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Brian Hutchinson - Chief Executive

Brian has worked in community based learning disability services for 20 years: primarily with people who have a diagnosis of autism, or with people who have a formal or informal forensic history. He has been with Real Life Options for eleven years and has overseen the development of our Scottish services. This included three National Autistic Society accredited services, two complex support needs community based services, and the project management of two large TUPE staff transfers from other voluntary sector providers. Brian takes a lead role within RLO in respect of policy and service development, for services for people who have previously been described as offering a challenge to traditional service provision; and in respect of the use of evidence based practice recording models.

Tony Pearson - Director of Human Resources

Following a 20 year career in the public sector, in which he was a manager in both the NHS and in Local Government, Tony joined Real Life Options in November 2009. Tony is a Member of the Institute of Healthcare Management (IHM) and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). In addition to his HR role, Tony has a special interest in Equality and Diversity, having successfully led his previous employer to gain the Achieving Level of the Local Government Equality Framework.

Lisa Watchorn - Director of Operations

Having worked in the learning disabilities field since 2000, Lisa joined Real Life Options in October 2010. She has held several roles at a senior level, in both the not for profit sector and local government; and has extensive experience of commissioning and modernisation, as well as operational management. Lisa has worked with commissioners, individuals and families to de-register and close traditional services and to develop cost-effective yet innovative individual services. Her earlier career was in central and local government, where she focused on corporate and service-specific change management, policy development, performance improvement and business process re-engineering.

Lisa has two sons who both have disabilities. She is very active in a voluntary capacity across a number of organisations including the National Autistic Society and various advocacy and self-advocacy groups. She is a Partners in Policymaking graduate and was the parent / carer contributor for the Department of Health's ?Better Services for People with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder'.

Tony Myers - Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance

Tony, who joined Real Life Options in June 2010, is a Chartered Certified Accountant with over 30 years' postqualification experience.  He's spent the past 20 years or so at director level, initially with a major international professional body and then in further education.  As well as finance, his reponsibilities have included estates and facilities, HR, IT and management information - fortunately, not all at the same time!  Tony is the Company Secretary of Real Life Options, as well as lead director on IT and facilities management issues.  He was appointed Deputy Chief Executive in September 2011.