Our Board

Chair: Professor Geoff Palmer OBE

Geoff worked as a Professor of Grain (Cereal) Science at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. He was awarded an O.B.E. for research work on cereals. He has served as a Board member of various community organisations and received the Darling Good Citizen Award from Edinburgh City Council for his contribution to community work. Geoff joined the Board because he felt MCFB was at the forefront of work which benefits disadvantaged sectors of the community especially black and minority ethnic people.

Vice-Chair: Wendy Paterson MBE

Much of my social work experience has focused on learning in practice. Early opportunity to work with social work students and, at the same time to be involved in the education of nurses, medical students and other professionals, gave me a great enthusiam for collaborative work across agencies and professions. I have been fortunate enough to work in agencies and in a university- Edinburgh- which have encouraged the development of joint work and seen the value of knowledge and skill sharing. My first contact with the predecessor organisation for MCFB was in 1984. Since then I have had the privilege of seeing at close hand the development of the agency as a place of excellence for student learning. MCFB has innovated and developed its work with children and their families, particularly BME children and families, and it offers a very special service for local communities while also providing unique learning opportunities for social work students which are sought from across Scotland and beyond.

Treasurer: Andy Thomas

I've been a youth worker for 13 years, starting out as a volunteer at the Canongate Youth Project, where I am still a member of the management committee. I qualified with a PGCE in Community Education from Moray House in 1998. I currently work as a project worker at the Citadel Youth Centre in Leith. I am an experienced practice teacher, who regularly takes social work students on placement at the Citadel. I have been interested in the work of MCFB since running joint groups with MCFB at NEWT in 2001-4.

Director, Company Secretary and Minute Secretary:
Jenny Lowe

Since retiring from her post as Lecturer in Spanish Language and Literature at the University of Edinburgh, Jenny has become involved with several voluntary organisations in a range of roles.

Director: Peter Doran

Peter has 32 years experience in social work mostly with children and families and in the management of residential child care. He worked in Ireland and England prior to coming to Scotland in the 1980's from his native North of Ireland. He was with the Lothian Registration and Inspection service, the predecessor of the Care Commission, until he moved to Harmeny Education Trust in Balerno, Edinburgh, a charity working with children and families from all parts of Scotland. He has been Chief Executive of the Trust since 2005. Peter has a long history of working with and developing Social Work student placements and in contributing to the teaching of students in academic establishments.

Director: Dr George Palattiyil

Dr Palattiyil is a Lecturer in Social Work at the University of Edinburgh. Since gaining his Masters, he has taught social work in India and later moved to Scotland to do his doctoral studies. During this time he worked as a Social Worker and subsequently became a Practice Team Leader in Community Care. He also holds a Practice Teaching Award and served as a sessional practice teacher with MCFB. His academic interests include community care, families and HIV/AIDS, equality, diversity and anti-discriminatory practice, comparative social work and research methods.

Director: David Lipetz

David's experience stems from a career in social work, both in practice and in student and in-service education. He has worked as a practitioner in child care and fostering and adoption, as senior of a multi-disciplinary team, as a lecturer in social work, as practice teacher and in-service training officer. Much of his work has been with staff working in Children's Centres for the under 5s. He has run many in-service courses for social work practitioners in a variety of social work disciplines including many on staff supervision. He brings to the Board a conviction that, for an effective service, organisations must provide a delicate balance between support for staff in their day to day work and challenge to ensure their continuing growth towards high standards of practice.

Director: Ravinder Kaur

Ravinder qualified as a social worker in 1996 and worked mainly in child protection services for 10 years. She then joined the British Association for Adoption and Fostering (BAAF) in 2006 as a trainer/consultant with a specific remit for black and minority ethnic (BME) children separated from their birth families, where she continues to work. Ravinder is also a practice teacher.

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