John Baker, Chair Person John is the District Crown Prosecutor at the West Midlands Magistrates’ Courts Unit, Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). John has over 30 years experience working for the CPS. He is passionate about human rights and ensuring everyone whatever their circumstances has opportunities to live an ordinary life. Expand
Richard Grant Richard Grant is a performance poet based in England, but who travels around the world with his brand of beat box poetry. Richard is otherwise known as ‘Dreadlock Alien’ and was previously the Poet Laureate in Birmingham. Richard has strong links across the literary scene in England, including judging the Young Muslim Writer’s Awards and being a leading member of many poetry initiatives and projects. Expand
Rachel Seabright Rachel began her career working for Members of Parliament, where one of her roles was to help constituents with case-working problems. This led on to rights based work for the Citizen’s Advice Bureau, the Refugee Council and working as a specialist in immigration law for over 10 years before setting up her own practice. For the last 5 years she has worked in the Corporate Affairs department of a large acute NHS Trust. Expand Rachel’s varied experience and solution focused approach enables her to both understand the issues that different groups in society face and come up with person centred and sustainable outcomes. Her work in Corporate Affairs in the NHS has given her an understanding of good governance, which is a vital skill she brings to the Board. In Rachel’s words, ‘Changing our Lives works with people in such an innovative and life changing way. I am proud to be part of such a movement that puts people at the centre of their own decision-making. Involving people in their own life-choices, and campaigning for others in similar situations, means it is so much more likely that change will be effective, and long-lasting.’
Paul Southon Paul began his career in the health service as a nurse and then a health visitor. After working on the front line of health services, Paul moved to work in public health, researching and developing local health policy. Expand Throughout his career Paul has focused on reducing inequalities and improving the health of those who are disadvantaged or excluded. Paul is currently running his own public health consultancy and training company. He is also the editor of West Midlands Healthy Urban Development Group Weekly update which is a new bulletin highlighting news, information and resources in relation to health environments, housing, climate change and sustainability.
Tony Middleton Tony has many years of experience as a senior leader in the HR field in several settings, running busy HR functions nationally and regionally, across several sectors. Expand His experience includes culture change and service improvement, employee relations, talent acquisition and succession and employee engagement. Tony describes himself as a pragmatist and a realist, who is solution focussed and always starts with the end in mind! Tony is now the Interim Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council. Being a trustee since 2007, Tony is committed to employment for disabled people and people with mental health difficulties. He strives to be part of making lives better for people, believing that everyone deserves a fulfilling and rewarding life. To quote Tony, ‘If you were to snap me in half like a stick of rock, it would say "Changing Our Lives" in the middle!’