Meet the trustees

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  Jim Edwards

  Trustee

  Jim is CEO of Signature and his achievements are in service development, lobbying and collaborative action, including pioneering interpreter and employment services, and ground breaking BSL interpreter/teacher training programmes.

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  Lidia Best

  Trustee

  Lidia lost part of her hearing aged 12. A life changing event of a sudden loss of her remaining hearing prompted Lidia to get involved in active advocacy and lobbying. Lidia is the vice-chair of National Association of Deafened People, Board Member of the European Federation of Hard of Hearing and a Transport Advisor at the European Disability Forum.

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  Joff McGill

  Trustee

  Joff works for Sense as the Director of Information, Advice and Research. He is a BSL level 2 user, and has worked with people who use a variety of different communication methods. He has a son with a moderate hearing loss.

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  Jane Shaw

  Trustee

  Jane is CEO of Action for Deafness and is committed to encouraging and facilitating collaboration and partnership within the sector to achieve the best possible outcomes for service users.

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  Liz Jones

  Trustee

  Liz was born to profoundly deaf BSL using parents. She worked as Director of Sign Language Services at British Deaf Association and is a qualified Sign Language Interpreter. Currently Liz is the CEO at Hampshire Deaf Association [sonus] since 2008.

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  Brian Archbold FCIB FFA FCMI

  Treasurer

  After 35 years with Lloyds TSB Bank, Brian left in 2000 whilst Local Director in Solihull, West Midlands. He then became Chief Executive of The Ear Foundation for 8 years.

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  Lorraine Gailey

  Trustee

  Lorraine's background is psychology and speech & language therapy. She has been CEO of the LINK Centre for Deafened People since 1991, and is now CEO of Hearing Link following the merger between LINK and Hearing Concern in 2008.

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  Caroline Player

  Trustee

  With 28 years' experience working in the voluntary and public sectors, Caroline's present position is Director of Operations for SignHealth, with responsibility for the strategic direction of operations and development. Nationwide day to day operations includes Supported Housing, Registered Housing, Psychological Therapies, Advocacy, Outreach and DeafHope.

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  Michael Quinlan

  Trustee

  Michael has worked at Action on Hearing loss since December 2007. In December 2011 he was appointed as Head of East of England - Local Engagement. He's worked at the BDA and has built relationships with public, voluntary and commercial sectors. He is an active member of the Deaf Community and is a trustee of the Young Deaf Activities.

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  Prof Bencie Woll

  Trustee

  Bencie started her career researching sign language and Deaf Studies at Bristol University, where she co-founded the Centre for Deaf Studies. She moved to City University London in 1995, and then to University College London in 2005 where she is Professor and Director of the Deafness Cognition and Language Research Centre.