MSDP - Key Persons
Andy has worked in the Financial Services' sector for more than 30 years and is a fully qualified Financial Adviser. He has vast experience in motivating staff and encouraging achievement of targets, both in a personal capacity and on a corporate level. Andy is Hard of Hearing.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Deaf Community Lead
Barry qualified from AAT 25 years ago and brings a wealth of disability arts and culture experience to the Board. A well-known member of the Deaf Community, Barry is part of the ground-breaking and innovative DaDaFest (Disability and Deaf Art) team, which he has nurtured from a small community arts organisation to a leading international festival production. His voluntary roles have included Treasurer of the British Deaf Association, Chair of the Sign Dance Theatre Trust and Chair of Newcastle Deaf Club. Presently Barry is involved with the Wirral Deaf Community, Conwy Coast Deaf Golf Society, MerseySign Deaf Theatre and RiverSign Sign Choir. Barry moved to Merseyside (via London) from Newcastle 25 years ago after working with the NHS and a Sign Dance Theatre company..
Elaine brings 22 years' experience to MSDP's Board ranging from clinical audit and governance through to operational and operational management. Holding a variety of posts in London hospital trusts and London Ambulance Service, Elaine has worked at regional level with the NHS Regulator as well as senior leadership roles in large acute hospitals, heading up hospital divisions for supra-regional specialist services.
Five years ago Elaine relocated from London to the Wirral with her young family to enjoy a quieter pace of life. Her current interests include being a School Governor as well as undertaking voluntary and casual work in local primary and secondary schools.
A graduate of the ground-breaking deaf-led BSL Tutor Training Course (known as Durham University BSL Teacher Training Course [DUBSLTTC) Ian has been a highly regarded Tutor at MSDP since 2001. We calculate he has trained more than 10,000 MSDP students in the past two decades! As Training Project Lead, Ian is responsible for our training materials and leading on the development of our in-person and digital course offers. Ian is a member of the Deaf Community and his first language is BSL. Outside of work Ian enjoys walks in the countryside and taking part in various local running and cycling events including Park Run, Liverpool half marathon and Liverpool to Chester cycling event. He also loves spending time with his family and attends various social events within the Deaf Community.
Job Titles:
- Community Engagement Manager
Janice has managed all aspects of MSDP's community engagement and development since 2016. Prior to this Janice led Department of Health funded programmes Deaf Health Champions and Tablets 4 Health in Merseyside. As well as working strategically with our statutory and voluntary sector partners Janice also focuses on capacity building our local community groups and increasing our user engagement. Janice is a well-known member of the Deaf Community and has appeared in BSL films such as ‘Found at the Deaf Club' which you can see here: Found at the Deaf Club :: BSL Zone. Outside of work Janice supports Liverpool Deaf Club working behind the community bar and organising events. She is also a keen photographer.
Jenn brings more than 18 years' of Human Resources and organisational development experience to MSDP's Board. Currently Jenn works for an online retailer with responsibility for overall delivery of the colleague experience, HMRC and other regulatory compliance requirements, people policies and payroll for 3,500 colleagues!
Jenn describes herself as ‘Super passionate about delivering great and easily accessible services for colleagues and ensuring staff interactions are positive.' She is also considers herself a champion of the digital agenda and how self-service options can improve interactions and experiences for colleagues.
Outside of work, Liverpudlian Jenn dedicates her time to her family, being Mum to her son Nathaniel and a proud daughter of her Dad Alan who is profoundly deaf. As a child of a deaf adult (CODA) Jenn has direct experience of the barriers people with hearing loss face and is excited to be supporting the work of MSDP.
Joanne joined MSDP in January 2021 bringing more than 15 years of Local Authority and voluntary sector experience. A passionate advocate for community empowerment, Joanne has worked with and for Deaf and hard of hearing communities since 2013, leading Business Development and nationally funded Health and Social Care programmes at The Deaf Health Charity SignHealth and the UK Council on Deafness. Prior to joining the deaf voluntary sector various roles have included; Local Authority and Social Housing Neighbourhood Management, community involvement and public relations.
John brings more than 25 years senior management experience to the Board having led organisations delivering specialist services for communities with any degree of hearing or dual sensory loss.
Previously Director of the UK Council on Deafness and CEO of Cumbria Deaf Association and MSDP, Mr Brennan has significant expertise, knowledge and experience at a strategic and operational level. John is also a founder Board member of Network for Europe and Expanding Horizons, organisations supporting the voluntary sector to access European funding/activity and improve social inclusion.
Katy has more than 30 years' experience of working in the charitable and health and social care sectors. Katy grew up with a significant hearing loss and relied on lip reading. After acquiring some of her hearing in her late 20s, her involvement with Merseyside Society for Deaf People increased. In the last couple of years Katy has written and produced the play ‘Perception of Time' in British Sign Language and English, which has led her to link in with public health services and universities researching the inequalities within Cancer services for D/deaf people. Katy is the lead Board member for Safeguarding.
Kevin brings more than 15 years' frontline and management experience of providing person-centred, social care and support services to Deaf and Deaf-blind people. As a member of the Deaf Community, Kevin has lived experience of the barriers that people with hearing loss face. His energy, commitment and positivity to enhancing the lives of MSDP clients is infectious. In Kevin's own words "I have always had the client's best interests at heart and have adopted a philosophy of empowerment and enablement." Outside of work Kevin enjoys time with family and can be found on the golf course with friends!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Deaf Community
- Senior Advice & Support Officer
Mark has rejoined MSDP in October 2018 after nearly 20 years, he comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience to contribute to the D /deaf community. Mark is a Qualified Teacher and has previously worked with the Institute of British Sign Language as a Qualification Officer for 6 years after working for Wirral Metropolitan College for 14 years as the Manager of the Deaf Awareness and British Sign Language studies team.
Mark is a member of the Deaf Community so understands firsthand the problems and barriers that the Deaf community face on a daily basis and is passionate about breaking down these barriers to allow full access to the local community and services. Outside of work, Mark enjoys playing golf, watching football and spending time with his family.
Job Titles:
- Governance and Finance Lead
Sarah joined MSDP in 2001 and over the last 20 years has worked in every area of the charity. Today Sarah ensures our charity's finance and governance functions run smoothly. Sarah is hearing, she holds CIPD and AAT qualifications and is also qualified in BSL. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys travelling.
Sarah-Jane joined MSDP in July 2023. Sarah-Jane is incredibly passionate about making a difference to the individuals who need it the most. Sarah-Jane has worked within, managed and led Learning Disability, Autism and Mental Health services for over 10 years. These roles include: Registered Manager, Commissioning and Relationship Manager and Compliance Manager.