Gillian Russell
Chief Executive Officer
Commander Simon Howell
RN
Chief of Staff
Steven Heard
Operations Manager
Natalie Bywaters
Communications Manager
Gerry Cassidy
Grants Manager
Gillian Russell
Gillian joined the Royal Navy in January 1994, serving for 17 years as a Logistics Officer in a variety of sea and shore-based roles. Her sea appointments included tours as the Supply Officer (Cash) in HMS FEARLESS and the Logistics Officer in HMS NOTTINGHAM. Ashore, her diverse career included teaching the Divisional Officers Course at RNSLAM, developing logistics support for future platforms at Navy Command Headquarters, and leading the Waterfront operational logistics capability team in HMNB Portsmouth. Her final military role in 2009 was a deployment to Afghanistan on Operation Herrick with 101 Logistics Brigade. After leaving the Navy in 2011, Gillian spent four years as the Race Manager for the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. In 2014, after moving to the USA with her husband, a then-serving Royal Navy Captain, she became the Director of Operations for the Hiring Our Heroes program at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. From 2017 to 2023, she was the Principal Program Manager within Amazon’s Global Military Affairs team. In this role, she was responsible for developing worldwide military programs focused on attracting and retaining veterans, reservists, and military spouses to roles across Amazon around the world. Following her return to the UK in 2024, Gillian worked as an independent consultant, assisting military charities with business transformation initiatives. She has been a Trustee of Combat Stress since November 2024.
Commander Simon Howell
Joined the RN in 1981 as a General List seaman officer and completed a number of watchkeeping roles, including as Navigator in HMS LINDISFARNE (86-88) and CUMBERLAND (89-91) and he was also the Navigator on the Dartmouth Training Squadron Staff (88-89). Commanding Officer of the Dartmouth Navigation Training Ship HMS WILTON (91-93). A PWO (A), he served in HMS INVINCIBLE and RICHMOND and then returned to Officer training to run the Initial Sea Training Staff (96-98) before becoming the XO of HMS ARGYLL (98-2000). Following the first ACSC held at Shrivenham, he became the Fleet XO, was promoted Cdr in 2004 and was the Fleet NBCD/CBRNDC Officer before becoming the Commanding Officer HMS EXCELLENT (07-10). A seven month Optour on the OPLAT in the Northern Gulf was followed by a role back in the Personnel Area in Navy Command HQ. In 2013 he left regular service but didn’t find anything that suited him and he returned to NCHQ and spent 10 years (14-24) as SO1 Exec, where he has fulfilled a wide range of responsibilities including leading the Compulsory Drug Testing Team, having the policy lead for uniform, the divisional system and a host of unglamorous executive issues. Lives in Felpham, West Sussex with his wife Emma.
Steven Heard
Steven returns to ARNO and the RNOC after some time spent as an Independent Schools Business Manager, which allowed him to be closer to his family. Steven’s experiences are based around his time spent as the Commanding Officer of his local Training Ship, TS St Albans. He brings a wealth of business acumen and operational experience and looks forward to supporting the team in his new role.
Natalie Bywaters
Natalie joins the ARNO team after leaving the Royal Navy as a WO1Wtr. After 27 years, she brings a wealth of experience, having served in a wide variety of roles and units, including; T23’s, Gibraltar, CVS, Service Complaints, Workforce Planning and most recently, Career Management. She is looking forward to working with and supporting the ARNO team.
Gerry Cassidy
Gerry Cassidy has over 20 years’ experience in the charity and maritime sector providing information and advocating on the issues that impact people’s daily lives. She has particular expertise in debt advice.
