Partnership Development, Adele Adams: Adele joined the MEND team in January 2008. Adele has worked in the private sector specialising in events and leisure industries for over 6 years. Having previously volunteered with a children’s charity in Scotland to help fundraise and develop new programmes Adele brings her business development skills to MEND. Adele has an MA (Hons) from Edinburgh University.

Programme Development and Training, Alison Chipperfield:  Alison joined the MEND Team in September 2007 working in Programme Development and Training Team.  Alison is a specialist dietitian in obesity management and has spent the last 5 years working with the NHS and charity sector for the treatment and prevention of obesity in both children and adults.  Alison holds a BSc Honours in Sports Science from the University of Wales, Swansea and a Post Graduate Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics from Glasgow Caledonian University.  Prior to joining MEND Alison worked for the UK charity, Weight Concern, disseminating the charity's training programme in lifestyle weight management to communities throughout the UK.  She is also a member and the Training sub-group lead for Dietitians Working in Obesity Management.  

Programme Development Manager, Brett Klein:  Brett joined the MEND Programme in November 2005 and works on programme development, relationship management, the website, and also conducts four day training.  Brett holds a BS in Psychology from the University of Florida, has a level 2 fitness certification and an MSc in Clinical Nutrition from Roehampton University.

Business Development Manager, Carol Morgan:  Carol joined MEND in November 2007.  Prior to starting with MEND, Carol was working with the National Childbirth Trust as a Partnership Manager.  This involved sourcing and developing contract opportunities for NCT, and developing a new Partnership Unit.  The majority of her experience has been within the regeneration field working with Public Sector/Voluntary organisations.  Over the years, the 32 London Boroughs (excluding the City) Carol has worked with at least 25 of them, on a sub-regional, regional or National basis.  Previous experiences have also included working in partnership with various organisations and the Government Office for London, various Government Departments and the London Development Agency.  Carol has an LLB(hons) degree from Middlesex University.

Media & Communications Manager, Caroline Swain:  Caroline joined the MEND team in April 2007 to help drive MEND's awareness-raising and business development activities.  Caroline has worked in communications and strategic planning for 14 years in the corporate, public and not-for-profit sectors.  Prior to joining MEND she was Executive Director of Weight Concern, a UK obesity charity.  She has an English degree from Oxford University.  

Advisor, Chris Calitz: Chris is a Literary Agent with more than ten years experience working with writers, producers and directors in television and film.  He advises MEND on media issues and opportunities.  Chris has a BA (Hons) in English from the University of Cape Town.

Office Manager, Dianna Hardy: Since 2002, Dianna has had retail management, customer service and administration roles in the complementary health sector before which, she was working in a nursery school teaching 2 to 4 year olds Art. She joined MEND in August 2007. Dianna is currently studying Homoeopathy and outside MEND her passions include natural ways of healing illnesses, writing, traveling, theatre, drawing and painting, dancing Ceroc and Jive and having gone to Drama School, she loves all forms of expressing the Self.

Programme Support, Dave Stewart:  Dave Stewart joined the MEND team in July 2007.  The popularity of MEND and its subsequent rapid expansion created the need for his post as a Programme Support, to maintain the high standards to which MEND is committed.  Dave has a BA in English from London Guildhall University, and a background in running holiday music camps and courses for young children in London.

Regional Manager, David Tonge:  David joined the MEND team in April 2007 as the Regional Manager for the North.  Bringing with him over 6 years' experience in the education sector, David has previously managed residential and non-residential weight loss programmes.  More recently he has managed community-based programmes through Extended Schools.  He has a BA and MA in Physical Education from Leeds Metropolitan University. 

Operations Support, Emma Finch: Emma joined MEND in March 2008 as operations support, bringing with her six years of sales and customer service experience gained from a range of positions. In the last five years Emma has worked in the media industry with roles varying from customer service assistant to newspaper operation support. Emma has a keen interest in animal care and is an active sports player.

Deputy Portfolio Manager, Gil Bailey:  Gil joined the MEND team in May 2007.  She brings with her considerable people and programme management skills from her background as an Operations Manager in the media sector and then programme managing a number of community-based Healthy Living Centre projects in Islington, London.  She is a founding Board Member, Director and Treasurer of the National Healthy Living Alliance and led a regional HLC Well-being portofolio bid.  Gil is currently nearing completion of an MA in Management Studies at London Metropolitan University.

Partnership Development, Dr. Gordon MacMillan, PhD.:  Gordon is a social development advisor and entrepreneur.  He has advised Governments and multilateral agencies on sustainable development issues and has supported fair trade companies.  Gordon holds an advanced degree in investment analysis and has experience in the commercialisation of emerging technologies.

HR and Special Projects, Jamal Mannan:  Jamal joined MEND in July 2007 to support our expanding MEND team in HR and will also be working on various special projects. He brings with him considerable HR and project management skills from his background as HR Manager at HM Prison Service and as a Community Project Coordinator in Camden.  He has a BSc in Business Management and Computing from Brunel Unversity and has extensive experience in best practice working for the GLA and the London Borough of Hackney.

Partnership Director, Harry MacMillan: Harry is responsible for coordinating and guiding MEND's activities, roll-out and finances.  He has ten years experience in advising, managing and building organisations, including many start ups, in a range of sectors. He spent five years with Mercer Management Consulting before setting up Kick-Start Ventures. Harry has an MA and an MSc from Oxford University.

Media & Communications, Jonathan Scott: Jonathan joined the MEND team in January 2008 as part of the Media and Communications Department and acting as National Ambassador, motivating children and families to participate in the MEND programme after overcoming his own weight loss battle in his teens. He is now a CYMCA qualified Personal Trainer and a former junior natural bodybuilding competitor and has 3 years experience of dealing with weight management organisations and specialised in the gradual progression of obese clients. He also holds a BA (Hons) degree in Business from the University of Northumbria where he specialised in Marketing.

Programme Development and Training, Julia Wolman:  Julia joined the MEND team in May 2007 working on Programme Development and Training.  She has nine years' experience in the field of nutrition, including five years within the NHS working with schools, families and children to promote healthy eating.  Julia holds a BSc (Hons) in Applied Human Nutrition from Leeds Metropolitan University and an MSc in Psychology and Health from City University.     

Director, MEND Australia, Madeline Freeman: Madeline joined the MEND Team in November 2005 and has been instrumental in the creation of many of MEND's new materials for trainers and organising bodies.  After working as a Regional Manager with MEND in the UK, Madeline has recently returned to Australia where she is now implementing the MEND Program with Australian Partners.  Madeline holds an Advanced Diploma in Nutrition and Naturopathy.

Content Development, Mandy Sacher:  Mandy has co-written, researched and compiled MEND's comprehensive training manual and creates copy for the website.  Mandy has experience in journalism, media promotions, health writing and travel, working for organisations including the Australian Geographic, Jewish News, X-plode.net and the Australian Broadcasting  Corporation.  Mandy has a Combined Bachelor of Communications in Journalism and International Studies from the University of Technology Sydney and is proficient in Spanish.

Research & Programme Development, Maria Kolotourou: Maria has been working on the MEND Research since April 2005. She joined MEND Central in October 2006, working on Programme Development and Training. In October 2007 Maria moved to Greece from where she works on Research & Programme Development. Maria holds a degree in Dietetics and Nutritional Science from Harokopio University of Athens and an MSc in Nutrition from King's College London.

Chief Information Officer, Navin Pareek:  Navin Pareek has 8 years' experience in the development & management of extensive, complex projects.  He has varied experience in IT, Operations and Strategy in global companies like BT, MCI & CNBC, and manages the operations for MEND.  Navin has an undergraduate degree in Engineering and an MBA from London Business School.

Programme Development, Sarah Tay:  Sarah joined the MEND Team in April 2007.  She is a skilled health writer, with experience in magazines, newspapers, marketing material and books.  Sarah also used to be the lead trainer for BUPA's weight-loss programme, Lighten Up.  She holds a BA in Social and Political Science from Cambridge University and is currently studying for a Graduate Diploma in Psychology. 

Executive Assistant, Shani Souter: Shani joined the MEND Team in April 2008.  She has over 2 years of experience in childhood obesity at the Department of Health and a reputed high level of support in public sectors. Shani also has a pedagogy of children with special needs and an education in Health and Social Care.
 

Regional Manager, Steven Banks:  Steven joined the MEND Team in September 2007 as  Regional Manager.  He brings with him over 6 years experience in operational and relationship management from his previous role as an Operations and Support Manager working in the private sector.  Previous to his Operations roles, Steven worked closely with children for 3 years in a family holiday resort in the UK. 

Regional Manager, Sue Gill: Sue joined the MEND Team in February 2007, bringing with her a wealth of experience in operational, project and relationship management from her days in the finance sector, where she held a number of management posts.  She then moved into the fitness sector, where in recent years she has focused on working with special populations.  Sue is a level 3 (advanced) instructor with a wide range of fitness qualifications; she is also a qualifed skiing instructor and holds a Canadian licence to teach.  She has taught both fitness and skiing to participants from age 3 to senior citizen. 

Regional Manager, Philippa Evans:  Philippa joined the MEND team in April 2007 as Regional Manager for the South.  She has a background in sport and health development working with community groups to increase their health and activity.  She has worked in the fitness industry for five years with roles including fitness instructing and health club management. 

Consultant Psychologist, Dr. Paul Chadwick:  A leading clinical psychologist and specialist in the field of child obesity, at University College London.  Paul provides regular training to health care professionals in the field of obesity and is also involved in the Traffic Light Programme. 

Research Director, Paul Sacher: Paul is founder and Research Director of MEND, an organisation committed to the prevention and treatment of child obesity. Paul is also a Senior Research Fellow at the MRC Childhood Nutrition Research Centre, UCL Institute of Child Health and a Honorary Specialist Paediatric Dietitian at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust... more

International Partnership Development, Teresa Earle: Based in California, Teresa joined the MEND team in April 2008 to help facilitate and strategise the launch of MEND in the USA through key partnerships. With 20 years background in international strategic marketing & relationships in media and consumer products, Teresa has most recently been working as a freelance advisor to a variety of UK & European companies growing their US profiles. Teresa previously was a founding partner of Pathfinder Telecoms in the UK and European Marketing Director at Gemstar Europe. She has an International Relations degree in Political Science from UCLA.

Finance Officer, Tillie Young:  Tillie joined the MEND Team in January 2006 and was initially responsible for the day to day management of the MEND office as Office Manager.  Tillie has now moved on to manage the MEND accounts and book keeping systems as well as assisting with Project Management.  Tillie has seven years experience in customer services and has held management positions in customer account management for various industries.  Tillie is now studying business accountancy.

Development Director, Ulla Stauch: Ulla joined MEND in January 2005 and has responsibility for business development and partnership building.  She previously worked in the private sector for more than ten years, primarily in the consulting field where she held a number of senior positions in business development and sales management.  Ulla brings her wealth of experience to the promotion and expansion of MEND.  She holds a B.Com from the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa and an MBA from Stern School of Business, New York University.