The Breakthrough T1D team

The cure would mean a world without type 1 diabetes for future generations. It would be the most amazing gift Breakthrough T1D UK could deliver to the 400,000 people living with type 1 in the UK. I am dedicated to finding the cure.

I knew more about the molecules involved in type 1 than its day-to-day impact when I joined Breakthrough T1D UK. That quickly changed (although I still know quite a lot about molecules), and the cure would mean more to me than any other scientific advance could.

Our supporters are an essential part of our work, unlocking our ability to take us one step closer to the day when we find a cure for type 1 diabetes. I’m inspired by our mission, humbled by our fantastic community and passionate about supporter centricity and achieving long term impact together.

To me the cure for type 1 diabetes would mean among other things that nobody would have to endure the shock of such a life-altering diagnosis. I’ve had 25 years experience in the voluntary sector, with a particular interest in charities growing rapidly, and planning for and sustaining that growth.

I’m inspired by the advances in medical research, but know that there is much more to do to prevent, cure and treat type 1 diabetes. In particular I am interested in improving people’s access to research and treatments.

A cure would mean so much for those I know living with the condition and I’m inspired every day by the great work that Breakthrough T1D UK does to try and make that a reality and am proud to play a small part in that. I love this job, I’m obsessed by maintaining our positive culture and making this a great place to work, where people feel they can make a real difference.

Chief Executive Officer of ITC Travel Group, Chairman of ACC Aviation and Breakthrough T1D UK Board Director. I have lived with type 1 diabetes since I was 28 and consider myself fortunate that I was diagnosed swiftly and with great support from healthcare professionals and my family and friends. Since this time, I have always given much thought to the impact type 1 has on families, and in particular on children who are diagnosed with the condition. Breakthrough T1D UK’s research to find a cure, alongside its work to support and improve the health, well being and quality of life of those affected, has tremendous personal resonance. I am delighted to be able to use my skills, experience and networks to help the cause.

I’m an Associate Partner at EY, and work as a management consultant in financial services. I joined Breakthrough T1D UK’s Board in December 2020 as the Treasurer-elect. My younger daughter Emily was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when she was six. In the two years since, we’ve learned first hand about the impact type 1 diabetes has on children and their families. We’ve also learned how big a difference it makes to have the support of a great medical team, and the resources and hope that Breakthrough T1D UK provides. I’m very pleased to have joined the Breakthrough T1D UK team. And I believe that, together, we can make a huge difference to reduce the daily burden of type 1 diabetes on those it affects directly and their families.

A global life science industry leader and founding member of the UK Government’s Vaccine Taskforce during COVID-19. I’m the current Chief Executive of the UK Bioindustry Association before joining the Office of Life Sciences as Executive Chair in September. Type 1 diabetes is ever present in both my work and home life, so I know that making practical change is a team sport that needs families, the NHS, companies and charities to work well together. I’m excited to volunteer my experience and networks as a Board Director to help drive toward curing type 1 diabetes, helping make everyday life better for the people who face it.

Group CEO of STRAT7, a data driven strategy group; plus Non-Executive Chair, Director and Board Advisor to a portfolio of public and private companies and Board Director of Breakthrough T1D UK. I have spent thirty years working in global media and marketing groups holding a variety of senior roles in the UK, Europe and North America. I was first introduced to Breakthrough T1D UK ten years ago, when my niece was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. In 2014, my nine year old son was also then diagnosed and the condition has become an everyday battle for both our families. I am delighted to be part of the Breakthrough T1D UK team to achieve its very clear mission of improving the lives of those afflicted by type 1 as well as finding a cure as quickly as possible.

Head of Compliance since May 2017 at Santander UK and Ring Fenced Bank Risk Officer (SMF 18) since September 2023. As someone who lives with type 1, I know first-hand both the challenges of living with diabetes and the impact of the amazing work that Breakthrough T1D does. I am extremely passionate and motivated to support the organisation in delivering its mission statement of accelerating life changing breakthroughs to cure, treat and prevent type 1 diabetes and its complications.

Head of Patient Advocacy, EMEA at IQVIA, a leading global provider of advanced analytics, technology solutions and clinical research services to the life sciences industry dedicated to delivering actionable insights. Through my work, I build collaborations between patient organisations, charities and IQVIA that have a positive impact on the communities that we jointly serve. Until 2018, I was Breakthrough T1D UK’s Director of Mission and I stayed in touch closely with the charity since leaving my staff role. I’m extremely proud of what the charity and people with type 1 diabetes have achieved together, and of Breakthrough T1D UK’s tremendous progress over the past few years toward improved treatments and bringing us ever closer to cures. I’m delighted to return as a volunteer to contribute again in a small way to achieving a world without type 1 diabetes.

Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Evox Therapeutics Ltd, an Oxford-based exosome therapeutics company; Non-Executive Director of viral gene therapy company Combigene (COMBI); and Board Director of Breakthrough T1D UK. I was diagnosed with type 1 in my mid 20s while completing my PhD. Despite having a good scientific understanding of the condition and having had family members with diabetes, one cannot really be prepared for the impact of a diagnosis. Having spent a large part of my career advising, founding and leading biotech companies working to develop advanced therapies against diseases of high unmet medical need I have seen first-hand the importance of charities in funding research, supporting patients and their families, and ultimately accelerating the development of curative therapies. In this era of remarkable pharmaceutical and biotechnology innovation I am excited to be able to contribute to JRDF’s mission to develop a cure for type 1 diabetes, a goal that is closer than it has ever been before.

A senior government affairs and health policy leader, and consultant to major life science companies in medicines access and regulatory policy. Since 2019, I have been a Senior Partner, Head of Health, and Board Director at WA Communications. I am honoured to join the Board of Breakthrough T1D UK at this pivotal moment for type 1 diabetes research and innovation. The pace of scientific progress is hugely exciting and means that a future where cures are possible feels both very real and closer than ever before. I am excited to play a part in helping to accelerate that ambition.

Former law firm partner with 20 years’ experience in financial regulation, now at the University of Oxford and Board Director of Breakthrough T1D UK. My son and my sister were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 11, my uncle at the age of 4 and my brother-in-law when he was 10. My uncle and brother-in-law did not reach 40. Our family has lived with type 1 diabetes for three generations and has been greatly helped by the progress made in treatments and technologies over that time. My son’s technology has been life-transforming and has led me to a PhD in Translational Health Sciences at Oxford, looking at how to get medical innovations to more patients. I am passionate about supporting all aspects of research into type 1 diabetes and ensuring the next generation of families get access to transformative technologies. I am very grateful to be able to contribute to the work of Breakthrough T1D UK by serving on the Board.