New expert-led consensus to shape the future of MND drug discovery and development research
6th December 2023
Our governance & people
The British Neuroscience Association is governed by members of the Association who have taken on roles in the Council and Committee, referring to the governing documents to guide them in their decisions in running the organisation. The Council and Commitee are supported by the BNA Executive staff.
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BNA Council
The Council is the main governing body of the BNA and includes the Trustees/Directors of the Association.
Council members meet at least four times per year. They are charged with defining and managing the strategic plan, setting policy and making operational decisions on behalf of the membership.
Current members of the BNA Council
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Tara Spires-Jones - President 2023-2025 |
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Narender Ramnani - President-Elect 2023-2025 Officer and Trustee Royal Holloway, University of London |
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Rik Henson - Immediate Past-President 2023-2025 Officer and Trustee University of Cambridge |
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Sarah King - Honorary Secretary 2023-2027 Officer and Trustee University of Sussex |
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Trevor Bushell - Treasurer 2022-2026 Officer and Trustee University of Strathclyde |
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Alan Palmer - Independent Trustee 2022-2026 Trustee Neuroscientist and entrepreneur (positions at UCL; University of Reading; University of Bristol; Cerebroscience Ltd; One Nucleus Ltd; Elixa MediScience Ltd; The Brain Tumour Charity; The Cancer Awareness Trust) |
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Kevin Cox - Independent Trustee 2022-2026 Trustee SynDermix AG; Biorelate Ltd; Biotaspheric; ValiRx Plc; the BioIndustry Association |
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Manfred Berners - Independent Trustee 2022-2026 Trustee Berners-Chapman, strategic consultancy for life science companies |
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Volko Straub - Local Groups Co-ordinator 2020-2024 Trustee University of Leicester |
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Catherine Abbott - Research Policy 2022-2026 Trustee University of Edinburgh |
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Michael Ashby - Credibility in Neuroscience 2022-2026 Trustee University of Bristol |
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Mark Walton - Preclinical Neuroscience 2022-2026 Trustee University of Oxford |
BNA Committee
The BNA Council is advised and supported by national Committee members who, between them, have research interests spanning the breadth and depth of neuroscience and are affiliated with academic institutes and industrial centres across the UK. Appointment to a Committee post is for four years. Council members also sit on the National Committee.
Any member is welcome to raise an item for Committee meeting discussion. To do so, please contact the BNA Office at office(at)bna.org.uk, or one of the Committee members listed below.
Current members of the BNA Committee
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POSITION VACANT - Clinical Scientist Representative for Neurology |
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Sharon Abrahams - Clinical Scientist Representative for Psychology 2022-2026 University of Edinburgh |
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Lindsey Sinclair - Clinical Scientist Representative for Psychiatry 2022-2026 University of Bristol |
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Sandrine Willaime-Morawek - Education & Engagement Secretary 2023-2027 |
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Emma Soopramanien, Students & Early Careers Representative 2020-2024 |
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Vasanta Subramanian - Representative for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion 2023-2027 University of Bath |
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Dayne Beccano-Kelly - Joint Meetings Secretary and Co-Chair for the BNA2025 Programme Organising Committee |
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Dorothy Tse - Joint Meetings Secretary and Co-Chair for the BNA2025 Programme Organising Committee Edge Hill University |
BNA Representatives
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Gillian Stewart - Association of British Neurologists Representative Gillian Stewart represents BNA members to the ABN - an organisation which aims to promote excellent standards of care and champion high-quality education and world-class research in neurology. |
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Duncan Banks - Royal Society of Biology Animal Science Group Representative Duncan Banks represents BNA members in the ASG - a Special Interest Group (SIG) of the Royal Society of Biology, representing the broad spectrum of UK bodies actively involved in supporting, formulating policy or directly involved in research involving animals.
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BNA Executive
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Laura Ajram - Chief Executive |
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Sophie Jerrold - Development Director sophie(at)bna.org.uk |
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Joseph Clift - Head of Policy and Campaigns joseph.clift(at)bna.org.uk |
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Louise Tratt - Head of Meetings and Events louise.tratt(at)bna.org.uk |
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Dani Wijesinghe - Community and Inclusion Officer |
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Alex Baltazar-Hall - Placement Student |
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Rosangela Sumbo - Placement Student |
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Grace Cooper - Placement Student grace.cooper(at)bna.org.uk |
Governing documents
The BNA's governing documents form the Association's constitution define its charitable objects, the kind of activities to be undertaken, the appointments and responsibilities of the Trustees, Council and Committee members, and the means by which the organisation is run. The Articles and Rules of the BNA were reviewed in 2016 and new versions voted in by the membership in April 2017. They can be downloaded in full here:
If you have any questions about BNA governance please contact the Association Secretary.