We have a board of Trustees who are also directors of Beat (formerly the Eating Disorder Association), a company limited by guarantee. They’re responsible for the overall direction, policies and strategy of Beat. Most of them have personal experience of eating disorders, as parents, family members or sufferers themselves. Find out more below.
Chris Martin is a consultant working in AI and technology adoption for non-profits. He is the former CEO of The Mix, a multi-issue advice service for young people, that he merged with Mental Health Innovations in 2024 to create the UK’s largest early intervention service online for mental health. He is passionate about technology for social good and sits on a variety of advisory panels related to youth, mental health and digital as well as various government APPGs. Chris is an advisor to Brook Young People and also serves on the Boards of The Mental Health Foundation and his local youth club, Harrow Club W10.
Valerie has been a trustee and treasurer of Beat since 2012. She has extensive experience of the charity sector, with a particular focus on health and mental health. She is currently a trustee, and chairs the finance committee, of the Royal Free Charity and the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine. She previously worked in corporate finance and early stage venture capital. She has a Masters in Charity Finance and Accounting and a Diploma in Charity Accounting. Valerie has personal experience of living with a eating disorder.
Emily joined Beat in early 2017 as a Beat Ambassador. At the time she was completing an MSc by Research, investigating a digital treatment for those affected by binge eating difficulties. Emily then began working as a Research Officer and as a Senior Helpline Advisor for Beat, and in 2018 began working as Beat’s Clinical Advice Co-ordinator, which later became Clinical Advisor. She left Beat in 2020 to begin her training on the clinical doctorate programme.
Selma is a Clinical Director for NHS Sussex with a special interest in children’s and young people’s mental health. She has worked as a GP for 24 years and works with asylum seekers. She has been vice chair of governors at a local school and was recently awarded the Nye Bevan certificate in Executive leadership from the NHS leadership academy. Selma has personal experience of caring for a young person who has been very unwell. Selma graduated from Manchester Medical School in 1996 and became a member of the Royal College of GPs in 2001. She joined the board as a trustee in 2023.
Robin has experience in both the corporate world and the charity sectors, and was Interim CEO for Beat in 2024-25. He has wide-ranging experience as an advisor on business transition issues, including growth and funding questions, business planning and crisis management. Robin worked in the City of London for 30+ years, holding business leadership roles in the UK’s public relations sector before founding his own consultancy. He has also acted as a non-executive director and charity trustee. Robin is deeply committed to the work of Beat from his personal experience of caring for a daughter fighting anorexia.
Angela is the CEO of the Medical Research Foundation which supports vital research in underfunded areas, giving hope to people with overlooked health conditions. She is passionate about the need for more research to understand better the causes of eating disorders, to improve treatment options and develop preventative measures. Angela has over 30 years’ experience of research, people and organisational management. She is an experienced trustee supporting a global health research charity and, formerly supporting an African charity that is developing the next generation of health researchers.
Danielle Glennon (Twitchell) is a consultant psychotherapist and nurse. She started work at Maudsley in 2005 and was clinical lead at Maudsley NHS Trust until 2022, went on to launch Maudsley private care as managing director till 2024, and works privately. She is co-founder and Head of FREED, the first evidenced based model for early intervention for eating disorders and supported the development of the PEACE Pathway (Autism and Eating Disorders). She is also deputy curriculum lead of national NHS-E whole team training for eating disorders.
Malika has spent the past decade working in digital health and medtech, with a particular focus on digital mental health. She currently provides strategic consultancy to support the inclusive development and broad adoption of health technology products. With a background as a clinician in the NHS, Malika has extensive experience in conducting clinical trials. She has also worked closely with teams in the NHS and the charity sector to enhance service inclusivity by reducing access barriers, integrating lived experience advisors into organisations, and tailoring services to diverse cultural, neurodivergent, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Based in Scotland, Malika is well-connected within the mental health and technologies sectors. She has demonstrated a strong commitment to Beat’s mission and has expressed interest in joining the Board, as well as contributing to the Services Sub-committee.
Our Executive team is responsible for the day-to-day running of the charity, which operates throughout the UK with around 100 staff. The team is led by the CEO, with four other executive directors, responsible for finance and operations, external affairs, services and fundraising. Read more about them below.
Vanessa has extensive leadership experience in mental health and youth sectors; most recently as Chief Executive of early intervention charity Chance UK, and previously in senior roles at YoungMinds, where as Director of Development and interim Co-CEO she led significant income growth and transformation to address the youth mental health crisis. She is passionate about centreing those with lived experience in all Beat's work.
Sandie is the Director of Services at Beat. She has worked in the third sector for 30 years delivering, developing and leading a range of support services to vulnerable adults and young people across the UK. Sandie brings a passion for equity and inclusion and leads on all of our front facing services.
Justine is a strategic fundraising leader with a passion for doing good, developing teams, and empowering them to thrive. She leads our Income generation function, and brings a wealth of experience in developing and executing successful fundraising strategies and fostering meaningful relationships.
Tom leads on Beat’s policy and campaigns, marketing and communications and our work in the devolved nations. He has significant leadership experience in communications and public affairs, the majority in the charity sector.
Claire is a Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA) and has worked in charity leadership for 12 years in both regional and national organisations. Claire has a professional accountancy qualification and strong skills in all areas of finance as well as a wealth of experience in HR, IT, compliance and legal issues. In her role, she takes the strategic lead on finance, human resources, facilities, IT, Legal and Governance.
If you have any comments or concerns about how the charity is run, please forward them to the Trustees via email.