Office of the Independent Adjudicator

Adjudication Managers

Zoë Babb

zoe.babb@oiahe.org.uk

Zoë joined the OIA in April 2009 as an Assistant Adjudicator. Prior to joining she dealt with complaints for a local authority and has had previous roles at the University of Reading including Disability Officer. She is currently covering as an Adjudication Manager.

Christine Child

christine.child@oiahe.org.uk

Christine joined the OIA in May 2013 as an Adjudication Manager. She previously worked in senior registry related roles which included management of examinations and assessment processes. She also has experience of dealing with appeals and complaints in two universities and a small specialist HE institution. She was a magistrate on the Hertfordshire bench for several years.

Fiona Draper

fiona.draper@oiahe.org.uk

Fiona joined the OIA in April 2005 as an Assistant Adjudicator and became an Adjudication Manager in 2009. She is a member of our Approval Team. She also has responsibility for our complaints handling- consultants and outsourcing. She was previously a solicitor in private practice, and subsequently worked for the Adjudicator's Office, where she specialised in casework on Inland Revenue complaints.

Siobhan Hohls (maternity leave)

siobhan.hohls@oiahe.org.uk

Siobhan joined the OIA in June 2006 as an Assistant Adjudicator and became an Adjudication Manager in 2010. She is a qualified attorney admitted under the rules of the High Court of South Africa. Before moving to the UK in April 2006 she worked with an established legal firm in South Africa.

Anne Lee

anne.lee@oiahe.org.uk

Anne joined the OIA in September 2006 as an Assistant Adjudicator and became an Adjudication Manager in 2009. She is a qualified solicitor and has also worked in Higher Education. She has taught undergraduates and postgraduates as well as having worked in university administration. She has been employed by legal practices, as well as in charities and public sector organisations, in a variety of civil litigation specialisms.

Jo Nuckley

jo.nuckley@oiahe.org.uk

Jo joined the OIA in July 2006 as an Assistant Adjudicator and became an Adjudication Manager in 2009. Before then, she worked at the National Archives as Deputy Data Protection Officer, and then as the Lead Freedom of Information Assessor. Jo decided when information in historic government records could be made available to the public, and had a particular interest in the interaction between FOI and Data Protection legislation.

Joanne O'Rourke

joanne.orourke@oiahe.org.uk

Joanne joined the OIA in April 2010 as an Assistant Adjudicator. Joanne qualified as a solicitor in 2007 and, after a career in private practice, she worked as an adjudicator resolving landlord and tenant disputes arising under the Tenancy Deposit Scheme.

Chris Pinnell

chris.pinnell@oiahe.org.uk

Chris joined the OIA in December 2007 as an Assistant Adjudicator. He worked for the Office of the Immigration Services Commissioner from its inception in 2001 and helped to introduce and develop many regulatory processes, including its complaints handling procedures.

Adjudicators

Imran Abrahams

imran.abrahams@oiahe.org.uk

Imran joined the OIA in 2009, working on the Pathway Project. After completing his legal practice course, he returned to the OIA as an Assistant case-handler and in March 2012 became an Assistant Adjudicator. Imran has worked in construction management in Europe and South Africa, and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and a CIArb accredited mediator.

Sally Adams

sally.adams@oiahe.org.uk

Sally joined the OIA in February 2013 as an Assistant Adjudicator. Prior to this she held the post of Sub-Dean and Senior Tutor for the Faculties of Science and Life Sciences at the University of Reading, with responsibility for a variety of areas including student support, examinations, appeals, complaints, extenuating circumstances, admissions, Quality Assurance and faculty management. She has also worked in examinations administration, with responsibility for special arrangements for students with disabilities.

Naz Amin

naz.amin@oiahe.org.uk

Naz joined the OIA in February 2013 as an Assistant Case-handler. During his MSc degree he held the post of Postgraduate Officer, advising research and taught Master’s students on academic and welfare matters, and offering representation in university hearings and the small claims court. Subsequent to this he worked as a journalist for a local newspaper. He then returned to higher education to conduct research at the University of Warwick.

Stephanie Bennett

stephanie.bennett@oiahe.org.uk

Stephanie completed her Graduate Diploma in Law before joining the OIA in May 2011 as an Assistant Case-handler. In the United States, she directed a court-based mediation programme and worked for the Office of the District Attorney for the State of Massachusetts. Stephanie has also worked in various positions in the UK, including supervisor for a witness care programme with the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, and a position on the referral and assessment team of a local council.

Kelly Borlase-Hendry

kelly.borlase-hendry@oiahe.org.uk

Kelly joined the OIA in February 2013 as an Assistant Adjudicator. She has a background in Higher Education advice and guidance, mainly specialising in student financial support. Prior to joining she was the Student Financial Support team leader at the University of Reading. She also has experience of working in the Accommodation Office and with disability and immigration issues.

Michele Coppinger

michele.coppinger@oiahe.org.uk

Michele joined the OIA in February 2013 as an Assistant Case-handler. She has professional legal qualifications and worked at the Legal Services Commission for more than 10 years in a variety of areas including casework; contract management; Quality Assurance; audit; and compliance. In her role as Crime Lead, Michele was a full member of Thames Valley Criminal Justice Board.

Katie Engel

katie.engel@oiahe.org.uk

Katie joined OIA in March 2012 as an Assistant Adjudicator. Katie is a qualified solicitor and worked in private practice before moving into complaints handling. She has worked for the Law Society’s Legal Complaints Service dealing with complaints about solicitors and at the Legal Ombudsman dealing with complaints about lawyers. Katie is currently a board member and trustee of a charity based in Birmingham.

Diana Foster

diana.foster@oiahe.org.uk

Diana joined the OIA in February 2013 as an Assistant Adjudicator. Prior to joining she worked for the Solicitors Regulation Authority in the Conduct Investigation Unit. She has professional legal qualifications and has worked in Citizens Advice Bureau offices. She has also taught in Higher Education.

Alexandra Gaskell

alexandra.gaskell@oiahe.org.uk

Alexandra joined the OIA in November 2011 as an Assistant Case-handler and became an Assistant Adjudicator in February 2013. Following her undergraduate law degree Alexandra completed an LLM, whilst maintaining her involvement in a student welfare service at the University of Nottingham, with responsibility for training and supervising new volunteers. Alexandra was also an Editorial Assistant for Human Rights Law Review.

Jenny Gumbrell

jenny.gumbrell@oiahe.org.uk

Jenny joined the OIA in January 2012 as an Assistant case-handler and in March 2013 became an Assistant Adjudicator. Prior to this she worked in the charitable sector on support and information helplines. Jenny has also undertaken roles as a Case Officer for a Local Planning Authority and a Project Coordinator for a consultancy firm. Jenny played a key voluntary role within her students’ union during the course of her studies.

Rebecca Harrison

rebecca.harrison@oiahe.org.uk

Rebecca joined the OIA in September 2012 as an Assistant Adjudicator. She has managed student services including student advice, student discipline and disability support at universities in the UK, US and the Middle East. She most recently worked for the Financial Services Authority and Money Advice Service on national student financial education projects. Rebecca is currently the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Disabled Student Allowance Quality Assurance Group.

Neil Hart

neil.hart@oiahe.org.uk

Neil joined the OIA in January 2011 as an Assistant Adjudicator. He has had previous roles working for the Law Society’s Legal Complaints Service, considering service complaints made by clients about their solicitors, and for Trading Standards as an Advice and Education Officer.

David Hebblethwaite

david.hebblethwaite@oiahe.org.uk

David joined the OIA in November 2012 as an Assistant Case-handler. He has a background in Higher Education, having worked in a number of roles at The Open University, most recently looking after corporate relationships. David has also worked for several national charities, in particular on campaigns and volunteer programmes.

Gemma Henshaw

gemma.henshaw@oiahe.org.uk

Gemma joined the OIA in February 2013 as an Assistant Case Handler. Since graduating with degrees in Criminology and Criminal Psychology, she has worked in the public sector for many years including working as an Offender Manager for the Probation Service and a Crime Management Officer for Surrey Police. Her last role was working for Oxford City Council dealing with complaints for their Direct Services department.

Hilary Jones

hilary.jones@oiahe.org.uk

Hilary joined the OIA as an Assistant Adjudicator in April 2012. She qualified as a barrister and, after three years in private practice, moved to a law firm where she specialised in employee benefits law. She advised companies on the structure and taxation of their employee benefit packages. Hilary is also a trustee of her local Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

Kathryn King

kathryn.king@oiahe.org.uk

Kathryn joined the OIA in October 2012 as an Assistant Adjudicator. She has previously worked as an Investigator, as Head of Policy and Research, and as a Casework Consultant at the Local Government Ombudsman service. She has also worked in examinations administration, and in finance. She holds professional financial qualifications.

Tanya Kynaston

tanya.kynaston@oiahe.org.uk

Tanya joined the OIA in February 2010 as an Assistant Adjudicator. She has had previous roles in the Exams and Assessments offices of the School of Oriental and African Studies, the University of Reading and Royal Holloway, University of London and she has experience of other areas of university administration such as admissions and accommodation services.

Abigail Lee

abigail.lee@oiahe.org.uk

Abi joined the OIA as an Assistant Case-handler in May 2012. She comes from a higher education administration background, with experience of working both directly within universities and also within related funding bodies. Prior to joining the OIA she was working for HEFCE as a Policy Advisor.

Barry McHale

barry.mchale@oiahe.org.uk

Barry joined the OIA in April 2010 as an Assistant Adjudicator. Barry previously worked as an Investigator at the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman and as a Case Manager with the Healthcare Commission. Barry has also been contracted to various companies within the private sector handling financial services complaints.

Helena Moore

helena.moore@oiahe.org.uk

Helena joined the OIA as an Assistant Adjudicator in March 2008. She qualified as a solicitor in 2000 and has worked in private practice specialising in corporate law.

Claire Mullan

claire.mullan@oiahe.org.uk

Claire joined the OIA in February 2013 as an Assistant Case-handler. Prior to joining the OIA, Claire worked in Forensics Services in PwC Manchester and London, undertaking fee-earning work on various high profile corporate investigations, transaction and shareholder disputes, anti-bribery, fraud and corruption projects. Her portfolio of client engagements included FTSE 100 companies, a major media organisation and Government and public sector bodies including the NHS. Claire previously worked in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, where she undertook a Project Management role within Learning Disability Services. She also worked on various projects within Children and Adult Mental Health Services. Claire has a BSc (Hons) in Psychology and a Masters in Law.

Alex Nutt

alex.nutt@oiahe.org.uk

Alex joined the OIA in March 2013 as an Assistant Case-handler. In 2009 he completed an Undergraduate degree in American History and Politics at the University of Leicester. He then went on to do an MA degree in International Relations and World Order. In 2010, he was elected to be the President of University of Leicester Students’ Union. He has also worked with the NUS on a number of initiatives.

Alero Osuide

alero.osuide@oiahe.org.uk

Alero joined the OIA in May 2012 as an Assistant Case-handler for the Assessment team. Before then, she completed her Legal Practice Course and spent some time volunteering at Manchester’s Civil Justice Courts working in their Personal Support Unit.

Michael Palmer

michael.palmer@oiahe.org.uk

Michael joined the OIA in November 2011 as an Assistant case-handler. Following the completion of his undergraduate Police and Criminal Investigation degree, he won election to the role of President of the Students’ Union. Michael’s key responsibilities were focused around representing students both nationally and across campus, the students’ union governance structure and the universities policies for students.

Sarah Redford

sarah.redford@oiahe.org.uk

Sarah joined the OIA in February 2013 as an Assistant Adjudicator. She has completed the Legal Practice Course and the Graduate Diploma in Law. Most recently Sarah has worked for the University of Westminster’s Student Union representing, advising and supporting students on academic, disciplinary and welfare issues. Prior to this Sarah was employed by legal practices as a Paralegal. This experience has included working on cases for a national regulator investigating misconduct and capability as well as roles within a variety of other civil litigation specialisms.

Mandy Southwick

mandy.southwick@oiahe.org.uk

Mandy joined the OIA in February 2010 as an Assistant Adjudicator. After many years working for various Government Departments, she then spent over two years at the Rural Payments Agency as a Customer Relations Manager dealing with complaints and appeals. She most recently worked at Thames Valley University as the Committees, Validation and Quality Officer for the Faculty of Health and Human Sciences.

Katharine Terrell

katharine.terrell@oiahe.org.uk

Katharine joined the OIA in July 2012 as an Assistant Case-handler. Previously she was a sabbatical officer at Oxford University students' union, where she was a member of the Student Advice Service providing advice, information, representation and support to students. She was also involved in welfare and academic policy.

Jim Watson

jim.watson@oiahe.org.uk

Jim joined OIA in May 2012 as an Assistant Case-Handler. He previously spent over ten years in complaints and appeals handling roles at the Rural Payments Agency.

Complaints-handling Consultants

Alex Blacknell

alex.blacknell@oiahe.org.uk

Alex joined the OIA as a consultant in March 2008. She qualified as a solicitor in 1992 and worked in private practice handling litigation and disputes resolution until 1995. She was a shadow board member of a Housing Association between 2000 and 2002.

Alex Bulfin

alex.bulfin@oiahe.org.uk

Alex joined the OIA in July 2011 as an Assistant Case-handler and in March 2012 became an Assistant Adjudicator. Prior to this Alex was a sabbatical officer for Oxford University Students' Union, responsible for education and access policy. He was an adviser in the Union’s student advice service, representing and supporting students, particularly on academic and disciplinary issues.

Katie Carter

katie.carter@oiahe.org.uk

Katie began work as a consultant for the OIA in March 2007. She worked in further and higher education in the late 1980s and early 1990s. From 1997 to 2005 she was Chief Executive of the UK healthcare regulator, the Joint Committee on Postgraduate Training for General Practice, a body that set standards for and quality-assured GP training.

Tony Drew

tony.drew@oiahe.org.uk

Alongside his role with the OIA, which he joined in February 2007, Tony continues to work as a consultant for various public sector organisations carrying out serious incident reviews and investigations into ethical conduct and bullying and harassment issues. Previously, Tony worked as an investigator for the Standards Board for England and the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.

Julia Hawkins

julia.hawkins@oiahe.org.uk

Julia joined the OIA in April 2009. She has previously worked at the Financial Services Ombudsman and most recently as Special Projects Manager at the Ombudsman for Estate Agents.

Helen Walton

helen.walton@oiahe.org.uk

Helen joined the OIA in June 2006 and became an Adjudication Manager in 2009 and became a consultant in 2013. She is a qualified Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand where she practised employment law for several years. From 2005 Helen spent a year in the Client Relations Office of the Law Society of Scotland handling complaints against Scottish Solicitors.

Dr Patricia Witts

patricia.witts@oiahe.org.uk

Patricia joined the OIA as a consultant in August 2006. She specialises in dealing with postgraduate complaints. Patricia worked as a solicitor in private practice and industry before joining the Solicitors Indemnity Fund, where for many years she handled professional negligence claims against solicitors. She has a dual career as a lawyer and a specialist in the iconography of Roman mosaics.

Adjudication Team