Arianne Johns – Ramos

Surgery and Associated Specialties (SAS) Virtual Ward – Nottingham University Hospitals, NHS Trust

Originally from Cuba, Arianne became an Adult Surgical Nurse in 2019, working at NUH. She has worked with HPB, Colorectal, General and Vascular surgical patients. Working as a HPB CNS before moving to Manage the Surgical Virtual Ward for the Trust, developing and increasing the service.

Becky May 

Apprentice ODP – Nuffield Heath

Becky is a student ODP based in Exeter with a passion for mental health and wellbeing. She is a member of the South West AfPP regional team and a member of the Student and Early Career Specialist Interest Group.

Claire Kilbride

Surgical Care Practitioner – Robotics – Colorectal & Abdominal Wall Reconstruction  – Wirral University Teaching Hospital

Surgical Care Practitioner and AfPP Advancing Roles SIG Lead, I qualified as an ODP in 2000, working across multiple specialities. In 2009 I became a surgical first assistant in colorectal surgery, naturally progressing on to more advanced assisting with the introduction of robotics, having undertaken a master’s degree and now a fully qualified surgical care practitioner. I am dedicated to advancing perioperative roles, leading with governance and compassion, and empowering teams to deliver safe, high-quality surgical care. I am actively involved in national discussions surrounding the SFA/SCP PCC position statement, workforce development and robotic surgery practice.

Craig Griffiths

Elected Trustee

Craig began his healthcare career as a university student working in sterile services before discovering his passion for perioperative practice as a theatre assistant at St Michael’s Hospital. After qualifying as an Operating Department Practitioner, he specialised in paediatric anaesthesia and recovery at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. A passionate educator, podcaster and advocate for the profession, Craig is Course Leader for the ODP programme at the University of South Wales and has spent over five years supporting the AfPP conference through presenting, compering and promoting professional development.

Dave James

Speaker Coach & Professional Speaker – Dave the Coach Ltd

Dave James is a speaker coach and 2x TEDx speaker who helps people speak authentically without losing themselves. Drawing on backgrounds in healthcare and mindfulness, his work explores trust, psychological safety, and what becomes possible when people feel safe using their voice. A TEDx Editor’s Pick speaker.

Derek Hrabovsky

Consultant Anaesthetist, Leadership Capacity in Healthcare Strategist – South Eastern Trust

Derek Hrabovsky is a Consultant Anaesthetist at the Ulster Hospital, Dundonald, and a former member of the Northern Ireland Helicopter Emergency Medical Service. A graduate of Queen’s University Belfast and a psychotherapeutic counsellor and coach, he specialises in leadership capacity and longevity in healthcare along with burnout prevention and recovery for professionals working in high-pressure clinical environments.

Faye Lowry

Senior Lecturer, Operating Department Practice – Edge Hill University

Faye Lowry is a registered Operating Department Practitioner with fifteen years of clinical experience. She now works as a Senior Lecturer, specialising in perioperative practice and education. Passionate about developing the future workforce, she combines extensive clinical expertise with a commitment to supporting inclusive, high‑quality learning for all students.

Heather Briscoe

Clinical Specialist for IV Access and Securement – Solventum

Heather has been an adult nurse since 2008, specialising in vascular access device insertion and management since 2016.  A clinical lead from 2018, then moved from the NHS into industry as a clinical specialist in 2024.  She brings experience, passion for vascular access, patient safety, clinical efficiency and 2 years as an elected board member for NIVAS.

Heather Campbell

Anaesthesia Associate – The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital

Heather Campbell is a GMC-registered Anaesthesia Associate at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital. She is also a member of the GMC Anaesthesia Associate Registration Board and President for AAs at UMAPs union, she has extensive experience in perioperative education, workforce development, governance and patient safety.

Helen Fowler

Senior Lecturer in Clinical Skills and Simulation/Scrub Nurse – Liverpool John Moores University 

Helen is an experienced perioperative professional with a background spanning general surgery, orthopaedics, obstetrics, and neurosurgery, now working in higher education delivering clinical skills and simulation. Her work focuses on evidence-informed practice, workforce development, and using simulation and human factors to enhance safety, team performance, and resilience in complex healthcare environments.

Hugh Montgomery

Professor of Intensive Care Medical – University College London

Hugh is a consultant Intensivist; UCL Professor of Intensive Care Medicine (>900 scientific publications, >15 (inter)national awards); co-chair, multinational Lancet Countdown on Health/Climate Change; co-chair UK Health Alliance on Climate Change ( >1m members); founder, non-profit climate action RealZero. He was awarded the OBE (2022) partly for climate work.

Jen Maher

AfPP Education Lead – AfPP

A Registered Operating Department Practitioner with over 27 years’ experience, Jen has held a variety of roles across operating departments in the Liverpool area. Most recently, she worked as Clinical Manager for Quality Improvement at Alder Hey Hospital.

Jen served as an elected Trustee for AfPP for over two years before joining the headquarters team in August 2024. She is passionate about improving workplace culture and supporting theatre practitioners to be the best they can be.

Julie Storr

CEO S3 Global Health – S3 Global Health

Jules is an infection prevention and control (IPC) expert and global health leader. She’s led IPC programs nationally and globally and advocates for compassionate, person-centred IPC. Jules was involved in the development of WHO’s surgical checklist, is a topic lead for Patient Safety Learning’s Leadership Hub and Honorary Adviser at Global Health Partnerships. She is past president of the UK and Ireland Infection Prevention Society.

Kath Sansom

Grassroots Patient Safety Advocate – Founder of Sling The Mesh campaign

Kath Sansom founded Sling The Mesh in 2015 with 20 members after experiencing complications from a bladder mesh sling. It has since grown into a global network of nearly 13,000 members, advocating for fully informed consent, improved data capture on complications, enhanced care pathways for mesh‑injured patients, and stronger, more transparent evidence on the long‑term outcomes of all types of mesh surgery.

Katharina Lederle

Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Specialist and Therapist –  Founder of Dr Kat Sleep

Dr Kat, a sleep and body clock specialist and counsellor, provides one-to-one sleep coaching. She combines a deep understanding of the biology of sleep and the body clock (PhD in Human Circadian Physiology & Behaviour, and MSc in Biosciences) and learnings from Mindfulness, Acceptance Commitment Therapy and Compassion Focused Therapy. 

Kathryn Topley

Medical Liaison, NER – Solventum

Kathryn is a Registered Nurse and infection prevention specialist with extensive leadership experience across NHS and independent healthcare settings. A qualified lecturer, she continues to educate healthcare professionals at UK universities. Kat pioneered surgical site infection surveillance for hip and knee surgery in the independent sector and received a LaingBuisson Award in 2009 for advancing clinical practice. Now part of Solventum’s Medical Liaison team, she supports infection prevention initiatives, including the OneTogether collaboration, and presents regularly at national and international conferences.

Khaled Ahmed

Senior Clinical Fellow in Cardiac Anaesthesia – Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust 

Khaled is a senior clinical fellow in cardiac anaesthesia at Nottingham University Hospital with an interest in cardiothoracic anaesthesia and a special focus on monitoring especially neurological monitors. His experience includes intensive care and perioperative management, and he is passionate about advancing anaesthetic techniques for improved patient outcomes.

Kimberley Wilson

Chartered Pyschologist

Kimberley Wilson is a chartered psychologist with a master’s degree in nutrition. She is author of How to Build a Healthy Brain and Unprocessed: How the Food We Eat Is Fuelling Our Mental Health Crisis, and the host of BBC Sounds’ psychology and mental health podcast Complex. Kimberley believes the way we think about mental health – as separate from physical health is flawed. Her philosophy of Whole Body Mental Health is a comprehensive approach to mental health care; integrating evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle factors with psychological therapy. A former governor of the Tavistock and Portman Mental Health Trust, Kimberley also led the therapy service at Europe’s largest women’s prison. Kimberley hosted Radio 4’s Made of Stronger Stuff, and the award nominated Audible Original Hack Your Body, Heal Your Mind. She is a regular brain and mental health expert on BBC 1’s Morning Live and other media

Laura Morely

SAS VW Clinical and Admin Support – Nottingham University Hospitals, NHS Trust 

Laura has worked for NUH since 2018. She was a Trauma Assistant before moving to the Surgery Virtual Ward in 2023 She works as administrator and clinical coordinator and supports every aspect of patients’ care. The job is very rewarding, knowing we are making a difference in the patients’ recovery journeys.

Lauren Turner

Respiratory Clinical Educator – Ambu

Lauren is a Clinical Educator specialising in respiratory and airway techniques at Ambu. She teaches CPD Accredited workshops focusing on Difficult Airway Management, One Lung Ventilation and Navigational Bronchoscopy. Today’s focus will be around the unexpected difficult airway, covering clinical skills such as the Aintree Exchange Technique, Scope Handling skills and the VAFI technique. She also covers a wide product range for airway skills, and is happy to answer any questions around bronchoscopes, video laryngoscopes and supraglottic airway devices, and how each device should be used in the DAS 2025 Algorithm.

Lauren Willson

Theatre Clinical Education Lead/ODP – Practice Plus Group- Emerson’s Green Hospital 

Lauren is a Theatre Practitioner and Clinical Education Lead with experience across NHS, Private adult and paediatric care. Passionate about staff wellbeing, supportive learning environments, and promoting best practice within multidisciplinary teams. Committed to delivering safe, holistic, and patient-centered care in the theatre setting.  Other Interests include primary/secondary school career outreach & Softball.

Leah Polus

East Scotland Regional Lead – AfPP

Lindsay Keeley

Clinical, Patient Safety & Quality Lead -The Association for Perioperative Practice (AfPP)

Lindsay Keeley is a nationally recognised leader in perioperative patient safety with over 40 years’ experience across the NHS and independent sectors. As AfPP’s Clinical Patient Safety and Quality Lead, she works closely with industry partners and perioperative teams to strengthen national standards and improve safety in operating theatres.Through the Professional Advice Service (PAS), Lindsay provides expert, evidence‑based guidance on patient safety, quality, and best practice. Her portfolio includes leading compliance audits, supporting national events, and benchmarking practice against AfPP Standards using the AfPP Audit Tool. Lindsay is a key contributor to national work on surgical fires, surgical plume safety, and infection prevention and control, shaping AfPP guidance and supporting safer practice across the UK. Her long-standing commitment to professional development includes leadership roles within AfPP and the RCN, as well as international collaboration with the Friends of African Nursing.

Lisa Tierney

Consultant – AfPP

Lisa has worked in operating theatres since 1980, primarily as a scrub practitioner. She held senior roles in the NHS for 38 years before becoming Head of Nursing at The Private Clinic of Harley Street. A Specialist Advisor with the CQC since 2015, she has inspected both NHS and independent services. Lisa also served as a Major in the Army Reserves for 18 years, with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lisa is a long-standing member of AfPP, serving as a non-elected Trustee and Consultant. She represents AfPP on the SAFE OR steering group, promoting surgical safety in low-income countries, and has delivered multidisciplinary training in Africa, India, Bangladesh, and the UK. She also consults on regulatory compliance and registration for healthcare providers.

Marcus Stow OBE MStJ, RN, BSc(Hons)

Non-Executive Director I-Hub – Royal College of Surgeons of England – Innovation Hub

Nurse leader, Defence medicine innovator and MedTech strategist Marcus Stow OBE draws on three decades of frontline and humanitarian experience to explore what extreme clinical environments teach us about innovation, resilience and patient safety, and most importantly; the central role of the perioperative practitioner in shaping surgery’s future.

Mark Pullen

Senior Sales Manager & UK Training Lead – Surgical Holdings

Mark Pullen has worked at Surgical Holdings for over nine years and is part of the UK sales team, specialising in surgical instruments and theatre solutions. As UK Training Manager, he delivers practical education on instrument identification, handling, inspection and best practice to support safer, more effective patient care.

Maxine Page

Matron for Theatres, PACU, Pre Assessment and Acute Pain – Princess Alexandra Hospital

Maxine is the Theatre Matron Nurse, at Princess Alexandra Hospital and a former associate lecturer at Anglia Ruskin Universityon the ODP degree programme. She is passionate sharing her perioperative experiences to inform and energise theatre practitioners. Currently Maxine is the AfPP President Elect, an AfPP Consultant and an AfPP Link Member.

Mo Belal

Consultant Urological Surgeon – University Hospitals Birmingham

Mr Mo Belal is a Consultant Urological Surgeon at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (since 2011), specialising in neuro-urology and urinary tract reconstruction. He has published extensively and is currently BAUS Vice President for Education, formerly Chair of the BAUS Section of Female, Neuro-urology and Urodynamics, and BAUS Mesh Lead with NHS England. He is a trustee of several charities and an SIA ambassador.

Nick Carlton-Bland

Consultant Neurosurgeon – The Walton Centre

Mr Nick Carleton‑Bland is a Consultant Neurosurgeon at The Walton Centre, appointed in 2017, with extensive international training in London, San Francisco and Sydney. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and completed a two‑year complex spinal neurosurgery fellowship. Alongside his full‑time clinical practice, he is a national human factors trainer, international lecturer and award‑winning educator, recognised nationally for excellence in surgical teaching.

Dr Nigel Roberts

Associate Divisional Director – Stockport NHS Foundation Trust

Dr. Nigel Roberts is the Associate Divisional Director at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust. Nigel has worked in theatres since 1998 and commenced his career at Chesterfield and North Derbyshire Royal Hospital as a Support Worker before completing his ODP training in 1998. Nigel has gone on to publish fourteen research papers, participated in numerous blogs on the patient safety learning hub, spoke at seventeen conferences, two of these were international, designed the latest NatSSIPs 8 flowchart and successfully obtained a PhD, Professional Doctorate, Doctor of Philosophy on the 15^th January 2026. Nigel is also a nationally recognised speaker on patient safety and the Deputy Chair of the national network of Theatre Managers in the UK and Ireland. Nigel has created the first Never Event group in the United Kingdom that enables the cyclical learning of previous Never Events.

Oliver Tierney

President and Director – AfPP Ltd

Oliver began his NHS career in 1999 and qualified as an Operating Department Practitioner in 2008. Following roles at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and The Walton Centre, he progressed into education leadership, becoming Lead for Education, Risk and Governance in 2022. Passionate about staff development, he has received awards for his contribution to education and is an accredited Human Factors Trainer, Workplace Mediator, and Mental Health First Aider. Oliver established the Walton Theatre Health & Wellbeing Team and has served as an AfPP Trustee since 2021, becoming a Director of AfPP Ltd in 2024.

Sadaf Gull

Surgical Triage Unit Specialist Surgeon – Nottingham University Hospitals, NHS Trust

Ms Sadaf Gull, graduated from Pakistan and moved to UK in 2008. Her initial training in the UK was in East Anglia and then she moved to Northern Ireland for Higher Surgical training. She is passionate about Emergency general surgery  and is currently a specialist surgeon at Nottingham University Hospital.

Sarah Leeks

Senior Health & Wellbeing Practitioner, WHWB – Norfolk & Norwich NHS University Healthcare Trust

With 25 years of experience in theatres as a scrub practitioner, deputy team lead and clinical educator,Sarah has witnessed significant change across the NHS and perioperative practice. These experiences inspired a passion for supporting workforce wellbeing and helping colleagues manage workplace pressures. In their current role, they share practical skills, provide access to relevant resources, and empower healthcare professionals to take charge of their own health and wellbeing, enabling them to continue delivering high-quality patient care.

Sharon Fox

Head of Decontamination UHB & Director of Education IDSc – Insitute of Decontamination Science

Sharon Fox is an experienced Decontamination Practitioner and Healthcare Scientist with over 30 years’ expertise dedicated to patient safety and the advancement of decontamination practice. Beginning her career in Sterile Services in 1990, she has held a range of senior operational, educational, and national leadership roles, including Training Manager and Production and Quality Manager.
Sharon is currently Head of Decontamination at University Hospitals Birmingham, where she leads and assures safe, effective decontamination practices across the organization, supporting the prevention of healthcare-associated infections. She works closely with multidisciplinary teams to embed patient safety and best practice.