Championing Lived Experience. Empowering Wellbeing. Accrediting Excellence
Meet the Management Team
Marcia Fernandes
Marcia Fernandes
Marcia Fernandes
Managing Director, AAL
& Director, The Centre for People, Culture & Wellbeing
AAL was set up in 2017 to support those with lived experience access accredited training and qualifications, which they may not otherwise have had access to. We are proud that we have supported more than 1,500 learners achieve certification.
"I specialise in accre
Managing Director, AAL
& Director, The Centre for People, Culture & Wellbeing
AAL was set up in 2017 to support those with lived experience access accredited training and qualifications, which they may not otherwise have had access to. We are proud that we have supported more than 1,500 learners achieve certification.
"I specialise in accreditation and workplace culture, with an emphasis on lived experience. With 21 years working across the education sector, I am an advocate for ensuring workplace psychological safety and recognising diversity. I believe in encouraging people to use their ‘lived experience’ voices to make a difference in workplaces and communities.
I have a background in quality assurance and am an active consultant for awarding and professional bodies. My practice is supported by postgraduate mental health & wellbeing, coaching & mentoring, teaching and legal qualifications.
I take a hands-on approach within the business, connecting with new and existing members."
Sarah Greenway
Marcia Fernandes
Marcia Fernandes
Quality and Sustainability Director
Sarah joined AAL in 2018, after a number of roles in Quality Assurance for the public, private and charitable sectors, ensuring organisations met a range of regulatory and accreditation standards.
"I take great pride in supporting others to review their own practices – being able to fully recognise the a
Quality and Sustainability Director
Sarah joined AAL in 2018, after a number of roles in Quality Assurance for the public, private and charitable sectors, ensuring organisations met a range of regulatory and accreditation standards.
"I take great pride in supporting others to review their own practices – being able to fully recognise the amazing things they do but also supporting them to understand where improvements could be made, focusing on continuous improvements and developments for the future.
I am passionate about sustainability and how this is an integral part of the workplace. I enjoy encouraging others to see the benefits of sustainable practice to their business, culture, and employee wellbeing, as well as on a personal level. My practice is supported by sustainability, quality assurance and business qualifications."
Claire Donogue
Marcia Fernandes
Claire Donogue
Lived Experience Lead Trainer
Claire is a CBH Therapist and Recovery Coach from Ireland. Having spent nearly a decade of her life in the grips of gambling addiction, Claire now uses her lived experience to help others.
"When I first decided that I wanted to use my lived experience to help others, I enrolled in the AAL Lived Experience Accr
Lived Experience Lead Trainer
Claire is a CBH Therapist and Recovery Coach from Ireland. Having spent nearly a decade of her life in the grips of gambling addiction, Claire now uses her lived experience to help others.
"When I first decided that I wanted to use my lived experience to help others, I enrolled in the AAL Lived Experience Accredited Facilitator and Speaker Programme to learn how I could best use my voice to create a dialogue and deliver my story effectively. The skills I learned through the course have helped me to establish my career as a Lived Experience Advocate, and now I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to share that knowledge as an AAL Trainer."
Lauren Harris
Marcia Fernandes
Claire Donogue
CPD and Membership Manager, The Centre for People, Culture & Wellbeing
Lauren has worked in Further and Adult Education for over 16 years in various teaching and management roles, culture and wellbeing are crucial to her approach in how she supports others in the educational landscape.
"I reached out to AAL because their values resonated d
CPD and Membership Manager, The Centre for People, Culture & Wellbeing
Lauren has worked in Further and Adult Education for over 16 years in various teaching and management roles, culture and wellbeing are crucial to her approach in how she supports others in the educational landscape.
"I reached out to AAL because their values resonated deeply with mine, emphasizing that people’s health, happiness, and wellbeing should be central to every workplace.
I manage the People, Culture and Wellbeing programme, which not only showcases incredible experts with lived experience but also provides a platform to share their work and connect with businesses across the country."