Our Staff & Volunteers
The BANA team comprises employees at our head office in Chesterfield, our Board of Trustees, plus a host of volunteers from around the country who act as area support group leaders and in editorial and area group administration roles.
Board of Trustees
Jamie was diagnosed with an Acoustic Neuroma in 2016. He had surgery on 1st July 2019; an easy date for him to remember being BANA Awareness Day and his wedding anniversary.
Jamie is semi-retired. He works part-time as a Project Director for a National charity, OnSide Youth Zones. He works with local authorities and supporters to bring forward new state-of-the-art, multi-million-pound Youth Zones. He is also a trustee at Blackburn Youth Zone.
Board of Trustees
Craig is a medical writer and patient advocate who has worked in medical communications for over 20 years. He is passionate about helping people understand complex medical concepts and language. The work he does involves translating information into easily accessible segments so that people aren’t overwhelmed by the complexity and amount of information they receive. Craig also has an interest in health psychology.
Craig is delighted to join BANA as a trustee.
Board of Trustees
My name is Andrew Shipsey and I am honoured to have joined the BANA Board as Treasurer. I currently work in the finance department at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust as Head of Financial Support.
I joined the NHS as a finance graduate trainee back in 2005. In the first few years of my career I was asked to cost an acoustic neuroma procedure (I didn’t know what that was at the time), and was involved in a business case to replace linear accelerators, one of which was to have the ability to do stereotactic-radiotherapy and radiosurgery, met the Medical Director, who was to become my surgeon, about potential investments in cyberknife and gamma knife and worked with budget holders about gaining funding to support patients with neurofibromatosis II.
Biog details to follow.
Peter is a consultant ENT surgeon with a special interest in the skull base and treatment for Acoustic Neuroma. He was appointed as a consultant at the University Hospitals Birmingham in 2010 and is the current lead for Skull base surgery. Peter runs a dedicated Acoustic Neuroma clinic and has hundreds of patients under his care. He is delighted to join the board of trustees at BANA.
Andrea started out as a Staff Nurse (RGN) in 2001 with a period in Orthopaedics, Trauma and then community nursing before settling into Neurosurgery and Skull Base in 2006. After a period as ward sister, she commenced the role of Skull Base Specialist Nurse in 2009; the service being built from scratch to develop this new role within the trust.
Andrew was diagnosed with an Acoustic Neuroma in 2017. Then went on to have translab surgery on the 22nd of May 2017; that date will never be forgotten as it was the Manchester Arena bombing that evening; he also turned 40 in March.
In January 2017, Andrew joined a local running club; over the years, this has proved to be an incredible part of his positive recovery, from the people he has met to the confidence he has gained from fellow runners. He is now a member of the club’s committee.
Juliette has worked as a nurse practitioner for the NF2 and skull base (ENT) service at the Cambridge Skull Base Unit since 2010. She is co-lead for the NF2 service for the East of England/Midland region. She is the team’s lead for user and carer issues and patient experience. She has previously sat on the British Skull Base Society Council and advises various relevant charities and support groups.
Office Staff
Steve has worked in the Consumer Finance industry for 40 years, most of them at a Middle to Senior Management level, and made a total career change by joining the Charity. As General Manager he will lead the core operational activities including Governance and Fundraising. He will develop and review core strategy and plans across the full range of Bana activities. He is responsible for the management and administration of the Charity within the strategic policies and accountability framework alongside the Trustees
Office Staff
Nataliia joined the BANA team in Sept 2022 to support the running of the office. She is Ukrainian, and moved to the UK in Aug 2022. She has a Masters degree in Economics & Marketing, and Managed an exhibition Centre in Ukraine before her move here.
Patrons
Brian Moore is Emeritus Professor of Auditory Perception at the University of Cambridge. His research interests are: the perception of sound; mechanisms of normal hearing and hearing impairments; the relationship of auditory abilities to speech perception; design of signal processing hearing aids for sensorineural hearing loss; methods for fitting hearing aids to the individual; design and specification of high-fidelity sound-reproducing equipment; perception of music and of musical instruments.
Patrons
Patrons
Our Ambassador
Thank you to Sara for continuing to play a significant part in the BANA team. As Ambassador for our charity looking at opportunities to raise the profile of BANA and raise awareness of Acoustic Neuromas. You are a breath of fresh air, a burst of energy and a pleasure to speak to. We are honoured to call you our Ambassador!
Our Ambassador
In July 2015, I had surgery to remove an Acoustic Neuroma. Following the surgery, I was left completely deaf in my left ear and needed to rebuild my balance and redevelop the ability to walk unaided. After spending two days unconscious and a week in the hospital, I returned home to continue my recovery. During diagnosis, surgery and recovery, I was a Professional Footballer for Liverpool FC, and almost three months to the day after surgery made my debut in the Champions League. Now, I am continuously trying to share my story to help inspire people facing their life struggles.
BANA offering support and information for
people affected by Acoustic Neuroma
Registered Charity No: 1165065