Daphne Franks – ‘A Story of Predatory Marriage’

Daphne Franks is a semi-retired university teacher who now lives in Newcastle upon Tyne with her husband, Stephen and their son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters. Daphne’s mother, Joan Blass suffered a predatory marriage in 2015 and Daphne and Stephen have been campaigning for change in the laws and procedures around marriage ever since. Daphne has given over 300 talks about the issues nationally and internationally; the topic has been raised in Parliament several times. Very many other cases have come forward, and the campaign has made significant progress.

In 2025 Daphne was awarded a Churchill Fellowship. This charity, set up in memory of Winston Churchill, fund research overseas with the aim of bringing about improvements in the UK. Daphne is currently researching marriage laws and procedures in the USA, Canada and the Netherlands. (More information at www.predatorymarriage.uk)

Eibhlín Kilroy – ‘Safeguarding and Protecting Older Persons in the Context of Supported Decision Making’

Eibhlín Kilroy is a Legal Advisor with Sage Advocacy. A graduate of NUI Galway and the Law Society of Ireland, she has been practising as a solicitor since 2012. She has extensive experience in Enduring Powers of Attorney, wills, estate administration, and applications under the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. Her work focuses on supported decision-making and the safeguarding of older persons, with a particular emphasis on autonomy, capacity, and human rights. She is particularly interested in the practical implementation of rights-based legal frameworks, including the operationalisation of will and preferences and the delivery of proportionate, least restrictive interventions within health and social care settings.

John Williams – ‘Older Persons, human rights and the law’

John Williams is an Emeritus Professor of Law at Aberystwyth University. His research concentrates on older persons and the law with particular regard to human rights. He is a newly recruited member of the National Independent Safeguarding Board in Wales.