Based in Buckinghamshire, we are a registered charity which is governed by an independent board of trustees.
The foundations of a good charity are always built upon good governance. Our trustees are from a diverse range of backgrounds including family members of those with one of our conditions, clinicians, scientists, and business people. Our trustees receive regular training and play an active role at events and in setting our new strategy.
Chair
Judith Evans
Judith was born and brought up in East Anglia, but moved to the west of Scotland with her husband Graham in 1981. They have enjoyed a long association with the MPS Society since their daughter Joanne was diagnosed with MPS IV Morquio in about 1989.
Judith has served as a Trustee for many years, including roles as honorary treasurer and vice-chair. In her spare time, Judith enjoys ballet, swimming and choral singing.
Vice Chair
Wilma Robins
Wilma has been involved with the MPS Society since its founding in 1982. Her son Gethin was diagnosed with MPS I Hurler disease in 1980 and, having experienced two years of near desolation, the introduction of the MPS Society in 1982 transformed her and her husband’s lives.
Gethin died in December 1984 at the age of five and a half, and thereafter Wilma became involved in the work of the organisation, fulfilling the varying supporting administrative roles and becoming a Trustee in 1990.
Wilma’s background as a Civil Servant throughout her working life and her experience in devising and implementing policies, especially in the area of HR, has been particularly useful to the Society. Wilma was born and raised in West Wales and Welsh is her first language.
Trustee
James Garthwaite
James first became involved with the Society in 1996 when his two sons, Tom and Louis, were diagnosed with MPS II Hunters Syndrome. They have both been on enzyme replacement therapy since 2004, transforming their lives.
James became a Trustee in 2013 and then Chair in July 2018. He has spent most of his career leading communications teams in businesses and government. He, his wife Claire, and their three children live in Surrey with a ridiculous Swedish Vallhund dog, coincidently also on enzyme replacement.
Trustee
Professor Bryan Winchester
Bryan Winchester is an Emeritus Professor of Biochemistry at the UCL Institute of Child Health at Great Ormond Street Hospital, University College London.
He has taught Biochemistry and carried out research on various aspects of lysosomal storage diseases at London University for 40 years. In particular, he worked closely with the Enzyme Diagnostic Laboratory at Great Ormond Street Hospital from 1988-2006.
He was chairman of the European Study Group on Lysosomal Diseases from 1997-2007. On retirement in 2006, he became a Trustee of the British MPS Society.
Trustee
Sarah Burgess
I became involved with the MPS Society when I was about nine years old, after my parents received my diagnosis of Mucolipidosis III, and I have been involved with the MPS Society ever since. I’m proud and honoured to have been asked to be a trustee.
Over the years I’ve received so much support from the MPS Society and now hope to do the same for others. I completed my Psychology and Health Studies BSc Degree at Bath Spa University where I received a 2:1. I then worked as a teaching assistant for a few years with the plan of becoming a teacher.
However I realised that I wanted to teach young people about life so went back to university to train as a Youth Worker. After completing my Youth and Community Studies degree in 2009 I became a Youth Worker for the YMCA and my local council. Being a Youth Worker is about supporting young people through informal education.
I love my job working with young people who are in need of some extra support. In my spare time I enjoy being with friends and family, going to gigs and festivals, travelling and watching sports especially American Football.
Trustee
David Patton
David became a trustee in 2017, shortly after his wife, Alison, and two sons, Alex and Oscar, were diagnosed with Fabry. David lives with his family just outside Glasgow.
David is currently the Head of Proactive Fraud at the Department for International Development and has significant experience in finance, audit and governance, working previously for PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Trustee
Phil Pearson
Phil is a Client Director at Computer Centre, a major IT solutions provider where he runs a large client servicing team. He became a trustee in February 2019. He is a self-confessed ‘jack of all trades’ and ‘master of none’.
His interests out of work include cycling, running and swimming, with a major bike ride planned in July to raise money for the MPS Society. Phil is married to Yvonne and they have two wonderful sons – Oscar (5) and Archie (11). Archie has MPS VI. They live in North Somerset.
Trustee
Dr Fiona Stewart
Dr Fiona Stewart is a recently retired consultant in Clinical Genetics based in Belfast. She has been involved in the care of adults and children with MPS and related disorders for over 20 years. She has been an investigator in a number of ERT trials. she was very involved in the establishment of genetic testing in the UK and chaired the UKGTN genetic testing and evaluation working group for over 10 years.
In 2013 she was awarded the MBE for services to genetic medicine in the UK. In 2017 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy she made a good recovery and is enjoying life with her husband Sam. She now has time to visit her son in England and her daughter who has moved to Australia. She still has a keen interest in MPS and related disorders.
Trustee
Katy Brown
Katy became a trustee in 2020 but has been involved with the Society since her eldest son, Sam, was diagnosed with MPS IVA Morquio in 2010. She and Sam were both heavily involved in the successful campaign for the NHS to fund Vimizim in 2015. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband Simon, Sam, and his younger brother Alex.
Katy is a Programme Manager working for the Co-op, with a wealth of transformation experience. Outside of working she enjoys running, travelling and organising fundraising events.
Trustee
Simon Heales PhD FRCPath
Simon Heales is the Director of the Neurometabolic Unit at the National Hospital for Neurology (Queen Square, UCLH) and a Consultant Clinical Scientist at the Enzyme Laboratory based at Great Ormond Street Hospital.
He has a strong interest in the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with inherited metabolic disorders. This work is underpinned by a number of basic and translational research projects that are carried out in conjunction with the UCL Institute of Child Health.
He has published over 175 papers in the areas of mitochondrial, neurotransmitter and lysosomal disorders.
Trustee
Professor Derralynn Hughes
Derralynn Hughes is Professor of Experimental Haematology at University College London, Clinical Director of Research and Innovation at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, and Co-Clinical Director of the NCL Cancer Alliance.
She is also Chair of the European Working Group on Gaucher Disease. Derralynn has clinical responsibilities in the areas of haematology and lysosomal storage disorders and is Chair of the Anaemia Clinical Practice Group. She is an author of over 150 papers in the area of macrophage biology and lysosomal storage disorders.
Trustee
Dr Glenn McKee
Glenn has MPS IVA and first heard the term Morquio’s Syndrome in 1978 when, as a student, he was referred to University College Hospital. UCH put him in touch with the MPS Society in the mid-1980s, and he has drawn on it for advice and support since then, most recently during the COVID lockdowns.
Glenn worked for over 35 years in the public service—for the Civil Service and House of Commons, retiring with an OBE. Glenn lives in south London and his outside interests include history, cinema and theatre.
The senior leadership team is made up of representatives from each department who meet regularly to drive forward the mission of the MPS Society on a day to day basis.
Bob Stevens, Group Chief Executive
Sophie Thomas, Senior Head of Patient Services and Clinical Liaisons
Anna Featherstone, Head of Fundraising
John Illankovan, Head of Group Finance
Steve Cotterell, Head of Support and Advocacy
Toni Ellerton, Executive Assistant and Company Secretary
Barbara Cotterell, HR Lead
Helen Crawley, Head of Communications
As the only charity supporting individuals and families affected by MPS, Fabry or a related disease in the UK, we offer the specialist support, information and advocacy that our community needs to make informed decisions, whether about treatment, education or benefits.
We enhance our services with personal experiences, access to a community of peer support and collaboration with healthcare professionals. Every year we reach 1,500 families and recently experienced a 12.6% increase in demand for our services. Our Support and Advocacy Teamwork across the UK, averaging 2,655 miles per month visiting our members and provide them with vital support and advocacy.
From a single advocacy officer, back in 1986 funded by BBC Children in Need, covering the whole of the UK, the Society’s highly skilled advocacy team and supports over 1,500 families and individuals in all aspects of social care as well as access to special educational needs and clinical management.
Head of Support & Advocacy
Steve
steve.cotterell@mpssociety.org.uk 03453899901I am proud to head up the advocacy team, having worked as a support officer for many years I understand the determination and expertise required to support our families.
Supporting children, young people and adults affected by MPS, Fabry and related conditions and their families is at the heart of what we do, and so we strive to provide a responsive service that gives people the help they need when they need it.
We are often able to make a positive difference to the lives of our community and this gives a real sense of achievement.
Senior Support & Advocacy Officer
Sally
I have been with The MPS Society for long enough to know many of our members. Knowing that we are living in times where getting even basic needs (and rights met) is so hard, I understand completely how it can get members and their families down. The continuous minefield of how to go about getting anything sorted is enough to make people give up.
Being part of a service that supports members and their families to achieve their needs and hopefully, take a share of the burden in doing so, is a great feeling.
When I get a call or email telling me their issue has moved forward as a result of our support, it makes me realise that even when it is hard and complicated, it ultimately is worth it and we move on to fight another day together!
Senior Support & Advocacy Officer
Alison
I am a Senior Support and Advocacy Officer, covering Northern Ireland and Scotland. I have a background as a genetic counsellor and I have a special interest in lysosomal storage disorders and rare diseases.
I also moderate the MPS Support Hub on Facebook, along with Hannah.
Support & Advocacy Officer
Hannah
My name is Hannah and I’m the newest Advocacy and Support Officer at MPS Society. My background has been working as a statutory advocate within the mental health and learning disabilities sector. I recognise the difficulties and barriers that families face to get the support they need.
I’m looking forward to working with individuals and families to hopefully take some of the burdens off and support them along the way, most importantly reaching the positive outcomes they deserve.
I will be working alongside Victoria with supporting members and families affected by MPS II (Hunter) and Steve with MPS III (Sanfilippo).
