Meet our senior management team

Besides meeting my wife and having two wonderful kids, leading Meningitis Research Foundation is the greatest privilege of my life. 

The team are amazing. Our supporters are unbelievably inspiring. The cause is unquestionably important for global health. 

In previous lives I have been, amongst other things, an international consultant, Chief Operating Officer, and Head of Direct Marketing for organisations as diverse as Cancer Research UK and the African Center for Economic Transformation (Ghana). 

I juggle the most important things in my life (see above) alongside being a guest lecturer at the University of the West of England on organisational development; being a Steering Committee member of the Global Meningococcal Initiative; a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Manufacturers; and a Trustee of Autistica. 

For leisure I cycle, visit art galleries, fight the weeds at my allotment, and keep four small fish and two snails.

I joined Meningitis Research Foundation in June 2018 and feel very privileged to be working with such a great team, all of whom are dedicated and incredibly hard working.  

I am a chartered accountant with many years’ experience of financial management in both the private and “not for profit” sector and have also run my own designer shoe boutique in Glasgow. 

I moved to Bristol from Scotland over two years ago for family reasons and love the city. I also love spending time with my two grown up daughters, playing tennis, making cupcakes and obviously buying fabulous shoes. 

I joined Meningitis Research Foundation in January 2022, having previously worked for one of the world’s leading research publishers as Digital Communications Director. I manage our Communications and Engagement team, overseeing global advocacy; all aspects of communications, content and brand; our member network CoMO; our Support Services; and our digital tools and presence.  

I’ve worked in the worlds of research, education and charities for all of my career, experience which marries perfectly with my role at Meningitis Research Foundation. Since joining Meningitis Research Foundation, it’s been an exciting few years. Just a few highlights? Growing World Meningitis Day to be the world’s largest day of collective action on meningitis, developing a white paper with UNICEF (including a world-first regional communication framework), co-creating and launching the Meningitis Flag, and representing the defeating meningitis movement on a WHO taskforce.

I’m Brian and I joined Meningitis Research Foundation in July 2021. I have been Head of Health Insights and Policy since September 2023. 

Before joining Meningitis Research Foundation I worked in various health policy related roles in the UK, as well as in several countries in Asia and Africa, with a focus on bringing down barriers that keep people from getting the drugs, diagnostics and vaccines they need to stay alive and healthy. 

I’m fortunate to work with a team of passionate colleagues who are committed to defeating meningitis through health insights that drive meaningful change in policy. 

I joined the charity back in 2004 and over the years I've worn many hats within the fundraising team. My role now as Head of Fundraising is to lead the team in Bristol to make sure that Meningitis Research Foundation is funded to continue our vital work. 

Our role as fundraisers is to give people the chance to take action against these diseases and turn their hopes of a better world into reality.  

Over my time here I'm incredibly proud of the impact that's been made to lives in the UK, Ireland and around the world, from the introduction of vaccines to prevent MenB, MenACWY and pneumococcal meningitis to the launch our programme of projects tackling meningitis in Africa, and none of this would be possible without the hard work, drive and dedication of our many supporters. 

My career began in scientific communications, and I've been an integral part of the development of the CoMO network for the last ten years.  

I oversee key areas for CoMO members, including our annual member conference and our advisory council, and I'm responsible for maximising the value of membership for existing members. 

Find out more about CoMO 

I have a background in global marketing and communications, and I’m focused on building CoMO’s profile, increasing membership, and developing our new member offer. I manage CoMO’s regional coordinators and act as fundraising liaison, as we work with our fundraising team to ensure CoMO can continue to grow. 

Find out more about CoMO 

I’ve worked within the Research, Evidence and Policy team in various roles since 2016, and since April 2022 I’ve been the Head of Research. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to contribute to some fantastic initiatives, which more recently has included the Global Meningitis Genome Partnership, which aims to increase the use of genomics for meningitis, particularly in areas of the world which experience a high burden of disease. 

In my role I work closely with Meningitis Research Foundation’s scientific advisors to co-ordinate the Foundation’s international research programme. To ensure the latest developments in the field are showcased, every other year, our team organises a medical scientific conference, bringing together over 300 leading meningitis experts from across the globe. The conference typically starts with a compelling patient story from one of our members and supporters; who are the driving force behind all of the work we do.