Management Committee
DIRECTORS:
Lama Yeshe Losal Rinpoche, Director
Lama Yeshe Rinpoche is project director of Holy Isle and he is Abbot of the Samye Ling Monastery In Scotland which houses Samye College, a world-renown centre for mindfulness training. Lama Yeshe is regarded by his students as one of the finest meditators in the Western world.
Anthony Harris, Director of Health and Wellbeing and Trustee Of Quality Assurance
Anthony has been a practitioner of meditation and mindfulness for over 30 years. He is a qualified psychotherapist and mindfulness instructor who is also a popular teacher of meditation. Anthony is responsible for running meditation classes and workshops at the centre. In addition, he is responsible for interviewing new therapists as well as chairing the therapists committee at the Mindfulness and Well-Being Centre. Contact Anthony
Ann Davies, Director of Finance
Ann is a practising accountant who is responsible for all aspects of the financial running of the charity. Ann has worked in the accounting profession for over 35 years and is currently an accountant for a motor dealership in Cardiff. Ann was a Founder Member of Samye Foundation Wales and has been a Trustee and Treasurer for the charity since its inception in 2008. Contact Ann
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TRUSTEES:
Minu Mandora, Trustee
Minu has been part of Samye Foundation Wales since 2006. She has been involved in supporting the work and received teachings from many visiting teachers to the Centre. She has attended a month long silent retreat with Rob Nairn, internationally renowned mindfulness trainer, in South Africa in November 2007. Minu works in Rhonnda Cynon Taf organising and delivering self management courses for people with long term illness – (EPP) Educating Programmes for Patients. She has undergone training to be a Mental Health First Aid instructor.
She has been teaching Tai Chi Qigong at the SFW centre for over a year and is a yoga instructor of over 6 years experience. Minu has worked in HR for Cardiff & Vales NHS trust and prior to that in dealing with domestic abuse while working for Women’s Aid
Graeme Paul-Taylor MCSP MACP HPC Chartered Physiotherapist, Trustee of Policies and Procedures
Graeme is a Chartered Physiotherapist, registered with the Health Professions Council, with over 15 year’s experience. He has worked extensively in the NHS and lectured in Cardiff University. He is a full member of the Manipulation Association of Chartered Physiotherapists. Graeme is experienced treating a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions using a variety of treatment approaches including manual therapy and exercise.
Graeme Paul-Taylor -sits on the interview panel for prospective therapists wishing to hire rooms at the centre.
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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT TEAM
Karen Higginbottom, Business Development Manager
Karen is responsible for developing new business and partnerships for Samye Foundation Wales which fulfils the charity’s strategic objectives. One of her main roles is to market mindfulness courses to the corporate world and transform the way that organisations deal with employee stress. She is a journalist with 11 years of experience of writing on employment topics for the Guardian, Independent and Thomson Reuters and has developed communication plans for NGOs. Contact Karen.
Lorraine, Chief Executive and Company Secretary
Lorraine helped set up Samye Foundation Wales in order to bring benefit to the people of South Wales through the practice of mindfulness. She is responsible for the overall vision and strategy of the charity and is a long-time practitioner of meditation and a qualified mindfulness instructor.
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THERAPISTS COMMITTEE
Dr Anna Polya -co-chair of the Therapists Committee
Anna is qualified as a family therapist and has worked with children and families, both in healthcare and other settings, for many years. Her work with families is inspired and guided by her mindfulness practice. Her experience in this field has led to her being a member of the therapist committee at Samye Foundation Wales. Anna sits on the interview panel for prospective therapists wishing to hire rooms at the centre. She is also a yoga teacher, she studied with Philip Jones and has taught in the Cardiff area for twelve years. Her yoga teaching focuses on integrating mind, body and breath, and currently she offers regular yoga and mindfulness workshops at the centre with Lorraine Harris.
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