Advisors

Dr. Su Laurent MBBS FRCPCH: Medical Education Advisor (Pictured)

Dr Su Laurent MBBS FRCPCH was a Consultant Paediatrician at Barnet Hospital, Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for 30 years. She was the named doctor for safeguarding for her hospital. She is now the Director of Medical Education for Barnet Hospital and the Chair of Training Programme Directors for North Central and East London, responsible for ensuring excellent training and supervision of large numbers of trainee paediatricians. She is also Associate Medical Director of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice.

Su has been involved with Child Bereavement UK since its inception, inspired by what she learned about bereavement support on a residential course attended mainly by nurses, and hugely impressed by the focus on learning from parents. Keen to spread the teaching to doctors, she became involved in making training DVDs and facilitating on courses. She was a Trustee until 2013.

Su is involved in running a bereavement support course for paediatric trainees which is now mandatory in London. She also facilitates on courses across the UK and is on hand to advise the charity about what’s happening in medical education.

Read Su's blog post about why breaking bad news can be a difficult yet important task for doctors.

Deborah Leek Bailey OBE: Education Sector Advisor

Deborah is a former headteacher and government advisor. She is founding Director of DLB Leadership Associates Ltd. She chaired the ministerial Independent State School Partnership Forum (ISSP) from 2013-2017, was previously a National College of Teaching and Leadership (NCTL) National Associate, Chairman and Vice President of the Independent Schools Association (ISA), and a former board member of the Independent Schools Council (ISC) as well as the Bromley Safeguarding Children Board.

A journalist, researcher, key note speaker and adjudicator for the TES School Awards, Deborah has published work on outstanding leadership, bereavement, adoption and partnership engagement. She is a participant of many Think Tanks on leadership and community action and was awarded the lifetime Millennium Award for her work effecting positive global social change, in the areas of HIV and AIDS awareness, an OBE for services to education, and a London for Londoners Award.

Deborah served as a Trustee from 2013-2016. Through her involvement with multiple stakeholders and national work on social mobility and community engagement, Deborah is ideally placed to raise the profile of the needs of bereaved young people.

Read Deborah's article for ISA Magazine on how schools can help children develop resilience and coping skills.

Jane Wood: Advisor for Scotland

Jane is CEO of Homes for Scotland, the national body which represents the affordable, social and private housing sector across Scotland, an industry which contributes over £30 billon to the Scottish economy and its people. Before joining Homes for Scotland, Jane was BT Group’s UK Nations and Regions Director responsible for leading on policy and public affairs in the devolved nations and English regions. Previous to that she was Director, Business in the Community, and Chief Executive, Scottish Business in the Community one of HRH Prince Charles charities and before then was Head of Corporate Affairs for Scotland and Northern Ireland for Wallmart Boots and worked with national and local government on developing public / private sector partnerships in regeneration, community asset management, retail-led regeneration and corporate responsibility.

Jane holds various government advisory positions; is a board member of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra;  She was a founder trustee and Chair of a community-owned SME which became a UK award winner in 2015. Jane has four children and lives in East Lothian with her husband.

Read Jane's opinion piece on why bereavement awareness needs to be on the business agenda.

John Adams: Funeral Industry Advisor

John Adams is a fourth-generation funeral director who has dedicated his life to service and helping families during the difficult process of saying goodbye to a loved one. As a former President of the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD) 2022-23 and an Approved NAFD Tutor, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the funeral industry.

John's personal experience with loss has shaped his belief in age-appropriate conversations about death, dying, and bereavement. He knows first-hand the importance of giving children options and empowering them during the grieving process. After losing his own mother at the age of 12, John is passionate about advocating for these conversations to happen at an early age in schools and communities across the UK.

Through his work with Child Bereavement UK, John is committed to supporting families and children during the most challenging times of their lives. He understands that everyone grieves differently and that there is no one-size-fits-all. With compassion and empathy, John helps families navigate the complex emotions and practical considerations that come with a bereavement.

Thanks to John's dedication and advocacy, more children and families have access to the resources and support they need to cope with the loss of a loved one. His tireless efforts to promote age-appropriate conversations and empower children have made a significant impact on the funeral industry and the wider community.

Read John's opinion piece on bereavement education in schools.

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Author: Harriet Hieatt-Smith

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