Keynote Speakers - Deafblind Conference 2010

 
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   Ges Roulstone
 
  
 

Ges Roulstone – Director of International  Relations, Sense

 
Ges Roulstone has worked in the disability field for 31 years and in the deafblind field since 1992. He has been a Director of Sense since 1996 and Executive Director for Children and Adult Services since 2003. Ges was recently appointed the position of Director of International Relations for Sense, managing all Sense Internationals operations in East Africa, Europe and South America.
 
Ges has extensive experience working internationally and has undertaken various assignments for Sense International and spoken at numerous international events on deafblindness. He is currently Vice Chair of the Scientific Committee for the European Conference of DbI, to take place in Italy in September 2009.
 
Since 2002 Ges has been Chair of the Acquired Deafblindness Network (ADBN), an international network of practitioners working in this field. In addition to this he sits on the World Council of DbI and also acts as Chair of Trustees of Deafblind Ireland. Ges have a first degree (B.A.) in Social Policy and a Masters degree (M.Sc) in Management in care and health settings. He also has a professional social work qualification.
     Tony Best OBE
 
Dr. Tony Best OBE  -   Chief Executive of the   Percy Hedley Foundation
Dr Tony Best is currently Chief Executive of The Percy Hedley Foundation, a charity that provides services for people with physical and with sensory disabilities in the North of England.
After some time teaching in special schools, he joined the staff of the Department of Special Education, University of Birmingham, where he undertook research and training in visual impairment and in deafblindness.
He has worked extensively aboard advising on staff development and service organisation in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Prior to his current appointment, he was Chief Executive of Sense, the UK organisation that supports people with deafblindness through campaigns, research and services.
 
Dr Best was recently awarded an OBE at the UK New Year Honours. This was for work with disabled people and his contribution to the education of deafbind children.   
 
 
    William Green
 
   
President of DBI (Deafblind International)
 
William Green is currently World President of Deafblind International (DbI), and works in Italy as a consultant in Psycho-Pedagogy at the Lega del Filo d’Oro, the National deafblind association in Italy.
 
He started working in the deafblind field in Norway, where he was a member of the State National Team working with deafblind adults. In the 1980’s he moved to France to work at the Centre d’Education Specialisee where he was responsible for programming, evaluation and staff development particularly in relation to Family/ Parent programmes.
 
His current work in Italy includes consultancy on issues concerning deafblind children and adults, and he has recently contributed to research studies on the organisation of services, the need of family respite and the use of tactile sign language.
 
William has travelled extensively, lecturing and training in many countries of Europe, and speaking at conferences throughout the world. 
 
His work in DbI has included responsibility for developing the international networks, developing long-term strategic plans and, as President, representing the organisation at national, governmental and international events.