Committee Members

Rhiannon is a Partner at Bolt Burdon Kemp law firm. Her practice involves dealing exclusively with those with SCI and investigating and pursuing legal claims. She is co-author of a chapter on spinal claims for a legal textbook. Her interest in SCI goes beyond her legal role and she is extremely passionate about developing resources and educating the spinal cord community and those that support them. She has run many webinars on areas of SCI that are not commonly talked about to raise awareness, including sex, relationships, growing with SCI and the impact of SCI on veterans. She has links with several SCI charities, including the Spinal Injuries Association and Horatio’s Garden. She regularly volunteers at the garden in Stanmore. Rhiannon is motivated to make a difference to the spinal injury community and to work with like-minded professionals who are committed to furthering SCI care.

Carolyn Taylor has been working at the Spinal Injuries Centre in Sheffield as their Dietitian for 27 years. This has given her a wealth of knowledge of the nutritional aspects for those living with a spinal cord injury. During this time she has worked on a number of projects, including the MASCIP guidelines for neurogenic bowels and their weight management guidelines. She has a strong interest in research and is currently undertaking a research project to look at designing a weight management service for the patients of the Sheffield spinal centre.

Firas Sarhan is Clinical Education Transformation Lead working at the National Spinal Injury Centre with NHS England developing educational curriculum on spinal cord injury management and rehabilitation. Previously he was the Director and lead academic for the Centre of Excellence for Telehealth and Assisted Living at Barnet Southgate College. Firas was also principal and Senior Lecturer in the School Advanced & Continuing Practice at Buckinghamshire New University. He has more than 30 years experience in acute rehabilitation and continuing care of people with physical disabilities. Firas has a wide range of experience in applying smart technology in supporting patients with long-term conditions, he was able to establish a living lab to examine and evaluate the impact of technology on health and wellbeing of individuals with long term conditions. He is keen on research and data regarding the needs of individuals with long-term disability, i.e. spinal cord injury and cauda equina syndrome. Firas established two educational apps to support professionals, patients, and relatives re spinal cord injury management. Firas also works as a volunteer as a project manager for a UK-based charity ABCD Children of Bethlehem which supports Palestinian children with physical disability in the refugee camps in Palestine.  

Benita is Clinical Specialist and Lead Physiotherapist at the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre, Stanmore and Honorary Clinical Teaching Fellow at University College, London. Her appointments reflect her passion for treating those with spinal cord injury and developing the staff and services which provide for them.

Éimear is Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine at the National Rehabilitation & Mater Misericordiae University Hospitals, Dublin since 2009. Sub-specialist clinical interests include paediatric SCI, ventilatory management in SCI, restoration of upper limb function in tetraplegia and the long-term medical complications of SCI. Current research interests include epidemiology of and outcomes following traumatic and non-traumatic SCI, and patient and public involvement in SCI research.

Jenny is a Clinical and Health Psychologist who has worked with people with spinal cord injury in the Welsh Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centre in Cardiff since 1995. She has also held various specialist roles on the South Wales Doctorate of Clinical Psychology, Cardiff University since 1997. She has recently retired from the NHS but retains an active interest in the field of spinal cord injury, research and professional practice.

Claire has been qualified as a physiotherapist for over 30 years and has worked at the Princess Royal Spinal Injuries Centre, Sheffield for nearly 30 years.

Kirsty qualified as a physio in 2002 and developed her special interest for SCI rehabilitation during her rotational years at the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre. She has maintained and further developed her specialism whilst working in neurorehabilitation, for the military, at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre and in humanitarian, charitable and development aid settings. She currently works as a SCI specialist physiotherapist for Hobbs Rehabilitation.

Emma’s first placement as a student OT was in the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre. Throughout her early career she returned to the Centre through various rotations and then consistently since 2000. She is now the Clinical Specialist Occupational Therapist and Team Lead for the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre with special interests in seated postural management and tetraplegic upper limb management.

Carol qualified as an SEN in 1987 and later converted to RGN. She worked for 28 years at the North West Regional Spinal Injuries Centre, Southport in a number of different roles including Staff Nurse, Rehabilitation Nurse Practitioner, Senior Case Manager and SCI Specialist Outreach Nurse. She is currently working as a SCI Specialist Nurse at the Spinal Injuries Association.

As Head of Public Affairs Dan is a member of SIA’s Senior Management team and leads on the association’s campaigning work. As well as representing the SCI people at all levels of government, his role also requires him to be secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Group on SCI.

Hester is a registered nurse and has worked at the National Spinal Injuries Centre for over 30 years. She’s worked in various areas of the centre, including rehabilitation wards, outpatients and community liaison, and over the last five years as the tissue viability clinical nurse specialist.

Claire has been qualified since 1984 and has worked in neurorehabilitation throughout most of her career. She has worked clinically and managerially at Stoke Mandeville Hospital with spinal cord injury, and has also spent time in a community setting, and 10 years in specialised brain injury and other neurological conditions. She is currently Principal Physiotherapist in Spinal Injuries based at the Welsh Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centre in Cardiff, but linking with acute and community services throughout South Wales. The Centre was relocated to the University Hospital Llandough in June 2021. She is enthusiastic about accessible outdoor sport.

Kim has worked with individuals with SCIs since 2008. She is based at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury. She is passionate about her role as a physiotherapist and in training and education for staff and SCI individuals.

Jane is a specialist nurse who, until November 2021, worked in the National Spinal Injuries Centre (NSIC) for over 30 years and is known for her passion in neurogenic bowel management. She has recently left her NHS role to focus on her private business, JPEL Training, which focuses on providing training and advice to individuals with SCI/CES and other neurological conditions, their families and community teams.

Emma qualified as an occupational therapiest in 1997 and gained extensive experience working within the NHS, including at the London Spinal Cord Injury Centre. In 2007, she commenced working in independent practice as a case manager and care and rehabilitation expert for individuals who have sustained a spinal cord injury. In 2016, Emma founded Emma Way Associates, employing, managing and supervising other specialist clinicians to provide expert witness and case management services to this amazing client group.