood, and for staying connected to and integrating other aspects of herself into her identity as a mother. She has been attending Mothers Uncovered groups since 2014, and is currently working with the Younger Mothers Project. Her other interests include cooking, music and nature.

Caroline Hambly

Caroline first came to Mothers Uncovered after becoming a new mum, looking for space to talk about her birth experience and connect with other women. She experienced firsthand how valuable that support can be and is now passionate about offering the same to others. Caroline is training to be a counsellor, with a particular interest in supporting women through early motherhood. She loves good food, being by the sea, and spending time with family and friends.