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BDA Staff
You can find a chart outlining the staff of the BDA here.
Dr. Kate Saunders
Chief Executive
Dr. Kate Saunders is the Education and Policy Director of the British Dyslexia Association. Kate has over 20 years of experience in the field of dyslexia and special educational needs, having worked as a Senior Specific Learning Difficulties/Dyslexia Advisory Teacher, Special Educational Needs Coordinator, chartered psychologist and lecturer. Kate has a Ph.D. in Education and is co-author of 'How Dyslexics Learn', published by PATOSS.
Liz Horobin
Training Manager
Liz is Head of Training at the BDA. She has spent thirty years working in education, principally in music and EFL and spent eight years as Head of International Foundation Courses at Bath Spa University before joining the BDA as Project Manager for the BDA/Bath Spa University Big Lottery funded project, Dyslexia and Multilingualism. Liz holds a BMus, PGCE, BDA ATS, and MSc in TESOL.
Sue Flohr
Helpline & Policy Manager
Sue is the BDA National Helpline and Policy Manager. She joined the BDA in 1990 as a volunteer and then job shared as Helpline Manager for a number of years combining working for the BDA and SpLD teaching. Her experience spans across all sectors and in the workplace, sue is also a qualified DSA Access Assessor. She has a particular interest in linguistics and modern foreign languages and dyslexia and in her latest role with supporting BDA Policy strategy.
Donna Gray
Project Officer; the Dyslexia Project Liverpool
Donna joined the BDA in January 2007 as the Project Officer for Liverpool. Her role involves providing training, consultation and support for teams within Liverpool Children’s Services as they work towards becoming a Dyslexia Friendly Organisation. In March 2008 the BDA were success in securing additional funding for work in Liverpool for a further three years. Donna’s work with Children’s Services has now developed further. The project now aims to work directly with young people with dyslexia and is developing links with those from black and ethnic minority community groups.
Joanne Gregory
Quality Mark Business Development Manager
Joanne joined the BDA in February 2005 as Project Manager for Project Success; an ESF initiative providing ICT resources and training to learning centres across Wales to support their dyslexic and SpLD learners. Having successfully completed this project in March 2008, Joanne has progressed to her current position to develop the BDA Quality Mark initiative. Prior to joining the BDA Joanne has worked extensively in marketing, publishing and business development in both the corporate and not for profit sectors.
Beverley Jones
Financial Controller
Bev has been with the BDA since January 2006. Alongside managing the finance team, Bev is responsible for all aspects of financial reporting and analysis, including financial management of projects. Bev spent her earlier career working with a growing telecommunications business and more recently enjoyed many years with US Corporation Dun & Bradstreet.
Sandy Fitzgerald
Head of Marketing
Sandy came to the BDA in the Spring of 2007 as Project Manager for the 'No to Failure' project. This communication and demonstration project about the efficacy of specialist Dyslexia-SpLD training for teachers, contributed to Sir Jim Rose’s independent national review published in June 2009, unlocking £10million of Government funding.
An extended contract enabled Sandy to work alongside other leading charities in the field, to establish the Dyslexia-SpLD Trust in 2009, which continues its collaborative approach to delivering effective work packages and to influence policy and decision makers; all aimed to effectively improve life chances for dyslexic people. Sandy now works for the BDA and has a very diverse workload which keeps her on her toes!
Eorann Lean
PA to CEO
Eorann joined the BDA in March 2011 as PA to the Chief Executive Dr. Kate Saunders. Her role as PA is extremely varied and involves aspects of fundraising, HR and membership administration. Eorann has come to us after a year working as a sabbatical at Oxford University Student Union where she did her undergraduate degree in Archaeology and Anthropology. Eorann is Dyslexic and appreciates the difference the support and coping mechanisms that she has received have made to her success.
Arran Smith
Membership and Project Officer
Arran has been working as a volunteer for the BDA since 2008 and has worked closely to support the organisation and its members. Arran is severely dyslexic and understands the problems and barriers that dyslexic individuals face.
Arran has known about his dyslexia since the age of nine and became a member of the Leicestershire Dyslexia Association, where he is now the Vice Chairman; a role which he is deeply passionate about.
Ian Young
Finance and Operations Manager
Ian began working for the BDA in November 2009 in a role that covers both the Financial aspects and the Office Manager duties of the BDA. Ian’s background is within the Public Sector where he has worked mainly in the Finance area. Ian is delighted to be working for BDA.
Ian also has a passion for music and is keenly involved with a number of local music organisations.
Giannina Zerilli
Accounts Administrator
Giannina joined the BDA in December 1982 part- time, dealing with Helpline, Membership and Accounts, when there were only four staff. In 1984 the BDA moved to Reading as the BDA was expanding and taking on more staff, Giannina’s work changed to full-time Accounts Administrator Sales and Bought Ledger which she still does but on a much larger scale. Giannina enjoys her work at the BDA and has just celebrated 25 years. Giannina is also the Archive Keeper of BDA and has records going back to the beginning of BDA in 1972.