Michael Craft

Background in public health, health promotion, primary health care, research and teaching. Has worked in Health Authorities at St George's Medical School, University College London and Cambridge University. Currently working for a Health Authority as Training Officer in the Homeless and Refugee Team. Visiting Fellow in Public Health at the University of Greenwich, working to establish the first UK undergraduate degree in public health and compiling a unique website study centre on evidence based medicine for a worldwide audience of professions allied to medicine. Consultant on a health promotion project in the primary schools of Delhi and Bombay.

Mildred Gordon

Teacher for nearly 40 years. MP for Bow and Poplar 1987-97. Was a member of Select Committee for Education. Devoted many years to improving the quality of life in East London. Has always worked for women's and children's rights and opposed sexism, racism and ageism. Advocated Family Courts to decide on maintenance for children of failed marriages and opposed the rigid formulae of the Child Support Act. Currently a school governor, an Executive Member of the Greater London Pensioners' Forum and Patron of Greater London Pensioners' Association, which she represents on LEAD.

Joe Harris

Chartered Mechanical Engineer. Many years as an executive in multinational companies (UK and Spain). Consultant on "know-how" technology deals, mainly with China. Research and Parliamentary Co-ordinator of the National Pensioners' Convention and a member of its National Council. Vice-President of Greater London Pensioners' Association, Council member of the Greater London Forum for the Elderly, Vice-Chair of Islington Pensioners' Forum and Secretary of the National Pensioners' Convention.
Serena Hennessy
Freelance journalist. Until January of this year she worked for Teletext, the text service for ITV and C4, where she was Social Affairs Editor. She set up and ran the Teletext Education pages and the Fifty Plus section (now part of the Lifestyle section). She also worked for Teletext's predecessor, Oracle, where she edited the consumer pages. Her early career was in TV research. From 1986 to 1990 she served as a local councillor in Richmond Upon Thames, concentrating on education, housing and social services. Still actively involved in local politics.

Marian Hirst

Co-founder of LEAD. Long experience in voluntary, community and educational sectors in London and Yorkshire. Successively teacher and youth worker in London's East End, consultant and trainer to national young volunteer force foundation, Director of Task Force (a voluntary organisation for young people supporting older people across ten London boroughs), Director of Home Office Community Development project in West Riding and latterly Head of an education unit for disturbed adolescents in Wakefield. Currently governor of two primary schools, chair of the Metcalf Smith Charitable Trust and voluntary advisor to a Muslim girls' high school.

Peter Knowles

Extensive experience in the public sector (mining, education, health) working in research, human resources and information technology. Currently IT consultant to a central London teaching hospital. Treasurer of the Manpower Society.

John Lipetz

Co-founder and Chair of LEAD. A varied career in the mining industry and the voluntary sector (ran a Council of Voluntary Service for a short while), and as an NHS manager. A borough councillor from 1971-82. Has been active in community and race relations (including being Chair of the local race equality council) and on governing bodies of primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions. Currently Chair of a Charity, Epilepsy Bereaved, and Chair of the London Branch of the Council for the Protection of Rural England.

Martin Morton

Retired Organisational Director with the CBI and then the Engineering Construction industry. 25 years as a borough councillor including stints both as Leader of the Council and Leader of the Opposition. Now involved with Consumers' Association and Community Health Council. Pension fund Trustee and voluntary Pensions Advisor, also social housing Area Chairman and active in various amenity groups.

Roger Robinson

Co-founder of LEAD and its first secretary. Director of a Disability organisation in London, a borough councillor in Camden, magistrate, active in the voluntary sector and the community. A former lay member of Industrial Tribunals, England and Wales and a Fellow of the Institute of Personnel Development. Has been a lecturer in personnel and industrial relations. Currently Mayor of Camden.

Jerry Williams

Over 30 years work for British Rail from guard to inspector. Active throughout in his trades union (the NUR), being a union representative for most of that time. A community activist throughout his life, setting up tenants' groups, being a primary and secondary school governor and a Borough Councillor for 12 years, including being Mayor in 1987-88. Currently on Board of local almshouses, Police Consultative Committee and Crime Prevention Panel. LEAD's treasurer.