Chris West Expand Chris is a public service professional, and a qualified accountant (CIPFA), with over 32 years’ service in local Government. He was Director of Resources/Finance for Coventry City Council from 2007 to 2017. Prior to that he spent 9 years as Assistant Director of Education, for 2 of which he was also Acting Director of Education. Since leaving local government in 2017, Chris works as a self-employed consultant and a non-executive director in roles across the public, private and voluntary sector. His focus and drive are working to improve the quality of life for our citizens and communities.
Chris King Expand With a background initially in the arts, and subsequently as a solicitor in private practice, Chris became a Lecturer in the School of Law at what was then the University of Central England (now Birmingham City University) in 2003. He became Director of the University's then law clinic, the Free Representation Unit in 2004 and, as a Senior Lecturer, has been module leader for the placement-based Legal Advice & Representation Unit module on the LL.B. at Birmingham City University since 2008. In this capacity, Chris has acquired significant experience of working with pro bono organisations in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands.
Professor Jean McHale Expand Jean is Professor of Healthcare Law and Director of the Centre for Health Law Science and Policy at the University of Birmingham. Her recent books include Principles of Medical Law (4th ed) (Oxford University Press 2017, edited with Judy Laing) and European Health Law: Themes and Implications (Cambridge University Press 2015, co-authored with Tamara Hervey).
Celia Christie Expand Celia qualified as a solicitor in August 2000 and specialises in Family Law. She is a Director of Celia Christie Ltd. Celia is also a trained Collaborative Lawyer and Resolution Family Mediator. Celia has worked in the Coventry and Warwickshire area for the majority of her career and specialises in trying to help her clients find amicable solutions to family disputes without the necessity of involving the courts wherever possible. Celia also runs a small business offering bespoke floristry services for weddings and events.
June Jeffrey Expand June was a Civil Servant until her retirement, specialising in the interpretation and application of legislation and advising on compliance, particularly in relation to trusts and settlements. She is a Director of Coventry Community Empowerment Network.
Graham Moffat Expand Graham is a retired Associate Professor from the University of Warwick Law School and a Member of the Socio-Legal Studies Association. He is an expert in charity law.
Keith Wilding Expand Keith qualified as a social worker in 1974. He worked in area teams and hospitals before leaving in 1988 to read for the Bar. He was a barrister between 1990 and 2012. He completed his LLM in Social Welfare Law in 2008. For 20 years he was a fee paid judge in what is now the Social Entitlement Chamber of the Tribunals Service and he has been a fee paid judge in the Health and Social Care Chamber (mental health tribunals) for 10 years, sitting in the Midlands. He is a Member of the Inner Temple and a retired member of the Midland Circuit.
Professor Harinder Bahra - Chair Expand Harinder is Professor Emeritus in management and diversity. He has worked in a number of senior academic roles including dean of a faculty of business and law. An advocate of social inclusion, equity and social cohesion, Harinder has advised and led transformative change projects around leadership and diversity management with many private, public and voluntary sector organisations.
Lord Willy Bach - Patron Expand Currently Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire, Lord Bach was created a life peer in 1998. He has held various front bench and government posts, including Shadow Attorney General and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice. He recently chaired the Bach Commission on Access to Justice. He is also a great-nephew of suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst.