Our team
Sadie Gillett
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Sadie is a thought leader in neurodivergence with a focus on autism. With over 25 years of experience working with autistic young people, their families and schools, she brings a wealth of expertise to Think Different Consulting.
Sadie founded Think Different Consulting after teaching in special schools, mainstream schools and specialist facilities, followed by her role as Brighton and Hove Council's Autism Lead for Education. As a parent to a neurodivergent teenager, she brings both professional and personal understanding to her work, and is highly skilled at connecting with neurodivergent children and young people.
Sadie has a strongly neuroaffirmative ethos and is passionate about positive autistic identity. She challenges conventional approaches to curriculum, ensuring content and delivery are truly neuro-inclusive, with social communication and sensory preferences supported through strengths-based approaches. Her firm belief that environments and attitudes are the key to creating neurodivergent-friendly schools means she focuses on changing minds, spaces and thinking to make education work with young people, not against them.
Sadie works with the University of Sussex on research led by the autistic community and co-created the Just Right programme, now used in all 65 of Brighton and Hove's mainstream schools and three special schools. She has gone on to develop My Ace Space which is a new and neuroaffirmative reworking of this programme (to be launched in 2026). Sadie regularly collaborates with neurodivergent thought leaders to ensure her practice evolves with changing narratives around autism and ADHD. She sits on national research projects, delivers training across sectors and advises neuroaffirming alternative provision settings, such as Oaks Rise, helping shape inclusive practice at a systemic level.
Amber Windsor
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As a neurodivergent person and parent of a neurodivergent child, Amber brings both personal insight and professional expertise to her role, driven by a commitment to reshaping the narrative around neurodivergence and education.
Amber's SEND consulting is informed by her experiences of navigating the education system with her own child where she has faced challenges such as school trauma, autistic burnout and ineffective approaches to demand avoidance. She is IPSEA-trained in SEN Law and previously led on neurodivergence in adult health and social care, working with autistic, ADHD and PDA adults whose needs were not recognised or supported early enough.
With this wealth of expertise, Amber provides invaluable support to families navigating the Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) process. She excels at helping parents articulate their children's needs and navigate the complexities of the SEND system, including DLA and PIP applications and interactions with local authorities. She brings sharp legal insight, strong strategic thinking and a deep commitment to empowering families with the tools, language and confidence to advocate effectively.
Amber is also actively involved in wider change-making efforts, working closely with local MPs, community organisations and grassroots campaign groups to challenge injustice and shape better outcomes.
Louise Hayter
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Louise is an experienced teacher and SENDCo in Nursery and Primary educational settings and has worked with children who are unable to attend school. She has also worked as a SEND advisor for social care and Early Help, specialising in supporting colleagues working with children and families with neurodevelopmental presentation or diagnosis. She is an NHS autism and mental health trainer (qualified through the Anna Freud Foundation) and a mental health first aider. Within school settings, she qualified as an Autism Lead teacher in Brighton and Hove.
At Think Different Consulting, Louise focuses on EHCP reviews and supporting our professional report writing process.
Louise is a mum to three boys, one of whom has ADHD and Tourette Syndrome. She is passionate about ensuring neurodivergent children are well understood and supported so they can engage in a meaningful education that works for them and brings them both success and happiness.
Danny Annaly
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Before joining Think Different Consulting, Danny was a primary school teacher and school leader for 30 years across Brighton and Hove. He has a National Award for Special Educational Needs Coordination from Chichester University, loves working with families and is passionate about developing people's understanding of neurodiversity.
In the first half of Danny’s teaching career, he specialised in mathematics and led on the development of primary mathematics across the local authority. In his most recent role, Danny was Deputy Headteacher and Special Needs Coordinator (SENCO) at St Luke's Primary School in Brighton. Here, Danny worked hard to put inclusion at St Luke's centre and supported everyone involved in the school to develop an understanding of neurodiversity.
The role gave Danny a clear understanding of the challenges faced by the families of autistic and neurodivergent children in the current system. It was while working as a SENCO that Danny became aware of the important work Think Different Consulting was doing to provide independent support for families to navigate the education system, and he is now a proud contributor to this mission.
As a Neuroaffirmative SEND mentor, Danny is committed to helping young people develop a positive understanding of their autistic identity, something that is essential for building self-esteem and well-being.
Danny’s mother and brother are autistic, which both informs and is informed by his professional experience.
Charlene Mann
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Charlene supports the Think Different Consulting team with daily administrative and operational tasks. She also supports with developing processes, writing policies and ensuring best practice. She has a degree in Combined Social Science, an NVQ level 3 in Business Administration and many years’ experience in customer service, customer relationship management, data and administration.
Charlene is autistic and has two autistic sons. When her eldest was first identified as autistic, neurodivergence became her hyper-focus, and she remains driven to help neurodivergent children and families.
Charlene first encountered Think Different Consulting when she needed support for her youngest son. Having experienced the benefits for her own family, she now feels passionate about working for an organisation that is helping to give families the voice and knowledge they need to get the right level of support for their children within the education system.
Before joining Think Different Consulting, Charlene worked for a charity that supports children who are in hospital and their families. In this role she was an inclusion champion, specialising in neurodiversity.