Lisa McKay

Lisa McKay is the Director of Training and Education Services for the Headington Institute. A citizen of Australia and Canada, Lisa grew up as a “third culture kid” and has lived in eight countries. A registered psychologist in Australia, she holds a M.Sc. in forensic psychology from the University of New South Wales (2000), and a M.A. in International Peace Studies from the University of Notre Dame (2003).

Prior to joining the Headington Institute, Lisa worked in Australia in a maximum security men’s prison, with the NSW police department, and with the NSW Commission for Children and Young People on child death and child sex-offender cases. She has also spent time in Croatia with the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) working as a stress management and communications skills trainer for their staff.

Drs Debbie and David Hawker

Debbie and David Hawker work as clinical psychologists for InterHealth, a travel health clinic for humanitarian relief, development and mission personnel, based in London, England. Their work includes psychological assessments for candidates; briefing; debriefing; providing advice and treatment for those who develop psychological difficulties, and training organisations in how to care for their personnel and their children. Prior to this, Debbie worked for nine years in major research trials at Oxford University Department of Psychiatry, and David worked with children and families, in the British National Health Service. Debbie is the author of five books, including Debriefing aid workers and missionaries: A comprehensive manual and Supporting staff responding to disasters: Recruitment, briefing and on-going care. They have also published many book chapters and academic papers.

David and Debbie have travelled to parts of Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, to offer training and consultations for different NGOs and mission organisations. They have especially enjoyed working with, listening to and learning from national staff. They believe that national support deserve more recognition, care and support.

They also enjoy playing with their son, Jamie, who was born in 2007. As most of their work is unpaid, they are supported by the Panahpur Charitable Trust, and St. Aldate’s church in Oxford.

Dr Laurie Pearlman

Dr. Laurie Pearlman is a Senior Consulting Psychologist for the Headington Institute. A clinical psychologist, Dr. Pearlman co-founded and co-directed the Traumatic Stress Institute/Center for Adult and Adolescent Psychotherapy LLC until it closed in April 2006.

Dr. Pearlman is a widely published author on the theory and treatment of vicarious trauma, and the impact of violence and abuse and the treatment of survivors. An internationally recognized speaker, she has received awards for her scientific, clinical and media contributions. Her work focuses on bringing contemporary knowledge about traumatic stress to traumatized populations. During the last decade she has traveled to Rwanda a number of times to provide training on the origins of genocide, the psychological impact of trauma, avenues to healing, and the prevention of future violence.