Asthma UK trustees

With a background in marketing, communications and technology relating to health, Jos Belgrave has worked both as an entrepreneur and in global pharma. His key area of interest is how to empower people to take more control of their lives through the provision of information and services. 

Richard Coombs is a project manager for the film industry in Wales. After gaining the first-ever UK postgraduate research degree in Cartoon Studies, he trained in film production in Denmark, and subsequently became a manager of a Film Commission region.

His primary area of interest is the use of communications in developing a stronger base for Asthma UK to reach both people with asthma and also to develop links with other interested groups.

He has had severe asthma since childhood, with over 100 emergency admissions to hospital, despite good asthma management. Living in North Wales, he is also keen to develop better care and support for people with asthma who live in rural regions, where access to primary care is vital.

June Coppel has spent 19 years at the Bank of England working in the areas of Overseas Intelligence, Banking Supervision, and Equal Opportunities. She is currently President of her university graduates' association in London, and has also undertaken voluntary work as a school governor, a fundraiser for Save the Children Fund and Chase the Children's Hospice at Christopher's, and is acting as a Chair and Trustee of Victim Support in Surrey. Both of June’s children have asthma and she is keen to support Asthma UK's endeavours to understand more about the causes of asthma and ultimately find a cure.

John Griffiths has had a career focused mainly in the media and the arts, including being Deputy General Manager of the Press Association, and Chairman of the Minerva Arts Channel since 1989. He has also been heavily involved with the Liberal party, initially as the Chairman of the National League of Young Liberals and later as the President of the Liberal Party from 1982-83. He has written numerous books, particularly on Afghanistan.

Despite having had asthma since the age of seven, John has enjoyed being both a successful athlete and county squash player.

John Lelliott is  Finance Director and a member of the  senior management team member at The Crown Estate where he has responsibility for finance, information systems and internal audit.
 
He has been a member of the Asthma UK Finance and Audit Committee since September 2007 and contributes to providing advice, scrutiny and governance to the charity.

Helen Ralston has had a varied background in electronics/telecoms and charities, with over 20 years experience in finance, communications, mergers and acquisitions and strategy. After qualifying as an accountant in Glasgow she became a corporate treasurer and gained an MBA from Cranfield.

Formerly a senior manager in an international quoted company and chairman of its pension fund, she then transferred into the voluntary sector as Chief Executive of a major national fundraising charity. She is also a trustee of a charity involved in the resettlement of ex-offenders in London.

Helen is based in West Sussex and has close friends and a sister-in-law with asthma. She brings her expertise from the charity and commercial worlds to help Asthma UK grow effectively, whilst widening its network of stakeholders and support.

Jurgen has contributed significantly to the understanding of the role that viruses have in the development of asthma and in acute asthma attacks.

As a paediatric allergist and chest physician and clinical researcher, he has longstanding experience in basic and clinical research in asthma and allergy related fields. As a former member of the Asthma UK Research Committee he has helped to identify important and scientifically outstanding research projects.
 
After training in paediatrics in Germany, followed by a post–doctoral fellowship in Denver, Colorado, he became a Wellcome Trust Senior Fellow in 2002 at Imperial College London and since 2007 has held the Edward Clark Chair of Child Life and Health at Edinburgh University. He is also Chair of the Scottish Paediatric Allergy Group.

Jurgen has asthma and understands the challenges that living with the condition poses and hopes to contribute his clinical knowledge of childhood asthma and research expertise with a particular interest in highlighting the close link of asthma with allergy.

Iain has been actively involved in respiratory medicine in primary care for 20 years and is a General Practitioner and Chair of General Practice Airways Group.

He has had asthma since childhood and currently lives in Aberdeenshire.

David Steeds is a Chartered Accountant currently working as a non-executive director of a number of public and private companies. He was previously Corporate Development Director of Serco Group plc and QinetiQ Group plc and Chief Executive of the Private Finance Panel.

David has had asthma since childhood. He was co-opted onto Asthma UK’s Council and Finance and Audit Committee in January 2007, where his main contribution has been his experience of corporate governance, commercial business and general finance. David has been Chairman of the Finance and Audit Committee since July 2007.

Anne trained in paediatrics in London and Leicester and moved to Oxford as Consultant Paediatrician in 1989 to set up respiratory services for children. The service has grown enormously since then and recently moved into the new Oxford Children’s Hospital.

She has extensive clinical experience of asthma in children and in helping children and families cope with the condition.

Eric has been a Trustee since 2003 and Treasurer of Asthma UK since 2005. He is a Chartered Accountant by training and has worked in Asset Finance for over 20 years. Eric is also a Council member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

As a person with asthma his involvement with Asthma UK stems from a desire to use his accountancy skills and knowledge to support the charity. 

Eric is also the Treasurer of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. 

Dr Rob Wilson was appointed as Chair in July 2009. He is a Consultant Physician, Director of Lung Division and Associate Medical Director at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospital.

Dr Wilson says: ‘My mother has bad asthma and as a respiratory physician I see how asthma affects the lives of people of all ages and backgrounds, and how severe asthma continues to kill patients every year. I believe that our charity can improve the lives of sufferers of asthma now, and via research we can find better ways of treating patients in the future.’

Sarah is a community pharmacist who works in collaboration with local GP’s and nurses and has daily contact with people with asthma.  She supports people with managing their treatment effectively.

Asthma has affected Sarah and her sister. As young children, they were regularly admitted to hospital.  This experience, along with her current involvement in asthma, means she has a strong understanding of the difficulties and issues faced by people and families who are affected by asthma.

Currently she is involved in a community asthma audit being conducted by the Gwynedd Local Health Board. She has also been a tutor for graduates, mentored overseas pharmacists and worked on various Primary Care Trust projects. These include piloting a pharmacy based smoking cessation service and representing the local PCT at national level.