Kay Purnell – Chair
BA (Hons) Business Studies
Kay has extensive experience of business development and general management with leading providers in the Orthotic device & clinical services sector and continues to be a representative of the BHTA at trustee meetings.
Working alongside clinicians and technicians, Kay has promoted the profile of orthotics within the health service via contribution to industry papers and was involved in the development of the O & P Technician Training course in recent years.
Faye Dearden – Trustee
Faye qualified from Salford University in 1997 with a BSc (Hons) in Prosthetics and Orthotics. She started working in Norwich, then moved to the Midlands where she became specialised in paediatrics. In 2007 she completed an MSc in Rehabilitation with the University of Strathclyde, which included a thesis on comparison of stock and bespoke functional foot orthoses in adolescents with symptomatic flat feet. She has published articles on Lycra socks and ankle contracture correction devices for Duchene muscular dystrophy. In recent years Faye has become interested in functional electrical stimulation (FES). Faye provides an orthotics service for Opcare in Hereford.
Martin Matthews – Trustee
M.Phil, Dip OPTEC, MBAPO
Orthotic Clinical Specialist
Martin Matthews qualified in 1981 as an Orthotist from Salford Polytechnic College, before moving to Norwich in 1991. He developed his speciality in paediatrics and scoliosis management, working closely with other allied health professions in combined therapy / orthotics clinics at the Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust.
He has always encompassed innovation in the field of orthotics and has developed the use and design options of dynamic elastomeric fabric orthoses (DEFOs) over the last 18 years. In 2008 he gained a research Masters Degree (University of East Anglia) investigating the effects of DEFOs on the child with diplegia and has presented internationally at numerous orthotic and physiotherapy conferences on scoliosis orthotic intervention in children with neuropathic onset scoliosis. He has published numerous papers in international peer reviewed journals and presented at many international conferences for orthotics and physiotherapy, including AACPDM, SOSORT, ISPO, BAPO and AAOP academic meeting.
He was the orthotic external examiner for the University of Salford Orthotic and Prosthetic degree course for 6 years. He is currently an Associate Professor at Plymouth University.
He is responsible for the research and development at DM Orthotics Ltd, developing further the uses and functions of DEFOs in the field of sports, neurological dysfunction and musculo- skeletal rehabilitation corroboration with several universities from around the world. The latest research has been into the incorporation of functional electrical stimulation with in the Dynamic Movement Orthoses (DMO) utilizing a patented membrane that removes the need for gel electrodes requiring direct skin contact to be effective.
Andy Dewsbury – Trustee
Andy Dewsbury started work at R Taylor & Sons in 1979 and after 2 years, went to run their satellite workshop at RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital, with Remploy Healthcare taking over the Contract in 1985 until 1992.
Andy was employed by the NHS to set up a new workshop for the NHS which developed gradually over a number of years. In 2009, Andy left the NHS to begin a new challenge with Beagle Orthopaedic Ltd to develop the Custom Fabrication Facility within the company.
Andy was one of the co-founders of the BAPO Technician Committee and was chair of the Committee for 2 years. He also sat on the BAPO Conference Committee with the Technical Programme as his remit. Andy is also trained as a Limited Orthotic Practitioner.
Alexandra Tyler – Trustee
Alexandra qualified from Salford University in 2014 with a BSc (Hons) in prosthetics and orthotics. She started working for Opcare at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge as an Orthotist and is now the service manager for Prosthetics and Orthotics. Clinically, she specialises in scoliosis bracing and has a particular interest in developing new technologies for shape capture, with significant work done on CADCAM and process development.
Brewin Dolphin is one of the largest independently-owned wealth managers in the country, looking after over £40bn in investments. James and Julian are the dedicated investment managers from Brewin Dolphin who manage the investment portfolio to meet the needs of the charity. They apply their investment expertise and are supported by Brewin Dolphin’s expert research team.
Their role is to select and monitor the most suitable blend of asset classes within the charity’s portfolio, in line with the charity’s objectives. They continually monitor and amend the portfolio to ensure it retains an optimum mix of assets for the prevailing economic conditions and specified risk requirement.
James Hayley Bell, Divisional Director – Charities
James joined Brewin Dolphin in 2008 as a founding member of the London Charities Team and offers a breadth of experience from managing multi-asset class portfolios for a variety of charities and institutions. He is a Fellow of The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and holds the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment Diploma. Away from the office, and when not spending time with his young family, he can often be found watching rugby or playing golf.
Julian McCormack, Assistant Director – Charities
Julian started his career at Brewin Dolphin in 2003 and, having worked in the Research Department, joined the Charity Team as an investment manager in January 2016. Julian is a CFA Charterholder, holds the Investment Management Certificate and is a Member of The Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. Away from the office, Julian is a keen cyclist and enjoys tennis and golf.