Meet the experts!

Our team of subject matter experts are here to support you to give great advice

Hi, my name is Kate Hobson and I’m a consumer expert. I’m based in Leeds and have worked for Citizens Advice since 2012. Before that I worked for Consumer Direct, the telephone and online consumer advice service that was the predecessor of the Citizens Advice consumer service. You can read my articles here.

Hi, my name is Amy Hughes and I’m a housing expert. I’m a homeworker based in Shropshire and I worked as a caseworker in local Citizens Advice offices from 2004 until joining the Expert Advice Team in 2011. You can read my articles here.

Hi, my name is Fiona Seymour and I’m a benefits expert. I’m a homeworker based in the West Midlands and have previously worked as a welfare rights adviser and benefits casework supervisor before joining the Expert Advice Team in 2002. You can read my articles here.

Hi, my name is Rebecca Chan and I’m a senior housing expert. I’m a barrister (now non-practising) and have worked in the housing sector for over 10 years. I’m currently based in London and have worked for Citizens Advice since 2015.

Hi, my name is Carlos Hagi and I’m a benefits expert. I’m based in London and I joined the team in 2016. Before that I was the Welfare Benefits Supervisor at Plumstead Law Centre for 17 years and have previously been a Peer Reviewer in welfare benefits law for the Legal Services Commission and a benefits trainer for the Child Poverty Action Group, Shelter and Advice UK. You can read my articles here.

Hi, my name is Kate Smith and I’m a senior benefits expert. I’m based in Birmingham and previously worked as a welfare benefits adviser for a student union and Coventry Citizens Advice before joining the Expert Advice Team in 2000. You can read my articles here.

Hi, my name is Sandie Lock and I’m a benefits expert. I’m based in Leeds and joined the team in 2005, having previously worked for 10 years as a welfare benefits specialist in local citizens advice offices and for a housing charity. Prior to that I worked for the DWP. You can read my articles here.

Hi, my name is Tracey Moss and I’m an employment expert. I have been advising on employment issues for 20 years, 13 of them at Citizens Advice. Before that I was a solicitor and a volunteer and specialist caseworker in local Citizens Advice. I’m based in Birmingham. You can read my articles here and a toolkit on discrimination here.

Hi, my name is Jan Carton and I’m a consumer expert. I’m a homeworker based in Cornwall and have worked for Citizens Advice since 2016. Before that I was a trading standards officer, a consumer law lecturer and a self-employed consumer consultant. You can read my articles here.

Hi, my name is Jo Chimes and I’m an employment expert. I’m a homeworker based in North Suffolk. I have worked and volunteered in the Citizens Advice service, local and national, for most of the last 30 years. I am a non-practising solicitor and I specialise in employment and discrimination.

Hi, my name is Graham O’Malley and I’m a debt expert. I’m based in Leeds and worked at Citizens Advice Leeds for 7 years, and the Institute of Money Advisers for 3, before joining Expert Advice. I’m really interested in enforcement agent law, and consumer credit cases. I’m on Twitter @gdomally. You can read my articles here.

Hi, my name is Emma Wilkinson and I’m a senior employment expert. I’m a solicitor with over 15 years experience of employment advice working for both employers and employees. I am particularly interested in discrimination and access to justice. I am based in London and can be found on Twitter @EmmaAnneWilks. You can read my articles here and a toolkit on discrimination here.

Hi, my name is Rachael Gore and I’m a senior housing expert. I’m a solicitor (non-practising) with over 10 years experience advising on housing law advice, mainly involved in representing housing clients in the courts under legal aid. Before joining Citizens Advice I worked in a local Citizens Advice office and for other voluntary sector organisations. I am particularly interested in preserving access to justice and protecting tenants’ rights. I’m based in Birmingham. You can read my articles here.

Hi, my name is Lorraine Charlton and I’m a debt expert. I’m a homeworker based in Cheltenham and I have 30 years experience of working in debt advice. I am particularly interested in insolvency law.

Hi, my name is Rachel Ingleby and I’m a benefits expert. I’m based in Leeds and became a Citizens Advice volunteer in Shipley in 1993. I worked for Kirklees Benefits Advice from 1995 until February 2018. You can read my articles here.

Hi, my name is Matt Bradbury and I’m an employment expert. I’m based in London and have 20 years experience advising on employment law having worked in local Citizens Advice and the voluntary sector advice before moving to Citizens Advice. You can read my articles here.

Hi, my name is John Donkersley and I’m an immigration expert. I work out of the Leeds office and started in January 2019. I’m a solicitor with over 30 years experience of immigration advice, most recently with Citizens Advice Sheffield. In the past I have been CEO of a local Citizens Advice office, worked in private practice, and run a regional advice service for a charity helping refugees and EU migrants. You can read my article here.

Hi, My Name is Vicky Allen. I am Housing Expert based in the London office. I am new to Citizens Advice and have been here since August 2019. Prior to this I have worked in both the voluntary and statutory sector giving housing advice for 8 years. I have a particular interest in youth homelessness.