About the tab | CLDF office team

CLDF office team

Catherine Arkley | Chief Executive | Click here to send an email

A business studies graduate, Catherine built a successful career lecturing in hotel and catering management before being appointed Chief Executive of CLDF in 1991.  She has since developed CLDF from a small children’s charity into a national organisation supporting families and clinicians and has become a respected authority on paediatric liver disease and the wide range of issues affecting families and young people with liver disease.  Catherine is also a lay representative on a NICE Guideline Review Panel.  In her spare time Catherine enjoys spending time with husband Ken and children David, Jessica and Philip, swimming in an attempt to keep fit, playing the piano and cake decorating.  She has a lapsed private pilot’s licence which she hopes one day to renew.  

Emma Dempsey | PA to the Chief Executive | Click here to send an email

Having worked as a PA and subsequently trained as a nurse, Emma took time out from working to raise her three children.  Emma has a son with biliary atresia.  Emma started working a volunteer at CLDF before joining the CLDF team as a part-time PA to the CEO.  When not at work, Emma finds she spends most of her time running around after her children, aged 7, 5 and 3 years old, leaving little time to pursue much else!

Support Team 

Ellen Cooper | Family Support Officer | Click here to send an email

Ellen joined CLDF’s support team in November 2005, having previously worked in a number of advice, guidance and support roles. Ellen is working as part of the support team providing CLDF’s support services, including visiting the supra-regional hospitals to meet families and manning CLDF’s on-call phone and e-mail services. In her spare time Ellen is kept busy by volunteering on archaeological digs, particularly for the National Trust for Scotland as Scotland is her also her favourite holiday destination.  Ellen also does volunteer mentoring for a disability charity and enjoys socialising.

Kirsty Smith | Family Support Officer | Click here to send an email

After gaining a degree in Business Administration and travelling for a year, Kirsty spent eight months undertaking voluntary work for a domestic violence organisation.  Kirsty went on to provide information and support for families going through the adoption and fostering process, and has also worked with young people within residential placements.  Kirsty, who is currently studying for her level 2 counselling certificate, joined CLDF as a family support officer in February 2007 and will be working as part of the support team, providing information, support and advice to families.  In her spare time Kirsty enjoys socialising and attending music concerts.

Laura Meehan | Young Persons Supporter Officer | Click here to send an email

After gaining a BA Hons degree in Education & Sports Studies at Worcester University in 2003, Laura worked at Staffordshire County Council as a trainee youth work practitioner.   Laura also attended Derby University during this time and gained a JNC National Youth and Community Diploma in June 2006.  Laura joined the CLDF team in February 2008 to work with young people who have a liver condition or have had a transplant. In Laura’s spare time she enjoys exercise, the great outdoors, interior design and house renovation, going to the theatre and spending time with family and friends. Laura has been to Ethiopia 3 times and is passionate about global issues.

Fundraising and Communications Team 

Laura is a graduate in business information management and worked as a commercial supervisor at West Midland’s safari park before joining CLDF.  In conjunction with Hannah, Laura provides assistance to supporters participating in CLDF fundraising activities or organising their own. Laura looks after CLDF’s internet fundraising activity, supports our parachute jumpers and London marathon runners, and offers assistance to organisations fundraising for CLDF. In her spare time Laura enjoys football and supports Kidderminster Harriers and Blackburn Rovers.  She also likes looking after her Staffordshire bull terrier called Buster.

Carly Duignan | Trust Fundraising Officer | Click here to send an email

After completing a degree in peace studies and international relations at Lancaster University, Carly worked as an administrator in Huddersfield before moving back to Birmingham to pursue a career in fundraising.  Carly joined the CLDF team in January 2007 as trust fundraising officer where she is responsible for making applications to charitable trusts and statutory bodies.  In her spare time Carly is learning Japanese and enjoys reading and travelling.

Finance Team

Gill Baylis | Finance Manager | Click here to send an email

Despite graduating from Hull University with an English degree and an early ambition to teach, Gill capitalised on her head for figures by joining a large accountancy practice as an articled clerk and soon qualified as a chartered accountant. After a career break to bring up her three children, Steven, David and Nicola, Gill became the financial controller of a healthcare company where she stayed for 11 years prior to joining CLDF.  Gill is responsible for processing invoices and expense payments, payroll, the production of management accounts and budgets, preparing year-end figures and analysing income and expenditure levels. Gill and her family are all involved with their local church and Gill enjoys playing badminton to keep fit.  

Administration Team

Judith Chappin | Administration Executive | Click here to send an email

Before joining CLDF as Administration Executive in January 2008, Judith worked as Office Manager on a construction site in Ancoats, Manchester. Since graduating from The University of Manchester, Judith has also spent time working in Newcastle and Sydney.  Judith helps to manage and deliver the administrative activities within CLDF and has particular responsibility for the administrative elements of study days, regional evenings and the annual conference .  In her spare time Judith enjoys attending concerts, travelling, reading and socialising with friends.

Consultants

Jill Priest | Professional Communication | Provides communications and marketing consultancy

Wootton George Consulting Professional Communication | Provides fundraising consultancy

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