Our Team

Andrew is Meningitis Now's Chairman of Trustees. He has spent the majority of his career in public affairs and communications, including a number of senior roles in the charity sector.

Stephen is Meningitis Now's Vice-Chair of Trustees. An entrepreneur by background, Stephen has been primarily involved in the financial services arena.

Gary Price is well known for his work in the field of Customer Experience and joined our Board of Trustees in October 2017.

James Sutherland is a generalist senior manager with a governance specialism.

Sam Blackie is an experienced Human Resources Director, with a specific focus on developing and implementing the strategic people agenda, leading complex change and working with a broad range of stakeholders.

The Adlington family lost their son Barney to meningitis in 2005 and have fundraised since, mainly through "Barney's Bash", a series of farm-based, one night mini festivals.

Mitchell has extensive experience in the business world, holding a number of senior finance roles and as Managing Director of a manufacturing company.

Hello, I'm Tom, Chief Executive Officer at Meningitis Now.

Hello, I'm Mark, Director of Comms & Marketing at Meningitis Now.

Hi, I'm Beth, Director of Fundraising at Meningitis Now.

Caroline is a Senior Scientist in the Division of Bacteriology at NIBSC, where she runs the group responsible for ensuring the safety and quality of a number of licensed meningococcal vaccines. She is also the current Chairperson of our Scientific and Medical Advisory Panel

Professor of Paediatrics and Molecular Diseases at Imperial College and St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, Simon is involved in research into the molecular basis of the virulence of meningitis and pathogens, and in new vaccine strategies to prevent meningitis and septicaemia. 

Hi, I’m Fiona. I had meningitis when I was 15, on 4 October 2011; it was just a normal school day. However, that was about to change.

Hello, my name is Kiera. Many years before I was born, my parents had their first child, Dominic. Dominic contracted meningitis B at a very young age, shortly after he won his battle with cancer.

Hi, I’m Livvy. My meningitis story begins with my nephew Jack, now aged 8. When Jack was two years old, he became extremely pale and weak after he had been unwell at a children’s party a few hours previous.

Hi, I’m Matt. In August 2012 I became a Young Ambassador for Meningitis Now. The Young Ambassador’s role is to promote Meningitis Now to young people, and this is a huge challenge.

Hi, I'm Isa. I’m Matt's sister and I was five years old when Hannah, my baby sister died.

Hello I’m Sophie. When I was 12 I contracted pneumococcal meningitis after suffering from a perforated eardrum. I was hospitalised for two weeks in intensive care at the Bristol Children’s Hospital, where I was fortunate enough to make a full recovery.

Hi I am Lyndon, and I live in Crook, County Durham. At the age of eight and a half months I discovered meningitis.

My Meningitis Story, Holly McNaughton, Community Ambassador

Hi, my name is Johari.  I haven’t had meningitis myself, but my younger brother Ato had pneumococcal meningitis when we were little.

Hi, I'm Jasmine. My experience of meningitis was in 2001 when I had pneumococcal meningitis and became profoundly deaf.

Hi, I'm Aaron. I was only three years old when my six week old sister Lauren contracted bacterial meningitis. 

Hi I’m Ross, I’m 14 and I live with my family and my brother, who has had meningitis. My brother, Troy, has suffered bacterial meningitis six times due to a head injury.

Hi, I'm Alicia. I first became aware of meningitis when my sister contracted the disease when she was just two years old.

Hi, I'm Ross. In 1992, before I was born, I lost my four year old brother Dominic to meningitis after he had recovered from cancer. Being mistaken as tonsillitis on Monday because of the lack of awareness, he was sent home.

Hi, my name is Huw and I live in Porthcawl, South Wales. When I was three years old my mum contracted viral meningitis. 

Lucie is one of our Community Support Officers, covering the South, East and Central England. 

In January 2001, my daughter, Helen, died from meningococcal septicaemia aged 18 while in her first year at university. 

Jo is the Community Fundraiser for Northern Ireland at Meningitis Now

In December 2010, I thought I was coming down with a cold. On December 21, I went to bed early and in the early hours of the morning I was vomiting, had diarrhoea, felt cold and had muscle and joint pain.

Hi, I'm Leah, Community Fundraising Officer for the South and South-East at Meningitis Now.

In 2004, our daughter, Gillian, died from meningitis just days after the birth of her second child Grace, who also passed away. 

In 1992, my son Luke, died from meningitis aged 22 months. He initially had flu-like symptoms, but the doctor thought he’d had a convulsion, so he was referred to the local hospital. 

I became involved in the fight against meningitis when my young nephew died in October 2007; he was 12 years old and had been a healthy fit and happy boy. 

I was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis in January 2010 at the age of 32. 

My meningitis journey began when our youngest son, Sam, aged just 18 months became very poorly. 

My first involvement with meningitis occurred when I met Steve, Gloria and family on my honeymoon in Cyprus 27 years ago.

I first encountered meningitis in July 2003 when my eight month old daughter, Hannah, contracted pneumococcal meningitis and septicaemia. 

Chris is one of our Community Support Officers, covering the North of England. 

Well known media doctor Dr Mark is medical correspondent at The Times, doctor on The One Show, presenter of Radio 4’s flagship medical series Inside Health and a GP at a doctor’s surgery in South Gloucestershire.

British film and television director Ken Loach is famous for films such as Cathy Come Home and Kes.

Long-standing British Labour politician Baroness Corston is famed for being the first woman to hold the position of Chair for the Parliamentary Labour Party.  

Dr Brain started supporting our work after attending an event for us. 

Television presenter, jewellery designer, radio DJ and model Lisa co-hosts award-winning Capital Radio breakfast show, London’s number one breakfast show.

Model, designer and mum of three, Petra is the daughter of Formula One mogul, Bernie Ecclestone, and became an Ambassador for us having had viral meningitis aged 14.

Julie is an award-winning British actress, best known for her role as Hayley Cropper in ITV’s Coronation Street.  

Bob founded the Charity CLIC (Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood) which later went on to became CLIC Sargent after his beloved son, Robert, died from cancer aged 11 in 1977.

A former Scotland footballer, Denis is famous for his time at Manchester United FC. 

Matthew is a London-based property developer who, in 2011, was the first person in Britain to be fitted with a bionic leg.

Entrepreneur and Chairman of luxury pram maker, Silver Cross, Alan has supported our work for many years through his Silver Cross business.

Alison’s eight year old son, Alex, contracted meningococcal septicaemia on her wedding day; within hours Alex had gone from feeling a little ill to being kept alive by a life support machine.

My reason for being a Young Ambassador is to raise awareness about meningitis, offer support and raise much needed funds, and to help Meningitis Now offer help and support to other families in need after being affected by meningitis.

Phil is an entrepreneur.

I personally have not had meningitis but both my dad (who had it as a child, but made a full recovery) and a very close friend of mine did.

Hi! I’m Rosie. I had bacterial meningitis when I was seven years old and my life is still impacted by the after-effects the disease left me with on a day-to-day basis

Fiona and her husband, Simon, lost their 16-month-old son Cy to meningitis in October 2007. Cy passed away just 24 hours after contracting the disease.

Lesley Tanton and her husband, John, lost their 14-year-old son, Mark, in September 2010. He had the Y strain of meningitis.

Ian has over 35 years' experience in the banking industry and is currently HSBC’s Head of Commercial Banking UK and Co-Head of Commercial Banking Europe

I first came into contact with Meningitis Now following the death of my beautiful baby grandson Charlie in 2010.

Craig’s daughter contracted bacterial meningitis in December 2011 when she was eight years old.

My name is Callum and I have younger identical twin sisters.  I decided to become a volunteer with Meningitis Now after one of my sisters had bacterial meningitis when she was 8

My name is Jacob. On 10 January 2013 I walked into hospital, where I remained a patient for the next 699 days; I had contracted meningococcal septicaemia.

Hi ,I’m Louise. I had meningitis when I was 2 and a half. It was just a normal day, I was out washing the car with my dad and then everything changed. 

‘Meningitis’ – I knew that word but it didn’t mean a lot. ‘Pneumo-what?’ - the other word was definitely Double Dutch. 

When Charlie woke with a temperature and a rash, Claire knew that something was seriously wrong and rushed him to Bezier hospital.

Hi, I’m Jemma. In August 2012 I got my A-Level results and found out I got into the University of Leicester to study law - I was looking forward to my new adventure.

Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Richard Churchill 

Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Nigel Gardner

Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Cathy Hargreaves

Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Jason Thomas

Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Jo Killick

Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Phil Marshall

Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Nicola Hare

Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Huw Thomas

I contracted a severe case of viral meningitis in 2002. I was leading an active life, training for my first open water sea triathlon, when viral meningitis struck.

Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Ash Harris

Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Tony Fortune

Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Geoff Howse

Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Craig Saunders

Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Steve Lawes

Hello, I am Toby and I have witnessed what meningitis does to people and their families.

Hi my name's Emma Moore and I lost my first child George to meningitis at the age of 10 months old in October 2013

My name is Hannah and I live just outside of Swansea with my husband Ashley.

1993 was going to be an exciting year for me, as soon as I turned 17 I was planning to begin training to be a skiing instructor. 

My experience of Meningitis is from when my daughter Fiona, then aged 15 years, contracted bacterial meningitis in October 2011. 

I developed viral meningitis in February 2003, when my children were just 1 and 3 years old.

Hi, I’m Harry, the Corporate Fundraiser at Meningitis Now.

Hello everyone! I am Louis. 10 years and 15 days before my birth, my family was changed forever when we lost my uncle James. Despite my never having  met my uncle, I have seen firsthand what losing someone to meningitis really does to a family.

Hello, my name is Julie Green. In January 2012 my son Louie contracted meningococcal septicaemia at the age of 5 months old. 

Hello, we are Barbara and Bob Johnson from Essex. We started supporting the charity in the days of the National Meningitis Trust after the death of our son James in May 1991 from Group 'B' meningitis and septicaemia.

Student Charlotte had both legs amputated below the knee and lost all the fingers on her left hand when she contracted meningococcal group W (Men W) meningitis last year.

Hi, I’m Helen, a Communications Officer at Meningitis Now.

Hannah is a CIMA-qualified account and is currently in the role of Financial Controller at Plan International UK, a global charity focussed on children's' rights and equality for girls.

Hi, I'm Gillian, Community Fundraising Officer for Scotland at Meningitis Now.

Hi, I'm Sarah, Community Fundraising Officer for the North East at Meningitis Now.

Hi, I'm Elaine, Community Fundraising Officer for the North West at Meningitis Now.

Introducing Meningitis Now Safety Team member Rachel Oakley

Hi, I'm Bev, Director of Research and Support at Meningitis Now.

James was a long-standing supporter and fundraiser for Meningitis Now before becoming a Community Ambassador in 2018