Baroness Jill Pitkeathley OBE

Jill Pitkeathley was born in the Channel Islands and went to the University of Bristol before training as a social worker. She was employed by several local authorities and also worked in the National Health Service while bringing up her family. In the mid-1980s she founded the carers movement in the UK by setting up what is now Carers UK and was its Chief Executive until 1998. She has been an advisor to many other carers organizations including those in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and several European countries.

She was awarded an OBE in 1994 in recognition of her work for carers and in 1997 was raised to the peerage in the House of Lords where she speaks frequently in debates and legislation about carers, social care and health issues.  She is currently chairing a Select Committee on the Integration of Primary and Community Care in England.

She has also chaired several national organizations, including the National Lottery, Children and Family Courts Association and the Professional Standards Authority.

She has written extensively about carers and social care and has had two novels published about Jane Austen.