Stephen Unwin Expand Stephen has been the KIDS Chairman since November 2016. Stephen founded the English Touring Theatre in 1993 and opened the Rose Theatre in Kingston in 2008. He has been an Artistic Director and Chief Executive for 21 years. He is a hugely experienced theatre and opera director, has written eight books and taught in universities and colleges in Britain and the United States. He was a Community Governor at Whitefield Schools and Centre, the largest special school in Europe, and is a campaigner for the rights and opportunities of people with learning disabilities. Stephen is a father of a severely disabled young man who has benefitted from KIDS services.
Austin Erwin Expand American-born and a resident of the UK for over 25 years, Austin Erwin has extensive experience in international banking and finance. He is currently focussed on corporate and financial institution restructuring.Two of Austin's children have special learning needs and both benefitted from the KIDS Lady Allen Playground.
Benet Middleton Expand Benet is an experienced independent consultant working with a range of, primarily, not for profit clients. He specializes in strategy development, organizational change, communications and stakeholder engagement. Clients have included Contact a Family, UKCP, Brain Research Trust and Trinity College London. He is also a qualified and registered counsellor in private practice and working with two Brighton based charities (PossAbility People and Mankind UK). Before setting up his consultancy Benet worked in the voluntary sector for over fifteen years. In that time he held senior roles in a number of national charities including CEO posts. While a Director at National Autistic Society he supported his team to a successful campaign for an Autism Act and helped establish the Autism Education Trust working with Treehouse (now Ambitious About Autism) and the Council for Disabled Children. Benet was one of the founders of National Voices an umbrella health and social care charity. Prior to working in the charity sector, Benet held posts in both public and private sector organisations. Benet has an MSc from the Science Policy Research Unit at Sussex University.
David de Paeztron Expand David de Paeztron has a Digital Marketing background and has worked with Shell as their CIO.
Gabby Bertin Expand Gabby started her career at BNPParibas as an equity trader, she then decided to work in politics. Initially she worked under Liam Fox as a junior Press officer. Working her way up she has spent the last decade working for David Cameron whilst he was Prime Minister. Whilst working for David she was his Press Secretary and then later changed roles to Director of External Relations. David Cameron made her a Life Conservative member of the House of Lords in 2016 and she now sits on the Communications Committee. Gabby joined BT in January 2017 to take on the role of Director of Strategic Communications and Campaigns. This was to head up a team including BT’s Tech Literacy programme, which aims to help build a culture of Tech literacy. In February 2018 she changed roles to Director of CEO's Office and Corporate Projects. In this role Gabby is responsible for supporting the BT Group CEO to make sure his time is used efficiently and to maximum effect, she also takes a lead on the Corporate Projects for the company. Gabby has the following focus areas:Policy Interests - Communities and families; Crime, Civil law, Stalking, Justice and rights; Culture, Media and Sport; Disability; Pre-natal and Post-natal care.
Lindsay Thomas Expand Lindsay is a father of a 21 year old autistic young man who has gained immeasurably from more than ten years of engagement with KIDS playground services in Islington. He sees contributing to KIDS as a trustee as making some small pay back for those wonderful services his son enjoys now around a youth club where Elliot learns how to be a young adult and enjoy it. Lindsay’s own background is as a regulatory and risk consultant in financial services. With a place on Board and the Finance & Audit Committee Lindsay uses these to bring ideas, energy and give challenge but also to communicate a parents perspective to the discussions. Together with his family, he has seen the dark days families experience with disability and has been involved in various other organisations to win better rights, services and understanding for those battling disability.
Richard Pogrel Expand Richard is a partner at the global law firm White & Case LLP. He brings to the Board the skills of an experienced legal practitioner. Richard qualified as a solicitor in 2002 and specializes primarily in finance. He has been a member of the Board of Trustees since January 2014, having had involvement with KIDS since 2008. As well as a Trustee, Richard is also an active member of the KIDS Finance and Audit Committee (which is made up of Trustees and non-Trustees), on which he has served since February 2010. He has also provided ad hoc pro bono legal advice to KIDS on various matters ranging back to 2009. From 2008 to 2010, Richard was part of the KIDS Young Fundraising Committee and helped to organize, among other things, the KIDS annual Halloween fundraiser. Richard has also participated in other fundraising events on behalf of KIDS, including running the New York Marathon.
Teresa Culverwell Expand Teresa Culverwell has worked in the local government and charity sector including for KIDS for 7 years as Information Officer, based in Dudley. Teresa is a parent of two sons, 26 year old Anthony, and 19 year old John-Luke who is severely disabled and whose condition includes cerebral palsy, microcephaly, global delay, epilepsy, scoliosis, is PEG fed, in a wheelchair, can’t talk, and is registered blind.
Zoe Peden Expand Zoe Peden is an award winning technology entrepreneur who for the last decade has focussed on building impactful tech to help children and adults with speech, language and communication needs. Zoe is experienced in working across education, health and social care and is driven by helping families get access and the most effective support for their needs.