The CSP is delighted to have royal patronage and two dedicated and proactive campaigners, committed to promoting physiotherapy, as its President and Vice-President.
Our Patron: Her Majesty the Queen
HM The Queen has been Patron of the CSP since 1953 and sends her royal greetings to Members every year at the AGM. Her Majesty attended the CSP’s Diamond Jubilee reception at Fishmongers’ Hall in 1980.
Our President: Professor The Baroness Finlay of Llandaff
Baroness Ilora Finlay was appointed as President of the CSP in 2001 and received an Honorary Fellowship of the CSP in 2011 in recognition of her passion for and promotion of the contribution that physiotherapists make to many aspects of health and wellbeing. She is also a fervent supporter of the profession and the work of the CSP.
Ilora was made a life peer in 2001. She is Professor of Palliative Medicine at Cardiff University School of Medicine and a consultant at the Velindre Cancer Centre in Cardiff. She is a Deputy Speaker in the House of Lords, Crossbench Peer and co-Chair of the think-tank Living & Dying Well. She is also Vice-President of Hospice UK and Marie Curie Cancer Care.
Our Vice-President: Catherine Pope, MCSP
Catherine was appointed as Honorary Vice-President after serving as chair of the CSP Council from 2015 to 2018, during which time she steered Council through the Governance Review approved by members at the 2017 AGM.
Catherine is Service Director of Integrated Specialist Services at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust.
She qualified as a physiotherapist from the West Middlesex Hospital School of Physiotherapy in 1985 and received her NHS 25 years’ long service award in 2010.