It’s a hugely exciting time to get involved with Crohn’s & Colitis UK’s work.

I was drawn to the charity's ambition and drive which is so important right now when public health and health inequalities are at the forefront of the public’s mind.

Crohn’s & Colitis UK are working hard to maximise their impact and widen their scope to make sure they work for everyone with Crohn’s and Colitis, and I’m thrilled to become part of the team.

Professionally, I am a strategy consultant with experience in financial services, retail and technology.  I have particular expertise across; digital, transformation, finance, strategy and change.  My clients are varied including start-ups, private equity funds, SMEs and corporates.

In a voluntary capacity I am a member of HSS UK, a charity which runs structured activities for youngsters to increase confidence, develop good morals and positive citizenship. I have served as governor of an academy primary school including chairing its finance committee. I currently serve as a trustee of Sewa Day, a charity that focuses on acts of kindness and volunteering time for good causes.

With first-hand experience of Ulcerative Colitis and its treatment in the UK, I have always seen Crohn's & Colitis UK as a force for change, through its phenomenal work in increasing awareness, raising funds and funding research. I look forward to contributing to its future development.

Some years ago my consultant said, 'why not get involved with the IBD Patient Panel?' and I haven't looked back since! I also joined the Leeds Network where I have served as a member, Treasurer and latterly as Chair.

I am passionate about improving awareness of IBD.  I have worked with the local education and social care authorities to improve knowledge about IBD in schools, colleges and universities and received backing for acceptance of our membership Can't Wait Card in many buildings across the Leeds region. I have a been a patient representative on the IBD UK Board since it was formed in 2017.

Following a long career in technology and finance, I moved on to manage a project on behalf of universities in Leeds to improve student nurse placement opportunities. I subsequently went on to lead a visually impaired charity for over 1,000 members. Married and with two grown up children, I enjoy swimming, walking, cycling, travelling and being with my grandchildren.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Board of Trustees and to be able to contribute professionally and as a patient.

I am a delighted to be one of the Crohn’s & Colitis UK Trustees, working as part of the team to support those with these life changing illnesses. I was first diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease at 17, and have lived with the challenges ever since.  

Outside of Crohn’s & Colitis UK, I am the Private Secretary to HRH The Prince of Wales, and was previously a Partner at the geo-political risk advisory company, Macro Advisory Partners. Prior to this, I was a British diplomat working at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Before working for the British Government, I was based in Sarajevo working at the UN peace keeping mission for four years. I began my professional life working in Parliament as an advisor to the Leader of the Liberal Democrats (Paddy Ashdown). Travelling a great deal and living overseas in post conflict countries has certainly presented a number of challenges!

I have worked very closely with Crohn's & Colitis UK for a number of years, including over the years as a volunteer on the support line providing emotional support to callers before joining the Board as a trustee in 2016.

I have seen the charity evolve, growing from strength to strength to a position now where there are fantastic opportunities to make a real difference to the lives of IBD sufferers. I feel I can make a real impact by taking a more strategic role in helping to deliver the goals and vision that have been set.

I have extensive HR and wider business experience working as a consultant, particularly with membership and not-for-profit organisations undergoing significant business transformation. These experiences will translate well to those Crohn's & Colitis UK currently faces as it continues to grow. I can bring real passion and energy to the team, as well as an open and inquisitive mind. The charity's vision of seeing a world where lives are not limited by Crohn's and Colitis is one that is very real to me as an IBD patient, and I relish the opportunity to play a greater role as a trustee in helping to achieve it.

I’m Manpreet Dhesi. Strategic communications consultant and founder of Studio Dhesi.

I care deeply about human connection in society and about the future of our world. I am driven by the ability to effect real change with strategic communications and bring a human-led approach to the leadership of the teams and projects I get to work with.

During my psychology degree, I specialised in neuropsychology, a branch of psychology that is concerned with how a person's cognition and behaviour are related to the brain. This plays a major role in my approach today.

Having spent a few years working in communications after my degree, I decided to complete a master's degree in marketing communications. I wanted to learn more about the entire marketing communications spectrum and connect that to how people perceive communications – ultimately, how the two sides work together.

I’ve worked as Head of International Communications at Department of Health and Social Care and Director of Communications at The Bartlett, University College London. I am a Trustee at Birkbeck’s Students’ Union and an Advisor for the South Asian Heritage Month charity.

I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in 2004, shortly after I was married. I suffered very acutely until surgery, and since then I have been fortunate enough to enjoy good health. I have been a member of Crohn's & Colitis UK since that time. Wanting to give something back to the charity and it's cause, I became a Trustee in 2016 and the Vice Chair in 2019.

Professionally, I am a Chartered Accountant by training, although since 2004 I have worked for Natwest in a variety of Commercial Banking and Risk roles. Currently I am Head of Operations for Restructuring, the team that supports our larger business customers when they are facing financial difficulty. 

Outside of work, my interests revolve around my family and sport of all kinds.

Lucie Waters joined the NHS as a graduate management trainee and built her career running services in acute and specialised hospitals (including the Royal Marsden and Great Ormond Street). Lucie went on to hold board level posts across NHS commissioning organisations, covering strategy, operations and planning. Her current role is working for six organisations across two ICSs in south London on the planning and delivery of specialised services delegation, focusing on prevention and early detection of disease to improve patient outcomes. Lucie hopes to bring her knowledge of NHS systems and priorities to support Crohn’s and Colitis UK in partnering with health services, improving access to diagnosis and treatment for people with IBD.

When I first started working my boss said to me “the only way to do great work is to love what you do” and I can honestly say I have lived by that philosophy ever since.

I am a passionate business professional with over 25 years’ experience in consumer goods. Having worked my way up from the factory floor within some brilliant organisations I now have the pleasure of leading the European Enterprise for a leading consumer goods organisation.

Working within large multinational organisations has taught me so much and for the last decade I have been lucky enough to share some of this experience with a leading industry charity. However, more than 20 years ago I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease and ever since Crohn’s & Colitis UK have been by my side, offering help and support not just to me personally but to my family. What better way to give back to this amazing charity than to join the team as a trustee.

Away from work I am a husband, father of twins, enthusiastic cook and recovering chocoholic.

I have lived with Ulcerative Colitis for over two decades and have seen first-hand the challenges faced by those impacted by this illness. I am passionate about supporting others and making a positive change for in society for those living with chronic disabilities.

Professionally, I am a qualified accountant and have also completed an MBA at Cranfield. I worked in the financial services sector for 15 years, which gave me extensive experience in strategic planning, risk management, and ensuring the commercial success and viability of organisations.

Since moving into the not-for-profit sector six years ago, I am now Deputy Chief Executive at Watford Community Housing, responsible for ensuring we have the right resources to meet our ambitious goals. This includes delivering strong financial performance and ensuring we have the treasury facilities in place to support our growth, as well as leading on digital transformation strategy and employee engagement. I am also responsible for ensuring we meet the highest standards in both corporate governance and regulatory compliance.

I am delighted to join the Board of Crohn’s & Colitis UK as the Research Trustee. I am very supportive of the way that Crohn’s & Colitis UK involves those with lived experience in its work and in developing its research priorities. I have a relative who lives with Crohn’s and recognise the importance of the charity’s work. I am Director of Policy for the Academy of Medical Sciences, whose vision is good health for all supported by the best research and evidence. We champion evidence-based policy and an environment in which health research can flourish. I was a Trustee for the British Pharmacological Society for five years.

David worked as a GP near Reading for 30 years .During this time he became more involved with clinical leadership and was clinical chair and medical director for NHS Berkshire. Since then, he has been appointed a non-executive director for three NHS Trusts and he presently chairs the quality committee and charity at East and North Herts Hospitals Trust.    

He is also a  trustee for several charities including the Stroke Association. Presently he is chair of The Society for Assistance of Medical Families, a medical charity that dates back 230 years. 

David first had surgery for Crohn's disease at age 13. He knows what it's like to live with bowel disease and he believes that this along with his extensive NHS experience will enable him to support the charitable work of Crohn's and Colitis UK.

Dr Selinger, is a Consultant Gastroenterologist. He provides the full breadth of gastrointestinal medicine with a special focus on inflammatory bowel disease. He has received a SAGE award for establishing the first joint IBD obstetric clinic. A further focus of his work lies in quality improvement in IBD and he has led a national initiative driving safety and quality through assessment of steroid use. Dr Selinger is widely published with over 130 peer-reviewed publications in international journals and over 100 conference presentations. His research expertise lies within inflammatory bowel disease with a focus on pregnancy, patient knowledge and views and medication adherence.