Who's Speaking?

Jim Mansell is Director of the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent. The Centre undertakes research, consultancy and teaching in intellectual disability and community care.

Sue Carmichael is part of the Valuing People Now delivery team, at the Department of Health for England to help make the Government’s learning disabilities agenda happen.

Mark Goldring joined Mencap as chief executive in November 2008. Mencap is the leading UK charity for people with a learning disability and their families.

Barchester Healthcare delivers national quality with local flexibility in partnership with local communities and the people we support always respecting the individual and the way they want to live their life.

Phil Hope was elected Member of Parliament for Corby and East Northamptonshire in 1997 and was appointed Minister of State for Care Services and the Minister for the East Midlands in October 2008.

Cathy is a trained nurse in Learning Disabilities and Psychiatry. She has worked in the Health Service, Independent Sector, Local Authority (Unitary and County) levels.

Craig is founding CEO of Speaking Up, a social business and charity which empowers people with learning difficulties, mental ill-health or other disabilities to have a voice and control their own lives.

Barbara is currently Co-Director at The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities, a development agency and charity carrying out research, service improvement work and staff development.

Janet is the Joint Commissioning Manager for adults with learning disabilities in Leeds. Social work trained, Janet has nearly 30 years experience of working in the learning disability field in a variety of settings.

Carol is currently Director of Development and Commissioning for Priority Groups at NHS Leeds with responsibility for learning disabilities, mental health, older people, disables people, substance use, offender health and continuing healthcare.