Our trustees

Gareth Jones, Chair of Trustees
A trustee since February 2004, Gareth Jones is also a trustee of two other disability charities and was awarded an MBE in 2004. He retired in 2002 from banking and lives in Surrey. He has two children, one of whom is deaf. Gareth is a magistrate and works part-time with the Asylum & Immigration Tribunal.

Christine Lenehan Christine Lenehan is Director of the National Council of Disabled Children and has 30 years experience of working with, and for, disabled children and their families. She is on the Ministerial Critical Friends Group on disabled children, the Stakeholders Group looking at implementing "Every Child Matters", and the Ministerial implementation group for "Aiming High for Disabled Children". Christine was awarded an OBE in December 2008.

Doris Hutchieson
Doris Hutchieson has been a trustee since December 2005, appointed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Doris recently retired after 18 years as headmistress of a girls' grammar school. She has experience of working with government and other external agencies dealing with all aspects of children's education.

Pauline Young
Pauline Young was appointed as a trustee by the Health and Social Services Minister for Wales in 2004. Born in England, she has lived in Wales for the past 33 years. She has two grown up children, one of whom is severely autistic. Pauline managed the Viva! Project providing leisure and training opportunities for young people with disabilities in Rhondda Cynon Taff. Pauline was awarded an MBE in December 2009.

Joe Leigh
Joe Leigh became a trustee in July 2008. Joe is a member of CIPFA and a Fellow of the ACCA. He was a Chief Executive or Director of Finance for over 20 years, mainly in the NHS in England and Scotland but was also a Neighbourhood Chief Executive in a London Borough. More recently, Joe has been a trustee of a supported housing charity for the homeless, (Stepping Stone Project), and was made an Honorary Vice-President of Springhill Hospice in Rochdale. Joe lives in Bolton and is currently a non executive director of two housing associations in the North West, (Arena Homes and Willow Park Housing Trust).

Jonathan Bentley
Jonathan Bentley was appointed a trustee in July 2008. A Chartered Management Accountant, he has over thirty years experience in financial and general management. Jonathan has been a trustee of a national drugs treatment charity. From 2005 until 2008 he was Chief Executive of the Leeds Society for Deaf and Blind People. Jonathan lives in Leeds, has three grown up children and three grandchildren.

Tony Kemmer
Tony joined the Fund in September 2009. He took early retirement, after working for Boots the Chemist for over 30 years, latterly taking a leadership role in a number of aspects of strategic management including strategy development, organisation changes and information technology. He is currently Chairman of Sedex (Suppliers Ethical Data Exchange) and Regional Chairman of East Midlands CPRE. He has a disabled daughter who now lives in a supported living environment.

Robin Hindle Fisher
Robin was appointed as a trustee in September 2009. He has over 26 years of business experience in the investment management industry and has been a trustee of two charities involved in supporting families with disabled children for the past ten years - the Lady Hoare Trust until its merger with Contact a Family in 2004. Robin is disabled himself and understands the continuing challenges faced by families.

Patricia Jackson
Patricia joined the Fund in December 2009 as the board representative for Scotland. Dr Jackson is a Consultant Paediatrician of long standing who has extensive experience of children with complex medical problems. She also has extensive experience of chairing multidisciplinary committees, clinical meetings and care co-ordination meetings and working in a multidisciplinary setting with a variety of professionals, families and voluntary agencies.

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