PIF is a not for profit company, limited by guarantee. It is funded by a number of income streams including membership subscriptions, events and project funding. The organisation is governed, managed and advised as follows:
PIF Board
The Board of the Patent Information Forum was established in October 2013, replacing a Strategy Group which ran between 2009 and 2013. The Board sets the strategy for PIF to achieve its vision, mission and aims as well as ensuring proper governance.
It also oversees the development and implementation of the business plan and plays a fundamental role in the effective running and growth of the organisation.
The current members of the PIF Board can be viewed below:
Sue Farrington, Chair
Sue Farrington joined the PIF Board as Chair in 2014. Sue is currently Chief Executive of Scleroderma and Raynaud's UK having recently led the merger of two charities. She has over 25 years’ experience in senior leadership roles, working across the private, public and voluntary sector.
Mark Duman, Non-Executive Director
Mark founded PIF in 1997, and has a wealth of experience in patient and health information. He is a rare blend of clinician, management consultant and patient advocate. He works with organisations to help them realise the full benefit of their services and products, especially through the often untapped potential of patients and the public.
Wayne Middleton, Non-Executive Director
Wayne was appointed to the PIF Board in September 2014. As Chief Executive at Leeds University Testing Organisation (Luto), Wayne leads a team of specialists who create and test a variety of digital and traditional health information materials. Wayne has worked in the field of consumer health information since 2001.
Anne Ballard, Non-Executive Director
Anne was appointed to the PIF Board in September 2016. Anne has over 25 years’ experience within the pharmaceutical industry and now runs her own consultancy business. With over 10 years’ experience as a board member, she brings a wealth of experience in setting strategy and delivering measurable improvement in outcomes.
Graham Parker, Non-Executive Director
After a career in manufacturing and international sales, Graham went on to use and develop his business and management skills in the public and charity sectors. He has held a number of senior management positions, predominantly within Social Care and Community Service provision.
Maeve Hully, Non-Executive Director
Maeve is committed to advancing the role played by patients and clients, both as partners in their own care experience and in the planning and delivery of all health and social care services. Maeve has been Chief Executive of the Patient and Client Council since it was established in 2009.
Operations Team
The Operations Team is responsible for the day to day running of PIF.
Claire Murray, Joint Head of Operations
Claire joined PIF in November 2013 as Membership Services Manager. In October 2014, Claire was jointly appointed as Head of Operations. Claire has worked in the consumer health information field for over 10 years.
Nicole Naylor, Joint Head of Operations
Nicole has worked as part of the Operations Team at PIF since November 2009. In October 2014 she was appointed Joint Head of Operations. Nicole was previously Patient Involvement Manager at the Royal College of Physicians London.
Advisory Group
The purpose of the Advisory Group is to:
- Assist PIF in understanding the needs and expectations of health information professionals and patients.
- Contribute external expertise and support to help inform PIF’s strategic and operational plans and work programme.
- Share knowledge and experience, and identify upcoming political, legislative and regulatory developments, and highlight new topics in health information.
- Represent the interests of PIF externally, and introduce PIF to new connections and networks.
- Submit items for the PIF website and e-newsletter – this can include local events, news, resources and projects.
Click below to see the Terms of References and role description for the Advisory Group.
The current members of the Advisory Group can be viewed below:
Kate Betteridge - Director, Neil Betteridge Associates
Kate has almost 20 years’ experience working with people with long-term conditions to help empower them to make informed choices about their health and lifestyle.
She has extensive experience of involving service users in the development of information.
Wendy Marchant - Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Specialist, Macmillan Mobile Information Service
Wendy qualified as a nurse in 1987, and worked specifically within the fields of oncology and haematology.
Wendy has worked in a variety of information and support roles. She is currently working as a Macmillan Cancer Information & Support Specialist with the Macmillan Mobile Information Service.
Gary Birkenhead - Improvement Adviser, Macmillan Cancer Support
Gary has worked in a variety of roles in the information, research, public policy and programme development departments and the NHS.
In 2013 he joined the Information and Support Department at Macmillan Cancer Support as an Improvement Adviser, working with their cancer information and support services across the UK.
Louise Coghlin - Freelance Writer, Editor and Project Manager
Louise is a freelance writer and editor specialising in life sciences, health and illness. She has a degree in biochemistry and over 20 years' experience working for publishers, charities, drugs companies and communications agencies.
Sarah Hennessy - Librarian, South West Yorkshire Partnership Foundation Trust
Sarah has worked in consumer health information since 2000 and is currently a Librarian in a Mental Health Hospital, specialising in Mental Health Information but also supporting the Trust and the local community with health promotion on all aspects of health and well being.
Linda Cowie - Independent Consultant
Linda is a Pharmacist by training but has spent 25 years working in healthcare marketing and communications for various pharmaceutical and nutritional companies and healthcare communication agencies.
Katrina Glaister, Clinical Governance Facilitator, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust
At Salisbury Hospital Katrina works for the Quality Directorate where she raised the profile of patient information throughout the Trust, devising a rigorous quality assurance process for patient information. The trust was one of the first acute trusts to be accredited under the Information Standard.
Kath Evans - Head of Patient Experience, Maternity, Newborn, Children & Young People, NHS England
Kath is a registered general and children’s nurse and her career has included clinical, educational, managerial and service improvement roles.
She is currently Head of Patient Experience for Maternity, Newborn, Children and Young People at NHS England.
Chiara De Biase, Head of Patient Experience, Anthony Nolan
Chiara is the Assistant Director of Patient Services at Anthony Nolan. She is accountable for the delivery of patient information and support as well as funding NHS posts and developing clinical and supportive care pathways for patients before and after transplant, including palliative and end of life care.
In nearly four years her team have produced 17 publications including animations, patient videos, blogs, podcasts, E-Newsletters, an online forum and a Peer Support Service. She has also developed broad support services for families affected by transplant including implementing a grant giving service, starting a quarterly patient and family survivorship education programme and funded eight full time Post-Transplant CNS roles across the country.
Joanna Dundon, National Clinical Informatics Lead - Public, NHS Wales Informatics Service
Joanna has been working at the NHS Wales Informatics Service since 2008, and she is excited that her latest role from September 2016 is to develop an interactive digital patient portal to access information and resources from NHS Wales, and a personalised patient platform.
Carol McCambley, Stakeholder Engagement Manager, NHS 24
I am Stakeholder Engagement Manager within Health information Services at NHS 24, Scotland. I have worked in various roles within NHS Scotland over the past 10 years.
My interest and focus is on digital health and care information provision for Scotland, engaging users to ensure our provision meets their needs. I am also passionate about improving health and reducing inequalities.