Dr. Judy Ford
Trustee
Chair of the Strategy & Risk Committee
Judy graduated from the University of Oxford in 1979 with a degree in Mathematics. She worked in industry and academia before taking a career break, returning to work as a part-time Mathematics Lecturer in 1994. Judy gained a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Liverpool in 2001 and then held post-doctoral research posts at Liverpool and UMIST before joining the NHS as R&D Manager at Alder Hey Hospital in January 2004.
In 2006 she joined the newly formed North-West Stroke Research Network as its manager. Since the reorganisation of the Research Networks in 2014, she has worked in both clinical research and as a mathematics lecturer at the University of Chester.
Now retired, Judy has started a new career as a novelist with a number of published books to her name, most of them featuring disabled detective DCI Jonah Porter.
Judy has lived experience of disability in her family. Judy is a member of the Chester Diocese Disability Forum, which is a committee that advises the bishops and parishes on disability issues and promotes the full inclusion of disabled people in church life. Judy lives in a small village in Cheshire with her husband. She has three grown-up children and six grandchildren.
Dr. Miro Griffiths MBE
Trustee
Member of the Strategy & Risk Committee
Miro Griffiths is a Research Fellow in the School of Sociology and Social Policy, at the University of Leeds. His research explores disabled people’s views and experiences of disability activism and disability politics. He teaches Disability Theory, Research Methods, and Social Policy Analysis.
Miro is a member of the Disability Advisory Committee at the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission; an adviser to the UK Government Department of Health and Social Care (specifically around the personalisation agenda and future models of support); an adviser on disability hate crime to the European Commission; and is a member of the Fairness and Social Justice Advisory Board within the Liverpool Combined Authority Region – appointed by Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham.
He is a former Deputy Chair of Equality 2025 – the strategic and confidential advisory network across UK Government departments – and was part of the UK delegation at the United Nations signing ceremony for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Miro has lived experience of disability and identifies as a disabled person.
His hobbies include film and cinema; board and videogames; watching football; growing herbs; and visiting open, wheelchair accessible gardens.
Chris Warren
Trustee
Member of the Strategy & Risk Committee
Chris is a Delivery Director at Binnies UK (part of RSK Group Ltd) based in Cheshire. Chris has over 17 years of experience in project, technical and commercial management. Chris holds a Bachelors and Masters degree in environment and sustainability-related disciplines.
At the moment, Chris is managing several major infrastructure projects around the UK.
Chris joined Disability Positive in June 2019 with the aim of bringing some of his expertise to the organisation, its stakeholders and the local community.
Andy Galbraith
Trustee
Member of the Strategy & Risk Committee
Member of the Finance & Audit Committee
Miro Griffiths is a Research Fellow in the School of Sociology and Social Policy, at the University of Leeds. His research explores disabled people’s views and experiences of disability activism and disability politics. He teaches Disability Theory, Research Methods, and Social Policy Analysis.
Miro is a member of the Disability Advisory Committee at the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission; an adviser to the UK Government Department of Health and Social Care (specifically around the personalisation agenda and future models of support); an adviser on disability hate crime to the European Commission; and is a member of the Fairness and Social Justice Advisory Board within the Liverpool Combined Authority Region – appointed by Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham.
He is a former Deputy Chair of Equality 2025 – the strategic and confidential advisory network across UK Government departments – and was part of the UK delegation at the United Nations signing ceremony for the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Miro has lived experience of disability and identifies as a disabled person.
His hobbies include film and cinema; board and videogames; watching football; growing herbs; and visiting open, wheelchair accessible gardens.
Anne Toone
Trustee
Chair of the HR Committee
Member of the Governance Committee
Anne is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply. She is a Senior Commercial Lead at Crown Commercial Service, a trading agency of Cabinet Office. With over 41 years public sector experience Anne has worked directly with charities and other public sector bodies to deliver savings through their common goods and services purchasing, her current role is leading a team managing NHS procurement. Anne is Mental Health First Aid trained and takes an active role across her organisation’s Inclusion and Diversity networks. Anne has over 25 years experience of school governance as Chair of Governor of two primary schools.
Anne has lived experience of disability through a family member.
Anne lives in Cheshire, she has two daughters, she enjoys walking, travelling, cooking, and is a member of a choir and parish councillor.
Paula Gilbart
Trustee
Chair of the Governance Committee
Paula is a retired solicitor with over 35 years of experience in clinical negligence litigation for the NHS, environmental litigation for the public sector, and personal injury insurance claims. Her work centred on complex child disability. She has worked both in-house with the NHS, and in private practice, in the North West.
Paula values working with and for others and has experience as both school governor and other trustee roles. Her experience with disability involved caring for her husband during his cancer care for five years until his death in 2018. She has always enjoyed working and playing closely with professionals, family, teammates, and friend
Paula’s leisure time is spent with her grandchildren and granddogs, here, in The Netherlands, in London, and France. She is a passionate reader, cook, and gardener, raising vegetables from seed, and loves the link between her garden and her kitchen.
Amie Bridson
Trustee
Member of the Strategy and Risk Committee
Amie has a career spanning 10 years across the charity and public sector and currently works for CIPFA supporting those in public finance- leading strategic relations, business development and service design.
As a full time working parent with a long term health condition, Amie wanted to make sure that organisations and charities have awareness and access to information and support so that those in work and looking for work have fair treatment.
Using her skills in strategy and business planning, Amie is wanting to support Disability Positive in its future plans and growth.
Amie is an avid fan of musical theatre and enjoys all things creative and cultural – Musicals, concerts, museums and is even part of an award winning choir in Cheshire!
Mike Morrison
Trustee
Chair of the Finance Committee
Mike has over 25 years experience in Financial Services, and is responsible for large and expert teams of colleagues to deliver positive outcomes for customers.
He currently works for Barclays UK, leading teams that support customers who may be experiencing financial problems or have other issues that affect their finances.
Mike lives in Cheshire and works mostly across the North West. He has also lived and worked in London, and 5 years in Ireland. He has two daughters who are both of University age and is also A keen runner and Liverpool fan.
Sally Gretton
Trustee
Member of the Governance Committee
Sally has had over 40 years experience in the Social Care Sector, starting in Home Care services as a worker, manager, and trainer. She delivered extensive training and development programmes within a local authority before leaving to work managing services in the independent care sector. Sally then took on the leadership role in a Partnership in Sheffield, delivering support to Social Care organisations in South Yorkshire
In 2006 Sally joined Skills for Care as the Head of Area for Yorkshire and the North East, followed by a national role heading up the integration of social care and health, working with NHS partners to raise the profile of the social care sector in the Integrated Care Systems ICS. Sally retired in March 2024.
She is keen to use these experiences for the benefit of people involved in Disability Positive.
Sally now lives in Cheshire and is building a new life following a period caring for and supporting her husband’s illness.
Sally has been involved in horse riding all her life and her horse, Blue is now a star at an RDA Riding for the Disabled centre in Yorkshire. She is busy with two bouncy border terriers and supporting her 3 grandchildren who live in Manchester.
Jackson Mills
Trustee
Member of the HR Committee
Jackson Mills is a Regional Manager with 15 years of experience in food retail, leading multiple large teams and overseeing substantial P & Ls across the UK. He has significant expertise in both people and operational leadership and is passionate about diversity and inclusion, driving initiatives to create a more inclusive workplace. Living with a chronic condition himself, Jackson is committed to supporting and empowering people with disabilities and chronic health conditions to live independently and with dignity.
Outside of work, Jackson lives in Manchester with his partner, Sam. He enjoys socialising with friends, binge-watching a good TV series, and walking.
Dr Clare Martin
Trustee
Member of the Finance and Audit Committee
Member of the Governance Committee
Clare is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy and has worked in both internal and external audit for the past 18 years, mainly in the public sector. Prior to this she studied for a PhD in seventeenth century French literature and also has a degree in Modern Languages (French & Russian).
Clare has lived experience of disability and is the co-chair of her organisation’s Disability and Wellbeing Network, and helps other disabled members of staff, particularly around reasonable adjustments. Having received help herself as a person with disabilities, she wanted to give back and work to improve the lives of others.
Clare has one daughter and enjoys spending time with her family. She has also continued her love of literature, though nowadays loves a good crime novel.
