Meet the team

Our Senior Leadership Team is comprised of experienced individuals from a range of professional backgrounds, who all work collectively to deliver the strategic goals and vision of The Banyan Tree. Learn more below.

Karim Lalani

Chief Executive

Karim has over 40 years’ experience of founding and running successful businesses with prudent fiscal management and capitalisation, from start-ups, to retail and healthcare. He strives to help vulnerable groups in society wherever possible. SBC(RS) is run as a controlled multi-site growth programme to develop high quality education and regionally respected Ofsted regulated children’s care services across the UK.

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Phil Cass

Chief Operating Officer

Phil brings a wealth of experience from across the care sector. Most recently, he served as Managing Director at Homes2Inspire, overseeing 53 children’s homes. His career journey – from Special Needs Teaching Assistant to Residential Care Worker, Team Leader, Senior Home Manager, and Ofsted Social Care Regulatory Inspector – demonstrates both deep sector knowledge, and a genuine commitment to the wellbeing of young people.

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Alison Blyth-Bishop

Director of Operations

Alison brings over two decades of exceptional leadership in residential childcare, having held senior operational roles across Outcomes First Group, Keys Group, Cambian, and local authority services. Her expertise spans quality improvement, strategic partnerships, and regulatory compliance, alongside a strong commitment to achieving outstanding outcomes for children and young people.

Shazia Lalani

Marketing Director

Shazia has a broad range of B2B and B2C Marketing experience gained from several years of working across companies in professional services and retail. She has a Professional Diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing, and is skilled in digital marketing, end-to-end campaign project management, PR, events, and client relationship management.

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Tim Gladston

HR Director

Tim is a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD with over 20 years’ experience leading HR functions across a range of sectors, including social care, education, technology, media, and retail. He has held senior roles at major organisations such as Sony PlayStation, Sainsbury’s, and a global education group, where he led people strategy, transformation, and employee engagement across complex and regulated environments.

Rebecca Ouellani

Director of Care

Rebecca has worked in children’s care for over 14 years and has held several positions within this sector, including residential care specialising in supporting children with emotional difficulties, learning disabilities, and challenging behaviours. She has a range of qualifications including Diploma 5 NVQ 4 in Management, and NVQ 4 in Health and Social Care, ILM Level 5, and BTEC Level 4 in Education and Training.

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Michelle Robinson

Head of Operations

Michelle has worked in childcare settings for over 13 years, working with children with EBD and Learning Difficulties. Michelle has worked in several positions within residential children’s homes, including assurance. She has a range of qualifications including Level 5 Diploma Leadership and Management, Level 1 DDP (Dyadic Developmental Psychology) and Level 4 Train the Trainer.

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Debbie Briston

Head of Operations

Debbie has worked within the childcare industry for the last 17 years. She has completed several qualifications including NVQ Level 3 in Play Work and Management, Diploma 18 Level 3 for Residential Childcare, and Diploma Level 5 in Leadership and Management.

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Jane Twaite

Head of Operations

Jane has worked in a variety of care settings and holds the following qualifications: Level 5 Diploma Leadership and Management (Children and Young People), Level 4 Diploma Leadership and Management for Care Services, Level 4 Diploma Health and Social Care (Children and Young People), Level 3 QCF Health and Social Care (Adults), and Level 3 NVQ Health and Social Care (Children and Young People).

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Ashley Denton

Registered Manager – Bostock & Suntrap

Ashley has worked with children and adults across a range of needs in both residential and school settings since 2012. Ashley completed her BSc Social Work at the University of Lincoln and has been registered with the HCPC since 2013. She also has experience of working with adults with learning and physical disabilities, as well as working within a charity and the probation service to support and rehabilitate adult offenders.

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Lucy Campion

Interim Registered Manager – Park House (Becky Dalton Maternity Leave)

Lucy holds a BA Hons in Working with Children, Young People and Families. Prior to joining The Banyan Tree, Lucy has completed placements where she worked with 16-18-year olds with a range of Learning Disabilities such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Prader-Willi Syndrome, and Aspergers Syndrome. She also worked in a specialised college for young people with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs. Lucy is currently undertaking the Level Five Diploma in Leadership and Management.

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Gil Cronk

Deputy Manager – Park House

Gill joined The Banyan Tree in 2008 as a Senior Residential Support Worker before being promoted to Deputy Peripatetic Manager. Gill holds the NVQ Level Three in Caring for Children and Young People, and Level Five Diploma in Leadership and Management. 

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Dale Sessions

Deputy Manager – Suntrap

Dale joined the Banyan Tree in 2017 as a Residential Support Worker before promoted to Deputy Manager. Prior to this, Dale held different roles in residential childcare including working with children and young people within the criminal justice system. Dale has recently been awarded the Level Five Diploma in Leadership and Management.

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Sophie Savage

Registered Manager – Suntrap (Maternity Leave)

Prior to joining The Banyan Tree, Sophie held previous roles in children’s residential care, and mental health services working with a wide range of complex needs, including attachment-based needs, trauma experienced children and young people, children and young people with significant social, emotional, and mental health needs, learning disabilities, ASD, ADHD, child and adolescent mental health, and CSE. Sophie is currently studying for the Level Five Leadership and Management Diploma.

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Abs Latif

Head of HR & Payroll

Abs has over 15 years’ experience in developing, recruiting, inducting, training, and leading teams. His expertise spans the entire HR lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding, to talent development and employee engagement. His qualifications include a Degree in Computer Communication and IT, HR Management – Advance, and GDPR Practitioner.

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Ollie Halligan

Head of Placements

With over 15 years of progressive experience in residential care, Ollie has advanced from Support Worker to Registered Manager, earning his NVQ Level 5 qualification in Health and Social Care. His expertise spans placement management roles where he specialised in comprehensive assessments, led successful fee negotiations, and ensured appropriate placement matches.

Karen Fowler

Placements Manager

Karen has extensive experience within the children and young people’s social care industry. She has in-depth knowledge and skills in safeguarding, and experience with building excellent rapport with young people and Local Authority placement teams across England. Her qualifications include Level 3 in AET, BA Hon Psychosocial Studies, HE Diploma – Social Work and Community Work, and Level 3 Designated Safeguarding.

Ganesh Kandiapillai

Finance Manager

Ganesh is a highly qualified Accountant with over 25 years of retail and industry experience. He is skilled in managing the complete accounting cycle of control, planning, budgeting, and reporting of companies. He qualifications include CIMA Certificate in Business Accounting, and BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance.

Dr Kamal Khan

Group Head of Systems Development & Data

Kamal has extensive experience in developing and establishing quality management systems, based on a variety of national and international accreditation standards. He was previously an internal auditor and science teacher, and has a Doctorate in Finance, BSc (Hons) Pharmacology, and Masters in Business Administration & Quality Management System.

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Edwin Maharaj

Head of Facilities

Edwin has over 13 years experience in the social housing sector and retail management. He specialises in setting up new homes, managing maintenance issues, and all aspects relating to health and safety/ compliance. He is a qualified IOSH inspector, and his qualifications include IOSH Managing Safely, NVQ in Customer Services Level 2, and FAA Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work.

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Jade Waterman

Training Manager

Jade has held various operational and managerial roles across Children’s Homes and Supported Accommodation services. She holds a Level 5 qualification in Leadership and Management (Distinction) and a Level 3 Award in Education and Training. She is also a certified Level 2 Safeguarding Train the Trainer, Fire Marshal Trainer, and Emergency First Aid at Work Trainer.

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Marie Bliss

Executive Assistant

Marie spent 18 years as an EA at Tesco, supporting Government Affairs, Corporate Responsibility, and Group Communications. Alongside her role, she volunteered as a mentor for women in prison and later with SHOUT 24/7. Over the past two years, Marie embraced new challenges, including working with patients on a CAMHS ward, and contributing to The Medical Research Network.

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Anusha Ravichandran

Deputy Finance Manager

Anusha holds a BSc in Accounting and brings over eight years of experience in the retail and finance sectors. As Deputy Finance Manager, she oversees key financial operations, including revenue management, invoicing, supplier payments and account reconciliation, ensuring accuracy, efficiency and compliance across all processes.

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Kieshan Niranchanan

Accounts Assistant

Kieshan is a motivated Accounts Assistant who is skilled in month end reporting, maintaining accurate financial records and assisting with day-to-day financial tasks. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Economics and Finance, using his knowledge to support effective financial management and delivering high quality support to the Finance team.