Our Team
Emma Flaxman BCBA – Director & Co-founder
Whilst studying for her BSc (Hons) in Psychology, in 2010 Emma started work on a PEACH home-based VB/ABA programme. She now has over 13 years experience of working with children with autism /social communication difficulties. Emma has worked with children from 18months to 11years but now specialises in early years.
In July 2019 Emma graduated from Kent University with a distinction in Applied Behaviour Analysis and continued to pass her consultancy exam in February 2020. Emma is now a fully qualified and registered Board-Certified Behaviour Analyst.
Emma and her colleagues opened The Ark Centre in June 2015 as the first therapy centre for children with autism in Essex and surrounding areas. Emma is a co-founder and the centre manager. She provides 1:1 therapy for the children in the clinic, parent training, programme supervision and managing the day to day running of the centre. As part of The Ark Centre’s outreach service Emma offers consultancy for a number of home programmes, schools and nurseries.
As well as having her academic and practical background in ABA Emma has worked collaboratively with Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists in a multi-disciplinary team for the last 8 years.
Emma prides herself in being able to adapt her teaching techniques to engage a variety of children with different needs and loves her hands-on work with her clients.
Luisa Holmes - BCBA & Outreach Consultant
Luisa graduated from The University of Essex with a 1st class honours degree in Psychology in 2013. Immediately after graduating Luisa began working at Treetops Specialist School in the VB department. Whilst at Treetops Luisa was running 1:1 ABA programmes with a range of learners with autism and social communication difficulties, from 4 – 18 years old. After 3 years at Treetops Luisa moved to The Ark Centre to begin specialising in early years. Luisa has since gained a distinction in ABA MSc from The University of Kent in 2019, which had led on to her being able to gain her BCBA qualification in 2020 and is now a Board Certificated Behaviour Analyst. Luisa is also registered with the UK-SBA (UK society for behaviour analysis).
Throughout her ABA career Luisa has worked collaboratively with Speech and Language Therapists and Occupational Therapists which has allowed her to provide multidisciplinary interventions for children with ASD. Luisa has Level 1 PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) Training, and continues to update her knowledge with regular continuing education units.
Luisa thrives working in an early year’s environment at a fast and lively pace to ensure all learners enjoy their education and reach their potential.
Niall Conlon – BCBA Chair Person of The Ark Centre Charity
Niall Conlon is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) who has worked as an independent consultant with the Health, Education and Social Care sectors since September 2017. He completed the MSc Psychology (ABA) in Trinity College Dublin in 2011. He is currently completing his PhD at London South Bank University where he is researching organisational and staff training factors related to the successful implementation of PBS and ABA.
Niall has been a committee member of the Psychology Society of Ireland’s Division of Behaviour Analysis and was the division’s media liaison. He was a founding member of ABA Ireland and a member of the UK Society for Behaviour Analysis.
Niall began working with children with autism in 2009. He worked for three years as an ABA tutor at the Applied Behaviour Analysis School for Children with Autism in Kilbarrack Dublin before moving to St. Catherine’s Association in Wicklow where he worked as an ABA supervisor. In 2013, he began working as an ABA consultant with Ambitious About Autism’s Treehouse School in London before leaving to help set up the REAL Focus ABA Social Care section of Dimensions-UK as its Senior Behaviour Analyst in 2015.
Niall joined the Ark Team in June 2017 as a BCBA, and continues to provide supervision and support to our in-house BCBA’s as well as running The Ark Centre Charity.
Jane McKean – Speech and Language Therapist
Jane is a double national award-winning Speech and Language Therapist, with extensive experience in paediatric Speech and Language. Having qualified with a Joint Honours degree in Psychology and Speech Pathology in 2000, Jane has worked within the NHS before setting up “Let’s Talk” in 2009.
Having worked collaboratively on integrated therapeutic programmes in the past, Jane has a particular interest in ASD, Verbal Dyspraxia and Speech and Language Delay/Disorders.
Jane has a Level 1 qualification in TalkTools and is a Signalong and Hanen tutor. She also formed part of the Steering Group for the Grove House School, a specialist SLT free school in Brentwood.
Jane joined The Ark Centre in April 2015.
Regan studied at the University of Essex in Colchester, where she completed both her undergraduate and master’s degrees in Childhood Studies within the Department of Psychosocial & Psychoanalytic Studies. She achieved a First in her undergraduate degree and a Merit at master’s level.
Before starting her career, Regan travelled to Ghana on her own to volunteer in a local school for four weeks. This incredible experience gave her a real insight into the lives of children in another culture and inspired her passion for supporting children in education. Back in the UK, Regan worked for two years as a Special Educational Needs (SEN) Assistant in a mainstream primary school, supporting children in a specialist resource base. This role gave her valuable experience in helping children with a wide range of needs and strengthened her commitment to making a positive difference in children’s lives.
Regan is now in the final stages of her Registered Behaviour Technician (RBT) training and is excited to bring her skills, dedication, and enthusiasm to her work with children and their families at The Ark Centre
Christina White – Occupational Therapist
Christina graduated from The University of Southampton is 2003, qualified as an Occupational Therapist, and has completed post-graduate qualifications in Sensory Integration Therapy and Bobath Therapy.
She has worked in a variety of hospital and community settings over the past 12 years, with both adults and children, but decided in 2009 that she would specialise in paediatrics – in particular working with children who have sever autism and sensory processing difficulties.
Since then, Christina has worked with children aged 0-19 years of age, supporting them with a range of physical and learning difficulties.
Christina has worked with The Ark Centre since September 2015.
Charlotte Cole – Centre Manager & Play therapist
Charly joined The Ark Centre as a behaviour therapist in November 2016, after 15+ years of working with children with additional needs in residential settings at a managerial level. During that time Charly completed NVQ level 3 and 4 in health and social care for children and young people as well as continued professional development including safeguarding and sensory integration training.
Charly left The Ark in July 2019 to complete a masters in play therapy at The University of Roehampton, with the hope of re-joining the team when qualified. After graduating with distinction, Charly began working in a private independent therapeutic school in the role of lead therapist, supporting children who have suffered trauma and adverse childhood experiences.
After 2 years and seeing the school through their first OFSTED inspection, where they obtained the award of outstanding, Charly has now returned to The Ark Center as our manager and play therapist. Charly takes pride in the fact she is able to channel her inner child through play and is passionate about supporting children’s mental health through their natural communication of play.
Venicha Joseph – Registered Behaviour Technician
Venicha started her career in early years at the age of 18. She has an NVQ level 3 in Childcare, a Portage Certification and has over 15 years experience of working with pre-school age children. Venicha has a detailed knowledge of the EYFS and child development.
Venicha’s interest in using her career to support children with additional needs was sparked when a younger sibling was born, needing additional support from various professionals. In January 2017 she joined The Ark Centre as a full time Behaviour Therapist.
With her wealth of early years experience, Venicha finds it effortless to engage our children and to create fun, personalised learning experiences. Venicha is able to adapt her EYFS knowledge to create accessible, educational and motivating group activities.
Venicha has over 6 years of BCBA supervised ABA experience with a variety of children with autism and social communication difficulties. She qualified as an RBT in September 2021.
Rebekah Smithers – Registered Behaviour Technician
Rebekah started working with young children in 2021 when she worked as a dance teaching assistant at her local dance school. Rebekah found this role particularly rewarding, as well as providing her with experience working with children. This role also led Rebekah to discover her passion for working in early years education.
In October 2023 Rebekah commenced study for her degree in Psychology with the University of Essex. Through this study, she aims to further develop her understanding of the mind and behaviour. Rebekah aims to use this knowledge to support her role at The Ark Centre, bringing new knowledge and enthusiasm to the team. Rebekah also studied psychology at A-Level which gave her an insight into developmental psychology; touching on autism and ABA therapy.
Rebekah enjoys providing exciting learning experiences to support the children to achieve their full potential. She passed her Registered Behaviour Technician exam in March 2024.
Ayu Thurlow – Behaviour Therapist
Natalia Sobczak – Behaviour Therapist
Natalia has always had a passion for working with children, beginning with volunteering in school support clubs and gaining experience in an infants’ school during her A levels. Studying A-level Psychology sparked her interest in child and developmental Psychology, inspiring her to pursue a degree in Psychology at the University of Kent, from which she graduated in 2023.
While at university, Natalia worked as a session coordinator and youth mentor at a youth club, supporting autistic young people in developing life and social skills. This experience strengthened her passion for working with children with autism and motivated her to continue in this rewarding field.
After graduating, Natalia worked as a learning support assistant in an SEN school, supporting children with additional needs. She particularly enjoys creating positive learning experiences and finds working in this field incredibly rewarding, as there is nothing better than supporting child’s development and celebrating their achievements with them.
She is now excited to be part of The Ark Centre team and looks forward to further developing her skills in this role.
Regan Boniface – Behaviour Therapist
Joanna Pearce – Behaviour Therapist
Jo first worked for The Ark Centre in 2016 during the opening of the clinic in her other role as a professional interior photographer. After being so impressed by the work the team was doing she has stayed in touch and taken photos at all Ark events and fundraisers.
In later years, once her own children were grown up Jo decided she would take on less photography work and take more time for herself and started to volunteer at The Ark Centre. Jo loved it so much that she put herself forward for the training and has joined the team as a part time member.
Now a fully fledged part of the team she says she ‘came for the cuddles’ but has stayed for the challenging and rewarding role.
Charlotte Diggory – Behaviour Therapist
Ayu worked part time in a cafe that specialises in hiring neurodivergent young people at 16 in Dorset. She loved working along side people her age with specials needs and wanted to learn and know more on how to support their lives and went on to complete a Psychology degree in 2020 at Nottingham Trent university. Here she learnt about ABA and the benefits of behaviour therapy for children with Autism. Ayu started her career in after graduating with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and was further interested in utilising her degree with children in this sector. She gained work experience in mainstream schools as an SEN teaching assistant before coming to the Ark Centre .
Ayu is committed to exceeding her knowledge and experience to become a RBT, with plans to obtain a masters in ABA in future.