Nadim Ednan-Laperouse OBE
Founder & Trustee

As an MD of a toy company, I will use my skills and knowledge for the good of Natasha’s Foundation; to work towards funding essential allergy research with the aim of finding a cure for all and to also support changes in society essential for helping those living with this condition has become my drive and life’s goal. In July 2016 on that dreadful day that I lost my daughter, she cried out for me to help her. Her words will stay with me for the rest of my life. I was not able to help my child but I am determined that I will strive to help others through this foundation, which we have set up in her name.

“Come rain or shine I will think of you every day, at times weeping for my loss, in disbelief, yet never forgetting your radiant smile and kind spirit.”

- Natasha’s Father

Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE
Founder & Trustee

Everything that I am, I owe to my daughter Natasha. She was a wonderful daughter, the very best and I learned so much from her. To those who knew her, she was a kind and loyal friend, she was brave, thoughtful and wise, funny, often hilarious, clever and so talented; to me always, my baby girl. I bring to this foundation 16 years experience in HR and PR and a great passion and desire to work towards giving people living with allergies real hope and ultimately a cure. It is too late for Natasha but there are many people just like her and they are all precious and deserve their lives and illness to be taken seriously.

“I miss my darling girl every single moment of every day… but I still feel her love, I truly do, and if I can feel her love, she must feel mine.”  

- Natasha’s Mother

Professor Sir Stephen Holgate
Trustee

Professor Stephen Holgate is a Medical Research Council Clinical Professor of Immunopharmacology and Honorary Consultant Physician within Medicine at the University of Southampton. He is also a Medical Research Council Clinical Professor of Immunopharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine, Southampton, UK. He has utilised many approaches to study allergy and asthma including epidemiology, genetics, pathology, microbiology and immunology, pharmacology and experimental medicine. 

That anyone should die from anaphylaxis or any other manifestation of allergy in the 21st century is a real tragedy. Having spent the last 40 years trying to get allergy recognised as a serious medical problem whose incidence continues to increase, Natasha’s untimely death shines a shameful light on the low priority that allergy has been given and the lack funding for meaningful research. The UK has among the worst outcomes for the treatment of ALL allergic diseases (anaphylaxis, food allergy, asthma, rhinitis eczema, urticaria etc.) when compared to the rest of Europe. The dreadful current UK Allergy Health Statistics must be reversed.

“We are amid an allergy epidemic linked to modern lifestyle and as an Ambassador to the Foundation, it will be a much needed challenge to create the necessary environment for joined-up research aimed at eradicating allergy and asthma once and for all”

- Professor Stephen Holgate

Tim Smith CBE
Trustee

Tim is currently a senior independent adviser and non-executive director. He had a 30 year career in the food industry leading companies including Arla plc and Sara Lee. He was the Food Standards Agency CEO for five years before joining Tesco as Group Quality Director. In the last year he has advised Pret A Manger on all aspects of consumer protection and helped them to lead the sector in making significant changes. He set up and chairs the Pret Advisory Panel to monitor their progress in implementing his report and recommendations.

“There is no doubt we are witnessing an emerging public health crisis which in some circumstances can result in entirely preventable deaths. As a Trustee for Natasha’s Foundation, it is my hope that we can work collaboratively with all those who are capable of doing much more to address this situation”

- Tim Smith

Professor Daniel Ray
Trustee

Professor Daniel Ray has worked in health and care data and technology for over 20 years in local, regional, national and international roles. He has been involved in producing national data analytics to identify allergy trends and healthcare service demands in England. He has considerable experience in utilising health and care data to improve patient and citizen outcomes. He is excited about advancing this work with his role as trustee of Natasha’s Foundation. Daniel has also lost a daughter from an avoidable, preventable disease and has a passion to advance understanding and prevention to reduce these terrible tragedies from occurring. 

“I am extremely passionate about how health and care genetic and phenotypic data can be used to improve allergy outcomes and ultimately cure this devastating illness. I am excited and honoured to be a part of the drive, energy, tenacity and sheer relentless passion that Nadim and Tanya have made to eradicate allergies from our society”.

- Professor Daniel Ray

Jeremy Hyam KC
Trustee

Jeremy Hyam KC is a specialist in Clinical Negligence, Human Rights, Administrative and Public Law, Inquests and Public Inquiries, Professional Discipline and Environmental law. He has particular experience in all aspects of health law, including Mental Health, the regulation and discipline of doctors; contractual disputes, CQC regulation, NHS Procurement, the Health and Social Care Act, the Care Standards Tribunal, and cases concerning eligibility for and access to treatment including cases concerning community care. Jeremy is ranked as a leading silk in Chambers and Partners and in the Legal 500. Jeremy first met the Ednan-Laperouse family when he was instructed by Leigh Day to represent them at the inquest into the tragic death of their daughter Natasha. He is an experienced barrister in clinical negligence, human rights and public law who has featured in many human rights and healthcare cases and legal publications.

“It is a privilege to be a Trustee for the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation, to make a real contribution to the work of the charity. Raising allergy awareness and funding necessary research is essential to the improvement and understanding, care and treatment of allergy sufferers.”

- Jeremy Hyam KC

Tom Montagu-Pollock
Trustee

Tom joined Schroders in 2005. He is a Portfolio Director on the Charities Team who are the largest manager of charitable assets in the UK. Tom has responsibility for a number of charity clients and is the Fund Manager of the Charity Multi-Asset Fund and Responsible Multi-Asset Fund. Tom is a chartered member (FCSI) of the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment. He has also completed the London Business School Foundation and Endowment Asset Management Course.  

“It is an honour to be a Trustee of the Natasha Allergy Research Foundation and to use my expertise as a charity portfolio director to contribute to this wonderful charity by helping them fulfil their mission which is to eradicate this dreadful disease.”

- Tom Montagu-Pollock

Stella Bryan
Trustee

Watching my best friend and her husband fall apart after the devastating loss of their daughter was heart breaking.  Natasha had so many wonderful talents and a real desire do something good in the world which is why this foundation is a fitting legacy to her.  Her senseless death compels me to support them in their quest to bring positive change to people whose lives are marred allergy. I bring to this foundation my many years of experience and skills in Marketing and Strategy, a passionate desire to help push the boundaries of our understanding and my time and energy in bringing a voice to all sufferers who have not been heard until now.

“Tragedies can be the driver for much needed change & our quest is to ensure that we can provide a vehicle for this, in loving memory of our beautiful girl.”

- Stella Bryan

Nick Buckley
Trustee

Nick Buckley has been supporting Natasha's family since the terrible tragedy of July 2016. He is a former national newspaper executive whose career spanned the Mirror, Mail and Express groups. He now works as a senior consultant in campaigning, charity, political and crisis communications. Nick is also a governor in a community primary school and director of a multi-academy trust. 

"It is most humbling to be sharing this remarkable journey with my beautiful friends Tanya, Nadim and Alex as they ensure Natasha's life leaves the most powerful legacy." 

- Nick Buckley

Baroness Alicia Kennedy
Chief Operating Officer

Alicia supports the charity’s founders Nadim and Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBEs and its Board of Trustees, actioning and overseeing all the operations of the Foundation, across its three pillars: research, education, and the law. Formerly the Director of Generation Rent, she transformed the charity from a start-up to an organisation which is now a significant participant in the national housing debate. This move to the third sector followed a 25-year career in politics, working with senior politicians across all levels of Government. She was made a life peer in 2012 and is non-aligned. 

“It is an absolute privilege to be working for Natasha's Foundation. Tanya, Nadim, and the team have built one of the most impactful charities in the country. Together, we will take Natasha's Foundation to the next level, delivering game-changing scientific research and allergy education awareness and support programmes, all designed and delivered to support people living with food allergies.”

- Baroness Alicia Kennedy

Jan Parnell
Director of Education

I have worked in the education sector for more than 30 years in Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education. I was most recently the Director of Education in the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham with responsibility given for ensuring inclusive education for all children. To do this, I developed several innovative well-being programmes including innovative environmental and cultural education programmes. I have also been a senior leader in many schools and colleges and have led extensive staff development and governance programmes.  As a champion of young people with special educational needs, I have contributed to Higher Education research at national and international levels.

“I am passionate about equality of educational opportunities and ensuring the best outcomes for all children. Too many families experience barriers to accessing a positive education experience.  Natasha’s Foundation is in a strong position to both challenge and give essential support to institutions to help them meet their statutory obligations in providing an inclusive, nurturing education for all children and young people with allergies. Our key education focus will be to champion our youth voice and co-produce our education strategy alongside our families and partners.”

- Jan Parnell

Rachel Ellis
Director of Communications

Before joining the charity, she was a health journalist and editor for national newspapers and magazines for over 25 years. During that time, she worked across a wide range of titles, as well as other mediums such as podcasting, and was a finalist three times in the Medical Journalists’ Association awards. She has also worked with leading healthcare organisations on how to effectively get their message across.

‘I’m passionate about raising awareness and changing public understanding of food allergies in order to improve the lives of the millions of people with food allergies in the UK.’

- Rachel Ellis

Rachel Hodson-Hubbard
Director of Partnerships and Fundraising

Rachel oversees the Foundation’s partnerships and income generation. With over a decade of experience in the third sector across fundraising and law. She has worked at a number of leading health and youth charities supporting them to grow their income and volunteers as a fundraising advisor for an international development charity. She has also worked as a corporate and commercial solicitor at Hogan Lovells before moving to the third sector.

“It is essential that there’s investment in the game-changing research and education required to tackle the allergy epidemic. I’m proud we are working in partnership with the UK’s leading food businesses to address this critical challenge together and so grateful for our incredible community of fundraisers and supporters who go to great lengths to raise essential funds for Natasha’s Foundation.”

-Rachel Hodson-Hubbard