Help Me Quit Team

Allen Joshy John

Maternity Stop Smoking Practitioner

Allen Joshy John was appointed as a Maternity Smoking Cessation Practitioner at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board in December 2024.

Allen is a dedicated medical professional with a background in both clinical medicine and public health. He has worked across diverse healthcare settings in the UK and India, with a particular focus on mental health and preventive care. He completed his Master’s in Public Health at Queen’s University Belfast, where his research explored self-harm trends and psychotropic medication use in Northern Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Allen is passionate about improving maternal and child health outcomes and addressing health inequalities through targeted interventions. His clinical experience, combined with a strong academic foundation in public health and health systems, informs his work in supporting pregnant individuals to quit smoking and promoting healthier families.

He is fluent in English, Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil, allowing him to communicate effectively with diverse communities and deliver inclusive healthcare support.

Cathy Fisher

Smoking Cessation Practitioner

Cathy has been employed as a Smoking Cessation practitioner for the past 6 years.

Cathy has a background in the private sector and held the role initially of Team Manager later being promoted to Lead of Employee Engagement and Wellbeing

Cathy completed her Masters in Occupational Health, Safety and Wellbeing at Cardiff Metropolitan University in June 2019 with a distinction.

She has a passion to improve the health and wellbeing of smokers through quit within Cardiff & Vale

Colleen Newport

Smoking Cessation Practitioner

Colleen has worked as a Stop Smoking Practitioner for Cardiff and the Vale since 2003.

Colleen began her career in the hospitality industry, working for several years within local hotels and the casino sector. During this time, she developed an interest in the impact of addiction on individuals and families, which led her to pursue training in counselling.

She completed a four-year part-time counselling course at Barry College and began volunteering with Age Concern in 1999. Colleen went on to train as a Cruse Bereavement Counsellor and completed the Cruse Counselling Supervision Course in 2001. She has also worked with New Pathways and Cardiff Women in Mind, supporting individuals affected by trauma and abuse.

Colleen achieved a Diploma in Therapeutic Counselling (Humanistic) and later qualified as a Certified Transactional Analyst Psychotherapist. In 2008 she became an Accredited Counsellor/Psychotherapist with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP).

Colleen is committed to supporting individuals to make positive health changes and brings extensive therapeutic experience to her role within the stop smoking service.

Deb Parsons

Senior Advisor Smoking Cessation

Deb joined the smoking cessation team as manager in 2013.

Deb’s career started within the travel industry, achieving her ambition to become an air stewardess.

After having a family, she changed career and moved into senior management of a Utility contact centre, managing over 140 staff over 20 years.

Within that time Deb completed a 4 year part time Diploma in integrated counselling, in order to pursue her ambition to help individuals with life choices and better health.

Deb believes this role to be the most rewarding job she has ever done and feels privileged that people share their life stories with her and achieve their goals to become smoke free. 

Jane Allwood

Smoking Cessation Practitioner

Jane has been a smoking cessation practitioner for Cardiff and the Vale health board since September 2015.

Jane's background is in nursing, safeguarding and crisis work.

Jane qualified as an adult nurse in 1997,has obtained a BSc (Hons) in Health and Health Science (First class), and has a Diploma in Public Health.

Jane enjoys a face-to-face role that offers a high standard of support to clients trying to quit tobacco in a clinic or community setting. Jane is passionate about providing a non-judgemental and equal opportunity service to everyone.

Jane is keen to improve the health of the local population regardless of where they live and engage with other services and organisations to highlight and improve health and social issues in deprived areas.

Katie Haines

Smoking Cessation Practitioner (Community)

Katie joined the Local Public Health Team in October 2024, bringing with her experience from various roles within the health and caring sector. Her background includes dental nursing and more recently counselling and psychology studies, as well as having a key personal interest in mindfulness for wellbeing. Katie recently completed a later life Ba(hons) in Counselling and Psychology. Within the smoking cessation team, she is one of two newly acquired members and hopes to further specialise in researching the complex relationship between mental health and tobacco addiction.

Laura Willis

Smoking Cessation Practitioner

Laura has worked in the NHS for thirteen years and was appointed as a Smoking Cessation Practitioner in 2015.

Laura has completed a BSc Psychology degree and a Masters in Abnormal and Clinical Psychology. Laura is interested in behavioural science and is passionate about reducing smoking prevalence in the local population.