Mal Seward – Chair and Co-Founder
Mal pictured with his now retired Assistance Dog and PADs Mascot Crumble
Mal Seward is Co-Founder and Chair of Psychiatric Assistance Dogs Foundation (PADs). He brings both lived experience of psychiatric disability and strong skills in strategic planning and governance, supporting the organisation to remain resilient, transparent, and effective despite operating as a volunteer-led charity with limited resources.
As Chair, Mal provides oversight of PADs Foundation’s long-term strategic direction and governance, ensuring that decision-making and resource allocation remain aligned with the charity’s mission and intended outcomes. He plays a key role in maintaining financial accountability and supporting sustainable organisational development.
Mal has been instrumental in developing and monitoring PADs Foundation’s long-term strategic plan, ensuring that the organisation remains structured, accountable, and focused on delivering positive outcomes for members and their assistance dogs.
Zoe Norquoy – Co-Founder, Trustee and Operational Lead
Zoe pictured with Beano, a much-loved dog previously in her professional care and training
Zoe Norquoy is Co-Founder, Trustee and Programme Development Lead at Psychiatric Assistance Dogs Foundation (PADs), where she leads the development, implementation, and day-to-day delivery of the organisation’s training programme. She is responsible for programme design, welfare standards, training resources, and operational systems that support members and their assistance dogs throughout the training journey.
Zoe has worked full-time in the animal training industry since 2007, with experience spanning companion animals, exotic species, and multi-species training programmes. Alongside her work with PADs Foundation, she runs a private dog training and animal behaviour consultancy, providing professional behaviour and training services. She also volunteers as a Behaviourist with Feline Fine Foundation, supporting animal welfare considerations within services assisting individuals affected by domestic abuse.
She is a registered member of the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers (IMDT) and the International Marine Animal Trainers’ Association (IMATA), holds a COAPE Certified Animal Behaviourist qualification (DipCABT), is a Pet Therapeutic Nutrition Coach (NAVC), is currently undertaking a Professional Certificate in Small Animal Clinical Nutrition (PCertSACN), and is a student member of the British Association of Psychopharmacology.
Zoe has also held operational and management roles within animal welfare organisations, including Assistant Manager for a seal rescue charity in Ireland.
Her work focuses on developing ethical, force-free, welfare-led training systems for psychiatric assistance dog partnerships. She works closely with trainers, veterinary professionals, and other specialists to maintain high standards of canine welfare, training, and member support across the PADs Foundation programme.
Dr Kim Thompson – Trustee
Dr Kim Thompson
Kim joined the Board of Trustees of Psychiatric Assistance Dogs Foundation in August 2025, having been impressed by the commitment, vision, and welfare-led approach demonstrated by the charity’s founders in establishing and growing the organisation.
Now semi-retired, Kim brings extensive experience in general management, operations, and technical leadership across the food, drink, waste management, and biochemical genetics sectors. Throughout his career, he has contributed to the development, implementation, and commercialisation of innovative technologies, working within complex operational environments and multidisciplinary teams.
His professional background provides valuable expertise in operational delivery, resource management, organisational growth, governance, and strategic problem-solving. These skills support PADs Foundation as it continues to strengthen its systems, enhance governance, and expand its impact.
As a Trustee, Kim contributes to the charity’s strategic oversight, accountability, and responsible stewardship of resources, helping to ensure the organisation remains resilient, effective, and focused on its charitable objectives.
Matt Sampson – Treasurer
Matt pictured with his much loved dog Frankie and her friend Luna
Matt joined the Board of Trustees of Psychiatric Assistance Dogs Foundation in 2026 and serves as Treasurer. He is a Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) with more than a decade of experience in finance, accounting, and financial management. He has worked across both the manufacturing and service sectors, holding roles including Management Accountant and, most recently, Finance Manager.
Throughout his career, Matt has developed expertise in financial reporting, budgeting, governance, and organisational financial management. He has also supported local charitable organisations, contributing his financial and accounting knowledge to strengthen financial oversight and accountability.
As Treasurer of PADs Foundation, Matt provides financial oversight and supports the Board in ensuring the charity maintains robust financial governance, transparency, and responsible stewardship of its resources.
Website Developer, Database and Content Manager
Jen joined the team in mid-August 2020 as our Web Developer and Content Manager. She designed our website and built our online registration and members’ platform. Jen has been the recipient of our Volunteer of the Year award for both 2023 and 2024, recognising her ongoing dedication and commitment to PADs.
Jen’s background is in software development, having worked as a React Developer in recent years. Prior to this, she spent several years as a Full Stack Developer for one of the UK’s leading financial services providers. Jen also supports PADs at local events with her corgi, Keith.
We are very grateful for Jen’s continued contribution to PADs Foundation.
Mental Health Trainer
Jess joined PADs in March 2024 to deliver mental health training to our volunteers and trainers.
Jess is a Psychology graduate and a BACP-registered psychotherapist (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy). She works in private practice in Bristol and specialises in a trauma-informed, emotion-focused approach called Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP). She is currently in training to become a teacher and supervisor in this modality.
Jess’ previous experience includes training volunteers to deliver horticultural therapy within a homelessness charity in London, support work with survivors of domestic violence, and rehabilitation work with patients recovering from brain injury.
Jess has a strong interest in animal-assisted wellbeing and a particular affinity with dogs (though her rescue cat may disagree)
Safeguarding Lead & Administrator
Anna joined the PADs team in 2024 to help out with admin and has since completed her Safeguarding certification. She has a social science degree and has worked and volunteered for several nonprofit organisations over the years. She enjoys being outside and has a pet cat that behaves more like a dog!
Our Volunteer Trainers
PADs recruits professional dog trainers with a strong background in practical experience supported by theoretical knowledge. All our trainers are force-free, qualified, and registered as trainers or behaviourists. They hold appropriate professional indemnity and public liability insurance and have enhanced DBS checks. From Spring 2024, our trainers will be available volunteering with registered In Training PADs Members within their local catchment areas.
Cambridge
James
JJames is a fully qualified dog trainer accredited by the IMDT (Institute of Modern Dog Trainers) and Dog Training College (DTC), and is also a registered Kids Around Dogs (KAD) instructor. With over six years of professional experience, he has worked with more than 500 dogs and continues to expand his knowledge through ongoing professional development, workshops, and seminars while working towards a behaviour qualification.
James runs his own dog training business, with a particular interest in puppy development and large breed dogs. Outside of training, he enjoys spending time with his wife and their two dogs, Cookie and Teaser, or playing a round of golf when the weather permits.
Based in Cambridge, James regularly travels back to Cornwall to support many of his long-standing clients. He volunteers for PADs Foundation across the CB8, CB7, CB6, PE27, and PE16 postcode areas.
London
Sorrel
Sorrel is a fully qualified Trainer and Behaviourist with the IMDT (Institute of Modern Dog Trainers). She exclusively uses kind, modern, science-based methods, ensuring that training is an enjoyable experience for both dogs and their caregivers. Committed to continuous learning, Sorrel regularly updates her knowledge to stay up to date with the latest behavioural science.
She is the founder of Happy Tails Dog Training and has worked with hundreds of dogs and their caregivers across South West London in recent years. Separately from her training and behaviour work Sorrel is also a qualified lawyer! At home, Sorrel loves spending time with Lucy, her tri-paw Springer Spaniel, and Bramble, her Sprocker. Sorrel volunteers for PADs in SW London postcodes SW13, SW14, SW15, TW9 and TW10.