Who we are

Former Prime Minister and Member of Parliament for Maidenhead

The life and times of our second woman Prime Minister are documented at length elsewhere!

Theresa has been the MP for Maidenhead since 1997 and it was in her capacity as constituency MP that she first supported our founder and Chief Executive, Ailsa Bosworth, who could not, at that time, access the treatment she needed. After the launch of the charity, in 2001, Theresa enthusiastically engaged with NRAS by attending local events and regularly meeting with Ailsa to hear about the issues that matter to people with RA. It was shortly after we were founded that she became our patron.

In her time as Home Secretary from 2010-16, Theresa continued to be generous with her more limited time and has continued to host our biennial Healthcare Champions Awards in the Houses of Parliament and to attend an annual event in the local area. Shortly before becoming Prime Minister, Theresa kindly facilitated a meeting with the then Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Stephen Crabb MP at our request. The productive meeting provided us with an opportunity to update Theresa and Stephen on the work of NRAS and the challenges faced by people with RA in accessing the welfare system. Now, as Prime Minister, we look forward to a renewed relationship with her as our patron whilst recognising her increased time pressures.

As a charity, we are apolitical and it’s important to state that we are likely to disagree at times with decisions made by governments of which ever political hue, but this should not prevent us from being a critical friend in order to be able to engage effectively.

Whilst very grateful for the patronage of the former Prime Minister, we continue to engage with politicians in all parties and in all areas of the UK.

Former NRAS Trustee and Fundraiser

Mark was born in 1954 and at 26 was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. He woke up one morning in agony, with no prior warning and has not looked back since! Mark has had multiple operations to his ankles, hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, wrists and extensive surgery to both hands. He has also undergone discectomy/fusions and 2 spinal spacer back operations as well as having a heart attack requiring stent procedure and a haemorrhalgic stroke.

He was a board director of one of the UK’s leading independent insurance brokers but took early retirement in 2005 due to ill health, as the illness has seriously affected his neck and he found his full time job too much to cope with.  Mark was a trustee for NRAS for a number of years and we are delighted he has chosen to stay involved with the charity as a patron. He has worked hard to establish networks in the North East and Cumbria, where he is based, and has a particular interest in fundraising. He says he ‘was delighted to discover NRAS and is eager to help give something back’.

cD, MD, FRCP Consultant Rheumatologist

After six years as NRAS Chief Medical Advisor Professor Panayi has very kindly agreed to become an NRAS Patron.

He has worked tirelessly on our behalf throughout this period and has been a staunch supporter of the charity. We are delighted that he has agreed to take up this new role and look forward to working with him in the future. 

A few words from Professor Panayi:

“I am honoured, proud and very happy to become a Patron of NRAS joining Theresa May MP who has given her time and energy so unstintingly to the Society. I have spent a professional lifetime as an academic rheumatologist. As arc Professor of Rheumatology I had three important functions: the provision of clinical rheumatology to patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis; the teaching of medical students, trainee rheumatologists and members of professions allied to rheumatology (nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists); and research into the mechanisms of inflammation that cause joint damage with the resultant problems of pain, disability, loss of work and social isolation of patients. All three of these activities are clearly intertwined for I have always felt that clinical practice focuses one’s attention on the patients and their problems and is thus a powerful force directing the type of research to be done. Furthermore, the outcome of research, if not applied back in the form of new treatments in the clinic and if not transmitted to future practitioners of rheumatology, is sterile. 

However, despite these endeavours I have always felt that there was a fourth ingredient missing from my professional endeavours. The missing ingredient was the political dimension of patient power. Political activities by doctors on behalf of their patients can always be misinterpreted as promotion of professional self-interest. No such jaundiced viewpoint can be expressed, at least openly, when patients are using political means to achieve more funding and thus better treatment, for in health care, just as in other spheres of life, competition for resources is a reality. However, although there were many organisations promoting the interests of patients with rheumatic diseases there was no organisation that specifically campaigned for those with rheumatoid arthritis. This was a curious and unexplained gap. I could not see how this gap could be filled until I met Ailsa Bosworth. We hit it off from the very beginning. As we know, she took on the Herculean task of organising NRAS. And as we know, she has made it into a successful, truly national charity that is recognised internationally. I have been very happy to support all the activities of NRAS but I have been particularly happy to answer the questions and the worries of patients directed at me via their emails as NRAS National Medical Adviser.

Now, in my new capacity as Patron, I will of course continue this support. Indeed, as Professor Emeritus of Rheumatology at King’s College London, I have more time and will hopefully contribute even more.”

Retired Consultant Rheumatologist, Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital since 1988; Hon.

Professor to University of East Anglia; Clinical Director of Norfolk & Suffolk Comprehensive Local Research Network; RCP Patient Involvement Officer; Past Chief Medical Advisor to NRAS;  Medical Adviser to Raynaud’s & Scleroderma Assoc; long-standing interest in systemic vasculitis with over 250 reviews/editorials/papers; other research interests: epidemiology of rheumatoid arthritis (Norfolk Arthritis Register), clinical, health, economic and psychosocial aspects and their relevance to the introduction of biologic therapy

Simon is a chartered engineer who has spent the majority of his career working in engineering consultancy in the rail and highway sectors. His experience includes business leadership with responsibility for service delivery, commercial management and business performance. He is keen to apply the experience gained during his career for the benefit of NRAS, and to maximise the help it can bring to people with RA. 

Simon became aware of the enormously valuable work of NRAS through his wife Sarah, a long-term RA sufferer and NRAS member. Through her involvement with NRAS he has been able to appreciate the extensive range of services which the organisation provides, and the positive impact it makes on the lives of those living with RA. 

As Chair of the Board of Trustees Simon works closely with Clare, her Management Team and the Board to provide strategic direction to NRAS, ensuring sound finances and securing a sustainable future for the charity. Our aim is to continue to broaden the reach and appeal of NRAS amongst all those who suffer from RA and JIA and provide them with the best available support and understanding.  

Simon has three step children and lives in Gloucestershire with Sarah and their two dogs. 

Richard has worked for Anglian Water for most of his career and has been Business Change & Strategy Director for the past six years. Richard has a wide range of experience, from day to day operations through to the disposal of international companies. His current role involves the development of business strategy and its implementation, managing investment decisions as well as risk management across the group. 

Having been diagnosed with RA in 2015, the NRAS website was one of the first sites Richard visited to understand more about RA. Recognising the benefit NRAS gives to those newly diagnosed with RA he is keen to support and contribute to our work. Richard has been very active in charity work, chairing the company’s WaterAid fundraising committee since 2011, experience he hopes will also benefit NRAS. 

Richard is married with four children, and is keen to remain as active as possible – enjoying most sports, especially cycling, swimming and climbing.

Lindsey has over  20 years’ experience working alongside executive level authorities in the Life sciences, charities and the NHS sectors.  She is an accomplished project manager, having led several high profile, award-winning national healthcare projects, and has also contributed to the development of national policy.  In addition to these achievements, she co-founded ‘Wicked Minds’ in 2012, a healthcare consultancy firm specialising in creating bespoke solutions to ‘Wicked problems’ in health and social care. Prior to setting up the company she held various senior roles within the Pharmaceutical Industry, where she contributed to patient advocacy, policy change, programme development, strategy development, and multi-sector partnership working. 

Lindsey has a BSc Hons in Biology and has held significant board appointments mainly within the health sector including as a Board Member, Chairperson and Vice Chair.  In addition to the healthcare consultancy Lindsey’s also a Non-Executive Director, Mentor, Trustee for Anglia Care Trust,  Board Member of the NHS Chemotherapy Clinical Reference Group and Eastern Academic Health Science Network Innovation Review Panel Member. Lindsey wanted to use her healthcare knowledge to support NRAS and became a Trustee in 2020 

Lindsey is married to Darren and has 2 miniature Yorkshire Terriers called Barkley and Peanut. She is a keen hiker and traveller.

Steve is a qualified ACA and prior to recently retiring, worked for more than 30 years in Finance including 18 years at Price Waterhouse Coopers, 6 years of which as a partner specialising in due diligence work for Private Equity. He has held Chief Finance Officer roles working with Private Equity at Merlin Communications, Sepura and The Good Care Group – achieving successful exits for each company. Steve has also held the role of Corporate Strategy Director at Dalgety plc.

Steve worked for 10 years at The Good Care Group who specialise in live-in care for the elderly, particularly those with dementia, which he helped grow from a start-up to a significant business. Steve has been a Trustee with NRAS since 2014 and continues to put his knowledge of finance and the healthcare sector to good use helping NRAS continue to develop as the same time as maintaining appropriate financial disciplines.

Steve is married and has 5 grown up children/step children. He is a keen golfer and a wine and food enthusiast and is currently a non-executive Director for Classic Prop Hire Ltd.

Rich works for ScoutsCymru as Head of Strategy supporting the Organisations Groups across Wales. He has a wide range of experience within the Voluntary Sector including Charity Governance, Volunteer support, Communications and External Affairs. 

 Having been diagnosed with RA in 2014, NRAS was the organisation Rich turned to for support and advice in understanding the condition. Living in Wales and at the time NRAS was creating its Campaigns Networks, Rich wanted to put some of experiences forward and took on a role within the NRAS Welsh Ambassadors, supporting the Organisations work in lobbying Welsh Government and engaging with stakeholders to move Rheumatology services forward in Wales, including supporting the work of JIA at NRAS in the campaign for a Paediatric Rheumatology Service for Wales. 

 Rich is married with four children, and enjoys visiting Historical sites and baking.

Kirsten is a partner at KPMG, working in the office of general counsel and specialising in employment law. She leads a team that advises KPMG on all internal partner and employment related issues. She is experienced in managing senior stakeholders and multi skilled teams and Kirsten is former chair of the UK In House Employment Lawyers network. 

Kirsten understands the impact that RA can have on individuals and their family, as a very close family member has moderate to severe RA. She is keen to use her personal and business knowledge to help NRAS to support its members and to raise awareness of RA. 

Zoë has worked in the City of London for 25 years and currently runs a specialist executive search business which finds Research and Quantitative Analysts on behalf of banks and fund managers. 

Diagnosed with RA in her thirties (while working for an Inter-dealer Broker) she found NRAS’s information hugely supportive, enabling her to continue to work full time in an intensely competitive and unforgiving environment.  

Outside of trustee duties Zoë has a particular interest in RA Scientific Research and Audit. She was the first patient lead for the National Audit for Rheumatoid and Early Inflammatory Arthritis and continues to work with researchers and clinicians looking to reduce variation in RA care.  Zoë also supports NRAS by helping to raise the profile of personalised medicine in RA. She is lay chair of a European Stratified Medicine Initiative/consortium MATURA and also is the patient RA advisor for 3TR – an international project which is looking to share personalised treatment trial findings across 7 autoimmune conditions. 

Zoë lives in Teddington with her husband. In her spare time she can be found pottering in Bushy Park with her Shih Tzu George. 

Eleanor has worked in various roles in the Civil Service. Currently in the Cabinet Office, she focuses on digital and data policy working to make the UK a great place for citizens and businesses to be online. Before this, Eleanor was at University studying Human Sciences – a course combining genetics, statistics, sociology and demography.  

Eleanor was diagnosed with JIA when she was 12. It is a cause particularly close to her and her family as her mum and grandad both suffer. She is particularly interested in JIA and services NRAS provides to young people, chairing the NRAS Young Voices committee alongside her work as a Trustee.  

Now living with friends in London, Eleanor grew up in Warwickshire. She enjoys keeping busy cycling, skiing and climbing as well as socialising with friends and family. 

Gordon has worked in Marketing and General Management with a focus on Health Care for over 30 years in Blue Chip companies such as Procter & Gamble, Danone Nutricia and Smith & Nephew and is currently Head of International Marketing at Alcon.  In addition to his broad commercial leadership he brings experience in collaborating with Health Care Professionals on new therapies, developing high performing diverse teams and corporate governance projects such as risk management.    

As members of his immediate family have autoimmune diseases, Gordon understands all too well the impact inflammatory conditions such as RA can have on patients and carers, and what is needed in terms of solutions and support to enable them continue to do the things they enjoy.  

As an active member of the Board of Trustees, he is committed to working closely with Clare and her Management Team to ensure we maintain a solid, sustainable strategic plan, and regular review of our activities to ensure NRAS continues to do the best possible job to support all with RA or JIA to live life to the full. 

Gordon is married to Fiona, a chartered Physiotherapist, with 3 grown up children, and after many years living & working abroad, now live in the New Forest with their cats, dogs & horses. They also enjoy sailing, skiing and fell walking.

Simone Webb was born and raised in London and is a first-generation Jamaican migrant. After being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis as a Biology undergraduate in 2018, Simone chose to focus her academic research on the immune system and what constitutes a ‘normal’ immune system. She is now a PhD researcher in Bioinformatics and Immunology at Newcastle University, where she researches how blood and immune cells form during fetal development.  

Simone has several years of experience working within decision-making bodies in the charity sector, which began with a seven-year service on the UK and international Youth Advisory Panels for the children’s rights charity, Plan UK. Simone is keen to bring her knowledge of science, diversity and inclusion and RA diagnosis in young people to the future work of NRAS. Simone enjoys cooking and listening to music in her spare time.