Our team
Neurological Alliance Staff
Katie Smith
Katie Smith is Chief Executive (Internal) of the Neurological Alliance. She is currently on a part-time secondment from the MS Society where she is the Executive Office and Governance Manager. Katie has supported volunteers at local and national levels to adhere to governance arrangements as well as being a volunteer herself. Her varied background in media and teaching has remained community focused.
Clare Moonan
Clare Moonan is the Chief Executive (External) of the Neurological Alliance. She is currently on a part-time secondment from Parkinson’s UK, where she is Health Policy and Campaigns Manager. Clare will lead the Alliance’s external activity, focusing on policy and influencing work. She has extensive relevant experience, gathered both in her current role and previously in her work in a PCT. As former Chair of the Alliance’s Policy Group, she has already made a significant contribution to our collective work in recent months.
Nicolette Williams
Nicolette Williams took up the role of Regional Development Manager of the Alliance in late October 2008. Nicolette joins the Alliance from Parkinson’s UK, where she acted as Service Development Officer. Her background has been in the Alcohol and Drugs sector, where she has extensive experience in policy and commissioning work and in developing effective relationships between voluntary sector organisations and statutory strategic bodies.
Tahani Saridar
Tahani Saridar is Policy and Administration Officer of the Neurological Alliance. 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.
Chair of the Neurological Alliance
Dr Kirstine Knox, Chief Executive, Motor Neurone Disease Association
Kirstine has been Chair of the Alliance since November 2007. She was appointed Chief Executive of the Motor Neurone Disease Association in July 2005. Kirstine is committed to realising the Association’s mission of ending MND, whilst ensuring the best possible care and support of all people living with MND.
A scientist by training, Kirstine previously worked for the Department of Health and the National Translational Cancer Research Network (NTRAC). At the DH, she worked first in the Research and Development Directorate, going on to lead the DH’s team that helped implement government policy on patient safety by establishing the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) in 2001.
Following this, Kirstine worked as Deputy Director of the National Translational Cancer Research Network (NTRAC). NTRAC was instrumental in the Government’s decision to allocate £100 million to clinical research in other disease areas and in achieving a doubling of funding into translational cancer research in the UK.
An important strand of Kirstine’s work at NTRAC, DH and Oxford was to speak and represent interests at international and national meetings for professionals from various backgrounds. She has also championed patient involvement as well as the provision of information to patients and their families. This work was recognised by her appointment overseeing a national initiative on the involvement of patients in research. It is critically important to her work at the MND Association.
Vice-Chair of the Neurological Alliance
Sue Millman, Chief Executive, Ataxia UK
Sue took up the role of Vice-Chair of the Alliance in Janaury. 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 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; Chair of SITRA (a national umbrella organisation for organisations providing supported housing); an elected board member of Alcohol Concern; and a Trustee of Drinkline.
Treasurer of the Neurological Alliance
Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive, MS Society
Simon Gillespie has been Treasurer of the Alliance since November 2008. Simon joined the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society as Chief Executive in July 2006. Simon has overseen the development of the Society’s new strategy for 2008 to 2012, based on extensive consultation with people affected by MS. He has also been instrumental in the launch of the Society’s first major UK-wide advertising campaign in a decade and initiatives such as the Commissioning Support Service.
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 Director (Trustee) of the MS International Federation, and a lay member of the General Medical Council’s Fitness to Practice panels.
Neurological Alliance Executive Committee 2009-10
Fred Davison, Secretary, West Berks Regional Neurological Alliance
Fred is the joint secretary of West Berkshire Neurological Alliance, sharing the role with his wife, Molly. Molly was the passenger in a very serious car accident which caused serious head injuries resulting in her being in coma for about two months, followed by acute nursing and neuro-rehabilitation for 11 months. She has made a remarkable recovery, as a result of her own determination, but is now a wheelchair user. Before taking on their role with the Neurological Alliance, Fred and Molly were involved in organising the 2005 WBNA one-day conference ‘Action in NeuroRehab’, which attracted about 150 people. They also organised the 2007 WBNA conference ‘Assistance with Neurological Journeys’, addressing subjects including head and spinal injuries, stroke and motor neurone disease, outlining potential interventions and prevention strategies and explaining what it’s like to live with these long-term neurological conditions.
Fred is a retired research scientist, although he is still involved in a number of work-related projects. His research interests are avian immunology and poultry diseases, especially Marek’s disease, a herpes
virus-induced cancer in chickens which causes lymphomas and paralysis. He continues to do some lecturing and edit scientific papers and has recently co-edited a major textbook ‘Avian Immunology’.
Steve Ford, Chief Executive, Parkinson’s UK
Steve has been Chief Executive of 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.
Maureen Kelly, Centre Manager, 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.
Since 1993, Maureen has been the Manager of the 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 of 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 me 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.
Brigadier Michael Koe, Chair, PSP Association
Michael served as a regular army officer in the Royal Green Jackets from 1964. Following this, he worked in a defence and security company. Michael’s wife Sara was diagnosed in 1992 as having Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a progressive and devastating neurodegenerative disease, for which there is currently no treatment and no cure. Sara died from PSP in January 1995, but not before she and Michael had set up the PSP Association in April 1994 because they were so appalled at the lack of knowledge, lack of research and apparent lack of interest in this devastating disease, even within the relevant heath and welfare professionals.
Since then, Michael has been Chief Executive of the PSP Association, a fast-growing charity. He very recently handed over its day-to-day running to Jane Hardy, its new Chief Executive. Michael now acts as Chairman of Trustees. The PSP Association promotes and sponsors research worldwide, provides information and support to afflicted families across Europe and engenders awareness of the disease, mainly within the UK and particularly amongst the relevant health and welfare professionals. The Association also monitors progress in the implementation of the LTC NSF across the country.
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..
Nicola Russell, Director of Services, MS Trust
Nicola has been the Director of Services at the MS Trust since March 2000, although she has been involved on a project basis with the MS Trust since August 1998. During this period Nicola has worked closely with the Department of Health to develop the Risk-sharing Scheme, giving access to drug therapies for people with MS. She has also been involved with the development of the NICE clinical management guidelines, and is now working with the Royal College of Physicians to monitor their implementation. Nicola is the chair of the National Service Framework dataset group. She was elected a Trustee of the Neurological Alliance in 2005.
In her time at the MS Trust Nicola has focused the trust’s activities upon information provision and developed the education programmes offered to health professionals, with the aim of developing an informed partnership between people with MS and their health professional. She has published on the impact of MS on quality of life.
Nicola is a scientist by training and started her career within a research team in the pharmaceutical industry. She held various other roles within the industry and was latterly Director of Marketing for Schering Health Care.
Sharon Wood, General Secretary of the Joint Epilepsy Council (JEC)
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.