Meet our team
Meet our team
Kathy Paton
Chairlady
Kathy has worked in the field of Human Resources for over 30 years in Australia and the UK. She has a passion for people and their development and has lead diverse teams of specialists in these countries and across Europe. She has worked across many sectors including, construction, manufacturing, mining and financial services. She loves being a mum to her two sons who are both at University and spending time with friends and family near and far. Kathy and Caryn met nearly 20 years ago through work and their families have maintained a close bond ever since. She was honoured to be asked to help setup and Chair the Hope for Hermione Charity and work with Caryn and other charities and research institutions to raise awareness and research funding for BPAN.
Andrew Paton
Treasurer
Andrew is a senior finance executive with a career spanning more than 40 years across a range of sectors including Oil & Gas, Telecoms, Shipping and Mining. Originally from New Zealand, Andrew worked in Australia for 14 years before moving to London with Kathy where they settled and raised two sons over the past 25 years. Andrew is certified accountant and a Fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys gardening, travel and is a keen sports fan, in particular rugby union. As a Treasurer, Andrew brings a wealth of financial and management experience to support and build the finance function of the charity.
Caryn de Nocker
Secretary
Originally from South Africa, Caryn currently works in education as a Higher level Teaching Assistant working with children who have autism as a primary need in a special education setting. She has a passion for children, their care and development. She has worked in many roles in areas including hospitality and the childcare and education including as a Au pair in USA and Nanny, Montessori Teacher and Nursery School Manager in the UK. Caryn rarely sits still and after work or on weekends will be found either at the football field with her son or driving mums taxi to or from Brownies or Dance lessons with her amazing daughter Hermione who was diagnosed with BPAN in May 2024. Caryn is the driving force behind Hope for Hermione with a genuine desire to raise awareness of BPAN and improve the lives of those affected by BPAN by raising money to fund research and resources and to finding as cure for BPAN. Caryn is part of a global working group and partners with other BPAN charities and research foundations.
Courtney Bolton
Therapies Advisor
Courtney is a Speech and Language Therapist from sunny South Africa. Having moved to the UK in 2015, she has worked in Primary and Secondary schools in London and Kent. Communication skills and Mental Health have always been Courtney's areas of interest and her work focuses on developing young people's advocacy skills and real life learning. Courtney is passionate about working with families to support the student's needs in a holistic way.
Courtney met Caryn at work and they soon became good friends. Supporting Caryn and Hermione is really important to her.