Patricia Highamis a registered social worker and counsellor, and served as a non-executive director and lay member of NHS organisations in Nottinghamshire. She completed a BA degree at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, a postgraduate social work qualification at the University of Sheffield, a PhD at Cranfield University, and a part time counselling qualification over a three-year period. She is Professor of Social Work (emeritus) at Nottingham Trent University. She worked part time for the Quality Assurance Agency, Skills for Care, DeMontfort University, and for the Health and Care Professions Council. Her experience includes statutory social work in Sheffield, Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire, and mental health outreach in a rural area of Pennsylvania, USA. She is a life member of the British Association of Social Workers and a member of the National Association of Social Workers, USA. She is a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. She volunteers as a counsellor two days a week for charities that support women who experience domestic violence.