Standing for Election

I have been a trustee of the Nottinghamshire Down Syndrome Support Group since 2022, and am seeking re-election at the 2026 AGM. My relationship with the Nottinghamshire Down Syndrome Community goes back many years, as I led the local Down syndrome clinic throughout my career as a paediatrician. Working with the children, young people and their families has been such an important and rewarding part of my working life, and as I retire, I’m not quite ready to say goodbye! I would love to stay connected with this wonderful community and have the chance to see the children I have known over the years grow up, develop and lead happy, fulfilling lives. I feel I still have something to give, through my experience and enthusiasm for helping to develop services and support for people with Down syndrome and their families.

As well as extensive NHS experience, I have worked for many years helping develop health services for children locally, nationally and internationally through work with the Royal College Paediatrics and Child Health, the Down Syndrome Association and Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group. I have also been governor at local mainstream and special schools. Within these various organisations I have held roles in leadership, safeguarding, as treasurer and as a Trustee, giving me skills and experience in charity governance, management and strategic development. I hope that this experience, together with my longstanding commitment to children and young people with Down syndrome and their families, will allow me, if re-elected, to continue to make a useful contribution to the future of NNDSSG.

I qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1971 but then left the profession and spent my working life in the commercial sector. I have held a variety of senior roles in general management culminating in director for new business strategy of a FTSE100 listed company. Since retiring in December 2012, I have served four years as a non-executive director of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and am currently Treasurer of Erewash Voluntary Action CVS. My connection with Down’s syndrome is through my goddaughter who is now nineteen years old and I am delighted to have the opportunity to contribute positively to the Down’s syndrome community in Nottinghamshire.