Management Team
Julie Watson, CEO
I joined the organisation in 2001 and have had a variety of roles within WAEML. I am now very proud to be the Chief Executive Officer with overall responsibility for the charity. Prior to joining women’s aid I worked in public sector roles and my academic background is in social sciences and social policy with a particular focus on criminology.
I have a background in people management, leadership, workforce and organisational development and training work.
A lifelong feminist and activist I have a strong commitment to challenge practice and attitudes that are victim blaming and to developing survivor-centred participative ways of working. I have a keen interest in developing innovative partnerships outwith the violence against women sector to ensure approaches are working to eradicate structural inequalities.
I am really passionate about the organisation; our vision and seeing the difference we can make to women, children and young people puts fire in my belly!
Yvonne Irvine, Service Manager
I am currently Service manager covering East Locality. I have worked at WAEML for over 14 years and found my calling.
I started as a Woman’s support worker, i then went on to become substance misuse project worker, I was then promoted to Team Leader East locality then service manager through the pandemic.
People management, Team player, good organisational skills, good communicator, good listener. Defusing conflictual situations, good awareness of emotional intelligence. Multi agency working.
My specialist interest is women who have addiction and are in abusive relationships. I was part of building our service that supported women who had addiction and are or had experience of domestic abuse called Smile. I was and am really proud of the women that I supported and how far they have come in their ‘journey’. I enjoy working with multi-agencies and recognise the importance this has on a women/young person/child to reduce risk.
I enjoy learning and reading.
Jillian Elliott, Service Manager
Service manager – Midlothian – Women’s Aid East and Midlothian
I have worked in the organisation for 14 years.
My first role was refuge Support worker and then progressed to Team lead and now currently the service manager based in the Midlothian locality team.
I have completed a SVQ3 in social care, HNC social care and SVQ4 in management.
My background before joining WAEML was in care and worked many years covering different shifts in nursing homes. I progressed in my role while working in care to senior.
Board of Directors
Anisha Yaseen, Trustee
Anisha completed her studies in social services and founded Thrive which is a charity offering safe, empowering spaces for children, young people, and families. Whilst Anisha’s professional background has primarily been working with children, the past five years have also seen her supporting adults through complex challenges.
Anisha champions equality, especially for ethnic minority communities, women and children, and she is committed to building a world where misogyny and GBV are no more!
Janet Biggar, Trustee
- BSc (2:1 Honours) Bacteriology
- MBA
- PG Dip Social Research Methods
- HNU Editing and Proofreading
- PDA Children’s Hearings Scotland
- Member of the Children’s Panel in Scotland
- YunoJuno 2022 Research Freelancer Award finalist
Sarah Morton, Chairwoman
I have been involved in feminist work including
- Working with Edinburgh Council to establish the 16 days campaign in 1997
- A project on feminist governance: https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/8770
- A project on older women and domestic abuse https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/2776
I also have experience of:
- Evaluation from working with many teams in different settings.
- Running an organisation from setting up a business and directing a research centre
- Development work, from being the first or only worker for many organisations and initiatives.
Elaine Alsop, Treasurer
I run my own company offering preparation and examination of charity accounts, as well as advice, support, and training on all aspects of charity financial management and governance. And I work part time as a finance manager at Can Do, an East Lothian charity offering fun and friendship for children with additional needs.
I bring knowledge of charity accounting and good financial governance to the Board of WAEML. And I enjoy working with and learning from my fellow trustees and staff members to gain knowledge of all other areas of the charity’s work.
Rebecca Stewart, Trustee
Rebecca is passionate about creating safe, empowering spaces where all women can be their best selves. Rebecca actively champions gender equality and female leadership in her day job in the corporate sector and hopes to bring these skills and commitment to supporting women and families at Women’s Aid.
Sarah Prescott, Trustee
Poppy Corr, Trustee
Poppy is a finance solicitor for a law firm in the Centre of Edinburgh. Poppy is a keen cyclist and baker.
Asrini Parakramawansha, Trustee
Asrini has been co-chairing our Young Person Shadow Board since 2024. A full-time law student and passionate human rights advocate, she’s committed to elevating the voices of young people within WAEML and strengthening our approach to inclusion and diversity.
Emma Jones, Trustee
Emma is an artist and printmaker and works in marketing and brand management for a social enterprise textile charity offering training opportunities for women and young people.
She’s looking forward to supporting WAEML’s vital work and gaining a deeper understanding of everything that happens behind the scenes.
Kate Latimir, Trustee
Kate is a Humanitarian and Social Development Adviser at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. She has spent most of her career tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) overseas, including leading responses during humanitarian crises. Kate is currently focused on protecting women and girls in Afghanistan.
Deeply committed to ending VAWG, she brings both expertise and fierce passion to the cause and is genuinely excited to support WAEML.
Nichola Kane, Trustee
Nichola is an editor at STV News and has had a journalism career spanning three decades. A former TV reporter, she spent much of her time covering stories about domestic abuse and violence against women.
More recently, she set up STV’s diversity initiative Expert Voices, which aims to improve the representation of women, people of colour and those living with disabilities on our TV screens.