Jo Garofalo

FASD Lead Advisor

Jo Garofalo wears many hats as a music industry professional, and adoption and FASD Advocate, and has many stories to tell!

As the Lead FASD Advisor for the FASD Hub, Jo brings her extensive experience and deep understanding to the forefront, developing resources and training to support families and professionals navigating the complexities of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD). Her work is driven by a commitment to improving the lives of neurodivergent children and supporting families through their unique challenges.

With a robust background in the entertainment industry, Jo's career has been marked by her dynamic contributions as a performer, producer, and educator. Her journey in the industry includes directing large-scale arena concerts and touring shows across the UK, producing internationally distributed DVDs and broadcast programming, and orchestrating high-impact marketing and promotional events. Jo's creativity, energy, and unwavering focus have established her as a respected figure in both the music and advocacy communities.

Jo's work extends beyond the stage and screen, as she has also played a significant role in supporting neurodivergent children at Voice in a Million (VIAM) and co-produced many documentaries including “FASD The Hidden Disability” that can all be viewed on RODTV streaming platform that she runs with her husband. Her ability to connect with and inspire children, along with her collaborations with various celebrities, brings her immense joy and further enriches her professional life.

As an adoptive parent, Jo's personal experiences add another layer of depth to her advocacy work. She understands firsthand the challenges and rewards of parenting a neurodivergent child with a teenage daughter with FASD, and this perspective fuels her dedication to supporting other families on similar paths. Jo is a compassionate advocate, and a devoted mum.

Gemma Manning

FASD Community Advisor

Gemma’s background is in music therapy and music performance. After studying voice and piano at university she completed a 2-year Masters of Science postgraduate degree in Music Therapy. She went on to start her own private therapy business before working for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy for 12 years. As a music therapist, Gemma gained a huge breadth of experience working with people of all ages who found it challenging to communicate or express themselves verbally.  She worked in various clinical settings including private clinic, schools, hospitals, hospices and care homes.  Gemma loved working in this kind of person-centred way, getting to know individuals and using a positive, creative, strengths-based approach in her work.  The skills and knowledge she gained working as an arts therapist provided an invaluable foundation for her current role as FASD Communities Advisor for FASD Hub Scotland.

Gemma joined the Hub in 2021. She loves being part of the team and working with a brilliant group of people. Gemma works with families on a 1:1 basis as part of the Family Support Service, providing a regular listening ear, advice and guidance to families of children and young people with prenatal alcohol exposure.  She is also one of the Advice Line advisors who are available Tuesday – Friday.  A large part of Gemma’s role is creating/developing and presenting training courses for parents/carers and professionals.  Her performance background really comes in handy here!

Gemma is Mum to a 10 year-old who has a diagnosis of FASD and ADHD.  FASD Hub Scotland played a crucial part in supporting Gemma and her daughter in the early days and she feels it’s a privilege to have come full-circle and provide support to others. In her spare time Gemma likes to watch true crime whilst doing cross-stitch. She also has a daft dog that she loves taking on walks.

Lindsay Slater

FASD Families & Communities Advisor

Lindsay began her journey with Adoption UK as a dedicated volunteer before formally joining the organisation as a member of staff in 2021. Her early work involved supporting adoptive families across a broad range of topics within TESSA, a programme closely aligned with what is now the PATH service. It wasn’t long before Lindsay found her true calling within the FASD Hub Scotland, where she provides support to biological, adoptive, kinship, foster and stepfamilies living with the impact of FASD and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). In 2023, her role expanded to include direct involvement in the Adults and Young People with FASD project.

As a FASD Families & Communities Advisor, Lindsay brings together her extensive lived experience and professional knowledge to support families and individuals in meaningful, practical ways. She works directly with families through the Hub’s one-to-one support service, offering a safe, compassionate, and non-judgemental space. Her work is highly individualised and includes increasing understanding of FASD/PAE, helping families interpret behaviours as symptoms, exploring tailored parenting approaches, supporting education pathways.

Lindsay also provides frontline support by responding to call-back requests and email enquiries from families, individuals with FASD, and professionals seeking guidance. She organises and facilitates our monthly FASD Community Groups and plays an ongoing role in delivering the Adults and Young People with FASD groups. Behind the scenes, Lindsay also manages the FASD Hub membership, as well as the Peer Support and Adults & Young People Facebook communities—ensuring these spaces remain safe, supportive, and well-moderated.

Lindsay describes herself as proactive and deeply passionate about peer support. As an adoptive, birth, step, and former foster parent—alongside her personal experience of parenting a child with FASD—she brings a rich, empathetic perspective to her work. She has long been committed to giving back to the communities she is part of, including serving on the FASD Scottish Steering Group.

Outside of her professional role, Lindsay cherishes time with her grandchildren—one of whom was prenatally exposed to alcohol due to a late discovery of pregnancy. Her personal connection fuels her strong commitment to raising awareness of FASD and tackling the stigma and shame that too often surrounds it.

Silvia Juravic

FASD Families & Communities Advisor & Services Administrator

Silvia joined FASD Hub Scotland bringing together a strong background in research, community work and direct family support. After originally working within the film industry, she transitioned into psychology and mental health, driven by a passion for understanding people’s stories and supporting families navigating complex challenges. She completed her MSc in Psychology at the University of Glasgow, where her research explored the lived experiences of caregivers supporting children and adolescents prenatally exposed to alcohol.

Within the Hub, Silvia works closely with families affected by FASD and prenatal alcohol exposure, offering practical guidance, emotional support and strategies that help caregivers better understand behaviour and daily challenges. She supports families through one-to-one conversations, resource development and community engagement, helping them feel more confident and less alone in their journeys. Alongside her direct work with families, Silvia contributes to training and educational resources for carers, professionals and partner organisations to increase awareness and promote more informed support.

Silvia is also involved in research and knowledge-sharing linked to FASD. She has presented her work at conferences and is currently co-authoring publications exploring alcohol and pregnancy as well as caregiver experiences. Her research has directly informed improvements to FASD Hub training and service delivery.

Before joining the Hub, Silvia worked as a Mental Health Support Worker supporting individuals with a range of mental health needs, which strengthened her ability to remain calm, flexible and responsive in complex situations. Across all her roles, she values creativity, collaboration and using research to inform meaningful, real-world change for families.