We are incredibly delighted to welcome five new trustees to our Board! The addition of their wide-ranging skills and experiences will help us to navigate the ever-increasing complexity of the UK research environment, particularly as researchers continue to adapt to the pandemic-shaped spanner that has been thrown into the works across all disciplines and sectors.

Collectively, our Board is in a strong position to help us go further and faster in returning more researchers to their careers after a career break. We can’t wait to get started developing new plans and ideas, but for now, join us in celebrating and welcoming our new additions!

Dr Zainab Naqvi, Senior Lecturer in Law and Fair Outcomes Champion (Decolonising DMU), Leicester De Montfort Law School, De Montfort University

After studying at Coventry University and the University of Birmingham, Zainab completed her doctoral research before being appointed full-time Lecturer in Law (Coventry University) and now Senior Lecturer in Law and Fair Outcomes Champion for the Decolonising DMU project (De Montfort University). Decolonising DMU is an institution-wide project that aims to eliminate racial disparity at DMU, in the makeup of staff, teaching methods, the experience DMU students receive and the choices DMU makes as educators.

Zainab says “I am delighted to be joining the Trust and look forward to getting involved in its exciting and important work to support career returners in research.”

Dr Maria Tennant, Freelance Communications Consultant and Chartered PR Practitioner

Maria has several years’ experience working in PR and communications across many sectors and now runs her own writing and communications consultancy, Mia Communications. Until July 2021 she was Head of Communications for Kidney Research UK, where her team ran the press office, research communications, strategic and corporate communications and social media, and managed award-winning health awareness campaigns. A research engagement and communications specialist, Maria is passionate about bringing research to life and telling the stories of the science and the people behind it. A research scientist by training, Maria has also worked as a post doc in academia and industry following her PhD in Neuroscience.

Maria says “As a former bench scientist and working mum, I really understand some of the issues people face when juggling a science career around their personal situations. I am really looking forward to working with the Trust to keep more brilliant minds in research and to tell more stories that showcase why the charity’s work is so important.”

Carol Bewick, Director of Membership Engagement and Communications at the AMRC – Association of Medical Research Charities

Carol Bewick specialised in communications and engagement across different sectors particularly during times of change and crisis – from the Metropolitan Police Service to the Arts Council and the nuclear industry to NICE. She has worked in agency, private, public and charity sectors as well as running her own company. She joined the charity sector in 2012 and has never looked back. She is a carer and has volunteered as an involved person and patient advocate.

Carol says “When you first find out about the work of the Daphne Jackson Trust, you think ‘why has no-one thought of this before’? But they didn’t – Daphne Jackson did. I am a huge fan of what the organization does and couldn’t be prouder to join as a trustee”

Professor Tom Welton OBE FRSC FCGI, Professor of Sustainable Chemistry, Imperial College London

Tom is currently President of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2020-2022). Prior to this he was Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences (2014-2019) and before that Head of the Department of Chemistry at Imperial College (2007-2014). Tom considers sustainable Chemistry as both the implementation of sustainability in the production and use of chemicals, and the application of chemistry and chemical products to enable sustainable development. He is the author of over 140 research papers, mostly on the structures and chemistry of ionic liquids and solutes in these.

Equity, diversity and Inclusion in science has always been important to Tom. He was head of department when the Chemistry department at Imperial College won its first Athena SWAN Gold award. Together with Alison Roger of the University of Warwick, he founded the Irene Juliot-Curie conferences. He is a L’Oréal-UNESCO Male Champion for Women in Science, and member of the EDI advisory boards of both UKRI and Elsevier.

Tom will be taking the helm as chair of the Trust later this year after our current chair, Professor Teresa Anderson MBE steps down as a Trustee having reached the end of her full term of office (look out for a separate piece on this later this year!)

Dr Jane Gate, Executive Director of AIRTO – the Association of Innovation, Research and Technology Organisations

Jane is a life science graduate from the University of Reading, with a PhD in animal physiology. She began her working-life at the Institute for Animal Health, and held a range of management and leadership roles at King’s College London, within the health schools, and the university’s research commercialisation division, King’s Business Ltd., where she was Director of Business Development.

With three grown-up sons, Jane knows the joys and challenges of balancing a career in science and innovation with caring responsibilities. Her strengths lie in her ability to build partnerships with others, and in her logical and analytical approach to decision-making. She is passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion being attained in the science and innovation arena. Being from a working-class background, and becoming the first from her family to go to university, Jane esteems the potential of education and STEM career opportunities to tackle social inequalities.

Jane says “I am delighted to become a Trustee of Daphne Jackson Trust. Having experienced the joys and challenges of balancing a career in science and innovation with parenthood, caring responsibilities and family health difficulties, I am passionate about the work of the Trust and the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion upon which its’ mission is built. This is an exciting time as the Trust extends its impact beyond the realms of STEM, so I am very much looking forward to working with fellow trustees and the Chief Executive as the organisation continues leading the national conversation about how best to enable talented people to return to their careers in R&D.”