About Us

Management team

Nikki Marley, Chief Executive Officer

Nikki Marley
Chief Executive Officer

During her 30 years’ career in the care sector, Nikki has worked with adults with learning disabilities, mental health issues, brain injuries and sensory impairment, in residential, community support and supported living settings.

Nikki joined The Fifth Trust as General Manager in 2007, becoming CEO in 2020. She has taken the lead in shaping our person-centred approach to care management, with its emphasis on supporting each individual student to strengthen their life skills, build confidence and independence, and expand their self-determination. Nikki and her team are recognised as one of the UK’s leading practical exponents of this approach, which is at the core of national and local government social care policy.

Nikki holds an NVQ Level 5 Diploma in Management and the Preliminary Certificate in Social Care.

Mike Theoff, Operations and Care Manager

Mike Theoff
Operations & Care Manager

Prior to joining us, Mike worked in day care provision for children and adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds and in a residential unit catering for young people.

He has been associated with The Fifth Trust community for 26 years. He worked at Bridge House in Barham when it was one of our affiliated residential home before coming to work for us as an instructor and subsequently being promoted to Deputy Manager. He took on the role of Operations and Care Manager in 2007.

Mike has qualifications in health and social care and team leading.

Gareth Owen-Conway, Finance Director

Gareth Owen-Conway
Finance Director 

Gareth qualified as a chartered accountant in 1989. He started his career in accountancy firms preparing accounts and performing audits for clients before moving into investment banking, initially as a tax manager and for the last 17 years as Global Operations Director for the Asset and Structured Finance business at HSBC Bank plc.

Having worked more than 30 years in the City, Gareth was looking for a career change and joined The Fifth Trust in September 2020, where he uses his business and accounting skills to support the ongoing growth and development of the charity and its social enterprises. In 2022 he also took on the role of Company Secretary.

Peter Stratton, Social Enterprise Manager

Peter Stratton
Social Enterprise Manager

Peter is responsible for ensuring that our social enterprise operations contribute not only to the wellbeing and learning opportunities of our students but remain commercially viable, offering an enjoyable and valuable experience for our customers.

In a career spanning 45 years, Peter has worked at commercial director level for major companies including Unilever, P&O and Eurotunnel, and as owner of an executive recruitment company, specialising in the travel industry.

Mick (Michael) James, Fundraising Manager

Mick James
Fundraising Manager

Mick has worked in the charity sector since 1998 when he started out as a residential care worker in a Mencap home for adults with learning disabilities.

For the past 15 years Mick has worked as fundraiser, helping to generate millions of pounds for charities across Kent. Mick has combined his charity work with writing and teaching, writing for stage and screen as well as teaching Creative Writing at University of Kent.  He joined The Fifth Trust Team in 2023 to help the charity diversify income sources and develop and manage new fundraising initiatives.