Each of the candidates has provided us with some information to support their application to
be elected to the Executive Steering group
Jemma GAULE, standing for the first time as a Council Fellow
Before promotion to Senior Coroner’s Officer I was a coroner’s officer for three years. I have an
excellent knowledge of the business and am motivated to make the ‘experience’ from the
Coroner Service the best possible. I have managed a large caseload and dealt with many
variations of coroners work. Most notably I have investigated suicides, murder, falls, medical
deaths, railway and road traffic deaths. I have received many commendations and letters of
thanks from family members for my support to assist them through inquests.
I assisted at the Amenas inquest, a two-month inquiry at the Royal Courts of Justice, London. I
led the witness liaison for over 70 witnesses. I was involved in the investigation from the
beginning in February 2012. I feel that I learnt a lot of valuable lessons from my involvement
and as the senior coroner’s officer I am looking to make amendments and adapt and improve
working practices so that ‘every day’ procedure will cater to larger, more complex inquests
more readily.
I am a syndicate leader to the Judicial College coroner’s officer training. I am passionate about
the coroner service and the assistance a coroners officer can give to a grieving family. I
genuinely feel that the work we do as coroner’s officers is ever evolving. I regularly present to
third party agencies to ‘spread’ the word of the work of the coroner’s office.
I would love the opportunity to further my own skills and assist other coroner’s officers by
becoming a member of the COASA council
Christine HURST, standing for re-election as the Treasurer
Dear Members
I began working as a coroners officer in 1993 and became a senior coroners officer in 1998. I
have been involved with COASA since its inaugural meeting in April 1997 and became the first
Hon Treasurer. I held this position for two terms and then became Deputy Chair and served
three terms as Chair. I currently hold the position of Treasurer and Membership coordinator.
I have been heavily involved with the development and delivery of COASA training for those
working within the coroner service and co-authored the COASA handbook ‘the coroners office:
a guide to practice and procedure’
As a member of the Chief Coroner coroners officer training group I assist in the development of
the chief coroner training for coroners officers. I also represent the Association at a national
strategic level
I remain passionate about the work of COASA and its aims, and I would like to continue in the
role for Treasurer. I hope that over the years I have proved my commitment to COASA and that
members feel able to support my nomination
Regards
Christine
Vivien HUGHES, standing for re-election as a Council Fellow
Hello, I’m Vivien and a coroners officer for Warwickshire. I have been an officer for fifteen years
and before that I was a neonatal practitioner and midwife. I have been a Council Fellow for 3
years and want to continue with your support so that I can promote national standards of
working practices and be part of the delivery of study days for officers and staff
I am at the moment a syndicate leader on the National training for coroners officers and
thoroughly enjoy meeting everyone and learning how we all work and it seems delivering a
great service to the Coroners nationally
I hope you think I am worthy of another term on the Council and if elected will work hard for
our Association
Thank you
Adam TREWERNE standing for re-election as Council Fellow
I am a coroner’s officer of 13 years with a background in Funeral Directory and Police Service. I
am currently employed by Kent County Council, having transferred from Kent Police employ in
2014.
I have been a Council Fellow for 2 years and really have enjoyed my term. I am interested in
coroners officer training. I am standing for re-election