Staff

The PBC Foundation was founded by Collette Thain in December 1996 and was initially operated from her front room. As The PBC Foundation grew by increasing general awareness of the condition, it was necessary to employ additional staff to cope with the increasing workload.

With two staff and a significant quantity of filing to manage it soon become apparent that offices would be required, so in 2000 The PBC Foundation moved to 11 Glenfinlas Street in Edinburgh. When the lease expired on Glenfinlas Street in 2002 The PBC Foundation moved to its current offices at 54 Queen Street. 

Our Staff

• Collette Thain MBE
• Robert Mitchell-Thain
• Emma Brooks

Collette Thain MBE - Chief Executive Officer

Collette Thain MBE started the PBC Foundation in 1996.  Before then there was The PBC Patient Support Group, then Collette decided that, with the help and support of a few friends, she would give people with PBC the platform, the information and the foundation that they deserve in terms of living with PBC.  Having suffered for many years before her diagnosis, Collette has lived with her PBC for a long time; gleaning information form experts, her own experiences and the experiences of others.  Her knowledge base is one of invaluable worth and benefit to the Foundation and its members.

Collette is the Chief Executive Officer of the organisation.  Backed by a very capable and supportive Board of Directors, she heads up the Foundation.  Her will has guided us and has been a beacon for many newly diagnosed members.  Collette is very much a hands on CEO and leads the troops from the front.   Her responsibilities as CEO include: the day-to-day running of the Foundation; managing the staff; ensuring fiscal prudence and management; adhering to Charity law, in particular legislation re OSCR; raising awareness of PBC; publicly speaking about PBC, the Foundation, etc; radio and TV appearances; communication with Health Boards, our Board of Directors, our Medical Advisory Board and other national organisations.  When Collette isn't doing any of these things, she is helping our members, hands on, and answering helpline calls.

The Foundation has always been needs led.  It will always continue to be.  Collette believes in the absolute right of everyone with PBC to accurate, current information given in a timely manner.  Her willingness to fight for this and to make it happen is the yardstick by which the whole Foundation is measured and from where we, too, draw our inspiration.

Robert Mitchell-Thain - Development Officer

 

Robert Mitchell-Thain joined the PBC Foundation in August 2003, as our Development Officer.

Prior to joining the PBC Foundation, Robert held a variety of positions both self-employed and within the voluntary sector.  He was a full-time carer for a quadriplegic; on the Board of Directors for The Prince’s Trust Volunteers; worked with The Samaritans and was self-employed as a musician.

Robert’s position as Development Officer encompasses a wide variety of tasks. He regularly travels throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland meeting our members, hosting meetings and conferences and enlisting new Regional Volunteers as local points of contact. Following on from this, Robert provides support and training to our nationwide network of Regional Volunteers and is involved in the organisation of our annual Volunteers’ Conference.  Robert is also involved with taking helpline calls; dealing with Government Agencies; raising the public profile of the PBC Foundation; educating members of the medical profession; raising awareness of the condition; helping in practical terms others’ fundraising efforts, contributing to our quarterly newsletter and also serves as the office “Man Friday”.

Robert is extremely passionate about the work of the PBC Foundation.  His own fundraising efforts have included a tandem skydive and a full body wax.  His belief is that every single person with PBC has the right to accurate, up-to-date information about PBC and how best to live with the condition: it is his wish to reach every single person in the UK, and to provide them with this.

Emma Brooks - Project Officer for Scotland

 

The PBC Foundation received a grant from the Big Lottery Fund, which enabled us to employ Emma Brooks, for a fixed term of three years, as Project Officer for Scotland.

Emma’s employment with The PBC Foundation commenced on 28 August 2006 and she has quickly become another valued member of staff.  Emma’s remit is to find every PBC sufferer in Scotland and to raise awareness of this condition.  To this end, Emma is contacting GPs, hospitals and clinics to arrange meetings with them.  By meeting with them, she will ensure that our comprehensive information is made available to everyone affected by PBC.  Once Emma has raised awareness of PBC with these health professionals, they will be furnished with the knowledge and information to direct newly diagnosed sufferers to the PBC Foundation so that they can become part of the PBC community.

Once people become members of the PBC Foundation, they can then take advantage of our regular meetings, which Emma organises.  The meetings provide an opportunity for people with PBC to meet with each other, share similar experiences and reassure them that they are not alone with this condition.  Emma meets with and speaks to people who are managing PBC and is gaining new ideas and suggestions, which we hope will help our other members.

Emma is organising projects throughout Scotland to raise funds, as well as awareness.  She is recruiting volunteers in order to help us in many areas, fundraising or by becoming one of our Regional Volunteers who make our support network even stronger.

Emma also contributes to the quarterly newsletter with suggestions for fundraising and information about upcoming meetings amongst other things.