Ambassadors
FAITH SPEAR FRSA CRIMINOLOGIST
Faith is an independent Criminologist. Her interest is in policy, criminal justice reform, offender management and Restorative Justice (RJ). She is also a commentator, writer and a campaigner for prison reform. She highlights injustices and failings within the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales. Her opinions and views are well-grounded and highly respected by those inside and outside the Criminal Justice sector. Her work is impartial, giving credit to good policy and critique to policy which is ill-conceived or poorly implemented and she is unafraid to speak truth to power having done so on many occasions, often against the odds. Author of The Criminal Justice Blog.
DIANE CURRY OBE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF POPS
Diane has worked for the charity for 19 years and has vast experience in working within the Voluntary Sector of the Criminal Justice System. She is also a qualified social worker. POPS was founded by families with experience of supporting somebody in custody and continues to be needs-led in its approach. Diane has been at the forefront of promoting the needs of offenders’ families and encouraging an innovative response to the provision of services for them that are reflective of their needs.
Diane is a significant pioneer and remarkable leader with regards to her work with offenders’ families and Black and Minority Ethnic Offenders. In 2002 she developed and implemented the Black Prisoners Support Project (BPSP) group work programmes and has had a pivotal role in setting up the charity National Body of Black Prisoner Support Group now the Coalition for Racial Justice (CRJUK). In 2006 Diane received an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list, in recognition for her outstanding work in this area.
In 2013 Diane was invited to become an independent scrutiny panel member for the Greater Manchester Police and Crime Commissioner and is now a member of the GMP public protest panel and the AGMA Executive Steering Group. Diane also chairs the Greater Manchester BME Roundtable and represents POPS as a member of the Criminal Justice Alliance. Diane is also a member of the national RR3 (Reducing Re offending Third Sector Advisory Group. She is also a member of the following committees: Reducing Reoffending Third Sector Advisory Group (RR3), Greater Manchester Police and Crime Steering Group (PCC), The Farmer Review, The Young Review and is Chair of the BME Roundtable Manchester. Diane is committed to developing the involvement of families in the Troubled Families agenda and nationally, desistance.
Nina Champion
Nina has worked in the criminal justice sector for 25 years in a variety of roles and is passionate about influencing systemic change. She started her career as a criminal defence solicitor, before moving to the charity sector developing and managing innovative prevention, rehabilitation and resettlement pilot projects for Catch 22, Prison Advice and Care Trust and Women in Prison. Nina then worked in Parliament whilst completing a master’s degree in government, policy and politics. As Head of Policy at Prisoners’ Education Trust she established a number of networks including the Prisoner Learning Alliance. Most recently, Nina was Director of the Criminal Justice Alliance, influencing policy on issues including policing, prisons, race and gender inequality and victim services, as well as working to change the public and media narrative. Nina is a Churchill Fellow who was inspired by her travels across Europe and the United States to establish a leadership programme for people with lived experience of the criminal justice system. She is currently working freelance taking on interesting and impactful work linked to social justice policy, research, communications, public affairs and strategy in the UK and internationally.
Nina is proud to be an ambassador for the Corbett Network, having campaigned for and influenced changes to enable people in prison to have better access to education, training, technology and careers advice, as well as ensuring they have a strong bridge of support to gain employment and have a happy and fulfilling life after release. Nina looks forward to working with network members to make this a reality for everyone.
Ian Bickers, Founder Unlocking Justice
Ian has worked in the Criminal Justice System for over 20 years, in some of the most challenging roles in the prison system. Ian joined the Prison Service in January 2004, bringing 20 years of private sector business experience with him. He has extensive experience working with all types of offenders across seven different prisons, from high security to the open estate. He has worked in both operational and non-operational roles. Ian has also undertaken a secondment with the Home Office, putting him at the heart of government and the Criminal Justice System and delivered the roll out of the National Education Strategy.
Ian was latterly the Prison Group Director for London Prisons and was responsible for the operational delivery and strategic development of the prison establishments in London. Ian has served as the Governor at HMP Wandsworth and prior to that, as the Governor at HMP High Down. Ian has a psychology degree and graduated in 2016 from the University of Cambridge with a Master’s degree in Applied Criminology, Penology and Management, with distinction.
Ian is passionate about prison reform and has recently launched his consultancy, Unlocking Justice, to help those who can make the biggest difference – the people who work at the very centre of the system. He is proud to be an ambassador for the Corbett Network and is keen to support the charity sector and those working to make the lives of men, women and children who have spent time in the CJS the best they possible can be!