Vice President | CILEx

Caroline qualified as a Fellow of CILEx in 2007 and began her legal career in Sheffield, covering criminal, prison, and public law. She later specialised in claimant personal injury litigation at Irwin Mitchell, focusing on brain and spinal injury cases and supporting clients with complex health needs. Caroline has worked across all levels of the legal sector, from junior roles to senior positions, including governance and compliance roles in the private care sector.

Currently, she serves as Operations Director for a gym chain in South Yorkshire, providing strategic leadership and managing daily operations. With her diverse experience in litigation, care frameworks, and rehabilitation, combined with her background as a personal trainer, Caroline brings valuable expertise to the board. She also holds key roles on the CILEx group board, the Audit & Risk Committee, the External Relations Working Group, and the Education Board.

Managing Director / Music Therapist, APCI & NMT Certified | Chroma

Daniel qualified as a music therapist in 2002. His work focuses on children and families, especially supporting attachment, bonding and resilience.

Daniel has worked in prisons, mental health settings and in special and mainstream schools with children with a range of brain injuries and other conditions.

He certified in the APCI assessment in 2014, and as a Neurologic Music Therapist in 2017. He is also Managing Director of Chroma, one of the UK’s leading arts therapies groups.

Founder and CEO | Healthy You Ltd

Dr Jan Smith is the Founder and CEO of Healthy You, with over 15 years of experience in trauma support and organisational consultancy. Her career spans diverse industries, including health, aviation, nuclear, and litigation. Jan specialises in creating trauma-informed services, offering therapy, and advising government bodies. She is the clinical lead for the national Make Birth Better campaign and an expert advisor on maternity safety. Passionate about leadership development, Jan coaches individuals to become compassionate, dynamic leaders and promotes psychological safety in workplaces. She has authored two influential books on tackling burnout and PTSD among healthcare professionals. Jan's work also focuses on using media to improve access to maternity services. As a Research Associate at Sheffield Hallam University, she continues to develop innovative approaches to support staff and clients, always driven by collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to creating positive, sustainable change.

Independent Special Education Advisor | ECMS Limited

Judith James is an Independent Special Education Advisor with over 30 years of experience, based in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. A qualified teacher since 1992, she has worked across mainstream, specialist, and residential settings, supporting children with complex needs, including cerebral palsy, autism, and profound learning difficulties. Judith held leadership roles, including Head Teacher for 11 years, improving her school’s Ofsted ratings to outstanding. She specialises in positive behaviour management, multidisciplinary collaboration, and creating tailored learning programs. Judith also served as an Ofsted inspector and provides expert witness reports for legal cases. Currently, she runs a consultancy supporting families across England and Wales, focusing on educational advice, training, and transition planning. Her qualifications include a B.Ed., MA in Deaf Education, NPQH, and an Expert Witness Certificate.

Expert Witness and Physiotherapist in Paediatrics

Juliet Weston qualified as a physiotherapist in 1990, quickly specialising in paediatrics. She began her career at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital before joining Alder Hey Hospital in 1993, where she spent a decade working across various clinical areas, including respiratory care, ICU, and hydrotherapy, with a focus on the Head Injury Rehabilitation Team. Juliet later transitioned to community-based work, supporting children with neurodevelopmental conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, and Down syndrome.

She completed post-graduate training at the Bobath Centre in 1994 and earned a Master’s degree in Health Practice from the University of Salford in 2005. Passionate about multidisciplinary care, Juliet developed a screening programme for premature babies to detect developmental issues early. After retiring from the NHS in 2023, she continues to work privately.

Since 2011, Juliet has prepared over 260 medicolegal reports and has been an active member of the Medicolegal Association of Chartered Physiotherapists, serving on the committee since 2019.

Joint Head of Court of Protection | Serjeants' Inn Chambers

Michael is Joint Head of the Court of Protection team at Serjeants’ Inn Chambers and a leading expert in clinical negligence. Recognised by legal directories for his expertise, he handles complex healthcare cases, often at the intersection of law, ethics, and medicine. Michael has represented private clients, hospitals, and state bodies in high-profile clinical negligence matters and major inquests, including the Alfie Evans case, where he led Alder Hey Hospital’s legal team. His practice covers catastrophic injuries, wrongful birth claims, and medical treatment disputes. He has also been involved in ground-breaking cases, such as Y v A Healthcare NHS Trust, securing emergency fertility treatment without prior consent. Michael’s strategic insights and commitment to achieving just outcomes make him highly sought after in clinical negligence, particularly where cases overlap with regulatory or Court of Protection issues.