Our grant panel
The combined expertise of our grant panel means all aspects
of a charity's work are considered, making sure we are investing the
money you raise in the best possible projects.
Samira Ahmed, Presenter Channel 4 news
Samira is a presenter and correspondent for Channel 4 News where she won the 2009 Stonewall Broadcast of the Year award for her film on rape in South Africa. She previously worked for the BBC on Newsnight, the Today programme and as Los Angeles Correspondent, covering the OJ Simpson case. Samira also spent a year in Berlin as a political reporter and news anchor for Deutsche Welle TV.
Dr Maria Bitner-Glindzicz, Clinical and Molecular Geneticist at the UCL Institute of Child Health
Maria is a Clinical and Molecular Geneticist at the UCL Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. She leads a research group investigating causes and mechanisms of inherited forms of deafness. Maria works closely with the regional diagnostic genetic laboratories and her work has led to improvements in clinical services for deaf patients, including the establishment of specialist clinics in the London area.
Chris Goard, Jeans for Genes Trustee
Chris has broad experience of business services marketing and management having worked internationally to develop and build brands for global businesses. He's currently the CEO of the Chronic Granulomatous Disorder Research Trust, the founding charity of Jeans for Genes. He's also a trustee & treasurer of the Genetic Interest Group, an umbrella organisation that promotes patient issues, as well as a Non-Executive Director of an NHS Trust in Oxford.
Stephanie Leouzon, Senior Advisor European Health Care Investment Banking, Credit Suisse
Stephanie has worked in the European health care division of investment banking for more than 20 years. She's taken part in more than 65 transactions in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and speciality pharmaceutical sectors. Prior to joining Credit Suisse in 1998, her experience included working in Health Care at Lehman Brothers, JP Morgan and Salomon Brothers (now Citigroup).
Tracey Rodgers, Managing Director of Unilever Foodsolutions, UK and Ireland
Tracey began her career at Sainsbury’s and Tesco before moving to Unilever in 1991. She spent eight years in Brussels in various marketing roles and from 2002, Tracey ran the European Personal Care business. During this time she launched the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. In 2005, her role as Chairman for Central Europe took Tracey and her family to Budapest. They returned to the UK in 2009 when she became Managing Director of Unilever Foodsolutions UK and Ireland.
Professor Richard Trembath, Head of Molecular Genetics at King's College, London
Richard trained in medicine at Guy's Hospital (University of London). After his postgraduate study at London's Institute of Child Health, he moved to Leicester University where he became the foundation Professor of Medical Genetics in 1998. He was elected to the Academy of Medical Science in 2003 and is now the Head of the Division of Medical and Molecular Genetics at King's College in London.
Sarah Vine, Journalist
Sarah is a journalist for The Times. She is currently the newspaper's Beauty Editor, but her roles have included sub-editor, Arts Editor, leader writer and general all-weather commentator. Sarah is also a writer of books and has co-authored Backwards and in High Heels.