Senior Management Team

Natausha van Vliet – Chief Executive 

Natausha became CEO for PACT in April 2021. She originally joined PACT in June 2013 as head of communities, becoming director of business development in 2015.  In 2018 she took on the role of chief operating officer with a broad portfolio including finance, business development, innovation, marketing and communications, digital services and fundraising.

Her skillset gained through her experience in the commercial and charity sectors enables her to drive, support and improve business and service developments and to identify opportunities for innovation. She is motivated by empowering people to help themselves, with a passion for improving the outcomes for vulnerable women, families, children and young people.

She is married with two teenage children and enjoys spending time with her family and friends, music and time in the great outdoors walking with her dog.

Qualifications: Mont. Dip. Early Years 3-6, Certified Prince 2 Practitioner, CTI Co-Active Coach 

Lorna Hunt – Adoption Service Director 

Lorna has worked in children’s social care for the past 32 years, including as a social worker in four different local authorities within Berkshire. Before joining PACT in October 2018 she had worked as assistant director for children’s services within Berkshire.  

Lorna’s roles have covered child protection, youth offending and children in care, but her passion has always been to ensure that children have a future where they can grow and flourish.  

Lorna is married to Ian and they adopted two children through PACT, both of whom are now young adults. She enjoys going to the theatre, having friends round for supper or walking their dog Nelson in the woods near their home. She is also an active member of Greyfriars Church in Reading.  

Kathryn Warner – Director of Community Services and Development

Kathryn joined PACT in 2013 having worked for more than 20 years in both the statutory and voluntary sector.  Previous roles include social worker in safeguarding teams, managing a young person’s homeless hostel and providing early intervention support to families, all of which built a passion for empowering women and children to reach their full potential. 

Kathryn likes to run, walk and travel which she has more time to indulge in since her children are now young adults (although one boomerangs back home in uni holidays!)

Qualifications: BA Psychology, Sociology and Social Anthropology, DipSW and MSW 

Deborah Hardy – Head of HR, Facilities and IT 

Deborah joined PACT in 2011. She has almost 30 years experience in HR, working primarily for organisations in the higher education and social housing sectors, including 10 years with A2 Housing and 10 years at Royal Holloway College, University of London. 

Deborah is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, has a Certificate in Employment Law, Relations and Practice (Merit) and is a qualified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) practitioner.

She has two children and enjoys exploring the outdoors, travel, running and taking on new challenges. 

Emma Owen – Head of Communications and Engagement

Emma trained as a journalist and worked on local and regional newspapers for nine years. She has worked in the charity sector for 25 years and held PR, events management and fundraising positions at two national charities before coming to PACT in 2008.

Emma lives in north Hampshire with her husband and two teenage children and outside of work she enjoys running, fitness, baking and reading. She is part of the organising committee of her town’s annual music festival and a member of the core volunteer team for her local parkrun. 

Qualifications: NCTJ NCE in Newspaper Journalism. 

Nick Dyer – Head of Finance 

Nick joined PACT in 2010. He has more than 30 years’ experience working 19 years for a local firm in audit, eight years in industry and now for PACT. Nick is a chartered accountant and is a Fellow of the Institute. 

Nick has three children. He was once very much involved with the speedway side in Reading, wrote for a local paper and even had a hand in managing the side – and hopes very much the sport will return having ended in 2008. Nick also is an avid new music fan. 

Mandy Davies – Assistant Adoption Service Director 

Mandy qualified as a social worker in 1994 and prior to this worked in residential homes for adults and children with learning disabilities.   

Once qualified as a social worker, she worked in a local authority for 19 years, initially working in child protection and with children in care. In 1998 she moved into the areas of fostering, adoption and kinship care, working as a social worker and then a manager. 

In 2013, Mandy joined PACT where she focused on adoption, initially as a senior social worker and then as a team manager soon after. Mandy is a parent to two children, one adult and one almost! She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, eating out, going to the theatre and walking in the local area. 

Natalie Derkatsch – Executive Assistant 

Natalie has been with PACT since 2012 as the executive assistant to the CEO and the senior team. Natalie also supports the chair and board of trustees.  

Natalie keeps a tightly running ship for us and also has a wealth of experience and knowledge, having previously worked as a PA across the voluntary sector for 15 years. 

Natalie studied for a degree and masters in theatre studies. The arts make up a big part of her free time, whether it’s watching plays, going to gigs or exhibitions. She also loves to travel as much as possible with her partner Dyson. When she does put her feet up at their home in Caversham she dedicates her time to looking after their cat, Tilly – and trying not to buy too many dresses.