Hannah Dingwall-Jones
Operations ManagerDespite firmly intending to return to Scotland after her BA in Classics, Oxford worked its charms on Hannah, who has never been able to leave it for long. She worked in university admissions until the birth of her first child in 2017.
The support and reassurance that she received from OBS (then Oxford Baby Cafe) in their antenatal sessions and breastfeeding drop ins helped her to navigate a difficult initial breastfeeding experience, and made her keen to help others access such a fantastic service.
Hannah joined the team in 2022.
Hannah Torrance IBCLC
Clinical Director“I was born and brought up in London and moved to Oxfordshire in 2011. I have worked in the NHS for the last 25 years first as a critical care nurse and then as a midwife and infant feeding specialist. I have lead two UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative (BFI) projects for large NHS Trusts.
I have a particular interest in infants with suckling difficulties and how best to support them and their families. I am deaf and a mother of four children whom I’ve breastfed in to toddlerhood (3 of whom were premature).
I’m passionate about supporting families to decide on their feeding goals and help them get there with warmth and empowerment.”
Hannah joined the team in 2023.
Lisa Mansour IBCLC
FacilitatorLisa Mansour IBCLC originates from Oxfordshire, where she has lived for most of her life. She originally studied photography and discovered her passion for supporting breastfeeding when she worked in the NHS as a Maternity Support Worker from 2001-08, mostly in the community.
“I have always loved being able to help mothers and babies with breastfeeding and I felt even more inspired and passionate after experiencing a pretty easy breastfeeding relationship with my first daughter. Feeding my second daughter has been challenging at times and has taught me many very useful lessons. I cherish both deeply”.
Lisa has been involved with our organisation since 2008, and was Project Lead from 2012-18, before giving birth to her second child.
Lisa facilitates in-person sessions.
Charlotte Gilman IBCLC
FacilitatorCharlotte has been living in Oxford since 2002. She comes from a sales and marketing background and previously worked in London as a fundraiser for the Children’s Society and NSPCC.
She comes from a family that struggled to breastfeed and found feeding her first baby difficult, but thanks to supportive friends, a great midwife and health visitor, managed to continue and has had a passion for breastfeeding ever since. She signed up to do the peer supporter course soon after her second child was born and volunteered at Baby Cafes for 4 years. She then worked for the NHS as a Breastfeeding Support Worker based at Donnington and Blackbird Leys Health Centres, providing home visits to new families.
“I think my favourite learning experience was spending time Breastfeeding Clinic at the John Radcliffe Hospital. It not only taught me the importance of positioning and attachment but also the sheer determination women have to breastfeed. I knew from this special time that I wanted to spend the rest of my career supporting families at such a crucial time in their lives to achieve their breastfeeding goals. The right support can be life changing”
Charlotte has been working as a facilitator for OBS since 2013, having been involved with the organisation as a service user and a volunteer since 2006.
Charlotte facilitates in-person sessions, co-facilitates the Preparing to Breastfeed sessions and works with young and vulnerable parents in partnership with the Oxfordshire Family Nurse Partnership.
Cathy Berry
FacilitatorCathy Berry is a Breastfeeding Counsellor with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers. Cathy has a particular interest in new-born positioning and attachment, supporting parents with the transition to parenthood, and breastfeeding grief and trauma.
She has been involved with OBS since 2017 when she trained as a Peer Supporter and began supporting families in-person and online as a volunteer. In 2021 she became a Cover Facilitator with OBS.
Cathy facilitates in-person sessions and our Facebook group.
Catriana McKie
Systems & Safeguarding LeadOriginally from Canada, Catriana studied mechanical engineering, and worked in CAD software in motorsport in Italy. After a masters in Science and Technology Studies in Scotland, the challenges and rewards of breastfeeding her eldest child started her on the path to supporting other families to breastfeed. She has been a La Leche League Leader (breastfeeding counsellor) since 2013.
Catriana began volunteering with OBS in 2014 and facilitated sessions in 2015-16. Since then she has been working behind the scenes doing a little bit of everything from the website to safeguarding to helping manage the team and volunteers.