Our people

Nicola oversees everything we do, working closely with our board to shape our strategic direction, ensuring we’re working towards our vision of a world free of MND. She was previously our CFO and COO and has worked globally in banking.

Kerri leads our finance and HR operations, and works closely with auditors, bankers, investment managers and HMRC. She is an ICAS-qualified accountant, and before joining the team worked in banking and professional services.

Jessica is responsible for driving our research activities forward ensuring that we fund the smartest, most efficient MND research, in line with our strategy Catalysing a Cure. She has previously established and led international research programmes.

Paul’s job is to keep fundraising and our supporters at the heart of everything we do. His role drives the income we need to grow our research programmes, so we can continue to work towards a world free of MND. Paul has spent his career in the voluntary sector, working in a range of fundraising roles at national UK health charities before joining the team at the Foundation.

Abi works closely with our supporters, ensuring they have everything that they need to make their fundraising events a success. 

Lucy leads on the development of our corporate engagement programme, stewarding key supporters, and strengthening community fundraising across the UK. She has a background in sport, working in partnership roles in football and rugby.

Daisy is the first point of contact for anyone taking part in mass participation events like marathons and walks and helps build long lasting relationships with our supporters. Supporting our Team Doddie fundraisers throughout their journey, she ensures they have all they need to make their challenge a success. Before joining the team, Daisy worked as a teacher and in events.

Finlay oversees the planning and development of our annual long-distance cycle challenge, led by Foundation ambassadors Rob Wainwright and Mark Beaumont. He also manages our volunteer programme and leads on logistical elements of Doddie Aid. Finlay was previously our Community and Events Fundraiser and joined the team after working in rugby.

Aonghus works closely with our supporters, ensuring they have everything that they need to make their fundraising events a success. Aonghus is currently Chair of Scottish Student Football and worked in rugby before joining the team.

Rachel oversees our fundraising operational planning and delivery. She sees to it that we maximise our income, as well as making sure our supporters have a great experience. Before joining the team, Rachel worked a variety of roles in event delivery and community fundraising.

Emma keeps our fundraising and office operations running seamlessly. She is the first person you’ll speak to when you get in touch, and makes sure every supporter is celebrated. Before joining the team, Emma worked in pharmacy.

Sonya leads on the development and delivery of our philanthropy strategy, building strong relationships with individuals and stewarding donors. She has spent her career working in the charity sector and more recently became a consultant focused on working with growing charities to deliver strategies to secure philanthropic income.

Hannah leads on storytelling across our digital platforms – from web stories, to email and social media. Before joining the team Hannah worked in a variety of content focused roles working across both print and digital.

Anna oversees our digital activity and leads on delivering campaigns including Doddie Aid, ensuring our mission and impact reaches and engages supporters. Anna has spent her career working across the voluntary sector, both in-house and agency-side, specialising in end-to-end campaigns.

Caroline is responsible for overseeing all communications, ensuring that supporters understand our mission and impact and that we centre the voices of people living with MND. She was previously our Communications and Brand Manager and has worked in the voluntary sector with a focus on storytelling.

Olivia leads on the delivery of our Advancing Treatments Awards and ensures we are adopting best practice research funding approaches across our portfolio. Before joining the team, Olivia was a medical writer and completed a PhD in cancer biology.

Nicole provides support across the research team, ensuring our projects are expertly managed, and our funding calls are delivered robustly. Before joining the team, Nicole completed a PhD in neuroscience, focusing on motor neuron disease.

Eleanor (Ella) provides support across the research team, ensuring our projects are expertly managed, and our funding calls are delivered robustly. Before joining the team, she was a post-doctoral fellow, focusing on neurodegenerative disease.

Anna leads on our Discovery Network and the development of new research initiatives, working with teams of multidisciplinary researchers from across the world to help accelerate progress. Before joining the team, she was a post-doctoral fellow, focusing on motor neuron disease.

Emma leads on the delivery of our Advancing Treatments Awards and ensures we are adopting best practice research funding approaches across our portfolio. Before joining the team, Emma worked in biotechnology and was a post-doctoral fellow, focusing on Vitamin D biology.

Ruth leads on the delivery of our Catalyst Awards and our involvement with the UK MND Research Institute. She also monitors and reports on the impact of the research we fund. Before joining the team, Ruth was a research fellow and lecturer in molecular oncology.

Suzanne is our first point of contact for day-to-day finance queries and helps ensures all our financial records and reports are accurate. Having always worked in accounts and finance, Suzanne is central to shaping processes and controls which support the Foundation.

Sean has supported the Foundation since its inception, contributing to our medical affairs work and engagement with the research and wider MND communities. He is a consultant with extensive experience in pharmaceuticals and specialised scientific healthcare communications.

Gillian provides executive support to the Foundation’s leadership team, assisting with a range of operational and governance responsibilities. From staff onboarding and IT coordination, to preparing board papers and assisting with day-to-day admin, Gillian helps ensure everything runs smoothly for us behind the scenes.

Claire supports the Foundation's medical affairs work, coordinating our Scientific Advisory meetings and building strong connections across the MND community. She is a consultant with a background in marketing and public relations.