As a charity, we are governed by our Board of Trustees who may appoint boards and committees and delegate such powers to them as it may think fit.
Our boards and committees are formed through elected representative members, who contribute to guiding and driving our strategies and activities. Find out more about them below and meet Trustees and Leadership Team, and view current vacancies and elections.
The Board of Trustees consists of up to 18 members. Nine Trustees are elected by the membership and up to nine are appointed by the Board itself, which includes the Honorary Treasurer and those who serve as the Chairs of the Boards. The normal term of office is four years.
The Board of Trustees is chaired by our President who serves two years as President-Elect, two years as President. Our members can contact the Governance team if they wish to view Board minutes.
The President, President-Elect and Honorary Treasurer are the Honorary Officers of the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Professor Gill Reid FRSC FRSE
President 2022-2024
Gill Reid is Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Southampton and was Head of School between 2016 and 2020.
Born and raised in Grangemouth, Scotland, Gill obtained both her BSc and PhD at the University of Edinburgh, before being appointed to a lectureship in Chemistry at Southampton in 1991.
Her research focuses on synthetic coordination and organometallic chemistry and their use in chemical vapour deposition and electrodeposition for the controlled growth of functional semiconducting thin film and nanostructured materials. These have important applications, such as solid-state memory, thermoelectric energy harvesting and battery materials. She also works on the development of metal-chelate binders for fluorine-18 towards positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and is the author of over 350 research papers.
She previously served as an RSC Trustee (2011-15) and chaired the Outreach Working Group until 2018.
Dr Annette Doherty OBE FRSC
President Elect, 2022-2024
Currently Senior Vice President, Global Head of Product Development and Clinical Supply, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
Annette has 35 years of international experience working within the pharmaceutical sector, including at Warner Lambert/Parke Davis (1987-2000), Pfizer (2000-2012) and most recently GSK (2012-present). She has held a variety of scientific leadership positions across Discovery Research and Chemistry, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) Development, most recently at GSK where she has been Senior Vice President of Product Development and Supply. She has been directly involved in the development and launch of over 30 new medicines in multiple therapeutic areas including respiratory, infectious diseases, oncology and immunology.
She has BSc in Chemistry (1982) and PhD in Organic Synthesis (1985) from Imperial College of Science and Technology, London and did postdoctoral research under a NATO fellowship at Ohio State University (1985-1987). In 2007 she received an honorary degree of Doctorate of Science from the University of Greenwich for her scientific leadership in research and contributions to education and industry/academic partnerships. Annette chaired the Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) R&D group from 2005-2009, served on the ABPI Board and was a Board member of the Medical Research Council (2008-2012) and Trustee of the Royal Society of Chemistry council (2011-2015 and 2020-present). She has served on the Board of charities such as MRCT (now LifeArc, 2012-2019) and on the Medicines Manufacturing Industry Partnership (2017-2019). She has been a Non-Executive Director of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust since 2017. She has been a member of Scientific Advisory group for the Biomedical Institute at the University of Cambridge since 2019. She has authored more than 100 peer reviewed scientific publications and reviews and is a co-inventor on more than 30 patents.
In 2009, Annette was awarded an OBE in recognition of her services to the pharmaceutical sector.
Claire Gallery-Strong CSci CChem FRSC
Honorary Treasurer, retires 2025
Claire Gallery-Strong has developed her chemistry career working across a variety of sectors including pharm, environmental and nuclear. Today, she is responsible for a national nuclear decommissioning waste programme, working for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. Graduating from NUI Galway, Ireland, she moved to the UK to develop in the field of environmental chemistry. Following an interest in analytical chemistry, she studied an MSc at Kings College London in Forensic Science specialising in chromatography. She moved into pharma and having transitioned sector once, brought her chemistry skills into the nuclear sector. She has developed her career through a broad spectrum of roles directing engineering project and programmes, introducing portfolio thinking and bringing her scientific understanding to solve problems and deliver change.
Claire is an active chemist, mentoring for MRSC and CChem candidates. She champions change in her sector and established a younger members network early in her career and more recently has led the way in founding womens networks. Her work in these areas have been recognised by awards.
Dr Louise Armstrong-Denby CChem FRSC
Elected Trustee, retires 2023
Louise Armstrong-Denby has two decades of imaging and analysis experience and has successfully commercialized cellular and tissue imaging systems, software and services, building commercial teams and strategic partnerships across Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific. Louise is Chief Commercial Officer of Visiopharm, and leads the global commercial organisation in cancer research and diagnostics. She has previously held a number of senior global sales and product management positions in PerkinElmer and Andor Technology.
Louise is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC), a Chartered Chemist (CChem) and has a PhD in Analytical Chemistry. She served as Chair of the Chemist's Community Fund Grants Committee for four years and was an RSC Volunteer Visitor for Kent for more than ten years.
Professor Annie Powell CChem FRSC
Elected Trustee, retires 2023
Annie Powell is a Professor at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Karlsruhe, Germany. A major research focus is on "Coordination Clusters" and their relevance to chemistry, physics and biology. She obtained her PhD from the University of Manchester in 1985, spent 2.5 years as a postdoc in the group of Prof Heinrich Vahrenkamp at the University of Freiburg where she learned how to handle organometallic compounds, X-ray crystallography and the German academic system. After moving through the ranks to Professor at UEA in 1998, she opted for the adventure of becoming a pioneering female and foreign professor within the German system. Subsequently she has been active in many International and local projects, acted as advisor and panel member on assessment boards and committees and supervised and mentored students from all over the world.
Dr Elizabeth Rowsell OBE FRSC
Elected Trustee, retires 2023
Liz Rowsell is the Director of the Johnson Matthey Technology Centres, which form the corporate R&D facilities for the company. Liz has 24 years of experience working in the Chemicals Industry across a range of sectors such as pharmaceuticals, mining, process chemistry and consumer goods.
In her role as Director Liz works closely with her businesses, customers and academia to identify new opportunities and ensure the company has leading technology to meet them.
Liz has been working with the RSC for over 20 years, most recently as one of the judging panel for the RSC Emerging Technologies Competition. She is a member of the Government’s Advanced Materials Leadership council, working with academia, industry, skills providers and centres of excellence to provide strategic advice and leadership to enable the accelerated development of advanced material applications.
Dr Mandy Cooke MRSC
Elected Trustee, retires 2025
Mandy Cooke graduated from Leicester University with a BSc in Chemistry and PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry before moving into the Pharmaceutical Industry, where she has worked for more than 30+ years. During her career, she has worked in a broad range of strategic leadership roles across technical governance, product quality and regulatory affairs. She is currently a Senior Quality Director at GSK in an enterprise quality oversight position - leading key strategic quality programmes across the organisation. She has extensive advocacy and governance experience both within her organisational roles and within pharmaceutical industry associations.
Whilst her work experience is much broader than her early University education, she acknowledges that this chemistry knowledge and sound scientific basis has supported her throughout her career – thus feeding her commitment to actively contribute to the role of the RSC in enabling its’ members to succeed in their chemistry education. She is also an experienced change leader and passionate about enabling organisations achieve their strategic vision and continually improve.
Professor Richard Jackson CChem FRSC
Elected Trustee, retires 2025
Richard Jackson studied at the University of Cambridge, before undertaking postdoctoral work at the ETH Zurich. He started his independent career at the University of Newcastle, being promoted to Reader and then Professor in Synthetic Organic Chemistry. He moved to a Chair in Synthesis at the University of Sheffield, serving as Head of the Department of Chemistry for two terms. He recently retired from the University and is now emeritus Professor.
During his research career, he has published in the general area of synthetic organic chemistry, especially on the application of organometallic chemistry to the synthesis of amino acids, and more recently co-authored papers with theoretical chemists and biologists.
He was a member of the Review Group for the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) Subject Benchmark Statement in Chemistry, a member of the Chemistry Review Panel for the Higher Education Academy Physical Sciences Centre Review of the Student Learning Experience in Chemistry, and an elected member of the Standing Committee of Heads of Chemistry UK.
In Sheffield, he served on the University HR Committee, the Health and Safety Committee, and the University Finance Committee. He was as an elected member of the University of Sheffield Council, and Trustee.
Remya Norris CChem MRSC
Elected Trustee, retires 2025
Remya Norris is a biocidal product registration specialist at AkzoNobel. She has over 14 years’ experience in research and development within paints and coatings as well as previous experience in analytical and wider industrial settings. Remya has continued to be an active chemist, working with local and regional sections and other committees. She champions chemistry throughout academia and industry, carrying out talks and various forms of outreach. She has also founded twinning events between international and UK local sections with her work being recognised by the Inspirational Member award.
Professor Jeremy Sanders CBE FRSC FRS
Elected Trustee, retires 2025
Jeremy studied for his B.Sc. at Imperial College, London and for his PhD at the University of Cambridge. His research career has roamed across organic, inorganic, physical and biological chemistry, and currently involves trying to understand the polymorphism of nanocrystals created by mechanical grinding. His career at Cambridge included service as Head of Chemistry, then Head of Physical Sciences and finally as Pro-Vice-Chancellor (PVC) until his formal retirement in 2015. His responsibilities as PVC included the wellbeing of 11,000 staff, Energy and Sustainability, and relationships with local communities and authorities.
He is one of the “175 Faces” recognised by the RSC for his contributions to Equality and Diversity, and he continues to have national and international roles advocating for diversity and inclusion. He is a member of the Council of Imperial College, and Chair of Storey’s Field Community Trust, which is responsible for building community in the Eddington development in North West Cambridge.
Professor Robert Mokaya OBE FRSC
Appointed Trustee, retires 2025
Robert Mokaya received his B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Nairobi in 1988 and was awarded his PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1992. Following a Research Fellowship at Trinity College, Cambridge, he was awarded an EPSRC Advanced Fellowship in 1996. Mokaya joined the School of Chemistry at The University of Nottingham as a lecturer in Materials Chemistry in 2000 where he is now Professor of Materials Chemistry and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Global Engagement. He is a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award holder (2017-2022).
His research interests are on the design, synthesis and characterisation of new forms of sustainable porous materials and the study of their structure-property relations. The research involves exploring fundamentally new synthesis methods that are simpler, cheaper, and more efficient and offer valorisation routes to materials with optimised properties for targeted sustainable energy applications.
Professor Saiful Islam CChem FRSC
Appointed Trustee, retires 2024
Saiful Islam is Professor of Materials Chemistry at the University of Bath and will be joining the University of Oxford from January 2022. He grew up in Crouch End London and obtained his degree and PhD from University College London, followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Eastman Kodak Labs in New York, and a lecturer position at the University of Surrey.
His research encompasses major contributions to the deeper understanding of atomistic processes in materials for lithium batteries and perovskite solar cells with over 225 publications. He is the PI of the Faraday Institution CATMAT project on lithium battery cathodes. He has received several awards including the 2020 ACS Award in Energy Chemistry, the 2017 RSC Peter Day Award for Materials Chemistry and the 2013 Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award, and is one of the RSC 175 Faces of Chemistry. He currently serves on the RSC journal Advisory Boards of Energy & Environmental Science and Journal of Materials Chemistry A, and previously served on the RSC Materials Chemistry Division Council.
Saiful presented the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures in 2016 for BBC TV on the theme of energy. He serves on the Royal Society Public Engagement Committee and is a Patron of Humanists UK.
Jonathan Oxley CChem FRSC CMgr FCMI
Appointed Member, Chair of Member Communities Board, retires 2026
Jonathan Oxley graduated from Heriot Watt University with a degree in Chemistry, joining BP for a career of 24 years, latterly across the sustainable energy sector, including a secondment to the Energy Technologies Institute where he co-led a bioenergy project to underpin 2008 UK Climate Act. Jonathan was most recently at the World Energy Council, where he led their member, government and institutional engagement.
A Chartered Fellow of both the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Chartered Management Institute, Jonathan has a passion for sustainability in business and for engaging communities in a common endeavour. He is a Tallow Chandler gold medal winner, and was previously a member of the NERC Innovation Advisory Board.
Professor Duncan Graham CChem FRSC FRSE
Appointed Member, Chair of Publishing Board, retires 2024
Duncan Graham is the Research Professor of Chemistry and Head of Department for Pure and Applied Chemistry at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. He obtained his BSc Honours (1992) and PhD in Chemistry (1995) from the University of Edinburgh before joining the University of Strathclyde in 1996 as a postdoctoral researcher. In 1997 he secured a 5-year BBSRC Fellowship to start his independent research career. He was appointed as a lecturer in 2002 and promoted to professor in 2004 then elected to the fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2007. He was awarded the RSC’s Corday Morgan prize in 2009, a Royal Society Wolfson Merit Award in 2010 and the RSC’s Theophilus Redwood award in 2016. He served as Editor in Chief of the RSC journal Analyst for 7 years and serves on several editorial advisory boards including Chemical Society Reviews and Chemical Science. He was president of the analytical division of the Royal Society of Chemistry (2017-2020), and chair of the analytical chemistry trust fund (2017-2020). His scientific interests are in using synthetic chemistry to produce sensors that respond to a specific biological species or events as measured by Raman spectroscopy or SERS and collaborating with scientists from different disciplines to exploit these approaches.
Professor Marina Resmini FRSC
Appointed Member, Chair of Inclusion and Diversity Committee, retires 2023
Marina Resmini was born in Milan, Italy, where she grew up and studied Chemistry at the University of Milan. Following her PhD (1994) she moved first to the University of Amsterdam and then to London, following the award of a prestigious Marie Curie Fellowship. She developed her academic career at Queen Mary University of London, where she is now Professor of Materials Chemistry and current Head of the Chemistry Department, part of the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences. Her research interests are focused in the area of functional nano materials with applications at the interface between physical and bio/medical sciences, particularly as enzyme-mimics, sensors and drug delivery systems.
She has a strong interest in inclusion and diversity, in particular supporting young female researchers at the very early stages of their careers; she is now Chair of the RSC Inclusion and Diversity Committee.
Professor David M Smith CChem FRSC
Appointed Member, Chair of Professional Standards Board, retires 2026
David Smith took up his first independent academic position at the University of Exeter, where alongside his developing interests in high-resolution spectroscopy, he began to take on first departmental and then institutional leadership roles in education. He moved to the University of Bristol on closure of the Chemistry department in Exeter to become the manager of the Bristol ChemLabS Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. He has subsequently taken on more significant leadership roles, including as Deputy Head of the School of Chemistry. He now has an institutional rather than departmental role as Education Director for the Faculty of Science, where he is responsible for all undergraduate taught postgraduate education, including the development and implementation of University educational strategy, ensuring academic standards, and supporting students.
He is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. He is passionate about widening participation and ensuring equality of opportunity in higher education—from outreach at all levels, through developing new opportunities for students, such as degree apprenticeships and a new foundation programme, to supporting students from traditionally underrepresented groups to achieve their potential and close attainment gaps.
Our Leadership Team manages the implementation and operational delivery of the Royal Society of Chemistry’s agreed strategy and programmes of activity by promoting leadership and direction and works closely with Council to ensure we are governed effectively.
Helen Pain CSci CChem FRSC, Chief Executive Officer
Helen has been leading the organisation since January 2020 when the previous Chief Executive, Robert Parker, temporarily reduced his responsibilities and working hours to undergo a double hip replacement. He subsequently relinquished his role in December 2020.
Helen joined the Royal Society of Chemistry after completing a degree and PhD in Chemistry. She is a Chartered Chemist and a Chartered Scientist. At the RSC, she has led many of its strategic functions becoming Deputy CEO in 2015. Helen is a champion for the profession and has commissioned bold campaigns such as Breaking the Barriers and our work to support Technicians.
In 2018, Helen was appointed as Chair of the Science Council, a UK organisation for the advancement of the science profession.
Paul Lewis FRSA, FInstLM, Chief Operating Officer
Paul joined the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2018. As COO, Paul provides leadership to cross-organisational operations in accordance with our strategy, budget and business plans to ensure that organisational goals and objectives are met. He leads the organisation’s publishing, technology and sales & marketing activities as well as overseeing our global operations including the Estates and Facilities teams.
Paul has a wider organisational leadership role representing the RSC in the UK and internationally and is the designated deputy to the CEO. A qualified teacher with an MBA, he has substantial senior leadership experience in the educational assessment, adult training and, STM sectors with specialist Government-to-Government consulting and, international operating expertise.
Laura Hale, Interim HR Director
Laura has worked at the Royal Society of Chemistry in various HR roles since 2011, becoming Interim HR Director in January 2022. She really enjoys working at the RSC and is committed to ensuring that it remains a great place to work.
Stephen Joyce, Director of Finance
Stephen joined the RSC in 2016. As Finance Director he has lead responsibility for all financial matters, and works closely with our Trustees to ensure that our financial management continues to be sound.
Stephen has over 30 years’ experience of working in public sector, commercial and charity organisations. Before joining us he held senior finance roles in local government, major national charities and a University.
Jo Reynolds FRSC, Director of Science and Communities
Jo joined the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2017, having previously been responsible for developing and evaluating Cancer Research UK’s first five-year research strategy. She also led a programme of change across their UK network of centres and transformed their brand and engagement with the research community.
She has a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Cambridge.
Sarah Robertson MSc, Director of Education and Professional Practice
Following a career in scientific and educational publishing, most recently with Oxford University Press, Sarah joined the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2015 in the new post of Director of Education.
She is committed to understanding the needs of teachers and learners, and to supporting the development of science education, from primary through to further and higher education. Sarah has an MSc from Imperial College London, and lives in Gloucestershire.
Amanda Spencer PhD, Director of Technology
Amanda joined the RSC in January 2020. She was formerly CIO and Director of IT, Library and Technical Services, at the Royal College of Art, where she was responsible for a broad portfolio which included digital transformation. Prior to that, Amanda held a number of roles at the National Archives, including leading Digital and Digital Archiving programmes with Central Government, so brings a wide range of experience in strategy, operational delivery, stakeholder engagement and workforce development.
Emma Wilson MRSC, Director of Publishing
Emma has more than 15 years’ experience working in the scholarly publishing sector. She has worked for both commercial and not-for-profit publishers in a variety of editorial and business development roles, joining the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2006 as a Journal Publisher.
Prior to her career in publishing, Emma was the recipient of an EMBO research fellowship after obtaining her PhD in biochemistry from Cambridge University.
Board and sub-committees
Our Trustees would like the members serving on our governance bodies to represent the breadth and diversity of the chemical sciences, with reference to industrial and academic backgrounds, geographical spread, gender, ethnicity and age range.
The diagram below illustrates all of the RSC committees which feed into the Board of Trustees. See our committees section and sub-committees section (under Boards and committees tab) for more details.
Elected Members
Following our 2022 elections managed by Mi-Voice our newly elected members to Boards, Committee and Community Councils were announced at the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Annual General Meeting held on Tuesday 11 July 2022.
RSC President
Annette Doherty OBE FRSC
Member Communities Board – early careers representative
Bethan Coulson CSci MRSC
Professional Standards Board
Glynn Skerratt CSci CChem FRSC
Inclusion and Diversity Committee
Leonie Jones MRSC
President of the Analytical Science Community
Zoë Ayres CChem MRSC
President of the Chemistry Biology Interface Community
Mark Bradley FRSC
President of the Education Community
Niki Kaiser
President of the Environment, Sustainability and Energy Community
Matthew Davies FRSC
Analytical Science Community Council
Leon Barron FRSC
Victoria Hilborne MRSC
Chemistry Biology Interface Community Council
Charlotte Dodson CChem MRSC
Gavin Miller CSci CChem MRSC
Inorganic Chemistry (Dalton) Community Council
Izilda Bagatin
George Kostakis FRSC
Education Community Council
Michael Hughes MRSC
Jacquie Robson MRSC
Environment, Sustainability and Energy Community Council
Joshua Kelly RSci MRSC
Berceste Beyribey Price MRSC
Physical Chemistry (Faraday) Community Council
Debabrata Goswami FRSC
Marco Sacchi MRSC
Materials Chemistry Community Council
Sharali Malik EurChem CChem MRSC
Petra Szilagyi FRSC
Organic Chemistry Community Council
Dorcas Moronkola MRSC
William Unsworth MRSC
Governance review
Our trustees’ most important role is to steward the Royal Society of Chemistry’s 177-year heritage and to plan for an even more successful future. This is why our Board of Trustees – called our Council – accepted the recommendations of our recent governance review led by our president, Professor Sir John Holman. Some of these recommendations involve changing elements of the membership of Council.
In making these changes we will gain even better expertise, planning and decision-making abilities, which will enable our community to continue to grow and succeed.
Good governance in charities is fundamental to their success. A charity is best placed to achieve its ambitions and aims if it has effective governance and the right leadership structures. Skilled and capable trustees will help a charity attract resources and put them to best use. Good governance enables and supports a charity’s compliance with relevant legislation and regulation. It also promotes attitudes and a culture where everything works towards fulfilling the charity’s vision.
(Charity Governance Code 2017)
Background
Our president, Professor Sir John Holman, initiated in 2016 a review of our governance to clarify the role of the trustees, the structure and membership of Council (Board of Trustees), boards and committees and the effectiveness of the relationship with the executive.
Working with our staff, members and external specialists, and to standards and frameworks of sector best practice, the review identified that there is capacity for improvement of aspects of our governance, including:
- the purpose and function of the boards
- the skills mix required from trustees to effectively discharge their legal and financial responsibilities
- a culture that facilitates high-level strategic conversations, effective self-evaluation and inclusivity across the governance structure
- the governance schedule and a realistic view of volunteer commitment
- the nominations and elections process
[We want to ensure] an organisation that is fit for chemistry in the 21st century, and the diverse community within which it operates – and to enable the Royal Society of Chemistry to respond to that community and its changing needs.
Proposed changes
Council approved 25 recommendations for changes to our governance structures and processes. Three of these – specifically those related to the make-up of Council – require changes to our by-laws. These are:
- The role of honorary treasurer will become appointed from within the membership rather than elected from within the membership. (Due to the complex nature of this role, the associated skills-set and significant time commitment, there are often no nominees for election to the role of Honorary Treasurer and the position has to be filled by appointment. By formalising this practice, we can ensure that candidates continue to have the appropriate skills-set and understanding of the time commitment demanded by this role).
- At the end of their term of office, the president will step down as a trustee (allowing the president-elect to serve a two-year term of office before becoming president for two years).
- Up to three non-Royal Society of Chemistry members may be appointed as trustees (to ensure flexibility in finding an appropriate collective skills base of our trustees).
We will present these proposals at our Annual General Meeting in 2018 and, if passed by voting members, to the Privy Council for approval.
The remaining recommendations propose operational changes, such as the structure of our boards and committees, and working practices for Council, boards and committees. Council have already accepted these changes and we will implement them after the AGM in 2018.
Council has approved the following governance framework, which we will implement from July 2018:
Through this framework of boards and committees, we will ensure that we meet our legal and financial responsibilities and that we develop our strategic aims and objectives with recognition of the diversity of our activities, the sectors we operate in, and the communities we engage with.
These boards and committees will be supported by a number of sub-committees and working groups with responsibility for a specific task (such as the Admissions Committee, Benevolent Fund Grants Committee etc).
We will also be creating a Strategic Advisory Forum, intended to provide advice to Council, from a global perspective, on how the chemical sciences are likely to develop over the next 10-20 years and what issues and opportunities Council (as well as boards and staff) might need to take into consideration in developing and implementing our strategy.
Contact for further info: Gemma Wood
Leadership Team
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Governance Team
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Governance Co-ordinator
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- 020 7440 3341
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- Hilary Beckett
Membership
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- +44 (0) 1223 432141
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