Andrea Devlin, Director
Prior to taking this role, I served the RAF as a People Operations Professional, dedicated to the welfare of our personnel. Before that, I served both as a Regular and Reservist Fighter Controller. And, crucially, for many years, I also stood shoulder-to-shoulder with you facing the challenges of bringing up three children as the spouse of a serving officer. This unique perspective allows me to see the challenges, the triumphs, and the unwavering spirit of our community from multiple angles.
I have long admired the vital work of the Families Federation, and the opportunity to lead it, to extend my contribution to supporting our global RAF family at this pivotal point, is truly a privilege.
This Federation is your voice. I am here to work tirelessly alongside the dedicated Federation team to make a real difference to those who need our help.
Ruth McCelland, Office Manager
As Office Manager I am often the first point of contact and am responsible for all aspects of the office including health and safety, travel requirements and resources.
Having been married to a ‘Heavy’ for over 30 years I followed my husband around and have encountered the ups and downs of changes in my career path. Working any job around family life with flexibility to accommodate the RAF requirements of my husband. I worked in a bank, cleaning, and various shops, pubs and offices. I spent nearly 15 years working in prisons, in various departments and have successfully pulled all this experience together and utilise these skills in this position.
Charlotte Harston, Administrator
I’m thrilled to have joined the RAF Families Federation. As a seasoned Civil Service professional, proud RAF wife, and mum of three, this role brings together my career experience and personal insight into military family life.
Originally from Burnley, my background is in administration and customer service, where I’ve loved solving problems, improving systems, and supporting teams. I’ve lived the ups and downs of deployments and relocations, and I know how important it is to feel understood and supported.
Being part of an organisation that champions RAF families means a great deal to me—it’s a chance to give back to the community that’s shaped my own journey.
Tim Unwin, Communications Manager
My role is to ensure the message of what the Federation can do to help and support Serving Personnel and families gets out to as many of those people as possible, and in the clearest way. Furthermore, I help ensure these voices are heard by the Chain of Command, MOD and UK Government, so they better understand our people’s needs.
Aside from this, I produce our quarterly magazine Envoy, and I am enthusiastic about promoting relevant and engaging articles, advice and information to our audience. Please do get in touch if you have content that will interest or benefit our readers.
I am extremely proud to be working with a team whose role it is to help make positive changes to the lives of RAF personnel and their families.
Nick Crouch, Communications Assistant
I started my career as an apprentice draughtsman and my working life has been in a variety of industries and roles from working on gas pipelines to the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for the RAF. Latterly, for almost 20 years, I earnt my living in the publishing and marketing sectors, which stood me in good stead for my current position.
My daily jobs here include graphic design, gathering and posting news onto our website (I have to admit I’m a bit OCD on Google Analytics) along with the day-to-day work on our social media channels and weekly eBulletin.
Jade Coe, Digital Projects Lead
I joined the RAF Families Federation in 2020, bringing a wealth of digital marketing, website and CRM knowledge to the organisation.
In my role as Digital projects lead I oversee the development and delivery of digital solutions that enhance communication and engagement with RAF families. I am currently leading the Valuing Forces Families Overseas digital platform project – a tri-service initiative, funded by the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund. This project aims to deliver a digital information portal to supports military families throughout the overseas posting journey, from initial planning to reintegration back in the UK.
Additionally, I am working with the organisations leaders to develop our CRM strategy to deepen our understanding of the RAF community’s needs and experiences. This work will enhance our advocacy efforts, ensuring that the voices of RAF families are heard and represented effectively.
Vanessa Plumley MBE, Policy Manager
I join the RAFFF team following a 22-year career in the Royal Air Force, during which I fulfilled a broad range of personnel-related roles, including Policy, Infrastructure Management, Human Resources, Recruitment, Accounts Management and Media Operations, at both UK and Overseas locations. With a serving husband and two growing daughters, achieving work / life integration during my time in the RAF required difficult decisions to be made with many compromises along the way. With first-hand experience of both single and family life in the RAF, a desire to make a difference and the professional knowledge gained during my RAF career, I passionately advocate the fair representation of the RAF Family.
The Policy Manager role directly links with my final RAF role in the MOD’s Armed Forces People Support Team where I witnessed first-hand the valuable work that the RAF Families Federation undertook. There is a lot going on to improve the lives of all our Service Personnel but if there is something that needs to change please contact the RAF Families Federation, together we can make a difference.
Ali Stokes, Policy Advisor – Education and Childcare
I joined the RAF Families Federation team in August 2021 and work closely with Vanessa in the Policy Team.
I am a qualified primary school teacher with extensive experience in education – working with children, families and external organisations. As an RAF spouse, I have a good understanding of military life and am always keen to combine my knowledge and experiences to help support Service personnel and their families. I am committed to understanding policy and initiatives and representing the RAF Family in this key area that impacts so many.
Here at the RAF Families Federation, we are keen to understand your experiences and challenges, so please contact us to help us support you and make a difference.
Caz Evans, Policy Advisor – Health and Additional Needs and Finance
I joined the RAF Families Federation in May 2022 as part of the Policy Team, and focus on issues relating to healthcare, additional needs and finances for serving personnel, reservists and their families. I served in the RAF as an Air Traffic Controller for 10 years and, as an RAF spouse, spent the next 20 years moving around the UK and overseas with my husband and two daughters. More recently I worked in the welfare and advice charity sector and have wide experience of supporting people across a range of issues.
At the RAFFF we strive to provide informed support, advice and signposting to families who need it; we advocate for our RAF families using their lived experience to provide evidence for change. We want to shape policy to make the lives of RAF families better.
We understand that deployments, service requirements and the transitory nature of service life can present a unique set of circumstances for families. We are here for you, and will do our utmost to support you to find a solution so that you and your family are not disadvantaged by service commitments.
Sarah Cooper, Engagement & Digital Lead
I’m delighted to join the RAF Families Federation. As an ex-serving parent of three and partner to a serving RAF member at RAF Coningsby, I remain rooted in Service life and community. After 25 years in RAF cyberspace roles, I developed a passion for all things digital, and want to use my skills to help the RAF family. I’m focused on amplifying the voices of personnel and families, ensuring they are heard clearly and consistently. Combining digital and in-person engagement, I want to build trust, encourage feedback, and support meaningful change. I look forward to connecting, listening, and working together to improve the Service family experience.
Mark Hayhurst – Policy Advisor – Accommodation
I joined the RAFFF team in 2023 after having served in the RAF for 32 years as a Physical Training Instructor / Exercise Rehabilitation Instructor and as a Medical Support Officer.
My role sees me representing Service personnel and their families across the spectrum of accommodation types within the RAF (SLA, SFA, SSFA). I am highly motivated and enthusiastic to combine those challenges that Service personnel and their families face with my military experience in order to provide a better RAF Families and Service personnel accommodation experience.
The RAF Families Federation Accommodation Specialist team are here to provide support, guidance and signposting on behalf of Service personnel and their families with a strong focus to engage with those key stakeholders on your behalf to ensure the continued improvement of the RAF accommodation estate.
Chris Adams, Policy Advisor – Accommodation
I joined the RAF Families Federation in 2024 in support of the successful resolution of the challenges personnel are experiencing across accommodation, including SFA, SLA, SSSA and housing within the local authority’s sector.
Having been ‘in uniform’ across six decades (I still retain a Reservist and RAF Air Cadets role), I bring to the Team a wealth of knowledge, experience and, most importantly, empathy across my area of responsibility. If it’s happened to you, then it’s probably happened to me too!
I am a Logistics Driver by profession, but most recently, I was an integral member of the AMP Briefing Team who visited our personnel on Stations across all TLBs, both in the UK and overseas. I therefore retain Tri Service situational awareness across the areas the RAFF can support you with. I am tenacious in character and passionate about delivering the best possible service of support for you and your families.
Wendy Drysdale, Evidence Officer
In my role as Evidence Officer, I draw together information gathered from Armed Forces reports and surveys, to identify areas where the RAF Families Federation can advocate for change. Where further evidence is required I initiate surveys to further investigate disadvantage, in an effort to ensure we can fully represent the needs and challenges of the RAF Family.
Having served in the Personnel trade for 22 years Regular service and a further six years as a Reservist, I have been employed in customer-focused roles including Personnel Services, Operational Squadron, training, statistical data compilation and recruitment and selection. During my time in the RAF, I served in Kuwait and Iraq during the 2003 Gulf conflict. Although I am no longer serving, I am still an RAF spouse and mother, and I am familiar with many of the challenges RAF families encounter. I can draw on my own experiences and skills to help represent and assist the RAF community.
