Our Board
Meet the Trustees
Karen McCloskey
chair
Karen is a mum of two girls and a senior manager in a global consultancy firm, with expertise in governance, quality and risk management. She has been a lifelong advocate for breaking down the stigma surrounding mental ill-health and talks openly about her own experience with post-natal anxiety. She joined the board in 2021 after experiencing first-hand the transformational effect that The Parent Rooms can have for parents. Karen hopes that by sharing her own journey to recovery that she can support other parents towards wellness.
Leslie Altic
Treasurer
Leslie is one of the founding members of our Board of Directors and a mum with lived experience. She is an active volunteer and member of the birth community through her work as a doula. Leslie also volunteers with SANDS, the stillbirth charity, and is passionate about helping parents with all aspects of birthing and parenting.
Aisling Cooper
Vice chair
Aisling was one of the first members of our online support group and a past Chair. She has been an active volunteer ever since taking on a moderator role on our online forum before become one of the founding members of our Board of Directors. She is a keen advocate for perinatal mental health and shares her lived experience regularly to raise awareness and reduce stigma.
Bybit Areketa
Trustee
Bybit joined the Board in 2020 and is passionate about raising awareness of perinatal mental illness following her own experiences. Bybit has spoken publicly about her experiences to many and work to reduce stigma and isolation, particularly among the BAME community.
Emma Fraser
trustee
Emma is another of our founding board members and the other half of Belfast Baby Company alongside Leslie Altic. A trained birth doula and antenatal educator, Emma works to ensure parents get the best start, both physically and emotionally. She has lived experience of perinatal mental illness and is passionate about reducing stigma and isolation.
Hannah Brown
Trustee
Hannah is a senior mental health practitioner with a background in social work. She has worked with mums with experience of perinatal mental health throughout her career. This is an area she is particularly passionate about and she is excited to be a part of The Parent Rooms as they continue to develop and deliver vital support services to parents. She currently works in CAMHS and loves a walk with her pooch to unwind.