David Ford obtained a degree in Psychology at the University of Hull in 1975. He undertook social work training at the University of Swansea (1977), obtained an MSc (Econ) in Methods and Applications of Social Research from the University of Cardiff (1986) and an MBA from the University of Leicester (2006).

David worked initially as a Social Worker for Mid Glamorgan County Council becoming Principal Officer for people with learning disabilities as part of the All Wales Strategy for People with Mental Handicap in 1983.

He moved to the voluntary sector in 1988 as Regional Director East for Sense, the National Deafblind and Rubella Association; then as Regional Director South for Leonard Cheshire; then Director of Services for Shelter. Since January 2007 he has held the role of Chief Executive of The National Centre for Young People with Epilepsy.

Nick has a BA in Fine Art, PGCE in Education , MA Language Arts and Education (Sussex), National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH).

His career has covered Mainstream, Secondary Comprehensive, Secondary MLD School (Hull), BESD Residential School (ILEA/LAMBETH), St Piers. Exhibition of own work in Art. Work with Schools abroad – Nigeria.

Karen Deacon has been Director of Health and Social Care at the NCYPE for the past 6 years. Karen has a professional background having trained as a nurse then taking her Health Service Management Degree. She has had a long successful career as a senior manager in several NHS trusts. She was a general manager in a trust that covered 4 sites managing two A&E departments 22 wards all inpatient and outpatient medical and elderly services. Previous to that she managed clinical support services, women and children’s services, this was after a long career in managing a busy A&E department.

Karen is also the Chair of the Joint Epilepsy Council leading the umbrella group in the political and policy impact of people with epilepsy. Karen is registered as a Director of the Joint Epilepsy Council.

Lisa has over 15 years experience in Fundraising, starting her career with British Waterways, raising funds for the regeneration of Birmingham Gas Street Basin, Leeds Waterfront and the Commonwealth Games site.

Lisa then moved onto Loughborough University as Sport Fundraiser and raised £40 million for state-of –the-art sport facilities for the UK’s leading sporting talent. Most notably Lisa secured donations of over £1 million from the Wolfson Foundation and the Peter Harrison Foundation and secured £500k from the Alan & Elenora Ferguson Trust to complete the funding required for the ECB National Cricket Academy. Lisa also wrote Loughborough’s successful Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its contribution to sport.

Lisa then spent three years at Leicester University Hospitals NHS Trust, heading up a fundraising department raising £3 million a year.

Details to follow

Chris graduated from Essex University in 1986 and until 1990 worked for Pannel Kerr Forster where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

He became Finance Director of an adult disability services charity (Hospitaller Order of St John of God) in 1990, completing his Masters in Finance and Accounting in 1998. In 2000 he moved to his current role at the NCYPE.

Whilst serving on the National Association of Specialist Colleges (NATSPEC) Steering Committee, Chris led on the review of the LSC funding system and has also implemented the current school fees model for the NCYPE.

Priority areas at present are financial strategy, capital/cash-flow modelling, pensions and risk management.

Hayley has a BSc (Hons) degree in nursing and is a qualified Midwife, Registered Health Visitor and Community Practice Teacher.

Having worked in a variety of clinical roles Hayley undertook a post graduate management qualification in 2002 and has experience in operational management within community child and family health services.

Having worked within the NHS for 27 years Hayley joined the NCYPE in March 2007 as General Manager for the health services team and has been Acting Head of Health Services since May 2009.

A Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Helen graduated from York University in 1988 with an Economics and Economic and Social History degree, and then joined Unilever Plc as a management trainee on their graduate development programme.

Whilst with Unilever, Helen held a number of personnel management positions in operational and head office locations across the country and in Europe, which included involvement in organizational restructuring, head office relocation and business merger.

After taking a 3 year career break, Helen joined NCYPE in 2000 as a part time Personnel Officer. During her time with NCYPE she has been involved in a number of HR and training initiatives, including leading the organization to gain IIP accreditation. Helen was appointed to her current post of Head of Human Resources in 2007 and has recently been appointed as Pensions Trustee for the St Piers Pension scheme.

Sarah has worked in government and not-for profit communications for 18 years. After beginning her career in 1991 editing publications for the Ministry of Agriculture, she worked in press and public relations for Government departments regionally and nationally on environment, transport, regeneration and home affairs issues including the opening of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry.

More recently she was Head of Press at conservation charity the National Trust, and as Director of Communications, she set up and ran the Independent Police Complaints Commission’s communications operation from 2003 to 2008. She joined the NCYPE in March 2008.

Alan joined the NCYPE as Strategic Development Manager in 2008, where he is responsible for the organisation’s future strategy. Prior to this, Alan spent over twenty years in a variety of roles in a large UK business culminating in a senior position where he led teams of business analysts and directed the organisation’s policy development and lobbying work.

Outside work, Alan enjoys time with his wife and teenage sons, is an active member of his local church, and attempts a range of sports including sailing.

After training as an engineer Phil has worked in estates and facilities management most of his working life and was employed in various positions in the Health Service for 30 years where he has managed capital development and operational facilities. His last post was as Head of Facilities at a Health Trust in the West Midlands. Following this he was Head of Facilities at a large mixed development in central London which provided high quality residential accommodation, a hotel and sports centre. Following this he worked briefly at The Houses of Parliament. He has worked for the NCYPE since January 2008.

He has a Masters Degree from The University of Strathclyde and is a corporate member of The Chartered Institute of Building and the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers.