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The Convenor and Tribunal Board

The Convenor and Tribunal Board (the “Board”) was established in 2008. The Board has a number of functions which are set out in the Children (Guernsey and Alderney) Law 2008 (the “Law”). The Board oversees the Office of the Children’s Convenor and has strategic oversight of the delivery of the Child, Youth and Community Tribunal (the “CYCT”). The Board is not a servant or agent of the States, but is an independent body and under a duty to discharge its functions fairly, impartially and independently.

The main functions of the Board are:

To assist the Convenor, including agreeing the terms and conditions for the post.

To assist and support the Convenor to carry out her functions as and when requested. This will include the Convenor having access to members of the Board for advice and support and also access to professional and peer support.

To assist and support the President of the CYCT with the carrying out of her functions as and when requested.

There are presently seven members of the Board who bring experience from a range of backgrounds.

The present Board members who meet at least four times a year are:

Photo of Alan Miller

Alan Miller

Alan Miller worked within the Children’s Hearings System in Scotland for 20 years, including five years as a children’s reporter in Glasgow, five years as the head of service in Dumfries and Galloway, and 10 years as the first Principal Children’s Reporter and Chief Executive of the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration (SCRA).

Mr Miller was part of the team responsible for setting up and leading the national organisation when it was established in 1996, which involved working closely with the Scottish Government on a wide range of law and policy issues. He has also represented the children’s hearings system nationally and internationally.

Following this, he served as a Sheriff (a judge of first instance with a wide criminal and civil jurisdiction) in Glasgow for 11 years, where he dealt primarily with family and children’s cases.

Mr Miller’s other roles have included being a convenor of mental health and education tribunals, and as a consultant for youth justice. It was in this capacity that he previously acted as a consultant to the States of Guernsey ahead of the introduction of The Children’s Law that saw the creation of the Child, Youth and Community Tribunal in 2010. 

Photo of Jane St Pier

Jane St Pier

Jane is a chartered accountant by profession but following a career in finance, she has been active in the charity sector for the last 15 years. She co-founded Young People Guernsey, the charity behind The HUB, which provided specialist support to children and young people; and was subsequently chair of the Youth Commission for Guernsey and Alderney for six years.  Jane was a member of the Convenor and Tribunal Board from 2013-2018, and is delighted to re-join the board as Chair in 2022, supporting the vital work that is undertaken by the staff and volunteers of the Children’s Tribunal Services.

Jane is currently also a director of Guernsey Community Foundation, Guernsey Chamber of Commerce, and the UK charity, Abortion Support Network

Photo of Gill Couch

Gill Couch

Gill Couch has spent her working life dedicated to promoting the well-being of young people in Guernsey. She also has experience in a Senior Management post in the Education Department.

Gill graduated from the University of London in 1974 with a BA Honours degree in history. Between 1975 and 2002 she worked as a teacher in five of the island’s Secondary schools and then served as a Senior Education Officer for Primary and Secondary Education for a further 10 years until her retirement in 2012. Throughout this time she worked collaboratively with students, their parents, school colleagues and a wide range of education professionals to seek the best outcomes for individual young people.

As a Pastoral Deputy Headteacher and Child Protection Officer, she worked closely with HSSD staff and the School Attendance Service. Her work as a Senior Education Officer gave her a different and much wider perspective on services for children and young people in Guernsey, working both with the Education Department and with other States Departments at a strategic level.

Photo of Peter Atkinson

Peter Atkinson

Peter is a Solicitor of the Supreme Court, and an Advocate of the Royal Court of Guernsey. He was most recently a partner of and then consultant to AFR Advocates. He has also been a director of several local and international trading and finance companies.

Community is important to Peter, and his past roles include being a member of the Board of Administration, a Member of the States Public Services Department, a Governor of Ladies College, a member of  Guernsey Round Table, Commodore of the Guernsey Yacht Club, and President of the United Club and 41 Club. He is currently Chair of the Parochial Appeals Tribunal.

He has had a number of charitable commitments in the past and is presently Chair of  Maison Saint Pierre and The Guernsey Society for Cancer Relief.

During his professional career, he has been involved in matrimonial, separation and childcare cases in both Guernsey and Alderney; knowledge and experience which is of assistance to him in his role within the System.

Photo of Beverly Workman

Beverly Workman

Beverley Workman is currently a GP in Guernsey and a partner of the L’Aumone and St Sampsons practice. She grew up in Guernsey before studying medicine at Bristol University. She undertook formal post graduate training in paediatrics and neonatology at Derriford Hospital, and also obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Child Health.

Having returned to Guernsey in 1999 and joined her current GP practice, she is the safeguarding lead for that practice and for formal paediatric liaison work between the practice and the Medical Specialist Group.

Dr Workman is also the mother of three young children, so has direct experience of raising a family on the island.

Photo of Nigel Lewis

Nigel Lewis

Nigel has recently retired after seven years as Deputy Chief Executive of the States of Guernsey. His forty year career with the States spans a wide variety of experience, ranging from acting as the islands’ Senior Industrial Relations Officer, leading the Guernsey Post Office for six years, becoming the first Chief Officer of Commerce and Employment and more recently acting as Chief Adviser to the Policy Council.

He has operated at a strategic level across social, economic and environmental matters. A qualified Company Director having acquired the IOD Diploma in Company Direction.

Married with two children and three grandchildren he has also been a foster parent in the past and has thirty years experience of working with children and young people through his local church.

Photo of Angharad Lewis-Jones

Angharad Lewis-Jones

Angharad grew up in Guernsey before studying history at Kings’ College London, followed by a post graduate diploma in law.  Between 2001 and 2007 Angharad worked as a Solicitor in the International Litigation Department at Herbert Smith LLP, London, also qualifying as a Solicitor-Advocate. During this time Angharad worked pro bono for a free legal advice centre in Tower Hamlets, covering a range of family, tenant and employment disputes.

For the last 11 years,  Angharad has been a senior policy and operational officer at the Ministry of Defence, including working in international liaison roles.  She has substantial experience in the development and implementation of strategy, and managing risk, at the highest levels.  Angharad continues to work as a Security Consultant for clients including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Angharad has a strong interest in the development and support of children and families.  Whilst at the MOD she worked with many young people who had been caught up in conflicts, or become refugees, and worked alongside education, police and social services to enable positive integration and support for these families in the UK.

Angharad has recently returned to the island with her young family.