The PMG Executive Committee is made up of 15 volunteers and, since September 2010, an External Advisor. Most are also members of one or more sub-committees, referred to below as Groups. Meet the team:

Clare Wright

Executive Committee Chair (member of Finance Group)
Qualified in 1994 from the University of Ulster as an occupational therapist, Clare has 11 years’ clinical expertise in community paediatrics.  Clare moved to James Leckey Design in 2005, and graduated with a Master of Clinical Research degree in 2008. Clare was a former member of the Research Group and was co-opted to PMG's Executive Committee in 2008. Clare became Chair of PMG in July 2010.

James Hollington

Executive Committee Vice Chair (Chair of Website Group, member of Finance Group)
James is a Bioengineer working in Special Seating and Gait Analysis at the SMART centre in Edinburgh.  He has worked in the field for over 8 years. Previous roles have included Senior Specialist Rehabilitation Engineer (Sussex Rehabilitation Centre, Brighton), Clinical Engineer (Enable Ireland’s Postural Management service, Dublin) and Rehabilitation Engineer (Roehampton Rehabilitation Centre, London).  He graduated with a BEng in Mechanical Engineering from Newcastle University in 2001 and an MSc in Assistive Technology from King’s College London in 2004.

Rakesh Shukla

Executive Committee Treasurer (Chair of Finance Group)
Rakesh graduated in Medical Engineering from Queen Mary University in 2007 then went on to complete his Masters in Biomedical engineering and Medical Imaging at University College London, UCL, in 2008. From then Rakesh has been a Rehabilitation Engineer for Croydon Wheelchair Service. He became the treasurer of PMG June 2010 and is the youngest member of the Executive Commitee.

Linda Marks

Non Executive Committee Member (External Advisor)
Retired Consultant in Rehabilitation at RNOH Stanmore. Involved with PMG right from 1991 and on Exec Comm 2006-9. Just thought she had properly retired when in 2010 was asked to become the External advisor to the Exec. She feels she has come home again !

Jane Chantry

Executive Committee Member (Chair of Publications Group; member of NTE Group)
Jane qualified in 1997 as an Occupational Therapist from the University College of York St John and subsequently went on to achieve her MSc in Professional Healthcare Studies. Since then she has gained over 11 years experience in the field of postural management predominantly in the area of complex neuro-disability including roles at Bristol Wheelchair Service and The Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability in Putney.  Jane has been in her current post at Chailey Heritage Clinical Services in East Sussex for the past 4 years.

Helen Critten-Rourke

Executive Committee Member (member of NTE Group)
As an Occupational Therapist I have worked in a variety of clinical settings around the North West of England in the NHS, Social Services and the charity sector, working mainly in the equipment provision services. I have worked in wheelchairs, posture management and pressure care for the last 10 years.
I have no desire to move from the clinical setting into management, so I see being a part of the PMG Executive Committee as a way to be involved in helping shape the future of best practice in wheelchairs, posture management and pressure care.

Kirsty-Ann Cutler

Executive Committee Member (Chair of NTE Group, member of International Conference Group and Finance Group)
Kirsty-Ann is an occupational therapist currently working as the lead therapist for the Regional Posture and Mobility Services in Birmingham. Following her BSc(Hons) from the University of Derby in Occupational Therapy, she has specialised in the field of posture and mobility for over 15 years. Within the West Midlands her experience includes wheelchair service management and clinical leadership.

Richard Earl

Executive Committee Member (member of Education and Training Group)
Background:  I joined the NHS in 1992 and worked as a Seating Technician for a couple of years.  Following that I became a Rehabilitation Engineer, with a particular interest in Special Seating.  A few years later I took over the running of the Seating Service and remained in that roll until 2002 when I escaped out into the big wide world or private healthcare provision.
The last 5 years have seen me in the role as Manager of the Seating Department at Blatchford and until recently Co Chair of the Custom Seating Group at the BHTA.  This has given me a really good insight into this great industry in which we work and the travelling around the country doing clinics has shown me some great working practices and great contact with the people working at the coal face.

Craig Egglestone

Executive Committee Member (Chair of Political Group, member of NTE Group)
A Rehabilitation Engineer with 22 years Clinical experience ,part of a team of Regional Engineers supporting 12 Wheelchair Services/PCTs in the Northern Region.
An Incorporate Engineer with an HNC  in Mechanical & Production Engineering,
City & Guilds in QA. I have completed the Invacare Impetus Training Programme,
Sunrise STEPS Education & Training Program. A Member of  the Voluntary Register
Of Clinical Technologists (IPEM) since 2001.
A co-opted member on Main Committee + NTE Sub-Committee since April 2007 .Currently studying on the Post Graduate Diploma Course in Rehabilitation Engineering at Coventry University.

James Foy

Executive Committee Member (member of Website Group)
Snr Specialist Rehabilitation Engineer supporting the Prosthetic, Wheelchair and Specialist Seating Services provided out of the Sussex Rehabilitation Centre in Brighton, East Sussex.  11 years experience working with Wheelchair Services in Sussex.  Graduated with BEng. Mechanical Engineering 1995 from The University of Leeds, MSc Clinical Engineering 2007 from Cardiff University.

Alison Johnston

Executive Committee Member (member of Research Group)
Alison qualified as a physiotherapist in 1981 from Kings College Hospital. After 2 years in acute work and community paediatrics she moved on to work in paediatrics both in special schools and the community. Since 1999 she has combined paediatrics with working in Bromley Wheelchair Service. In 2007 she gained a MSc in Rehabilitation (Postural Management) from Oxford Brookes University and for the last 2 years has been clinical manager of Bromley Wheelchair Service.

Carolyn Nichols

Executive Committee Member (Editor of Journal and member of Publications Group)
Carolyn has worked as a physiotherapist for over 30 years, mainly with clients with cerebral palsy and related conditions with moderate to severe complex physical disability.  After gaining a BSc in physical therapy in Boston, USA she moved to London in 1977 and began her UK career working at the Cheyne Centre for Spastic Children.  She went on to gain a PG Dip at the London College of Furniture in Design of Equipment for Disability, and then worked at Chailey Heritage in Sussex, where she was involved in the original design of the CAPS seat and the early development of the Chailey Levels of Ability.  She has since worked at a school for children with physical disabilities, with Active Design, and at the wheelchair service, and is currently working at a centre for young adults with moderate to severe complex physical disability.

David Porter

Executive Committee Member (Chair of Research Group and member of NTE Group)
David is a Clinical Scientist with 25 years experience in the field of posture and mobility in clinical, managerial, teaching and research capacities.  He has an MSc in Biomedical Engineering (1986) and a PhD (2004) focussed on a study of patterns of postural deformity in children with cerebral palsy.  He is currently a Clinical Application Specialist with Dynamic Controls.  Previous roles have included Clinical Manager (Oxfordshire Wheelchair Service), Scientific Director (Oxford Centre for Enablement) and Reader (Oxford Brookes University).

Gail Russell

Executive Committee Member (member of Education and Training Group)
I have worked within Wheelchair Services for over 10 years; I have been Clinical Manager at Stockport Wheelchair Service for four years.  During this time I have brought about significant changes which have impacted on patient care, quality and efficiencies. 
I am particularly passionate around posture management and the need for physical programs for patients with long term complex needs; I have completed the Post Graduate Certificate in Posture Management at Oxford. I am keen to see a consistency of skills amongst therapists and engineers who work in Wheelchair Services and to ensure there is more equality in service delivery.

Nigel Shapcott

Executive Committee Member (member of Education and Training Group). Nigel is a Clinical Scientist and Clinical Director of North Wales Medical Physics who has spent over 30 years in Rehabilitation Engineering, special seating, R&D, and education in the UK and USA. Nigel is a past Chair of PMG and in his current role is particularly interested in developing partnerships to enable far reaching educational opportunities to improve services and to raise expectations.

Monica Young

Executive Committee Member (Joint Chair of Education and Training Group and member of NTE Group)
Monica is a Senior Rehab Engineer at Dorset Wheelchair Service and has enjoyed 18 years of special seating and wheelchair services across the south of England.  She has enjoyed many years as a PMG member and is proud to be a part of a hard working dedicated executive keen to promote the activities of our organisation.