Olga is now retired having gained extensive professional knowledge and experience in the public sector; primary care, mental health, social care, local authority and clinical commissioning settings. She gained a post graduate qualification in addiction psychology and counselling with an all-embracing experience in mental health. Olga has successfully worked with others to deliver innovative projects that improved health and wellbeing, benefiting people in diverse communities.


Olga is privileged to join the Board of Trustees for Carers Bucks and Carers Milton Keynes. She is passionate about mental health and wellbeing and equality, diversity and inclusion. These are areas where Olga can provide sound guidance to the charities, at strategic level. Olga says this role will enable her to continue working towards making a difference where policies and decision making can improve health and wellbeing and achieve real benefits and outcomes for those within the caring community.

Jitka lives in Northamptonshire and works as Senior Lecturer in Health and Social Care at The Open University (Milton Keynes). Jitka has a PhD and a Professional Doctorate in combined subjects (psychology, pedagogy, philosophy and methodology of science). Jitka has several years of experience in managing research and academic programmes as well as human and financial resources . Jitka is also a Deputy Chair to Carers Research Group at The Open University. In this role she works with a number of external national and international organisations and charities which enabled her to develop a deep understanding of the needs of carers and the challenges that social care and healthcare economies face in addressing them nationally as well as internationally.


Jitka has experience as a young carer, young adult and adult carer for family members. She is married with a young son, loves sports and exercise and is passionate about engaging and supporting communities with Ageing Well.

Emma has lived in Bucks for 15 years, 10 of which caring for her Mother-in-Law Marj who lives with her, her husband and son. She’s an expert-by-experience on caring for an elder with dementia and posts practical help for others (the so-called ‘sandwich’ carers of both elders and children) who find themselves in similar situations on maudandmum.com
Carers Bucks / Carers Milton Keynes has helped Emma through her carer journey and she wants to pay it back. She’s passionate about helping people prepare for and live well in their later, longer lives. Professionally, Emma is a commercial board advisor and marketing director/CMO. She brings over 25 years of experience in governance, strategy, marketing, project management/delivery and fund-raising. She’s helped other Bucks charities build their impact over recent years too.

Lauris is a retired accountant who has worked both in public practice and in various charity roles, as well as having been Head of Management Accounting at the BBC World Service. She also worked as an Expert Qualified by Experience at the Challenging Behaviour Foundation following the Winterbourne View exposure.

Lauris has an adult son with autism, learning difficulties and behaviour which can be described as challenging. He now flourishes in a supported living placement in Milton Keynes. She practices yoga, trains in the gym regularly, enjoys textile arts and learning about Art History, plus follows Rugby and Formula 1. Lauris hopes to bring her financial knowledge and experience of autism, learning difficulties and especially of challenging behaviour and the effect on their carers and family members to the Trustee team.