Meet our teams of trustees
Our Turkish Board
Jo Turgut - President
Before moving to Türkiye in 2022, Jo was chief operations officer for a charity in her local town supporting vulnerable woman and those suffering domestic abuse.
Since 2014 she has worked in the voluntary sector in management, leadership and training roles, in industries including life insurance, employability and the prison sector, and with military veterans and their families.
Jo’s career has required her to build strong working partnerships to secure successes, both financially and outcome-driven.
Since becoming a volunteer she has reshaped the board and created a great team. She has worked tirelessly on bringing together the community and local business to help the charity move forward.
Jo lives in Türkiye full time with her husband, their baby and two dogs.
Mel Harland - Vice-President
Before moving to Türkiye full time with her husband, Mel worked in management in the banking industry.
She is responsible for coordinating and organising items donated to the charity, such as clothes and household goods, ahead of our events.
Mel leads the fundraising team items and is also one of our cat park volunteers, giving her time each week to look after the animals who live there.
Anne Kapteinat - Cat Park Manager
Our 'Queen of Cats', Anne is originally from Germany and worked for Hewlett-Packard for 30 years. She and her husband moved to Üzümlü in 2018 after his retirement, along with Anne’s parents and their cat.
After meeting Claire, a former cat park manager, Anne took over the responsibility due to the former's illness. She also joined the board of trustees.
Anne runs a private cat hospital and recovery centre in her own garden, taking in those who need a safe space or additional medication and care until they are well enough to leave.
Since leaving Germany her furry family has grown to include three more cats and two dogs.
Rhian Robinson - Secretary
Rhian spent most of her working life in operations management in a legal environment. Before moving to Türkiye in 2016, she spent a year managing an indoor dog park/daycare and training facility, working alongside trainers from organisations like the Dogs Trust. She also volunteered for Hope Rescue, mainly fostering but also doing some fundraising.
Since she moved, Rhian has been involved in animal rescue, helping various charities in the Fethiye area, fostering animals and volunteering at shelters.
At the end of 2023, she joined the PAWS Üzümlü board and is responsible for managing our dog park.
Rhian is married with two grown up children and currently has four dogs - two of whom came with her from the UK. Three of the four are failed fosters!
Basak Akdemir
Basak was born and raised in Istanbul but now lives in Üzümlü with her husband and dogs.
She is our only Turkish-speaking board member, which means all translation and local communications go through her.
Basak is a real dog lover and has recently taken on one of our street dogs as a foster while he waits to travel to his new home.
Rebecca Parsley
Rebecca became involved with the charity following a move to Üzümlü in 2021 and joined the board of trustees the next year. A journalist and communications specialist, she has worked across a range of media and with brands such as AkzoNobel, Vodafone and Sainsbury's.
She moved to Türkiye in 2014 and subsequently adopted two street dogs - Dillon, who was severely sick and injured, and Bella, abandoned in Üzümlü the day she gave birth.
Rebecca now lives with her partner in the next village, İncirköy, where they spend their lives fighting a never-ending battle against dog hair. She enjoys scuba diving and hiking, and is an avid football and Formula 1 fan.
Sue Hale
Sue has worked with animals throughout her career and was a qualified veterinary nurse while living in California.
On returning to the UK, she bought a farm on the Lancashire/Yorkshire border and ran a successful livery yard. She also competed in equestrian events until moving to Türkiye in 2013.
Sue is a committed PAWS volunteer and has nine large dogs of her own plus numerous cats, mostly rescues she has saved.
She helps out at both the cat and dog parks, in addition to taking on many other day-to-day and ad hoc tasks.
Denise Atkins
Denise recently relocated back to the UK after years of being hands-on with the local animals, fostering many street dogs and puppies and preparing them for their new homes.
She is one of our key fundraisers, arranging many successful events, and remains committed to supporting the animals in Üzümlü.
She will fundraise in the UK alongside her role as dog sponsorship team leader.
Denise has vast experience of working with dogs and her own Turkish rescue dog is now 15 years old - and enjoying retirement in a cooler climate.
Jackie Slater
Office Manager
Michael Stevenson-Smith
Product Manager
Our UK Board
Lynne Chellingworth
Lynne is a retired NHS HR manager and has enjoyed many holidays in Üzümlü since she and her husband built a house in the village in 2008.
She is a long-time supporter of street animals, both locally and in the wider Fethiye area, and regularly visits the cat park when she is in Türkiye.
Her first dog was Clara, adopted after being dumped on the edge of the village. In November 2023 she was followed by Simon, a street cat who regularly visited the Chellingworths' house - even after Lynne took him to be neutered!
Denise Atkins
Denise recently relocated back to the UK after years of being hands-on with the local animals, fostering many street dogs and puppies and preparing them for their new homes.
She is one of our key fundraisers, arranging many successful events, and remains committed to supporting the animals in Üzümlü.
She will fundraise in the UK alongside her role as dog sponsorship team leader.
Denise has vast experience of working with dogs and her own Turkish rescue dog is now 15 years old - and enjoying retirement in a cooler climate.
Liesl Richards
Liesl has been a frequent visitor to Üzümlü for the past eight years. She bought a house in the village six years ago and plans to move permanently on retirement as a specialist NHS nurse.
She is a long-time supporter of the street animals, both locally and in the surrounding area, and enjoys volunteering at the dog park whenever she is in Türkiye.
Seven years ago she adopted one of the first forests park dogs, the beautiful Maeve, and more recently took on another youngster, the gorgeous Zena.
Justine Sturtivant
Justine describes herself as a serial animal rescuer.
On her very first night in Türkiye she met a street pup who eventually joined her and her husband, along with their menagerie of rescue cats, pigs and chickens, in North Yorkshire.
They will also soon be joined by two rescued Üzümlü street dogs.
Alison Adams
Alison lives in Edinburgh with her husband and third rescue cat, Jaffa.
They bought their holiday home in Üzümlü in 2008 after first visiting four years earlier, and have travelled there each year.
She has seen great improvements in the care given to the street dogs and cats and has supported the charity through donations and practical help.
Alison is now delighted to play a more active role by joining the PAWS Uzumlu UK board.
She has a background in pensions and investments, a sector in which she worked for over 31 years.