Our people
Trustees and Co-optees
The Board of Trustees is responsible for the governance, policy and work of Arthritis UK ensuring we deliver charitable outcomes for people with arthritis.
Kate Tompkins – Chair of the Board of Trustees
Supporting people with long-term and life-limiting conditions so that they can live a life in line with their wishes is truly my passion. Which is why I was honoured to join Arthritis UK in 2023 to serve as Chair.
I grew up in London and trained as a nurse at Kings College, initially specialising in acute medicine. I then became a Chief Nurse and CEO of both a health service provider trust and a commissioning trust. This paved the way for a range of board and governance roles across the health and charity sectors (including organisations such as Cavell Nurses Trust, the National Osteoporosis Society, Dorothy House Hospice Centre, South West Region Hospices and Hospice UK).
Professor Iain B McInnes CBE – Vice Chair of the Board
I was appointed to Arthritis UK’s Board of Trustees in June 2021 and became Vice Chair in November 2025. As well as holding this position (and among other appointments), I am also the University of Glasgow’s Arthritis UK Professor of Rheumatology and Director of the Arthritis UK Centre of Excellence for Inflammatory Arthritis.
Over the years, my work has focused on understanding how and why diseases of the immune system occur and develop – research that has led to the publication of hundreds of peer-reviewed articles and the discovery of new therapeutic targets.
I am also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and was made CBE in 2019 by HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Dr Vincent Noinville – Trustee of the Board and Chair of the Risk and Audit Committee
I obtained my PhD in physical chemistry at University Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris (France) before moving to financial services. I have worked in this sector for the last 23 years, in France and in the UK, in a variety of risk management and audit roles for HSBC, Natixis and Royal Bank of Scotland, and Credit Suisse.
With the systematic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA) diagnosis of one of my children and the desire to support efforts towards both research and young persons with arthritis, I joined Arthritis UK at the end of 2019 as a trustee and chair of the Risk and Audit Committee.
I am an avid gym-goer and participate in multiple runs and Spartan races every year across the UK, with a keen interest in fell running and CrossFit.
Professor John Isaacs – Trustee of the Board
I trained in medicine at St George’s Hospital before reading for my PhD in immunology at Cambridge University. I chaired Arthritis UK’s Clinical Study Group for inflammatory arthritis from 2007 to 2017 and in June 2021, I was appointed to the charity’s Board of Trustees.
I hold this position alongside my roles as Professor of Clinical Rheumatology and Director of Therapeutics North East at Newcastle University and Associate Medical Director for Research and Consultant Rheumatologist at Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Today, my research group is focussed on ‘switching off’ autoimmunity – an approach with the potential to prevent or cure conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Much of this work has been funded by Arthritis UK and so it was a privilege to represent the charity in the Great North Run. Not on one, but on fifteen consecutive occasions.
Jonathan Rodgers – Trustee of the Board
I am an Associate Partner at IBM where I work with the world's largest energy companies to drive forward their digital transformation agendas. I am also a committee member of the American Association of Petroleum Geoscientists for whom I provide advice on how digital can help accelerate the energy transition to a low carbon future.
I am one of IBM's leading experts on artificial intelligence and innovation, working with organisations to identify how these new technologies and ways of working can be applied to solve complex business problems.
I was diagnosed in 2014 with ankylosing spondylitis and understand the daily struggles people go through. The mission of Arthritis UK is therefore one that is very close to my heart.
I was appointed to the Arthritis UK Board of Trustees in June 2021.
Dr. Jane Taylor – Trustee of the Board and Trustee Representative for EDI
As someone who lives with rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and antiphospholipid syndrome, research funded by Arthritis UK has made a big difference to my life. Which is why I feel privileged and excited to contribute to this charity as a trustee.
In addition to navigating my own personal health challenges, I also care for two family members with complex health needs. These experiences showed me how important it is to incorporate the patient voice into research. They also led to my volunteering for Arthritis UK for 14 years, 6 of which I spent as chair of a Patient Insight Partner group to ensure the patient perspective was fully integrated into Arthritis UK’s research.
Alongside these activities, I have spent most of my working life teaching in higher education and today I work part time teaching Open University students.
Lilian Rose – Trustee of the Board
I’ve worked in the non-profit sector at a senior level for almost a decade, prior to that I spent over a decade in the commercial sector working for a range of international brands. Most of my experience lies in leading fundraising and marketing efforts, and I’ve gained hands-on experience across a wide range of areas.
These include trusts & statutory funding, innovation, philanthropy, brand, corporate & commercial partnerships, events, integrated campaigns, direct marketing, legacy and community fundraising.
I’ve been lucky to work for amazing charities including Mencap, Barnardo’s, Chickenshed and Marie Curie, and was a trustee of ARMA until 2021. I’m absolutely delighted to join Arthritis UK as a trustee; it's a condition that has profoundly affected people I love over the years, and I am immensely proud to support this amazing charity to continue its vital work.
Caitríona Roberts – Trustee of the Board
I obtained an LLB and LLM in law from university in Belfast and have spent my career working in compliance, immigration and family law.
I am currently manager of Governance and Business Planning for the Judicial Appointments Commission.
I initially became involved with Arthritis UK at the age of 12 after a diagnosis of JIA. Since 2010 I have continued to volunteer with the organisation in many different ways; youth contact, vice chair of the NIVEG, campaigning and research. I became a trustee in January 2023.
Sandeep Das – Risk and Audit Committee Co-Optee
I am a chartered accountant (FCA), certified internal auditor (CIA), certified fraud examiner (CFE) and hold a certificate in risk management assurance (CRMA). I have over 20 years of experience in the fields of internal audit, risk management, governance and finance. I have held several finance roles in industry and been an external auditor at a Big Four accountancy practice.
I am an experienced Head of Internal Audit, beginning my career in external audit in 2000 and moving to internal audit in 2007. I have strong expertise and links to the pharmaceutical and life sciences industry with over 12 years of experience across three large UK, US and Japanese listed companies.
I am also currently an exam author for the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) and a co-opted member of the Audit and Risk Committee at City, University of London.
Jo Williams – Trustee of the Board
I was appointed to the Arthritis UK Board of Trustees in January 2023. And today (after holding several senior operational roles within the NHS), I am also the CEO of The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust, as well as the Lead CEO for the National Orthopaedic Alliance.
Being a CEO in the NHS is a real privilege because I get to be part of an incredible team who aim to deliver life-changing care. At the heart of that care I believe we should always be thinking how can we restore independence and help individuals to live a healthy, active and fulfilling life.
Paul Vandenberghe – Chair of Finance Committee
I am an MBA graduate, hold an MSC in technology management and have 25 years experience in Asset Management and Investment Banking, holding senior roles for the last twenty years. I have built and managed teams responsible for Operations, Risk, Fund Accounting, and Compliance.
I previously held the role of trustee and treasurer at a local branch of the RSPCA and have worked with the Princes Trust mentoring business start-ups. Given my personal experience of arthritis, I joined Arthritis UK as a co-opted member of Risk and Audit committee in 2015 to support the charity in its goals, and became a trustee in January 2023.
Graham Colbert – Trustee and Treasurer
As Trustee and Treasurer of Arthritis UK, I am proud to contribute to the charity's ongoing work and future development. I am also currently a Trustee of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service and Director of a Pension Scheme.
Prior to Arthritis UK, I studied Chemistry at Exeter University before training to become a Chartered Accountant. I then spent more than 25 years in a variety of finance and operational roles within a multinational pharmaceutical company.
In 2014, I joined Genomics England and helped deliver the 100,000 Genome Project for the UK Government. I was also previously a Trustee of the British Lung Foundation and a Non-Executive Director in the National Health Service.
Our leadership team
Deborah Alsina MBE – Chief Executive
Deborah Alsina MBE joined Arthritis UK as Chief Executive in March 2022. She brings more than 30 years' experience of working across the voluntary sector including with organisations specialising in refugee and human rights issues, cancer and older people. Prior to joining the charity, she was Chief Executive of national older people’s charity, Independent Age and previously Chief Executive of Bowel Cancer UK, a position she held for over ten years.
Deborah was awarded an MBE in 2016 in recognition of her service to bowel cancer patients, named Charity Chief Executive of the Year in 2017 and Charity Principal of the Year in 2018. In 2019 she was ranked by Charity Times as being among the 25 most influential leaders in the voluntary sector. Deborah is a passionate advocate for people with arthritis, as it has had a big impact on members of her family. She also has personal experience of living with an MSK condition and the challenges living with chronic pain can bring and wants to ensure that people can gain access to a swift diagnosis and the best treatment and care wherever they live in the UK.
Sue Hall – Chief Operating Officer
Sue Hall joined us in February 2025 as the Interim Chief Operating Officer. Sue is a successful leader with 20+ years board level and senior management experience spanning a range of public, charitable and public sector businesses. She is a respected and inspirational leader who helps to shape, influence and deliver organisational change.
Sue joined the Charity/NfP sector in 2016 as the Finance Director for Historic Royal Palaces based at Hampton Court Palace, following a long career in the NHS where she was latterly Director of Resources for a large mental health trust in the South West. Prior to joining us Sue has been an interim Director at Parkinsons UK, Prostate Cancer UK and the Charity Finance Group.
Sue is a Chartered Management Accountant and current Finance Committee Chair for The Reading Agency. She is a competitive local runner and enjoys lots of muddy walks with her family and very naughty Wheaten Terrier!
Professor Lucy Donaldson – Director of Research
I began my career as a dentist, before later turning to neuroscience and developing an interest in the neurophysiology of pain. This interest translated into a PhD, and I subsequently worked at the University of California at Davis and the Universities of Leicester, Bristol and Nottingham.
Over the years, I have led research programmes focused on mechanisms of acute and chronic inflammatory pain. And today, I am a co-founder of and equity holder in two companies focused on the development of novel therapeutics for various uses (including pain).
Since 2018, I have also held the post of Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Researcher Academy – a role that focuses on researchers, from postgraduate research students to senior research leaders.
Al Graham – Director of Income and Engagement
Al Graham joined Arthritis UK in May 2023 and brings 25 years of experience in income generation and engagement roles within the third sector, including more than a decade as Director of Fundraising & Commercial Development at The National Autistic Society.
His career has been spent predominantly within the Health space, including roles at Breakthrough Breast Cancer (now called Breast Cancer Now) and Diabetes UK. Al’s particular passion is the intersection between charity and commerciality, ensuring that charities are optimising their skills, expertise and intellectual property.
Al has also been a Trustee for more than 20 years and is currently a board member at Cranstoun, a national charity that provides groundbreaking service for those facing challenges with substance use, domestic abuse and criminal justice.
Wendy Honeyghan – Director of People and Culture
Wendy joined us in June 2023 as Director of People and Culture.
Wendy brings extensive senior HR, culture and leadership experience from the Charity and not for profit sector including in Housing, Central and local Government. She is a fellow of the CIPD, has an Msc in HR and Training and over 20 years senior experience in HR and organisational development.
Wendy believes people are the heart of any organisation. Her work focuses on engaging and supporting people, building positive work cultures and effective organisations. She brings her expertise and people focus to enabling all colleagues, staff and volunteers achieve our vision of a future free from arthritis and ensuring improving the lives of people with arthritis is central to our work.
Zoe Chivers – Director of Services
Zoe Chivers joined Arthritis UK in 2018 and is Director of Services and Devolved Nations and is leading our strategy to respond to the needs of people with arthritis through service provision, direct support, and systems change.
Zoe is a fierce advocate for people with arthritis across all areas of her work. With more than 15 years' experience in the third sector across statutory, trust and healthcare funded contracts and commissioned services, she brings a wealth of experience in operations design and development including recruitment, people and budget management.
Zoe has also created and led on innovative delivery models and is especially enthusiastic about the use of technology in this area.