Our trustees explain what Tonic means to them and why they volunteer their time.
Team Tonic
Meet the Trustees
Geoff Steward
Trustee
Geoff is a lawyer specialising in intellectual property and commercial/contractual litigation. He acts predominantly for brands in the entertainment, sports and retail sectors. Having been a partner in one of the large London firms for fifteen years, he recently moved to a specialist brands practice and now spends his time between Cambridge and London.
“I am an avid vinyl (and guitar) collector and I play rhythm guitar in a covers band. I have always had a love of music and particularly the collective emotion induced by live music, so as Tonic Music has grown and now requires more corporate/commercial input I was delighted to offer my services. This country’s music is some of the best in the world but there are often unseen pressures on those who contribute to it, and we need to look after their interests and mental health.”
Dr John Barnes
Trustee
Dr John Barnes is a Consultant Psychiatrist in Rehabilitation. He has been with the Somerset Partnership NHS Trust (Sompar) since 1997, working across community and hospital rehabilitation settings. He has been consultant to Ash Ward low secure rehabilitation service in Bridgwater since 2011.
John has supported the development of rehabilitation psychiatry within Somerset and in the South West region, and he is a trainer of core and advanced trainees in psychiatry. John is himself trained in family interventions in psychosis, and is an advocate of a range psychological and social approaches to mental illness, including creative therapies and participation in music and the arts.
John worked with Tonic Music on the development of the Creative City Somerset 2019 arts and music project for clients of Sompar, which included Tonic’s Vinny Peculiar giving workshops to help participants write and perform a song. John and Vinny also co-presented a workshop at a national conference for rehabilitation psychiatrists in November 2019. John is currently working with colleagues in Somerset, planning a follow-up to the Creative City project.
John has been an adviser to Tonic Music since January 2019, helping the team with planning and evaluation. On his visits to Tonic HQ John has attended workshops in guitar and bass.
Richard Walters
Trustee
Richard brings extensive experience in developing and implementing forward-thinking business, marketing, and communication strategies that empower membership and not-for-profit organisations to foster stronger community connections and drive growth.
Music has always been central to Richard’s own well-being, and he understands that poor mental health can affect anyone at different stages and in varied ways throughout life. He was inspired by Tonic Music for Mental Health's mission to support and equip those in the music community with essential mental health tools and skills.
“By serving as a trustee, I hope to use my professional expertise to support Tonic Music’s vital work, creating meaningful opportunities for individuals to connect, heal, and thrive through the transformative power of music.”
Julie Davis
Vice Chair
Julie was a Solicitor in London specialising in professional indemnity insurance matters.
She has 7 years of experience on charity boards - ranging from a small local one to a regional one which was part of a major national charity.
“I helped to create a local charity aimed at promoting and improving the mental health of teens. This bought me into contact with those people on the frontline helping teens with their mental health issues, particularly those struggling in the school setting. Having also been a long term volunteer in the SEN departments of schools I have seen how mental health needs, particularly when unmet, can spiral. My own children are now young adults and therefore I was keen to become involved with a charity helping adults, both young and older. Music, particularly live music, has played an integral part of my life - although I am the least musical person ever. I am delighted to be able to work with Tonic Music."
Gloria Miller
Trustee
Gloria Miller is a creative who uses the mediums of music, words, and truth. Originally from Chicago, she moved to the UK in 2009 to marry her British husband, Neal. After establishing herself as an entertainer and performing all over the country, in 2012, Gloria started Gloria Miller Entertainment Ltd. which she ran for eight years, closing in 2020. Even though she’s not running the company any longer, Gloria is still actively performing live shows including her Tina Turner Tribute Show, her duo, Frankie & Glo and as a solo recording artist, with her next release due out in the Spring of 2023.
In 2021, Gloria was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and her experience with anxiety has led her down a different path of wanting to know everything possible about promoting good mental health, especially amongst musicians. Gloria has worked with Tonic Music over the years, but after suffering a mental break in May of 2021 and going through recovery, she wanted an outlet to be able to share her personal journey, as well as an opportunity to help others, and becoming a trustee with Tonic allows her to do just that.
Matt Shires
Trustee
Matt has a background in delivering professional services such as financial and management accountancy, procurement and project management, and has strengths in business planning and strategy. He enjoys a range of music genres from indie and alternative to R&B, soul and house music and loves live music.
"Mental health touches all of us, either directly or through our friends and family and the impacts can be severe and long-lasting. There's not many who will manage to get through life without experiencing some aspect of poor mental health, so I am really pleased to be working with a charity such as Tonic Music and helping to support the incredible work that they do."
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