staff information

Stephen Burke became Chief Executive of Counsel and Care in March 2005, working for the best care and support for older people. Previously he was Director of the national childcare charity Daycare Trust from 2000. Stephen has over twenty years' experience in public relations, journalism and fundraising.

Donna joined Counsel and Care in January 2004, and as well as supporting the Chief Executive, she administers the secretariats for the Coalition for Quality in Care and the CCC,and lends her skills to the organisation of events.

Caroline Bernard joined Counsel and Care as Policy and Communications Manager in January 2006. Caroline is responsible for Counsel and Care's policy influencing, corporate communications and branding, events and marketing.

Caroline is the author of two of Counsel and Care's policy papers Real choice, real voice: older people in control, and A New Strategy for Carers: better support for families and carers of older people. Caroline conceived, project managed and authored VotingAge: an older people's manifesto.

Elizabeth Lodge joined Counsel and Care as Advice Service Manager in April 2010. She has worked in the voluntary sector for fifteen years, including seven years running a national advice line for older people at Help the Aged. Prior to that, Elizabeth managed local authority home care services for eight years, so has both experience and understanding of the issues facing older people in terms of their care and support needs. Most recently, she was working for Macmillan Cancer Support, with responsibility for cancer information and support services and for working in partnership with the NHS.

Padma has worked for Counsel and Care for 14years, and has seen the charity develop to its current exciting stage. She manages the charity's IT, human resources, premises, health and safety in addition to the charity's finances with the help of the senior administrator.

Helen Dunkerley joined Counsel and Care as the Fundraising Manager in May 2007. Helen has over six years experience of working in the voluntary sector. Prior to coming to Counsel and Care, she worked as a Grants Officer at the Balance Foundation managing a Grants Programme for Older People and worked for the Clore Duffield Foundation. Prior to this she worked for over four years for the National Trust in the Publications and Education Departments.

Rebecca joined Counsel and Care in November 2009 and has extensive account management and marketing experience in the childcare sector, working in both the public and private sectors. For five years, Rebecca previously worked for Computershare Voucher Services (formerly known as Busy Bees Childcare Vouchers), as the Field Account Manager, managing seven external account managers to maintain and develop employers operating the childcare voucher scheme. Prior to this, Rebecca worked at Nottingham City Hospital NHS Trust as the Childcare Co-ordinator for two years, leading on the Trust's Childcare Strategy to support working parents. Rebecca has also worked for two local authorities, Derbyshire County Council and Cornwall County Council as the Information and Marketing Officer for Children's Information Service.