Trustees

Kathleen was elected as Worldwide President of Mothers’ Union for the triennium 2025-2027, following two terms as a worldwide Zonal Trustee (2019-2024). She heads up and chairs meetings of the Board of Trustees and fulfils an ambassadorial role on behalf of the organisation.

A retired registered nurse, Kathleen previously managed the Parish Nurse/Health Ministry in her home cathedral in Canada, where she was also involved in Safe Church Regulation. She has been a Patient Advocate in a major health region and, most recently, Chief Privacy Officer and Right to Information Coordinator for the Provincial Health Authority.

A member since 1988, Kathleen is passionate about Mothers’ Union. She has served Mothers’ Union at parish, diocesan, provincial and worldwide levels, including on the Fundraising and Communications Committee, which produced the Dear Lord Prayer Book, and also as a Regional Trainer for Parenting. She has had a particular role in facilitating parenting programmes with the Indigenous Peoples in Canada and has been member of the Steering Committee for the Central Parenting Programme. She was a facilitator in her Zone and in Britain and Ireland for the MULOA (Mothers’ Union Listens, Observes, Acts) process. She chaired the Development Committee for six years in her capacity as Zonal Trustee and has been a committee member of the IT & Data Committee.

Joy is a retired schoolteacher. She has worked as manager of a drop-in-centre for street and working children, and then as a communications manager, for World Vision Myanmar. After leaving World Vision, Joy joined the provincial development desk in the Church of the Province of Myanmar (CPM) as a consultant and later as director.

While working at CPM, Joy visited the Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) to learn about the Church and Community Mobilisation Process (CCMP), with the support of Tearfund Myanmar. Trained as a CCMP facilitator, Joy loves to identify the skills of others and has mentored and developed the leadership skills of the development staff and the community, especially women.

Joy joined her parish’s Mothers’ Union branch in 1987, then served as secretary and later president of the same branch. She joined the Yangon diocesan Mothers’ Union executive committee as an advisor in 2023. She also serves as the chair of the fundraising committee.

She is a supporter of the ‘Receiver-to -Giver’ (R2G) approach and has facilitated it in her church visits during her work in development programmes, as well as in churches and communities. She facilitates the CCMP to the mothers in her parish, and mentors other facilitators in the province where possible.

Judith is a retired educator with significant leadership experience across her professional career in Jamaica. She has served in education, church and community organisations nationally and internationally.

Judith has been involved in church and leadership since childhood. She has been delegate to the annual Synod and was a foundation member of the Holy Trinity Mothers’ Union. Judith has been president at branch, regional and diocesan levels. She is a trained parenting facilitator, and a facilitator of the MULOA programme. She also represented the Province of the West Indies at the worldwide gathering in Kigali (Rwanda, 2019).

Knowing the value of representation and support for leadership, she attended the Commissioning of the Worldwide President and Board Members in London and recently participated as delegate to the UNCSW 68 in New York, where she was actively involved with the team representing the Anglican Communion.

An advocate for documentation of articles for easy access and empowerment of individuals. Judith has researched, written and compiled several booklets for different organisations. She is a Lay Reader, Chalice Bearer, Secretary for her local church, committee and Deanery Council, Immediate Past President of the Diocesan Mothers’ Union and immediate past Public Relations Officer for the Province of the West Indies.

Judith is a passionate campaigner for Gender Equality and Human development – especially for the vulnerable and marginalised.

Dorothy was a school teacher for 31 years. She has been a member of Mothers' Union since 1992.

She has attended several educational and church courses and programmes in PNG and abroad. She completed eight modules of the Agent of Change programme, facilitated by the church in 2018, and also underwent Parenting for Child Development training, she has a heart for child protection and safeguarding.  

Dorothy attended Church and Community Development training on Sustainable Development Approaches in the Philippines in 2023. She has held leadership roles in both the local and national levels, as the diocese and national executive Secretary from 2016 - 2023.

Mercy, from Embu County, Kenya, is a keen student. She has studied theology at both graduate and post graduate levels. During her time at university, she was involved in student chaplaincy and also served as minister of Women and Gender in the Students’ Guild government. She is currently undertaking a Doctor of Ministry degree.

Over the years of being deacon, priest and then rural dean, Mercy served in four parishes within the Anglican Diocese of Embu. She served on management boards and committees in the Anglican schools within those parishes and was honorary school chaplain of those institutions.

Mercy seeks to empower women through training on various topics, including sustainability, preventing gender-based violence, and parenting. She also conducts girl’s mentorship programmes.

Mercy is the vice chair of the provincial Mothers’ Union in the Anglican church of Kenya and the general secretary of the Mt. Kenya region Mothers’ Union forum. She coordinates the clergy spouse’s forum in the diocese of Embu by organising retreats, workshops, conferences and rallies every year.

A researcher at a higher education institution, Maria's professional expertise centres on policy development and advocacy. Her primary research focuses include institutional equity, gender transformation, and social inclusion, with a strong emphasis on gender equity and social justice.

Recently ordained as a deacon, Maria has integrated her professional expertise and leadership skills into her ministerial work. Her diaconal role enriches her ongoing mission of empowering women and strengthening family connections. At the parish level, she provides pastoral care that reflects her understanding of community needs and social dynamics.

Maria joined Mothers' Union in 1997. She has held various leadership positions from branch to provincial levels. She has served on several key committees, including the Worldwide Finance and Administration Unit Committee and the Audit and Provident Fund Committee. She helped establish the Mothers' Union ministry in her diocese and initiated the TAMAR Ministry, which focuses on addressing gender-based violence.

For the past six years, Maria has been Provincial President in Southern Africa. This role has included involvement in ecumenical forums, championing women's empowerment and strengthening family life. Through the Cross-Province Gender-Based Violence project, she has collaborated with Mothers' Union members across the African continent, working collectively to develop strategies for reducing gender-based violence.

Estelle, from Cameroon, is a teacher by profession. She became a member of Mothers’ Union in 2002. She has a growing desire to inspire self-worth in women. A Lay Minister, she has been working with the Women and Girls’ Ministry for over twenty years.

Estelle has been the Diocesan President for the Women’s Ministry for 16 years and also the Provincial President (out-going) of the Women and Girls’ Desk in the Internal Province of West Africa. She has used these platforms to help women realise their God-given potential, encourage them and promote a common cause.

She is devoted to church life and serves on several boards within her province and diocese. A bishop’s wife, she is also actively involved in the Anglican Bishops’ Wives’ Network (ABWN) and Women on the Frontline.

With deeply rooted training on Safe Church and Child Protection, she champions and advocates on issues related to these within the church and communities.

She is a vocal activist on gender-based issues, a counsellor on marriage and family life, and a mentor to many. She loves all forms of teaching. Her passion is to touch lives, educate women, foster family life and impact communities.

Julia is a skilled librarian who has worked across public, school and medical libraries. Her work has included community profiling to assist with improving services for marginalised and vulnerable groups, mentoring students, encouraging reluctant readers, teaching computer skills and preparing university applications for students. She has also served as member of Diocesan Synod, Deanery Synod and PCC.

She joined Mother’s Union in 1990. Since then, she has served on the Board of Trustees for more than a decade, most recently handing over the role of Diocesan President of Rochester to take up this new Worldwide role. She has also served as Young Families representative on behalf of her Diocese at central charity level. She has been actively involved in various MU projects at the local level such as: AFIA (Away from it all), 16 Days of Activism and support for women’s refuges along with many more. She is passionate about supporting those who feel marginalized or invisible in our communities. She aspires to seek ways to build confidence, find ways to give a voice to their issues and encourage practical solutions.

A retired consultant paediatrician, Deb is a relative newcomer to Mothers’ Union. She is passionate about our aims and loves a challenge. She feels privileged to have the opportunity to serve in this way. She recognises the importance of increasing membership in Britain and Ireland to ensure the sustainability of the organisation, while at the same time ensuring that all voices on the board are heard equally.

Deb's skills lie in networking and seeing connections. She has demonstrated these as Diocesan President in Carlisle, as the diocese increased its visibility and influence within the diocesan structures and, by working with a like minded charity, was able to provide a caravan in one of their local sites for AFIA holidays.

Deb loves being part of a diverse team and sharing her skills. She is keen to learn from more experienced members of the board. She is excited to be a member of the team shaping the vision and focus of Mothers’ Union - as we seek to reach out as God’s hands across the world, in love and service, to fight for justice so that God’s love will reign.

June has served in various roles in the public and private sectors in Northern Ireland for over 40 years. She was the Assistant Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland from 2001-2009. In 2010 she was awarded an MBE for her work with electoral services. In 2009 she became the Diocesan Secretary of two Church of Ireland Dioceses and acted as their chief executive as well as secretary to both Diocesan Synods. She is chairperson of the Steering and Grants Committees for the National Churches Trust in Northern Ireland. She currently represents the Church of Ireland on the International Anglican Women’s Network Steering Committee. 

June joined Mothers’ Union in 1990. She has been involved with supporting the lonely and bereaved, helping those struggling with the cost-of-living and providing support for those in women’s refuges , for prisoners and their families. She has held a variety of diocesan roles, including president, and served on the central MU Action and Outreach Committee. She was All Ireland MU President (2019-2024) and the Trustee for Zone I (Ireland) on the Worldwide Board for the first triennium. June has attended the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women in person in 2017 and 2019, and virtually since 2022.  

Since 2014, June has been involved particularly with highlighting issues related to gender-based violence and domestic abuse and she leads events on this across Ireland. She currently chairs the Britain and Ireland Community of Interest on Domestic Abuse.

Ordained in 1985, Ann is a vocational Deacon within the Anglican Communion. She has served in areas of great social deprivation, networking with professional and voluntary agents to bring change and transformation to individuals and communities.

As President of the Diaconal Association in England, she has represented deacons ecumenically at national, and international levels, serving on the DIAKONIA World Federation Executive 2013-2016, being organisational lead for the World Assembly in Durham (2005) and as an Executive member in Chicago (2016).

Ann joined Mothers’ Union in 1985, becoming diocesan trainer and member of the Central Committee for Education before the MSH restructure. She is a member of the Provisional Team responding to Domestic Abuse. She served as a MU national Trainer with the Parenting Programme (2001 – 2014) while also facilitating the first international group in 2003/5 to initiate the programme world-wide. Presently retired in Scotland, she shares Presidency in Glasgow and Galloway; has represented Scottish Episcopal Church (SEC) and MU ecumenically on Scottish World Day of Prayer Committee, developing online training and worship opportunities since Covid.

Ann is a member of the Midday Prayer Team and writes for ROOTS, an ecumenical worship resource. Professed as a Third Order Franciscan in 1975 she is involved in spiritual and prophetic responses to the climate crisis and justice issues.

Lowrie is Welsh, fully bilingual and has lived and worked in Wales all her life. She was a qualified teacher for 39 years, teaching children aged 4 – 18 in both English and Welsh medium schools. She has taught at a girls’ private boarding school, Music and Welsh at a Church in Wales High School and at Welsh medium Primary schools.

She has been a member of Mothers’ Union for nearly 40 years and has experienced various leadership roles within the organisation and beyond. She has been actively involved as Branch Leader, Deanery Leader, elected Welsh Representative on the Worldwide Council (2012 – 2015), Action and Outreach Coordinator and member of Llandaff Diocese Mothers’ Union Trustees.

Involved with the church since childhood, Lowrie has always played an active part in church life, including as intercessor, Lesson Reader, choir member and ‘amateur’ organist (when required). She is aware of how important it is that Mothers’ Union and the church work together to respond to the Christian needs of the community, especially young families and children, and how to nurture their faith.

Liz is a highly experienced and accomplished social worker and counsellor, with over 35 years of expertise in frontline children’s social care and integrated early years services. She has previously served as Director of Early Years and Integrated Children’s Services, delivering critical support in local government roles across the UK.

Liz is the Director of Research and Early Years at the Safeguarding Alliance. In this role, she has continued to drive safeguarding reforms through academic research and national advocacy campaigns.

Her experience includes child protection, mental health, and wellbeing challenges, particularly in the context of group migration arising from war, natural disasters, and fragile environments. Liz’s work has spanned diverse regions, including the United Kingdom, the United States, Southern and Eastern Europe, Africa, the MENA region, and ASEAN countries.