People

The charity trustees are the people responsible, under the charity's governing document, for controlling the management and administration of the Foundation. To be a charity trustee is not a position of honour without responsibility; it requires time, understanding and effort.

Children's Liver Disease Foundation is indebted to its trustees:

Nick Budd
Kellie Charge
Mairi Everard
Michele Hunter
Tom Ross OBE (Chairman)
David Tildesley

Send an email to the Trustees

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 three times and is passionate about global issues.

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David Baylis - Families Officer

David is part of our support team, helping to provide information and advice to families of children with a liver condition. David has plenty of experience of working with young people, having qualified as a Business Education secondary school and college teacher after graduating from Lancaster University with a BSc in Business. David has a passion for sport and fitness which takes up a considerable chunk of his spare time.



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Rachel Murphy - Fundraising Manager

After graduating from the University of Leeds in 2008 with a BA in English and German, Rachel went to work for the charities Mencap and Incontrol as an administrator in the Learning and Development team.  After this, she left to travel independently for six months on a round the world ticket, spending most of this time in South America. Rachel joined CLDF in April 2010 and her role involves providing assistance to CLDF’s fundraising supporters. In her spare time she enjoys travelling, learning languages and socialising with friends.




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Lisa Armstrong (was Rose) - Digital Communications Officer

Lisa joined CLDF in November 2010 after graduating from University of Wolverhampton with a degree in English Language and Linguistics.  In her spare time, Lisa helps to run a Guide group, and enjoys going to the cinema, cooking and reading.





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Mairead Ritchie - Press Officer

Mairead joined CLDF as part time press officer after building up extensive PR experience across a wide range of organisations, both in a freelance capacity and with two leading Midlands PR consultancies. She holds the Certificate in Communication Studies and Diploma in Public Relations from the CAM (Communications Advertising and Marketing) Foundation and is now working with the team to raise CLDF’s profile across a range of media.

Outside work, Mairead is kept very busy running around after her three young children. When she does have spare time she loves socialising with friends and keeps herself sane with yoga, music, gardening and exploring different parts of the country with the family.

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Catherine Arkley - Chief Executive

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.


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Emma Dempsey - Information and Research Manager

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 as a volunteer at CLDF before joining the team as a part-time PA to the CEO, before moving to her current role as Information and Research Manager.  When not at work, Emma finds she spends most of her time running around after her young children leaving little time to pursue much else!




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Gill Baylis - Finance Manager

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.

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Judith Chappin - Office Manager

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 regional events and the National Conference and Family Day.  In her spare time Judith enjoys attending concerts, travelling, reading and socialising with friends.

Send Judith an email