ALLERGY UK - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Head of Clinical Services
- Member of the College of Nursing Immunology & Allergy Nurses
Amena was a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Immunology and Allergy at an NHS Hospital Trust before joining Allergy UK. She trained at University College Hospital, followed by paediatric training at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. She also holds a Public Health and Specialist Practice in School Nursing qualification. Visiting schools and carrying out health assessments made Amena very aware of the rising incidence of allergy in the UK and this was instrumental in developing her interest in the field.
Amena is a member of the College of Nursing Immunology & Allergy Nurses group and is the first nurse to sit on the British Society of Allergy & Clinical Immunology (BSACI) council where she started the National Nurses in Allergy Group.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Vice Chair
Archna is a Chartered Accountant and having previously enjoyed a 20-year career in finance has now changed career to become a coach. She has held numerous CFO roles and owned an award-winning small accountancy practice. She brings her extensive finance expertise to Allergy UK having worked with numerous small businesses.
She is a member of the ICAEW and an accredited coach with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC). She is studying for an MSc in Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology (MAPPCP).
Archna has two young children with multiple allergies and knows the daily challenges of finding alternatives, ensuring adequate nutrition, and eating out and travelling safely very well. Her children's allergies have evolved and changed over the years where some they grew out of and others were new allergens which needs constant care and management. The children have been through the full "allergic march" with eczema, asthma, and allergic rhinitis. Her personal experience of trying to understand and manage the allergies has led her to support Allergy UK as there is not enough education and guidance for parents.
Gary undertook his medical training at the University of Birmingham and in 2012 completed specialist training in Paediatric Allergy. During his training he worked at both St Mary's Hospital, London and University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust and also completed an Allergy MSc at Imperial College London. Gary has been a Consultant in Paediatric Allergy at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust since 2012.
Gary was the lead author for the BSACI guidelines on nut allergy and was involved in changing the legislation allowing schools to be able to hold generic Adrenaline Autoinjectors alongside Allergy UK and Anaphylaxis Campaign. In 2019 he started a national British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU) study into FPIES.
Gary has previously served as a RCPCH specialist advisory committee members for Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases (2014-2019). He regularly lectures on the Allergy MSc at University of Southampton.
His interests include food allergy, eczema and Immunotherapy.
Job Titles:
- Head of Fundraising
- Operations Director
Jon joined Allergy UK in June 2022 and brings with him 23 years of fundraising experience (10 in senior roles) from a range of sources including Trusts and Foundations, Major Donor, Community, Event, Corporate and Statutory fundraising.
Jon's specific areas of expertise include Communications and Marketing, as well as New Business and Account Management. Jon has experience in developing and maintaining productive relationships with Third Sector funders, regulatory and statutory bodies, as well as influencers and opinion formers.
Jon initially joined Allergy UK as Head of Fundraising, before taking the step up to the Interim Head of Supporter Services role. Then in May 2024, Jon was promoted to the post of Operations Director.
Job Titles:
- Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations
Katherine is a strategic communications, public affairs and risk/reputation management consultant with over 25 years' experience of delivering board and senior level counsel to FTSE 100 companies, trade/membership organisations, charities and the third sector.
Previously a City lawyer with a background in litigation, regulation and public policy, she provides senior leadership experience gained from national and international roles both in-house and in consultancy. Her principal focus is in healthcare, nutrition, medical and pharmaceutical products, FMCG/consumer goods, politics and professional services.
Katherine is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR); a Chartered PR Practitioner; a Past Master (2017-18) of the City of London Company of Communicators, the PR and communications' industry's livery company; a professional mediator (Prince 2 qualified); a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and is a Member of the Law Society. She holds a PGDip in Crisis Communications and is the Founder and Co-Chair of the CIPR's Crisis Communications Network. She is an experienced Non-Executive Director and Trustee for a variety of charities and other organisations.
Katherine suffered from allergies from a very early age and spent many years seeking diagnosis and effective management of her condition. Fortunately, many of her allergies have receded over time though she still maintains a gluten-free diet and is sensitive to dust and tree pollen. Several members of her family also suffer from allergies of various kinds.
Liz has worked in policy and public affairs for almost 20 years, having begun her career working for an MP in Westminster. Since then, Liz has focused her expertise predominately within the voluntary and public sector. Much of her work has focused on influencing change in the areas of social justice and advice both at a devolved government and UK level.
She is based in Wales and is currently works as Head of Welsh Affairs for the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Previous roles include at Citizens Advice, Consumer Focus and the National Autistic Society. She has an MSc in Equality and Diversity and has sat on the Wales Committee of the EHRC. She currently sits on the Community Fund's Large Grants Decision-Making Committee for Wales.
Liz has a nut allergy, as well as other food allergies. She has asthma, eczema and hay fever and a range of other allergies including to animals and grass.Like many others, Liz's allergy journey has been complicated and at times extremely challenging. She has had fight hard to access to the right support and is only too aware of the impact this can have.
She is committed to helping Allergy UK influence change to make it easier for others to access the support and advice they need, no matter where they live and hopes to help Allergy UK further develop its work in the devolved nations, including Wales.
Lynne is a freelance management consultant with experience of working in the private, public and third sectors. She has been a qualified corporate member of the Chartered Institute for Personnel and Development (CIPD) since 1992 and is now a Chartered Fellow. She has extensive hands-on experience of most aspects of HR at both operational and strategic level, with a broad base of commercial experience and a good understanding of corporate governance and the responsibilities of directors.
Several members of Lynne's family are allergy sufferers and she is fully committed to supporting the executive team towards achieving the charity's mission to raise the profile of allergy at all levels and support those who live with allergy.
Lynne has two grown up children and lives in Cambridgeshire with her husband and their three cats.
Paul has over 30 years of Finance experience with most of the last ten having been spent working in NFP (not-for-profit) organisations. Prior to this he has worked in a range of sectors including government, accounting practice and commercial entities.
Paul recognises the need for continuous improvement in all fields especially cost effectiveness and reporting and looks to use his considerable accumulated knowledge and experience to ensure this is carried out effectively.
Through his professional career in HR and experience as a trustee Board member, Peter brings extensive experience of corporate governance from both sides of the Board table. He has worked in human resources for the last 15 years developing his expertise in international roles with WestLB, UBS and HSBC. He is passionate about helping people and organisations achieve their goals and achieve their full potential.
Peter has a personal connection to Allergy UK as several members of his family have allergic conditions including eczema, asthma, hay fever and food allergies.
Talking to friends and colleagues, he has learned how common these conditions are and how variable the standard of care is across the UK. He is an avid reader of allergy-related research and has direct experience of the latest immunotherapies. He is optimistic for the future and is completely committed to supporting Allergy UK in their mission to ensure that allergies are taken seriously and that all members of our community receive proper care and support.
Rachel has over 20 years' experience of delivering software and data solutions in the private sector. She gained a bachelor's degree in Computer Science from University College London and an MBA in Technology Management from the Open University.
Rachel has two children, one of whom has a peanut allergy. Having been through the journey of a childhood allergy diagnosis and related conditions, then learning how to manage an allergy at home, school and abroad, she appreciates the frustrations and concerns that families experience after the initial reaction.
Rachel is active in social media groups for allergy parents and allergy travel, and joined Allergy UK in 2023 to advise on the charity's digital initiatives.
Job Titles:
- Partner at Award Winning Law Firm, Giles Wilson Solicitors
Roy Daby is a Partner at award winning law firm, Giles Wilson Solicitors. He qualified as a solicitor in 2003 following studies at the University of London and University of British Columbia, Canada. He is also an accredited mediator.
It was Roy's personal experience of allergy which led him to support Allergy UK. His young daughter has a severe egg, nut and dairy allergy and he and his family have seen, first-hand, the significant impact of allergic disease on a person's life. He is very active in supporting parents and adults in trying to ensure that schools and companies adhere to the law and support children with allergies in every way possible.
Roy has a detailed knowledge of key commercial legal areas and contracts, he is very much the ‘go to' lawyer in the profession and won UK Lawyer of the Year award back in 2014 and has a wide ranging client following who approach him for his ability to negotiate and find creative solutions. It is with this background that he is able to provide the necessary legal knowledge and assistance to the charity.
Sarah Devlin is an experienced Change and Transformation manager working within the Financial Services industry, and has managed a wide range of projects, specialising in Regulatory and Strategy initiatives.
Sarah has substantial operational management experience and a Masters Degree in Organisational Psychology. She has a strong interest in people strategy and workplace behaviour, culture and organisational design.
Sarah lives in Scotland, with her husband and 3 children, each of whom have one or more allergies. Sarah first came across Allergy UK as a parent in 2009 when her son was diagnosed with multiple severe allergies at 6 months old. Having benefited first hand from their vital support, she was delighted when the opportunity later arose to become a Trustee and leverage her skills and experience to give back to the charity.
Simone is Chief Executive Officer with 13 years of senior executive experience working in the third sector, which includes health, education and youth. Responsible for strategic and operational aspects of the charity. Overseeing all departments to ensure the successful execution of business functions and services for the allergic community and to provide a well-coordinated and productive happy team.