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Fix our Broken Justice System

Trustees

Brigitte Chaudhry

Brigitte Chaudhry MBE

RoadPeace Founder and President

When Brigitte’s only son, Mansoor aged 26, was horrifically killed in October 1990 by a van driver who had ploughed into him whilst driving through a junction with lights already red for a long time, she was shocked at the shabby treatment of his innocent death. Brigitte quickly learnt that the response to a road death, however blameless the victim and reckless the offender, was worlds apart from the response to a violent death caused by someone in other circumstances. She protested through legal actions in the High Court – eventually three judicial reviews over five years. She found other people who were bereaved through letters in newspapers and approaches to Compassionate Friends, and she documented their experiences.

These experiences made it clear that a grave injustice was being perpetrated and suffered. Together with some of the people she met, Brigitte decided that to challenge the casual attitude to road casualties and offer support to the victims, a dedicated organisation needed to be set up, since none existed and no-one spoke up for road victims. RoadPeace’s first meeting was held around Brigitte’s dining table in 1991 and the organisation began in 1992 with the first ever helpline for road crash victims, which she manned at the same time as developing the organisation.

As National Secretary, Brigitte has been involved with the day-to-day work of RoadPeace for 16 years, stepping down at the 7th April 2008 conference, which celebrated RoadPeace’s 15 years of pioneering work since its public launch on the same date in 1993. Brigitte’s engagement with RoadPeace continues in her role as president, but she was also working at international level for road crash victims: from 2004 to 2010 she has been President of FEVR (European Federation of Road Traffic Victims) and in collaboration with the World Health Organisation she continued to develop and promote the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, resulting in this Day now being celebrated throughout the whole world following its adoption by the United Nations in 2005. Brigitte was at the origin of this day in 1993 and is also the author of theWorld Day websitelaunched in early 2008, and was its editor until December 2017.

For more of Brigitte’s experiences please read the following:
Hidden Victims – how RoadPeace began

Past and future challenges – Brigitte Chaudhry speech to the RoadPeace 15th Anniversary Conference

History of RoadPeace – The First 16 Years

World Day of Remembrance – 25th Anniversary Report

Petra

Petra Kendall-Raynor

Chair of Trustees

Petra has a professional background in journalism, with extensive experience in print, broadcast and digital news, including digital start-ups. She has worked for the national press writing for national and international news agencies in both London and Los Angeles. Petra has also specialised in health journalism and has written across journals for the publishing arm of the Royal College of Nursing. She currently works in communications for the NSPCC.

Petra’s father Thomas died after he was hit by a car when crossing a road as a pedestrian.  She has volunteered for RoadPeace since 2018 helping with her local North West group and nationally as Chair of the Board of Trustees since 2022. Petra believes in the importance of collaboration in working towards the prevention of tragedy on the roads.

Matt Oomen

Matt Oomen

Treasurer

Matt Oomen is Global Head of Distribution for BNY Mellon Investment Management and Chief Executive Officer of BNY Mellon Investment Management EMEA Ltd. Matt is responsible for the formation and execution of distribution strategy and has oversight of Product Strategy, Marketing and Sales across multiple regions for BNY Mellon Investment Management, one of the world’s largest asset managers, with $1.8 trillion of assets under management.

In delivering BNY Mellon Investment Management’s capabilities around the world, Matt is also responsible for oversight of all required product umbrellas and legal structures necessary for the implementation of BNY Mellon’s distribution strategy. Matt serves on the Investment Management Executive Leadership Committee as well as a number of related boards across the globe. Matt is actively involved in building diversity in the investment management industry and more broadly through acting as an advocate for i2020, and a mentor for the 30% club. He also sits on the IA Advisory Council. Matt became involved with RoadPeace after his brother in law Eddy was killed in a crash. Matt is looking forward to supporting RoadPeace deliver its strategy and support business development.
Nic

Nic Atkinson QC

Secretary

Before retiring in 2019 Nic practiced as a barrister for almost 50 years, more than half that time as a QC, and as a part time Judge for 35 years. Nic says: ‘It became clear to me many years ago that the public were very poorly served by the criminal law in respect of crashes that resulted in death. I was involved in a trial where five children sitting on a bench had been killed by a disqualified driver who lost control of his car whilst racing on a public road.

At the time the maximum possible penalty faced by that driver was imprisonment for a period of 5 years. Towards the end of that trial I was approached by a grieving father whose son had been killed in another crash and he was becoming involved in the setting up of RoadPeace. Following that approach I volunteered to assist in some way. Thereafter I spoke at the launch of the charity and at various RoadPeace events at the House of Commons and elsewhere, including abroad. I contributed to discussions on radio and television. I was pleased to be asked to become a Patron. During the Blair years I was part of RoadPeace delegations to the Home Office. Every year we received a sympathetic hearing from junior minsters who changed annually as they climbed up the political greasy pole. Little progress was made although the same silent civil servants were usually present. Death on the roads is dealt with as a Road Traffic Offence. It has always been my view as it remains that it should be dealt with as Homicide. Such a classification would reflect the views of those in society affected by these tragedies on the road and would result in greater attention and importance given to the investigation by the Police, the involvement of the CPS and the Courts.’
Cynthia Barlow

Cynthia Barlow OBE

Cynthia’s only child and daughter, Alex Jane McVitty, was tragically killed on 7 June 2000, aged 26. She was cycling in the City of London when the driver of a concrete mixer lorry turned left across her path.

Cynthia’s experience of the investigation, inquest and the court proceedings were painfully disappointing and isolating. She was compelled to carry out her own analysis of what had happened and drew her own conclusions of the responsibilities that needed to be taken by the driver and by his employer. She bought shares in the company and attended their Annual General Meeting, speaking out about what had happened to her daughter and offering suggestions for what the company should be doing to prevent further injuries or loss of life.

Cynthia’s determination and courage was met by the company agreeing to work with her to improve their vehicle and driving practices. Since then, Cynthia has been involved in many areas of road danger reduction, but is especially engaged in the dangers of HGVs to cyclists and other vulnerable road users and the responsibilities of freight operating companies. You can read more about Cynthia’s experiences in this testimony to her daughter –Alex Jane McVitty testimony
In 2011 Cynthia was shortlisted as an SMK Campaigner Award Finalist. In 2014 Cynthia was awarded an OBE for services to road safety. Cynthia  was Chair of Trustees until January 2022.
David

David Frost

David is a survivor of a lorry crash in which both his mother and father were killed. His mother a couple of days before his 7th birthday and his father a couple of days afterwards. He had two broken legs. David has first-hand experience of the life changing impact careless driving causes. This experience has given him a deep sense of empathy and a desire to help other victims of crashes.

He was also involved in a separate hit and run, whilst cycling home from work in 2012, . He was cut off by a lorry at a junction and his bicycle went underneath. He had to take a protracted leave of absence from work to recover. The police were unable to track down the vehicle so David took the investigation into his own hands. He found the company and the driver. The culprit was fined and given points on his license. To prevent further incidents like this, he took civil action. The company settled out of court, paying a substantial sum in costs and compensation. David is a life and resilience coach with a specialism in post-bereavement intervention. He is a motivational speaker, speaking in front of a wide range of audiences including school children, politicians and CEOs and will bring a wealth coaching, fundraising, policy, voluntary and charity board experience to RoadPeace.
Alex Swann

Alexandra Swann

Alex is a senior marketing professional who has worked with a range of organisations over the last three decades to deliver strategic marketing and communications. She has also worked in a voluntary capacity with the City of London division of Cancer Research UK to raise funds.

Alex has first hand experience of dealing with the consequences of a fatal road crash that resulted in the death of two close relatives. As a Trustee, she is committed to using her skillset to help RoadPeace reach people in need of support and do everything she can to promote RoadPeace’s principle of road danger reduction.