THE TEAM
TONYA FRENCH
Founder & Director
Tonya began her career as an actor and drama teacher before transitioning into a skilled hypnotherapist with a background in Therapeutic Counselling. Drawing on both skill sets, Tonya developed these innovative Life Coaching Programmes tailored for school-aged children, using creative and engaging approaches. With her deep understanding of how the mind works, she has crafted a method to teach children how to harness the power of self-talk in a fun and impactful way. The success of the programmes, which have positively transformed many lives, inspired the creation of Hero Self, a non profit organisation allowing even more children to benefit from this unique approach.
EMILY WASP
Training Lead & Senior Practitioner
Emily is a qualified Child & Adolescent counsellor and a registered member of the BACP. With extensive experience counselling in schools, she now works as a Trainer and Tutor for Place2Be, delivering courses in counselling children. Emily also manages community outreach projects, supporting children and young people in the Wandsworth area. She holds a two-year Diploma in Child Counselling from the Institute for the Arts and Therapy in Education (IATE). Emily’s expertise strengthens Hero Self’s commitment to providing essential mental health support to children.
EMILY TUDOR
Non-executive Director
With nearly three decades of experience in Education, Emily brings invaluable expertise in literacy and child development to Hero Self. Her 15 years of school leadership within the Borough of Greenwich have equipped her with a deep understanding of the challenges facing young people today.
JENNY HUNT
Non-executive Director
Jenny brings over 30 years of legal expertise to Hero Self, having worked across Local Government, community law centres, and private practice as a Partner. Specialising in property and housing litigation, she has spent much of her career advocating for marginalised families facing poor housing conditions and homelessness. Jenny’s deep commitment to social justice and supporting vulnerable communities makes her an invaluable asset to Hero Self as we work to empower young people and improve their well-being.
MARTIN JOHNSON
Non-executive Director
Martin has over 20 years’ experience in the social housing sector, specialising in financial analysis and technology-enabled transformation. He has a strong track record of leading change, helping organisations modernise services, improve customer experience, and balance financial sustainability with social impact. As a Non-Executive Director at Hero Self, Martin offers strategic oversight, governance expertise, and a passion for innovation, supporting the Charity’s mission to empower communities and create lasting, sustainable impact.
