ECHO - Connecting the Children's Heart Community

Introducing our patrons, trustees and staff

Our people

Our people are committed to the ECHO community. Everything we do is focused on ensuring that heart children and their families get the best possible support.

Our patrons include highly respected cardiologists, experts in their field at a global level. We are also fortunate to include Ulrika Jonsson, herself the mother of a heart child, as a celebrity patron along with Phil Gallagher, a well-known entertainer on children’s television.

Our staff and trustees have a broad range of professional skills and expertise spanning medical, psychology, finance, social care, charity sector, the NHS, business, marketing and personal CHD. They come from diverse backgrounds but share a deep commitment to helping people touched by congenital heart disease.


Staff

Samantha Johnson

Chief Executive


Sam enjoys family, theatre and film! She sings loudly in her car, loves anything vintage and enjoys laughing at her own jokes.

Cecilia Yardley

Operations & Development Lead


Cecilia has a background in Applied Positive Psychology and a thirty-year career in the not-for-profit sector. In her spare time, she enjoys trying new recipes and meeting friends for coffee and cake.

07742800636
(9:30am-5:30pm Mon-Fri)

Rebecca Holt

Fundraising Lead


Rebecca is our fundraising head honcho and avid traveller!

07742800635
(9:30am – 5:30pm Mon-Fri)

Emma Orpin

Families & Community Lead


Emma is a fun, energetic whirlwind who loves to shop, eat, dance and drink diet coke. Her claim to fame is she can do the “worm”!

07715 208 077
(9am-3pm Mon-Thurs)

Kate Smith

Income & Trust Coordinator


Kate loves working for a charity, it’s all she has ever done! Took a “break” to have two children and now she is back and feeling great.

07715027259
(8am-4pm Mon, Tues, Wed) 

Vashti Macdonald-Clink

Impact & Network Coordinator


Vashti is a keen runner and foodie. When she is not pounding the streets, you’ll find her in the kitchen refuelling the tank. She has an ever growing collection of animals – alongside her three children…Pongo the Dalmatian is the best behaved!

07938500122
(9am-1pm Mon-Fri) 

Andrew Edherue

Youth Worker


Andrew loves playing sports, especially football and tennis. He also enjoys watching films and socialising with his friends and family.

07525833210
(9am-5pm Mon-Fri) 

Marie Taylor

Family & Volunteer Coordinator


Marie loves to eat good food, drink coffee, and consume cake whenever possible! She loves spending time with her family.

07517 860989
(9am-5pm Mon-Fri)

Yasmin Badesha

Communications Coordinator


Yasmin is a keen traveller, self-taught DJ and bookworm!

07742800851
(9am-5pm Mon, Wed)

Patrons

Dr Owen I Miller FRACP FCSANZ FRCPCH

Patron


Professor Shakeel A Qureshi MB ChB FRCP

Patron


Ulrika Jonsson

Patron


Phil Gallagher (Mister Maker)

Patron


Ambassadors

Charlotte

ECHO Ambassador


Singer-songwriter Charlotte Jane was inspired to join as an ECHO Ambassador after her nephew Archie was diagnosed with congenital heart disease, and their family was supported by ECHO. Her beautiful song, “All My Life”, was written about Archie and his heart journey. We are honoured to welcome Charlotte as an ECHO Ambassador, and excited to work together to raise vital awareness of congenital heart disease and continue ECHO’s mission to support families just like Charlotte’s.

Trustees

Steve Wood

Trustee & Chair


When not on the golf course, Steve works in finance and spends his days delivering solutions to business and technology problems. A dad to 2 wonderful boys, he enjoys cooking, listening to music, and is not to be trusted with the answer to quiz questions.

Jane Ward

Trustee & Heart Mum


Jane attempts to make sense of very large numbers in her job as an accountant, and otherwise trying to keep track of her 4 children, husband, and cat.

Alex Bicknell

Trustee & Heart Patient


Passionate about disruptive technology and all things entrepreneurial, Alex loves mentoring, playing tennis and tries to go on holiday to warmer climates as much as possible!

Joanna Eyeson

Trustee & Doctor


When not spending a disproportionate amount of time “planning” to exercise, Joanna can be found fiddling on a computer, reading a good book or catching up on sleep!

James Pincus

Trustee


When not working and travelling, James enjoys trying to keep up with his 3 boys, all sports and a mug of tea with plenty of biscuits.

Marc Harry

Trustee


At work, Marc leads teams supporting large Government programmes and in his spare time he loves to spent time with his 3 boys on, in or under the water!

Sally Williams

Honorary Secretary


Sally’s greatest passion is motorcycling and travelling – usually combined, closely followed by her garden, walking and her family and friends.

Saloni

Strategic, Impact and Relationships Board Advisor


Saloni steers ECHO’s impact within the community and among healthcare professionals, while advising the CEO and Board. With an extensive background in technology, security, and risk transformation in financial services, she is a great asset in helping to strength ECHO’s strategic goals.

Saloni’s personal connection with the Royal Brompton Hospital part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust, where her family received treatment from the children’s heart service, ensures that the voice of the service user is heard across our charity.

Strongly committed to mentoring, diversity, equity and inclusion, Saloni’s involvement with ECHO ensures we deliver inclusive and impactful services for everyone.