Our team

Neurological Alliance Staff

Arlene Wilkie, Chief Executive

Arlene was the Director of Research and Policy at Breast Cancer Campaign. There she was responsible for funding more than £5 million worth of breast cancer research in the UK and Ireland each year, and for launching the first national breast cancer tissue bank in 2010. Her role also saw her working with the AMRC, for example, to ensure the Governments commitment to supporting the Charity Research Fund.

Sally Percy, Policy and Public Affairs Officer

Sally joined the Neurological Alliance in November 2011. Previously, she was Health Manager at Policy Connect where she managed the Associate Parliamentary Health Group (APHG) and had oversight of the Chronic Pain Policy Coalition and the All Party Group on Chronic Pain.

Sally has also worked as the Communications Assistant to Barry Sheeman MP.

Lynda Poole, Regional Development Officer

Lynda has been seconded to the Neurological Alliance by Parkinson’s UK to run the Alliance’s Regional Development Project. This project is due to complete in March 2012, but the work undertaken will remain as a legacy for Regional Neurological Alliances.

Tahani Saridar, Policy and Administration Officer

Tahani has a background in Psychology, previously acting as a Clinical Psychology Research Assistant at Woodhaven NHS Mental Health hospital and as a Support Worker for adults with physical and learning difficulties. She has a Masters degree in Research Methods in Psychology from the University of Surrey.

Neurological Alliance Board of Trustees 2011-12

Steve Ford, Chief Executive, Parkinson’s UK (Chair)

Steve has been Chief Executive of the Parkinson’s UK since September 2005. Prior to that he was a Chief Executive of a Primary Care Trust in Kent and had a career lasting 20 years in NHS general management.

Steve’s focus at Parkinson’s UK has been to put in place a major programme of expansion aimed at increasing the local support for people living with Parkinson’s. Through this new approach the Society is able to offer one to one support to all individuals. Each country and region in the UK now has an Influence and Service Development Officer and an Education & Training Officer, with both roles aimed at improving local health and social care services through better joint working with commissioners and clinicians. The new strategy recognises the importance of effective partnership working with other patient organisations particularly through the Neurological Alliance.

Sue Millman, Chief Executive, Ataxia UK (Vice-Chair)

Sue joined Ataxia UK in May 2007. Ataxia UK is the national charity representing people affected by the group of uncommon neurological conditions known as the ataxias. Ataxia UK funds research into treatments and a cure and provides a variety of services to people with ataxia, their families, friends and health & social care professionals. She is also Secretary of the European umbrella group for patient organisations, euro-Ataxia.

She has been a member of the Board of the Neurological Alliance for two years and Vice-Chair for the last year.

Sue has previously worked for a variety of organisations providing support to enable people to live independently. Her last post was Director, Support, for Advance Housing and Support, a national organisation providing services for people with learning difficulties and mental ill-health. Prior to this Sue spent eight years as Chief Executive of the London-based Alcohol Recovery Project which provides residential and non-residential services to people with drink and drug problems to over 3,500 people a year. In a career in the voluntary sector spanning 30 years, she has also worked with the Gypsy community, refugees, ex-offenders, street homeless people and young people.

Sue has been a member of the National Housing Federation’s National Council. For eight years she was Chair of SITRA (a national umbrella organisation for organisations providing housing with care and support) and has also been an elected board member of Alcohol Concern; and a Trustee of Drinkline.

Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive, MS Society (Treasurer)

Simon Gillespie joined the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society as Chief Executive in July 2006. Simon has overseen the introduction of the Society’s new strategy based on an extensive consultation with people affected by MS, new approaches to research and support for people with MS, and new governance arrangements. He has also been instrumental in initiatives such as the Neurological Commissioning Support (NCS).

Simon previously worked as Head of Operations at the Healthcare Commission, where he was responsible for the inspection of NHS and independent healthcare facilities in England. From 2000 to 2004, Simon was Director of Operations at the Charity Commission, modernising the regulation and support of the 180,000 registered charities across England and Wales. Before that, his earlier career was with the Royal Navy, including command of HMS Sheffield, two years advising Government ministers on policy and finally the role of Chief of Staff to the United Kingdom Task Force.

Simon holds Master’s degrees in Philosophy and Political Science, Business Administration, and International Relations. He is a Trustee of the Institute for Security and Resilience Studies at University College London, and a lay member of the General Medical Council’s Fitness to Practice panels.

Jon Barrick, Chief Executive, The Stroke Association

Jon joined the Stroke Association, the UK wide charity dealing with all aspects of stroke, in 2004.

Jon is a member of the UK Stroke Forum Steering Committee. He has been Secretary of the Stroke Alliance for Europe (SAFE), a coalition of 24 Stroke Patient organisations across Europe for the last 4 years. He is also Chair for the UK Stroke Assembly group of stroke charities, organising meetings and conferences with stroke survivors and their families

He is a member of the English DH Stroke Strategy Implementation Group, the Intercollegiate Working Party on Stroke, the British Association of Stroke Physicians Committee on clinical standards, and of the World Stroke Organisation Board.

The Stroke Association provides over 390 NHS funded projects to stroke survivors and their families, and has over 370 affiliated stroke clubs throughout the country, and for the last 20 years has funded the majority of research into stroke in the UK. Each year The Stroke Association works with over 40,000 stroke survivors and their families directly.

Previously, Jon was UK Director of Community Services for 15 years at RNIB, which built on previous experiences in local, central government and the private sector. He has been Trustee with a host of various organisations in the past including jointly chairing the Neurological Alliance and being a Trustee of the Association of Medical Research Charities (over 150 charities researching medical conditions).

Maureen Kelly, Chief Executive, Neurosupport

Maureen has been involved with neurological conditions since the 1980s. She was responsible for establishing the first Merseyside Branch of the Alzheimer’s Disease Society and went on to work for the National Society as the first Northwest Development Officer responsible for setting up 13 groups and branches of the Society.

Maureen is the Chief Executive of Neurosupport (previously the Glaxo Neurological Centre), a unique centre in Liverpool run by a registered charity, which provides information & support to people with neurological conditions and their families.

Maureen was the first Chair of the Mersey and Cheshire Neurological Alliance and is still involved providing a meeting place and administrative support for the group. She has served as Vice-Chair of the Neurological Alliance (with special responsibility for regional alliances) and as Chair.

As Chair, Maureen oversaw the development of the staff team and the establishment of an office base. She coordinates the Alliance’s NSF Interest Group for members and has also been responsible for providing a twice-yearly forum for regional neurological alliances.

Andrew Ketteringham, Director, External Affairs, Alzheimer’s Society

For the past three years Andrew has been the director of external affairs at the Alzheimer’s Society. His brief when he arrived was to help raise the profile of dementia and the Society and make the Society’s communication’s function the envy of other organisations. With the help of a very talented team, the Society’s profile is now very much higher.

Prior to Andrew’s current role, he was the Director of Policy and Corporate Affairs for the GMC; he has also been the Director of Communications for a broadcasting regulator but has spent most of his working life in the City of London. This working experience gives Andrew a good qualification for bringing to the board of trustees expertise on public relations and public affairs. In these and other roles he has also represented organisations on many occasions.

For 20 years, Andrew was the chair of a housing association then a group of housing associations, which has given him good corporate governance experience.

Andrew has been a local councillor (town mayor in 1992/3) and four times a parliamentary candidate, which has given him a good understanding of the political processes in the country and the formulation of policy.

Philip Lee, Chief Executive, Epilepsy Action

Epilepsy Action is the working name of the British Epilepsy Association. It is the leading representative, caring and support organisation for the 420,000 people with epilepsy, their families and carers and those with a professional interest in the condition. Philip has served in a number of positions with Epilepsy Action, and became the charity’s Chief Executive in 1996. He has been a member of the Association of Chief Executive Officers of Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO) since 1996 and a member of the Charity Finance Directors Group (CFDG) since 1995. Philip previously served as a Trustee of the Neurological Alliance between 1996 and 1998. Between 1999 and 2005, he was President of the International Bureau for Epilepsy, representing 100 national epilepsy patient associations worldwide.

Farah Nazeer, Director of External Affairs, MND Association

Farah has over 18 years of public affairs, policy development and campaigning experience. Farah is Director of External Affairs at the Motor Neurone Disease Association with responsibility for policy development, public affairs, advocacy, campaigning, media, profile and awareness.

Prior to joining the MND Association she worked for the British Retail Consortium, heading their environmental policy; the Women’s Institute, heading their Political Affairs and Campaigns Department, working on human rights, gender equality, trade justice and fair trade, reduction of toxic chemicals and climate change. Farah has also worked for the Department for International Development and the European Union, managing projects to support the rights of Romany communities in Central and Eastern Europe. In the London May 2010 local elections Farah was elected a ward councillor

Farah has been involved with the Neurological Alliance for the past three years to campaign, advocate and raise awareness on behalf of people with neurological conditions and is committed to improving quality of life for people living with neurological conditions.

Nicola Russell, Director of Special Projects, MS Trust

Nicola has been a Trustee of the Neurological Alliance since 2005, and remains committed to trying to improve services for people with neurological conditions. She started work in the neurological arena in the mid-nineties and for the last 12 years has been the Director of Services for the Multiple Sclerosis Trust. During that time she has focused the MS Trust’s activities upon information provision and developed the education programmes offered to health professionals. She has also led the campaign for developing MS specialist nurses and allied health professionals to ensure that people with MS can access such professionals easily and without delay regardless of where they live. Nicola has published on the impact of MS on quality of life and remains committed to the principle of informed partnerships between people with MS and their health professional to maximise the individual’s quality of life.

Nicola has worked closely with the Department of Health to ensure the implementation of the DH Risk-sharing Scheme, giving access to drug therapies for people with MS. She has also been involved with the development of the NICE MS management guidelines, and worked with the Royal College of Physicians to audit their implementation.

During her time as a Trustee Nicola chaired the National Service Framework dataset group, and has also represented the Alliance on the Joint Neurosciences Council.

Angus Somerville, Chief Executive, Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability

As CEO of the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, Angus Somerville is responsible for the provision of neuro-rehabilitation and long term care for those with severe physical and cognitive impairment due to traumatic brain injury or disease. In leading a national centre of operational excellence and pioneering research, he has a singular interest in, and commitment to, a wide spectrum of neurological issues that fall within the Alliance’s gamut.

Angus’s previous experience, during five years as CEO of the male cancer charity ‘Orchid’, included membership of the Steering Group of the Prostate Cancer Charter for Action, an umbrella body very similar to the Alliance. This enabled him to understand the complexities of coordinating the varied, and sometimes disparate, objectives of charities and professional bodies, and the need to balance supportive engagement with a more assertive approach when dealing with policy makers to achieve campaign aims. In so doing, he interacted with the National Cancer Director, and represented the Charter at civil service, parliamentary and ministerial level. The Charter was widely acknowledged as having made a marked impact on government policy, propelling the disease to the forefront of cancer issues, both in awareness and funding terms. Angus is keen to bring his experience to bear in advancing the needs of those with neurological conditions.

Amanda Swain, Executive Committee Member, UKABIF

Amanda is a practicing Clinical Specialist (Consultant AHP) and a Master in Health Laws. Her employment includes 22 years in the area of neurological rehabilitation with a focus on acquired brain injuries. Presently Amanda leads the community neurological rehabilitation service in Fenland, East Cambridgeshire. Amanda has held senior positions in Health and Social sectors and in the statutory, private and voluntary sectors in the UK and New Zealand, including Executive Director, Project Director, Service and Professional Leader, National Services Advisor; she is currently a Board Member and Trustee of UKABIF.

Amanda’s drive is always that any person who needs assessment, diagnosis, treatment and support not only receives it but that their service is one of quality and one that produces the best outcomes for the individual. Amanda has therefore been involved in the development and writing of National standards and Service structure since 2000 and has contributed to several national enquiries, documents and strategies.

Amanda’s personal skills include engaging stakeholders, developing, communicating and implementing strategic vision; her analytical and problem solving abilities are the basis of her strong and clear direction. Her qualifications and network mean that she is an asset to any organisation that needs to work with the full range of hierarchy in health, social care, legal professions and government departments.

Sharon Wood, General Secretary of the Joint Epilepsy Council

Sharon took up post as the General Secretary of the Joint Epilepsy Council, an umbrella organisation representing 24 epilepsy organisations in the UK and Ireland, in August 2002. Responsible for the overall direction of the organisation, Sharon works closely with the Executive Board of Directors managing and supporting implementation of the key objectives of the JEC as set out in its strategic plan. Overseeing the work of the organisation, Sharon is responsible for building the membership base and strengthening the membership’s ability to communicate with a coherent voice.

Prior to this, Sharon worked for Epilepsy Action as Volunteer Co-ordinator for one year and for the childcare charity, Barnardo’s for seven years, training general and social work staff. Sharon completed a BA in Managing in Health and Social Care Organisations in 2004.

The Joint Epilepsy Council presents evidence based views on the need for improved epilepsy services in order to influence decision makers in the health, social and education arenas. Therefore Sharon is skilled in developing and maintaining effective relationships with central and local government and with key civil servants in furtherance of the aims and objectives of the JEC, promoting and establishing the JEC as a major contributor to national debate on development of all epilepsy related policies. The Secretariat of the APPG on Epilepsy is held by the JEC and Sharon works closely with the group’s Chair and Officers providing MPs with an interest in epilepsy issues with information and access to expert opinion.

Sharon is committed to raising the profile of epilepsy and issues surrounding neurological conditions and to influencing policies and practice to benefit the half a million people with epilepsy in the UK and Ireland.

Coming from an umbrella organisation herself, Sharon fully recognises the value of joint-working and greatly values the strength of alliances such as the Neurological Alliance and the network of shared support and learning it provides. She would very much welcome the opportunity of being appointed to the Executive and to be able to help maintain the significant progress the Neurological Alliance has made in recent years. Sharon would endeavour to bring additional experience of epilepsy issues and managing an umbrella organisation, together with the experiences of the wider JEC membership to the Neurological Alliance and very much hopes that her nomination is looked upon favourably by the membership.