Meet our team!

   STAR International Trustees

   Bridget, Susan, Juliana, Jodie, Rachael and Erin via Skype!

   Autumn 2016

Susan Moore (Maccoy), VN, Trustee, is a veterinary nurse who lives in Wales. She first volunteered in Romania in 2004 when she was based at an orphanage housing 300 children under the age of four. It was here that she realised how fulfilling it can be to work with children with special needs. After spending 3 years volunteering full-time in various orphanages and group homes around Brasov, Susan became aware of the lack of support for people with special needs. The wonderful children whom Susan has met over the last 14 years have had such an impact on her life that she would like to do whatever she can to help them, and the thousands more like them, who need another person to fight on their side. 

Bridget Wickert, MS, OTR/L, Trustee, is an occupational therapist who lives in the US. She began volunteering in Romania in 2002 in a rural failure-to-thrive clinic and fell in love with the country and its people. In addition to volunteering extensively locally and in Guatemala, Bridget has spent over three years living in Romania as a full-time volunteer, working primarily with children with special needs living in orphanages. This is what ultimately inspired her to change careers in 2010 from computer programming to occupational therapy. Bridget has seen first-hand the improvements in quality of life that can come from access to therapy services, and is excited to continue utilizing skills from her "new" career to help underserved children achieve their full potential.

Dr. Rachael Barr, MBChB MRCPCH, Trustee, qualified as a doctor in 2015 and is currently working as a paediatrician in hospitals around Bristol. She first went to Romania in 2010 at the tender age of 17 and worked in 2 of the children's hospitals. The children really grasped hold of her heart, particularly one small boy who led her into the world of special needs children in Romania. Since then she has been back as often as studies and work will allow, working in a special needs orphanage and the hospital. She joined forces with us in 2014 to become a part of STAR International. Rachael hopes to specialise in paediatric infectious diseases and immunology in the future and to do medical research with the hope of benefitting children around the world.

Juliana Lodge, MSc, BEd, Trustee, spent the first few years of her career working as a Primary Teacher, then retrained as a Speech & Language Therapist. Since 2004 Juliana has been supporting children with communication difficulties and has a special interest in autism and children with complex needs. Juliana spent a year from 2009-2010 volunteering in Brasov in a variety of roles; at the children’s hospital with abandoned babies and children, in an education centre; running training session; supporting communication development and running social skills groups in children’s homes, and becoming involved in two of the special needs children’s homes. The children and communities of Romania have made a nest in Juliana’s heart and she returns when possible to support various projects. Since 2020, remote support has taken off via video call. Juliana is keen to share all that she has learnt with families/carers in Romania who are hungry for knowledge and is passionate about making whatever difference she can for the youngsters in need.

Jodie Watts, BSc, MSc, BCBA Trustee, is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst from the UK, specialising in working with youngsters with autism and/or developmental delays who engage in challenging behaviour. Jodie first travelled to Romania when she was 18 years old and spent three months volunteering in an orphanage, where she met (and shared a room with!) Bridget. This sparked a love of Romania and its people, but it wasn’t until Jodie began working on a home Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) program in the UK with a child with autism, that she realised her vocation. Jodie strives to help people with additional needs reach their full potential and develop functional, life-enhancing skills which not only impacts those individuals but the wider community. 

Erin Patton, MScOT, BA, TBRI Practitioner, OT Reg. (Ont.), Trustee, is an occupational therapist from Canada with a true passion for working with children with special needs. She first traveled to Eastern Europe in 2007 to volunteer in a baby orphanage. She has returned to Romania several times, including living there for a year. Erin spends time in a paediatric hospital, a home for children with severe disabilities, and with families in the community. She has also been involved in groups for children and adults with disabilities, and a day centre. The people of Romania have claimed a piece of her heart. She is happy to share ideas and education that will benefit the lives of children, but equally has learned so much from each person she has met along the way. Erin is honoured to work with the STAR team - a supportive and compassionate group, with a great sense of humour!

Our team is rounded out by a wide range of like-minded individuals who have offered us their expertise and support, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, ABA therapists, physicians, nurses, social workers, teachers, and psychologists.

 Trustees Bridget, Susan, Juliana, Jodie, and Rachael via Skype

   Autumn 2015

STAR International Founders

Joanne, Susan, and Bridget

   Autumn 2012