HPCI CIC Directors & Staff

I live in Hitchin (North Herts) and have two children, one with Autism, learning difficulties and ADHD, who attended a Herts SLD special school, and one with ADHD, autism and Tourette’s Syndrome who attended a mainstream school. Both of them are now in college. I I have been involved in running Angels Support Group since it began in 2003. Angels is a parent-led support charity for families in North Herts and Stevenage who have children with ASD or ADHD. Through Angels I have met so many parents who inspire me with the way they tackle the challenges they face so positively, and I am passionate about getting across the parental perspective to service providers. By working together, we can ensure the services truly meet the needs of children with SEND and their families. I am one of the founding members of HPCI.

My name is Sylvia and I live in East Herts. I am mum to our two children, both of whom attend Mainstream school. Before I had my children I worked for 15 years, qualifying as a Chartered Management Accountant. I have first-hand knowledge of the challenges and constraints of Government funding, and I am a firm believer in value for money. I am delighted to have the opportunity to work as part of HPCI. By helping to strengthen parent carer involvement across the County, together we can make sure that money is spent effectively and that services provided by the Local Authority and Health best meet the needs of children with SEND and their families.

I am the mother of three children. My oldest has ASD, ADHD and an (undiagnosed) neuromuscular disorder and my youngest has complex health needs as well as an undiagnosed neuromuscular disorder which means he is a full-time wheelchair user. I sit on various advisory boards for disabled children’s charities and the NHS and I’m the SEND governor for a primary school in St Albans. I am also co-director of Special Needs Jungle.

We live in Welwyn. Our youngest child, was born at 28 weeks, he spent his first two years in and out of hospital. At the age of 4 he was diagnosed with septo-optic dysplasia, a hormonal disorder, autism, learning difficulties, some physical difficulties and visual impairment. He is also charming and very happy! Managing my son’s needs, including many hospital appointments, led me to give up a busy career in sales & marketing to become a full time parent carer. I ran a local SANDS (Stillbirth & Neonatal Death) support group for parents for ten years, and have been a school governor since 2002, at two Hertfordshire schools.

I am a single parent to three children (two girls and one boy) and we live in Hitchin.  My daughters are diagnosed with multiple conditions such as Autism, ADHD, social anxiety, tics and physical disabilities.  Both are also Dyscalculic, and one is Dyslexic.

I was a local primary school teacher for Hertfordshire County Council for over 20 years and have vast experience in working in various different types of schools and catchments.  Since stopping teaching and being a parent carer, I have used my skills and experience to be a Parent Rep for HPCI and also a School Appeals Panel Member.

I have also been a parent governor all throughout my son’s schooling and through some of my daughters’, to ensure that their schools are providing the best for all and being that critical friend.  I am neuro diverse myself and this has helped me understand why I am proactive and believe that everyone should have the opportunity to achieve the best they can.

My name is Siobhann – I live in Welwyn and I’m a mum of two. My son is 10 and my daughter 12. They both are autistic with ADHD, with varying degrees of learning difficulties. My daughter also has specific learning difficulties. My son has a complex mix of health needs. They both, after a challenging time in school, attend specialist schools. I myself have specific learning difficulties and have a sibling with additional needs. I am passionate about children getting the support they deserve in all areas of life. I have for 5 years been within the scouting movement and thoroughly enjoy it.

Prior to having children, I worked within adult mental health and care sector. For the last five years I have had the absolute pleasure of being a part of Families in Focus, a Hertfordshire based organisation supporting parents all over the county. This has empowered me as a parent, as an advocate for my children and gave me confidence to join HPCI as a parent representative, something I have thoroughly enjoyed for three years now. Through all of this work I have returned to university and am currently working on my law degree. I have a particular interest in EHCPs and SEN support in schools.

I have two children, one with ADHD now at university and one with Down Syndrome about to move into post-16 education. I currently work in the charity sector as a legal advisor to parent carers who have children and young people with SEND. I also volunteer with IPSEA for their Tribunal Support Service. I have a degree in Law and am working towards qualifying as a solicitor.

I am a co-founder and Chair of Trustees of DS Achieve, a Hertfordshire charity providing services to families who have a child with Down Syndrome and the professionals who support them. I am also a governor of a local special school. For over 10 years I acted as a parent representative with HPCI and am now happy to be a Director and to continue to support the work that parent carers are doing locally to ensure services meet the needs of our children and young people.

I live in Cuffley, South East Hertfordshire, with my husband and my two children, one of whom has autism. I have worked with my children’s school to advocate for and support SEN children. My profession is senior human resources leadership, diversity, equity, inclusion and wellbeing where I am privileged to have opportunities to make a tangible impact on people’s lives. Additionally, I am a Neurodiversity and Leadership Coach.

My daughter with autism continues to inspire me with her strength and resilience, in spite of the many challenges she faces daily. I want to support our communities to proactively understand the needs of our children and young adults to help them thrive in their environments.

I was brought up in Hertfordshire and lived there until I recently moved just across the border into Bedfordshire.  My 3 daughters still live in North Hertfordshire, and I have 4 grandchildren.  One of my granddaughters has complex health and care needs  and I am very actively involved in her care.  She attends a Special School and needs support for her every day activities.

I was the Head of Service for children’s health and care in Hertfordshire County Council until December 2024, and I want to bring that knowledge and experience into my role with HPCI.  My ambition for the SEND system is to see parents, carers and families of children with SEND supported and enabled to cope with the complexity of life when caring for a child with additional needs so that families can thrive.

Originally from Nottingham, we moved to Hertfordshire over 25 years ago and now live in St Albans. It was when my youngest neurodiverse son was unable to access education that I discovered that the parent voice was not always listened to. Fortunately, now he has the right support he thrives in his mainstream school. As a qualified nurse for learning disabilities and autism I have worked for over 30 years in health, education and social care, currently as the Chief Executive Officer of Harpenden Mencap, supporting adults with learning disabilities to live in their own homes.

I live in Berkhamsted and have two children, one of whom is autistic and has ADHD and a learning disability. Before taking a career break to care for my son, I worked in government for sixteen years, mainly focussing on homelessness policy. More recently, I have worked with a local charity that helps vulnerable adults move on from housing difficulties towards independent living.

I have three neurodiverse children, who between them attend both mainstream and specialist schools. Before joining HPCI, I’ve always been involved in property, most recently in block management where I’ve spent the last 12 years running my own business. When my children were much younger, I was involved with the maternity services equivalent of HPCI, helping to influence and shape maternity policy in Hertfordshire.

I am a parent of two children who attend mainstream schools. Before joining HPCI as a rep and more recently, as member of staff, I worked as a SEND teaching assistant alongside studying for my Diploma in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools. Before this, I worked in childcare supporting a variety of children in different settings.

I live in Croxley and I’m a mother to two daughters, my oldest is Autistic with a PDA profile and has Speech & Language difficulties. I have experience of working with adults with physical & learning disabilities and neurodiversity, as well as previously working for HCC hospital discharge team in assessing social care needs. I took a career break from the industry to enable my daughter in mainstream school, and strongly believe in equal access and opportunities.

I live in North East Herts and have two children who attend mainstream schools. We are a neurodivergent family and I have physical disabilities as well. I have experienced a range of difficulties in accessing services and places. I am passionate about breaking down those barriers and changing the way society thinks about accessibility.

I took a ten year career break after becoming a mother. My professional background is in Human Resources, most recently as an HR Officer in Local Government but I do also have experience in the private finance sector as well. My interests were Employment Law, policy and project management and I have a Masters degree in Human Resource Management.

I relax through creativity and can usually be found knitting, crocheting, drawing, taking photographs, sewing or writing and I usually have about ten million projects on the go at once!

I live in Harpenden and I am a Mum of two neurodiverse children who attend mainstream school.  I feel passionately that children and young people with SEND should be able to access high quality services in a timely manner to provide the support they need.

Before joining HPCI I was a project manager in clinical research for many years and I have also worked as a teaching assistant in a local primary school.

I live in Sawbridgeworth and have two neurodiverse boys, who attend mainstream primary schools. They are both ADHD, however my youngest is also autistic with a significant speech and language delay and has ARFID. I am passionate about them having the help they deserve and the same opportunities everyone has in life achieving the best they can. As well as being a PINS officer for HPCI, I am also a parent rep and I volunteer at SEND groups supporting families locally.

Before taking a career break to care for my boys I was in the beauty industry. I travelled the world doing beauty on cruise ships, then becoming a teacher and assessor in beauty therapy and running my own beauty business.