Ben Corrigan, Chair
Ben has been on the Council of Management for approximately ten years and became Chair of the organisation in 2004. Ben lives in Clapton and works as a Business Development Manager for DHL Express. Ben was introduced to HFBU by a friend of his and learnt through her and her son how valuable and necessary the services we provide are for the families that we work with.

Phil Evans, Company Secretary
Phil has been on the Council of Management since April 2004 and during this time has been elected vice-chair and Company Secretary. Phil lives in Bethnal Green and works in the City as a Project Director for a global Insurance firm. Phil was keen to be able to use his long established business skills for the benefit of local community projects with people centred outcomes and finds HFBU a perfect fit in fulfilling these aims.

Christoph Hobo, Treasurer
Christoph joined the board in September 2003 and took over the treasury function in January 2004. He studied business administration and finance and started his career with UBS Investment Bank. He now works for Cinven, a European private equity company.

"Coming from a finance background driven by financials and facts, it is a highly enriching experience getting involved with HFBU and its cause. It has changed my perception towards disabilities in many respects".

Stephen Cooper
Stephen Cooper lives in South East London and is a Human Resources Policy Consultant for the City of London Corporation.

"I was made aware of HFBU through the organisation I work for, and hope that my knowledge and skills in HR can help to support HFBU staff, and thereby the services that are provided."

Diane Heywood
Diane has lived and worked in Hackney for most of the last 25 years. A social worker by profession, her focus remains on the welfare of children who need protection and support. She has managed a Sure Start early support programme in the heart of Hackney's Muslim and Orthodox Jewish communities. This now forms part of the Children's Centre at Tyssen Community School, where her current role is Extended and Community Services Manager. This role gives her the opportunity to make sure that children with a disability are included in the services offered at the Children's centre. Diane is a grandmother and spends a lot of her time with her family.

June Martin
"My name is June Martin I am a parent of a child with Autism and can empathise with other parents whose children have additional needs. I am therefore pleased to join the council of management committee for Hackney Family BackUp, which is passionate about empowering parents whose children have additional needs."

Gillian Goodchild, Family Support Co-ordinator
Gillian is a psychology graduate with many years experience of coordinating volunteers working with disabled or sick children. She is also a qualified librarian who worked for a while in a specialist library for SEN professionals.

Catherine Love, Disability Backup Co-ordinator
Catherine has worked in the health care sector for over 8 years and as a team leader for a domiciliary care agency for 2 years. She has a degree in social science and regularly babysits for her nephew and niece with Cystic Fibrosis.

Martina McLachlan, Admin Worker (p/t)
Martina joined the team at HFBU after working for an educational charity for over five years. She is in the office daily from 9.15am - 2.45pm and will be your first point of contact. She has two young children and lives in Hackney.

Elizabeth Narasimha, Family Support Manager
Elizabeth has experience working with children with and without disabilities, families in crisis, grieving children, young mothers and unaccompanied minors. She holds a Bachelors degree in social work and a Masters degree in international social work and refugee studies.

Deborah Walsh, Office Manager (p/t)
Deborah has 9 years experience of working with children and adults wih special needs. She worked at Federation of Artistic and Creative Therapy (FACT) for 9 years as a volunteer, Multi-Sensory Facilitator and Project Manager. She holds an honours degree in Sociology and has completed a project management course.

Anny Ash - Toy Library Worker.
Anny has worked as a HFBU play worker for the Family Club and Evergreen Adventure Playground. She has experience in mental health residential care settings and also runs workshops in primary schools for an oral history charity. She will be at the library on Tuesdays and Wednesdays including evenings.