About UK Stroke Forum
Story | Leadership | Coalition
The UK Stroke Forum is the UK's largest multidisciplinary conference for stroke care professionals.
About UKSF
The UK Stroke Forum is the UK's largest multidisciplinary conference for stroke care professionals.
UKSF fosters knowledge exchange, collaboration, and innovation in stroke prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. The forum features a diverse range of activities, including keynote presentations from world-leading experts, interactive workshops, and the sharing of the latest research findings and clinical advancements.
3
Days
1,800+
Stroke professionals
70+
Session to choose from
UK Stroke Forum Coalition 2026
The UK Stroke Forum is a coalition of 32 organisations committed to improving stroke care across the UK. The coalition is underwritten by the Stroke
Association and the British and Irish Association of Stroke Physicians, and its activities are shaped and directed by the UK Stroke Forum Coalition Group, which meets approximately three times a year. The following individuals currently represent their respective coalition organisations on the UK Stroke Forum Coalition Group.
UKSF Chair
Prof. Christine Roffe
Christine Roffe is a stroke physician at the Royal Stoke University Hospital and Professor of Stroke Medicine at Keele University. She is Chair of the UK Stroke Forum Conference Committee. She leads the UK National Institute for Health Research Hyperacute Stroke Research Centre Oversight Group and is vice chair of the European Stroke Organization Trials Alliance. Her key research interests are acute and hyperacute interventions for stroke and the prevention of stroke complications, such as hypoxia and pneumonia. She is the chief investigator for the Metoclopramide and for the Prevention of Pneumonia (MAPS-2) and the GEKO RCT for prevention of venous thromboembolism.
UKSF Chair Elect
Dr Lauren Hepworth
Dr Lauren Hepworth is an Orthoptic Research Fellow based at the University of Liverpool. She is Chair Elect of the UK Stroke Forum Conference Committee. She is involved with numerous studies involving visual impairment following stroke. She is a steering group member on the British and Irish Orthoptic Society Stroke and Neuro Rehab Clinical Advisory Group and a panel member for the Secretary of State for Transport’s Honorary Medical Advisory Vision Panel.
Organisational Representatives
Coalition Leadership Group
Dr Tom Balchin OBE
Dr Tom Balchin is the Founder and Director of the ARNI Stroke Rehab UK Charity & Institute (estab 2001). He has worked at Goldsmiths College, University of London, Brunel, Reading and Middlesex Universities specialising in high ability, gifted education, the creative brain and stroke rehabilitation. He is Visiting Professor at the School of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Bolton and Honorary Senior Research Fellow both
at Oxford Brookes University and the University of East Anglia.
Mr Jay Ward
No information available.
Dr Rachel Stockley
Rachel is an experienced neurological physiotherapist and an Associate Professor in Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation at the University of Central
Lancashire. She has a particular interest in improving stroke rehabilitation and leads a team to deliver a programme of work examining digital health technologies to improve recovery of the upper limb after stroke as part of her UK Research and Innovation Future Leader Fellowship. She is a mixed methods researcher and has been involved in several national and international studies of neurological rehabilitation, including studies of virtual reality, apps, and wearable technologies. She was a member of the UK stroke guidelines development group and is an executive member of the International Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Alliance.
Dr Sarah Moore
I am a physiotherapist by background, a previous NIHR/HEE Integrated Clinical Academic Clinical Lectureship holder (2016-2020) and an International Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Alliance Emerging Leader. After working for 10 years clinically, I have spent the past 13 years undertaking clinical research in stroke rehabilitation. My PhD explored the metabolic impacts of exercise after stroke and led to the development and testing of a behaviour change physical activity intervention for stroke survivors during my Clinical Lectureship https://paras-strokerehab.org. Alongside this work, I was awarded and successfully completed a Stroke Association project grant investigating auditory rhythmical cueing to improve
walking after stroke. I am currently on the European Stroke Organisation Motor Rehabilitation Guidelines Group, represent the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Neurology (ACPIN) on the UK Stroke Forum Scientific Steering Group, and am on international advisory groups for the measurement of physical activity, mobility, and balance after stroke.
Dr Louise Shaw
Dr Louise Shaw has been a consultant stroke physician in Bath for more than 20 years. She is currently President of BIASP, having previously chaired the Training and Education Committee at BIASP for several years and is passionate about high quality stroke education and training for all staff. She also has plenty of service improvement experience, as Clinical Lead for both the West of England ISDN and her local Trust.
Professor Liz Warburton
Liz is a Consultant in stroke medicine at Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge. She contributes to all aspects of in hospital stroke care and led the development of the thrombectomy service in Cambridge which serves the East of England region. She was the national lead for the NICE acute stroke (NG128) and rehabilitation (NG 236) guidelines. Liz is co-PI on 2 current stroke studies - MINOTAUR and RADIOS. Her research focuses on carotid imaging, and she has a long-standing interest in post stroke aphasia. She is the current BIASP Hon Treasurer and President Elect.
Dr Alastair Webb
Dr Alastair Webb is Chair of the Scientific Committee of BIASP and a vascular neurologist and Clinical Reader in Stroke Medicine at Imperial College London. His research focuses on cerebral small vessel disease and its associated cerebrovascular physiology, using big data, observational cohorts and clinical trials. Having originally studied under Professor Peter Rothwell, University of Oxford, his subsequent research characterised novel
physiological indices that predict the future risk of stroke, cerebral small vessel disease and cognitive impairment, leading to mechanistic clinical trials such as his recently completed phase-2 OxHARP trial of sildenafil, before moving to Imperial in 2024.
Professor David Werring
David is Professor of Clinical Neurology and Honorary Consultant Neurologist at the Stroke Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, and the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN), University College Hospitals (UCH) NHS Foundation Trust. David contributes to delivering hyperacute and acute stroke care and runs a specialist clinical service and research program in intracerebral haemorrhage
and cerebral small vessel disease. He was Chief Investigator for OPTIMAS and PROHIBIT-ICH and led the Microbleeds International Collaborative Network (MICON). David is Stroke Specialty Lead for the NIHR North Thames Clinical Research Network, Past-Chair of the UK Stroke Forum and President of the British Association of Stroke Physicians, 2024-2026.
Dr Claire Howard
Dr Claire Howard is an NIHR Advanced Clinical Academic Fellow: a consultant orthoptist in the Manchester Centre for Clinical Neurosciences based at Salford Royal hospital, part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA); honorary research fellow (University of Liverpool and University of Manchester) and a clinical research fellow in the NCA Centre for Clinical and Care Research.
She is Chair of the DVLA medical advisory panel member for vision disorders and the Greater Manchester hub co-lead for the Community for Allied Health Professions Research (CAHPR). Dr Howard’s research interests include post stroke visual impairment, driving, adaptation to visual
impairment, hemianopia, blindsight and brain injury.
Mrs Susie Williams
Susie Williams is a stroke specialist Speech and Language Therapist at Ipswich Hospital, East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust. She has over 15 years of experience working across the stroke pathway. She is a clinical-academic with a research interest in fluent aphasia. She has recently completed an NIHR Pre-Doctoral Clinical Academic Fellowship and masters in Speech, Language and Cognition at University College London.
Mr Konstantinos Eleftheriadis
I am Kostas (Konstantinos Eleftheriadis), a Stroke Lead Dietitian and Enteral Feeding Lead at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS
Trust. I represent the British Dietetic Association on the UK Stroke Forum Scientific Committee, and I am committed to advancing stroke care. I have
recently collaborated with Dr. Angela Madden at the University of Hertfordshire on research focused on the quality of life of stroke patients living in the community and receiving enteral nutrition. I am passionate about ethical considerations and quality of life in tube-feeding and aspire to become a clinical-academic dietitian, leading research to improve stroke patient care globally.
Mrs Rebecca Hosking
No information available.
Dr Cat Ford
Dr Catherine (Cat) Ford is a Consultant Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Associate Professor. She is a clinical academic and trainer at the University of East Anglia (UEA) where she is part of the UEA Stroke Research Group. Her research interests focus on ways to improve the accessibility of cognitive rehabilitation and the assessment of depression and suicidality in stroke survivors with aphasia. Alongside her work in teaching and research, she is also a practising clinician working in inpatient neurorehabilitation with CareTech UK on the Norfolk/Suffolk border. She is one of three stroke workstream representatives on the British Psychological Society Division of Neuropsychology Policy Unit and a member of the executive committee of the UK and Ireland Stroke Psychology Network.
Ms Amanda Johnson
Amanda Johnson is the Head of Professional Engagement at Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland, leading on Elearning, Health Information and Education. Amanda is a registered general nurse by background with over 20 years of experience working in stroke care having previously worked in acute stroke and rehab units, as a stroke specialist nurse and as a lead stroke nurse in the community, and most recently as a national thrombectomy educator and co-creator and lead of Link up and Learn. Amanda is keen to ensure that No Life is Half Lived across all our conditions by ensuring our eLearning, Health Information and Education meets the needs of Healthcare professionals and service users.
Cat Thomson
Cat Thomson is Head of External Engagement Peer and Participation. Cat joined Chest Heart Stroke Scotland in January 2024 as Partnership and Relationship Manager before stepping into the Head of position. Cat has worked in the Third Sector since 2004, first in Additional Support Needs and education sector and then in children's health. The voice of lived experience is a passion and Cat works to ensure it is a thread that runs through all our work at Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland.
Mr Joseph Dent
Joe has been an ardent supporter for better pre-hospital stroke assessment and care for over 15 years. Delivering paramedic pre-registration education in a number of universities in the North of England.
With the aid of Boehringer Ingelheim, he developed the only free-to-use online pre-hospital stroke education package in the country.
He is currently an Advanced Clinical Practitioner for stroke at the largest CSC in the country.
He has represented the college at the UK Stroke Forum for the past 9 years, trying to maintain a pre-hospital element within the conference.
Mr Austin Willett
Austin is CEO of Different Strokes, a national charity which supports working age stroke survivors.
Approximately 30,000 people of working age or younger have a stroke every year, and Different Strokes helps people to reclaim their lives whilst also raising awareness of younger stroke. Austin has spent 30 years working in the community sector in a variety of roles; his previous positions include managing charity shops, managing a furniture reuse project, and as CEO of a counselling organisation. He also spent two years with Voluntary Service Overseas, as an advisor to regional government in Vanuatu.
Austin has also managed a Headway group, and he joined Different Strokes in January 2018. Under Austin’s leadership, the charity has supported increasing numbers of stroke survivors, doubled the size of its staff team, introduced a range of new services, and enhanced its public profile to
make many more people aware that stroke affects people of all ages.
Professor Ganesh Subramanian
Professor Ganesh Subramanian is consultant stroke physician at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and NHS England’s regional
clinical director for stroke (East Midlands).
Professor Subramanian completed his training in general medicine, geriatrics and stroke medicine and worked as a consultant in Central Manchester University Hospitals from 2002 before moving to Nottingham in 2010. His previous work with the RCP includes roles as a regional adviser, PACES host, exam question writer, exam board member and as a member of the RCP’s investment advisory panel.
He has also served in several educational roles, such as a general internal medicine advisory panel member at the RCP, training programme director for internal medicine and associate postgraduate dean.
Professor Gillian Mead
Gillian Mead is Professor of Stroke and Elderly Care Medicine at University of Edinburgh. Her research and clinical practice focuses on the long-term problems after stroke including fatigue, mood disorders and physical deconditioning. She has a long-standing interest in the benefits of exercise training for stroke recovery.
She co-authored the first Cochrane review of fitness training for stroke, co-led the development of a course for training exercise professionals to deliver fitness training to stroke survivors and co-edited the first-ever book dedicated to fitness training after stroke. She was awarded the World Stroke Organisation Barbro J Johannson award for stroke recovery in 2023. She is a former president of BIASP (2022 to 2023), Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In 2025 she qualified as a Summer Mountain Leader from Mountain Training UK.
She is now developing research into the long term needs of stroke survivors in Nepal.
Professor Dawn Skelton
Professor Dawn Skelton is an exercise physiologist and Professor of Ageing and Health and Glasgow Caledonian University. Her research focusses on support to help motivation and uptake of exercise programmes in those often excluded. She ensures evidence based exercise programmes are delivered with fidelity in practice through her not for profit company, Later Life Training (LLT). For 23 years, LLT has trained over 5500 health and exercise professionals in programmes of exercise proven to reduce falls, maintain independence and allow people with comorbidities or frailty to receive expert advice and individualised exercise prescriptions and behaviour change support to foster adherence and live their best lives.
Ms Joanna Stevens
Jo Stevens is the Chair of the National Stroke Nursing Forum (NSNF), leading national work to strengthen excellence, leadership, and innovation within
stroke nursing. As a Community Stroke Specialist Nurse and CSNRT Team Lead, Jo champions high‑quality, person‑centred rehabilitation across the stroke pathway. She has specialist expertise in continence promotion, supported self‑management, and addressing sex and intimacy after stroke -areas central to improving long‑term quality of life. Jo works collaboratively with multidisciplinary partners to influence strategic priorities, enhance professional development, and ensure that stroke nurses are empowered and recognised for the vital role they play in improving outcomes for stroke survivors.
Professor Chris Price
Chris Price is Professor in Stroke and Applied Health Research at the Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, and an honorary NHS Stroke Physician. As well as being NIHR National Specialty Lead for Stroke, he is experienced as a UK Lead Investigator for academically-led international trials and a member and chair of independent steering committees for various UK stroke studies.
Mrs Noelene Hughes
With 30 years’ experience working with stroke survivors, Noelene began her career with Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS) as a Care Services Coordinator, delivering a range of stroke services that supported both patients and their families. She subsequently advanced to a Project Lead role in 2016, then to Area Service Manager in 2018, and in 2019 she was appointed to the role of Head of Service. Noelene has extensive experience in stroke rehabilitation, patient advocacy and family support. She is an inclusive leader, focused on improving patient outcomes and quality of care.
Dr Niamh Kennedy
No information available at this time.
Dr Katie Gallacher
Dr Katie Gallacher is a Senior Clinical Lecturer in the School of Health and Wellbeing at the University of Glasgow, UK. She works as a General Practitioner in Glasgow. Her research interests include examining, measuring and lessening the burden of treatment in people living with long-term conditions, with a particular interest in stroke survivors and people living with multimorbidity. She is interested in improving the patient experience of healthcare.
Dr Eugene Tang
Dr Tang is a GP and NIHR Advanced Fellow at Newcastle University who is a co-representative for the Royal College of General Practitioners. He is a
clinical academic whose research interests are around life after stroke in the community. He is particularly interested in the detection of post-stroke
cognitive deficits and finding ways to reduce the impact of these cognitive difficulties on stroke patients and their family members. He is also keen to work with community partners and organisations to improve care pathways with the aim of reducing health inequalities experienced by stroke patients.
Dr Lesley Scobbie
Lesley qualified as an occupational therapist in 1989. Her clinical work focuses on hospital and community-based stroke rehabilitation. She completed an MSc in Psychology and Health in 2001 and in 2005 began her academic career in the Alliance for Self-Care Research where she began work on a programme of research to develop and evaluate a goal-setting and action-planning (G-AP) framework. This led to the successful completion of a doctoral training fellowship from the Chief Scientist Office and a post-doctoral Stroke Association-funded Clinical Lectureship hosted within Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU). Lesley currently has a stroke AHP clinical academic role within NHS Lanarkshire and a research fellow role within GCU.
Professor Ganesh Subramanian
Professor Ganesh Subramanian has been a stroke consultant for over 23 years. He led the development of mechanical thrombectomy in East Midlands till 2023, and was successful in leading a circa £14m bid to expand MT to 24/7. He was the Chair of Clinical Advisory Group in Stroke in East Midlands from 2016 – 2020; he took on the role of Regional Clinical Director for Stroke in East Midlands in 2020. He has overseen the deployment of AI for stroke and also CTP capabilities in all the Trusts in East Midlands. He is the immediate past BIASP Honorary Secretary (Hon Deputy Secretary from 2018 – 21 and Hon Secretary from 2021 – 2024). His interests include medical education, neuroradiology and post-stroke spasticity.
Dr Suzanne Beeke
Dr Suzanne Beeke is Associate Professor at UCL, and Fellow of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. Suzanne qualified as a speech and language therapist over 30 years ago. Her research focuses on the impact of language, communication and cognitive disorders on the everyday conversations of adults with stroke-related aphasia and other acquired neurological conditions talking to family and friends. She leads the Better Conversations Lab, using conversation analysis to understand communication difficulties and needs in adults and children, and develop co-produced speech and language therapy interventions, and communication skills training for healthcare professionals.
Ms Jenny Clarke MBE
Jenny Clarke MBE is CEO of SameYou, a charity working with partners around the world to introduce innovative brain injury recovery treatments. Jenny co-founded the charity with her daughter, actor and activist Emilia Clarke, who survived two life-threatening brain haemorrhages while working on Game of Thrones.
SameYou operates with a small team and works with large healthcare institutions, health care professionals and universities to pilot ground-breaking therapies and lead vital research into brain injury.
Ms Victoria Birch
Victoria Birch is the Communications Manager for SameYou. Victoria has a background in journalism and moved into health PR three years ago.
Professor Lisa Kidd
Professor Lisa Kidd is a nurse by background and has been a member of UK Stroke Forum Steering and Conference planning committees since 2017. Lisa represents the Scottish Stroke Nurses Forum and, more recently, the Scottish Government’s National Advisory Committee for Stroke. Lisa is a Professor of Nursing in the School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University and leads a programme of research on life after stroke, particularly in the area of supported self-management and its implementation in practice and is a strong advocate for the involvement of people with lived experience in stroke research and related activities.
Mrs Gillian Capriotti
For the past 5 years, I have been the AHP stroke consultant in NHS GGC, leading on strategic developments in stroke rehabilitation within the health board and contributing to many national working groups for stroke. I am a speech and language therapist by background and have worked for over 25 years in the field of stroke rehabilitation with both community and hospital settings. I have been the chair of the SSAHPF since the end of 2022 and have represented the forum at the USKF as both a coalition member and conference planning member for several
years.
Professor Jacqui Morris
Dr Jacqui Morris is Professor in Rehabilitation and Health at the University of Dundee. A physiotherapist by professional background, her research interests are focused on developing and testing complex rehabilitation interventions that promote recovery in stroke, and in use of behaviour change strategies to support people living in the community to achieve their long-term recovery, rehabilitation and physical activity goals. She is particularly interested in working with people to understand the challenges they face and in co-designing interventions with them to meet their needs. She has led and been involved in more than 25 studies addressing rehabilitation issues and her research has had extensive international impact.
Professor Lisa Kidd
Professor Lisa Kidd is a nurse by background and has been a member of UK Stroke Forum Steering and Conference planning committees since 2017. Lisa represents the Scottish Stroke Nurses Forum and, more recently, the Scottish Government’s National Advisory Committee for Stroke. Lisa is a Professor of Nursing in the School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University and leads a programme of research on life after stroke, particularly in the area of supported self-management and its implementation in practice and is a strong advocate for the involvement of people with lived experience in stroke research and related activities.
Ms Louise Clark here.
No information available.
Professor Frederike Van Wijck
No information available at this time.
Ms Juliet Bouverie OBE
Juliet has been Chief Executive of the Stroke Association since June 2016. The Stroke Association is the only charity in the UK offering lifelong support for all stroke survivors and their families. Juliet co-chairs NHS England’s Stroke Delivery Programme Board and is a member of the NHS Assembly. She is a World Stroke Organisation Board member and Fellow. She is also Chair of the Richmond Group of Charities which exists to influence policy and systems change for people with multiple long-term conditions. Juliet has a degree in Modern Languages from Oxford and a postgraduate diploma in management. She ran the London Marathon for the Stroke Association in April 2019.
Dr Maëva May
Dr. Maëva May is a senior policy expert dedicated to enhancing patient care through research and health system collaboration. Since September 2023, she has served as the Associate Director of Systems Engagement at the Stroke Association, overseeing research funding, policy, and partnerships to improve stroke care. Previously, she was Head of Policy at the British Heart Foundation, working on research, prevention, and health policy. In the U.S., Maëva held strategic roles at the National Institutes of Health, including a focus on advancing women’s health research. As an AMS FLIER alumna, Maëva is passionate about improving health through cross-sector collaboration.
Mrs Claire McIvor
Claire McIvor has been working as the Head of Health Systems Insight and Engagement at the Stroke Association since June 2025. She is a public health professional with a background in physiotherapy and health systems research, specialising in translating evidence into policy and practice. Claire has experience working across the NHS, academia, and international health partnerships, including roles with NHS England, the World Health Organization, and the Born in Bradford research programme. Her work focuses on health equity, strengthening health systems, and fostering collaboration to improve outcomes. She brings strong expertise in research synthesis, stakeholder engagement, and programme delivery across complex health and policy environments.
Ms Niki Turner
Niki is a neuro physiotherapist specialising in stroke, passionate about high-quality stroke care and rehabilitation. She has a Master’s degree in Neurorehabilitation from Cardiff University. Her particular interests are in hyperacute stroke management and early rehabilitation. Niki has published her work on physiotherapists’ experiences of early mobilisation after thrombolysis and the development of a HASU-ready nursing workforce on an acute stroke unit. Niki was appointed in October 2021 as the first National AHP Lead for Stroke in Wales and is the Stroke Service Manager at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.
Ms Colette Miller
Colette Miller, a Senior Research Fellow based in the Stroke Research Team at the University of Central Lancashire, is developing programmatic research around hydration care in acute stroke, the focus of her doctoral study. Since 2013, Colette has been involved in stroke-specific workforce transformation initiatives informed by the Stroke-Specific Education Framework and its online toolkit. These initiatives have included exploring the stroke-specific content of undergraduate healthcare professional education, the development of the NHS “Fundamentals of Acute Care and Treatment after Stroke (FACTS)” online educational resource, and most recently, supporting the workforce implementation workstream of the NHS Long Term Plan.
No information available at this time.
The UK Stroke Forum is a professional stroke conference for people involved in stroke research, policy making and clinical practice. Embedding the views and voices of people with lived experience in the programme content is fundamental to the UK Stroke Forum Coalition and Planning Groups. Members with lived experience of stroke sit on and contribute to our Conference Planning group discussions, working closely with the Chair and other Coalition partners to ensure that the conference addresses priorities of most importance and relevance to people with lived experience.
Heidi Berry
I have lived experience from nearly 10 years ago when I had a haemorrhage stroke. After a coil to repair the big bleed, five days later I got worse and
needed a craniotomy. Big recovery — I couldn’t move and couldn’t speak. Long-term aphasia, apraxia, eyes hemianopia, stroke central post‑pain, trouble reading and writing, and because of my experience I find being a member very interesting and hopefully I can help other stroke survivors.
David Jones
My name is David Jones. My stroke occurred in 1993 when I was a mere 38 years of age, living and working in The Netherlands. I am now back in the UK and happily retired. My interests are: music (I play piano and double bass, but no longer trumpet due to my dysarthria), mathematics (a life-long passion) and, walking, climbing and skiing in the great outdoors. I have volunteered at the Stroke Association for over ten years now, during which time there has been a marked change in the appreciation of ‘Lived Experience Volunteers’. We are valued far more now than we were then. I am very proud to have played a very small part in that transition.
Emily Toplis
Emily suffered a stroke in 2013 at the age of 48 her balance and mobility are still affected meaning she walks with a stick, she also has no functional use of her left arm or hand, despite this she has returned to work and is now employed full time by her local Community Stroke Team as a lived experience peer support worker. She was a patient voice representative on the guideline development group that produced the 2016 update of the for the National Clinical Guidelines for stroke and has attended several UKSF events as a delegate, poster presenter and presented remotely at the 2025 event, sharing her experience of returning to work. She is passionate about helping those affected by stroke to live meaningful and enjoyable lives and thrive after their stroke.
Liz Topliss
No information available.
Marney Williams
Marney Williams has lived experience of stroke and aphasia. She has a keen interest in research and founded and funds the prize for Excellence in Public Involvement in Research prize given annually at UKSF. She is currently involved with several research studies around the UK, and co-founded and helps run a Public Involvement group at Charing Cross Hospital, London. Marney has also helped to develop the current easy read patient and carer version of the Clinical Guidelines for Stroke with the SSNAP team.
Neelam Kaur
In my role on the UKSF Coalition as the UKSF Lived Experience Liaison Officer, I support and champion our lived experience experts, individuals with personal experience of stroke, throughout the planning and development of the conference. I ensure their voices shape the event, from programme design to venue accessibility and overall attendee experience.
Dr Lisa Everton
I'm a Clinical Specialist Speech and Language Therapist working at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and Honorary Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham. I have many years' experience working with stroke survivors primarily in the hospital setting. I have a special interest in
swallowing difficulties following stroke, having completed a PhD in this area. I represent the UK Swallow Research Group.
Dr Jacqueline Benfield
I represent the UK Swallow Research Group. I’m the Speech and Language Therapy Lead for Inpatient Stroke in Derby and an Honorary Assistant Professor at the University of Nottingham. I conduct research into the assessment and rehabilitation of post-stroke swallowing difficulties. My current research is exploring dosing and feasibility of swallow strength and skill training with biofeedback in acute stroke.
Dr Peter Slade
I am a consultant stroke physician in Morriston Hospital, Swansea and the education and training lead for the Welsh Association of Stroke Physicians. I am also part of the organising committee for the annual Welsh Stroke Conference and have been PI for a number of multicentre clinical stroke trials.
Ms Holly Brislen
My name is Holly Brislen and I am the current chair of the Welsh Stroke Nurse Forum. My clinical role is within the Stroke Prevention Team at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in North Wales. At its core, the service provides support in regards to Primary and Secondary Stroke Prevention and education for healthcare professionals, patients, and families with an emphasis placed on the needs of the local community. I am currently an MRes (Stroke) Student at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
Planning group
Leadership
UKSF Chair - Professor Christine Roffe
2027/2028 Incoming Chair - Dr Lauren Hepworth
The UK Stroke Forum 2026 Planning Group comprises coalition members and subject matter experts from across the stroke pathway, working collaboratively to develop an inspiring and impactful conference programme. Their insight, passion and dedication are instrumental in ensuring the continued success and growth of the UK's leading multidisciplinary stroke conference.
UK Stroke Forum is hosted by
The UKSF Coalition Member Organisations
Rachel Stockley
Rachel is an experienced neurological physiotherapist and an Associate Professor in Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation at the University of Central Lancashire. She has a particular interest in improving stroke rehabilitation and leads a team to deliver a programme of work examining digital health technologies to improve recovery of the upper limb after stroke as part of her UK Research and Innovation Future Leader Fellowship. She is a mixed methods researcher and has been involved in several national and international studies of neurological rehabilitation, including studies of virtual reality, apps, and wearable technologies. She was a member of the UK stroke guidelines development group and is an executive member of the International Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Alliance.
Dr Sarah Moore
I am a physiotherapist by background, a previous NIHR/HEE Integrated Clinical Academic Clinical Lectureship holder (2016-2020) and an International Stroke Recovery and Rehabilitation Alliance Emerging Leader. After working for 10 years clinically, I have spent the past 13 years undertaking clinical research in stroke rehabilitation. My PhD explored the metabolic impacts of exercise after stroke and led to the development and testing of a behavior change physical activity intervention for stroke survivors during my Clinical Lectureship. Alongside this work, I was awarded and successfully completed a Stroke Association project grant investigating auditory rhythmical cueing to improve walking after stroke. I am currently on the European Stroke Organisation Motor Rehabilitation Guidelines Group, represent the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Neurology (ACPIN) on the UK Stroke Forum Scientific Steering Group, and am on international advisory groups for the measurement of physical activity, mobility, and balance after stroke.
Association of Chartered Physiotherapists Interested in Neurology
