Rachel Johnston

Rachel Johnston

Board Member

Rachel joined Family Routes as a Board member in December 2022 bringing knowledge and skills developed throughout her varied career. Rachel is qualified to Masters level, holding a Post Graduate Diploma in Systemic Practice and Family Therapy from Queen’s University. She is an accredited member of the British Association Counselling and Psychotherapy and is Vice Chair of its Healthcare Executive.

Rachel is the principal Director of a social enterprise which provides psychotherapy to GP
patients as well as mentoring and supervision to counsellors who work in the healthcare setting, in various community organisations and private practice. Prior to her counselling career, Rachel was an Area Manager in the Finance Sector for 25 years where she developed skills in leadership, communication, strategic management and people
development.

Rachel has recently retired from her 20 year role as a foster carer where she provided a safe home setting for children in the care system. She therefore has first-hand awareness of the struggles of children who have experienced major traumas as a result of neglect and abuse. This role involved the importance of fostering good relationships with birth families and adoptive parents.

Rachel is fully aligned to the mission, vision and values of Family Routes which upholds all
families, whatever their make up and route into the organisation, to ensure their voices are heard, to know their value, and to be well supported by quality services which will serve to enhance their family experience.

Gillian Williamson

Gillian Williamson

Board Member

After studying in Queens University I qualified as a doctor way back in 1982. I became a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in 1986 and I loved my job.

Once my own children were born I sidestepped in to fertility medicine and worked first in the Regional Fertility Centre and latterly in Belfast Fertility and in Glasgow Centre for Reproductive Medicine.

During my time working in fertility medicine I came to appreciate the immense value of counselling services provided by the team at Family Routes and when, after retiring from practice in 2022 I was asked to join the board, I felt honoured. I hope that I will be able to bring to the table the perspective of the couple on their fertility journey.

Lynda Wilson CBE

Lynda Wilson CBE

Chief Executive

Lynda began her career as a social worker in 1971 with the Country Antrim Welfare in the Family & Child Care Team based in Lisburn.

In 1986, having been a Senior Social Work Team Leader in both Lisburn and South Belfast, she moved to Barnardo’s NI as a Project Leader to establish Northern Ireland’s first professional foster care service for ‘hard to place’ young people.

In 1987 she became Director of Barnardo’s Northern Ireland, a position she held until 2019.

Key milestones included becoming a founding member of Focus on Children, a member of the Washington Peace for Children delegation and addressing the Forum for Peace and Reconciliation in 1996.

In 1997 Lynda was nominated as the Chair of the Victims Education Bursary by the Northern Ireland Office.

Lynda also acquired £7million inward investment for Barnardo’s NI from Atlantic Philanthropies to adapt, license and implement a number of evidence-based programmes to scale in the UK.

In 2006, Lynda was awarded the CBE for services to families and children in Northern Ireland.

Memberships have included the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland, the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership, the Atlantic Grantee Network (All Ireland) and various inter-departmental groupings.

Interests? Nothing too adventurous, travel, reading, cooking and eating.

Favourite TV show? This Is Us – of course about adoption and family history.

Barbara Williams

Barbara Williams

Adoption Service Manager

Qualifications:   BA; Diploma in Social Studies; CQSW.

Experience:   40+ years experience in adoption.  I enjoy working with people and making families.

What do you like to do in your free time?  Walking – often with my dogs, gardening.

All time favourite TV show? Grace and Frankie.

Patricia Gilbert

Patricia Gilbert

Senior Social Work Practitioner / Counsellor 

Qualifications:  BSSc (QUB) Dip. Social Work (Edinburgh) 
Diploma HE in Counselling from the University of Ulster
AMBACP; AMBICA;
Member of the Irish Fertility Counsellors Association.

Experience:  I was employed as a Social Worker initially in a hospital setting and later in a Family and Child Care Team. On joining Family Routes I spent a number of years concentrating on Adoption and Post Adoption work.

Continuing in Family Routes I am now the lead for our Fertility Counselling Service and also Next Step.

More recently I have joined as a member of Family Routes Adoption Panel.  

What do you like to do in your free time?  I re-upholster old chairs, and thoroughly enjoy going for a walk while catching up on Podcasts.

All time favourite TV series? ER and The West Wing.

Alison Ruddell

Alison Ruddell

Counsellor

Qualifications: BA Business Studies, Fd Integrative Counselling, DcHyp, Certified CBT practitioner. RGN (retired).

How long have you been working as a counsellor? Since 2012.

What do you enjoy about your job?  You meet some really lovely people.

What do you like to do in your free time? Walk my dogs.

Favourite all-time TV show? Fraiser

Marie Walker

Marie Walker

Senior Administrator

Experience:  I have worked for Family Routes (formerly Church of Ireland BSR) since January 1996 providing administrative support to all of the services.

What do you like to do in your free time? I enjoy walking, listening to music, reading a good book.

All time favourite TV show?  Spooks

Lesley Thompson

Lesley Thompson

TESSA Administrator

Experience:  I have been working at TESSA since 2020. 

What do you like to do in your free time?  Going on holiday. 

All time favourite TV show?   Seal Team & SWAT.