Get to know the talented individuals driving our mission.
Sam was diagnosed with YOPD in 2023; she has a genetic version and her father also had YOPD. She has twenty years experience as a clinical health psychologist; supporting people to adjust to diagnoses and to manage the psychological challenges of illness, and advocating for high quality patient care and influencing the medical culture.
Sam is particularly interested in wellbeing and promoting approaches that will support health outcomes and improve quality of life for those with YOPD.
Outside of balancing her family, career, condition and volunteering role, Sam singing, dancing and making.
Dawn retired as Chief Executive of East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service at the end of 2024 after 20 years working in the Fire and Rescue Service. Her working career also included 14 years with the John Lewis Partnership, a leadership role in a county council and time as a government adviser. She has a master’s degree in business administration and has held leadership roles at a national level for the National Fire Chief’s Council (NFCC). She was honoured to receive and the Kings Fire Service Medal for distinguished service, related to her work on drowning prevention and water safety in 2023
Dawn has been involved in trade unions and representative bodies for over 40years. From her time as a student rep through to regional and national official positions for APFO and the FLA. She has extensive experience in case management and holds an Advanced Professional Certificate in Investigative practice.
An active volunteer for over 35 years, Dawn has been a trustee and Chair of the Board at Northamptonshire Volunteer Bureau, The Royal LifeSaving Society and Chair of the UK National Water Safety Forum and is now Chair elect of Spotlight YOPD. Her passion, through both her professional and voluntary work, has been improving community safety, helping to educate people and reducing risk. She is also a faculty member of the Good Governance Institute.
Dawn is an experienced public speaker and undertakes consultancy work mainly focused on leadership, inclusion and employment matters.
As a Welsh farmers daughter, she loves being outdoors, whether it’s in her vegetable garden or walking on the coast, trips with the Beagles in the campervan, or up a mountain in the UK or France. Together with her husband David, they have 5 (grown up) children and three grandchildren.
Emma has been working as a nurse since 1993, and qualified as a registered mental health nurse in 1997. She worked in many different fields of psychiatry before becoming a community Parkinson’s Specialist nurse in north and East Cornwall in 2010. Emma now works for Livewell Southwest as a Parkinsons specialist nurse covering Plymouth and West Devon. She has a special interest in mental health and Parkinson’s, especially Suicide prevention. She has lectured on this nationally, and is currently undertaking research into this area via her Chief Nurse Research Fellowship. Emma is also a member of the Royal College of Nursing Neuroscience Nurse Committee.
I’m a junior doctor with clinical and academic roles. So far, I have loved working in intensive care and psychiatry, but I am particularly interested in neurology and medical humanities and I’m really excited to join the wonderful SpotlightYOPD team and help in any way I can! Outside of work I like to paint, make pottery and cook.
Mark Webb has been a trustee with Spotlight YOPD since June 2020. He is a qualified accountant and holds a Master’s Degree in Charity Finance from Bayes Business School (formerly Cass) at the City of London University. He has held senior financial management positions with several major charities as well as being a long term trustee with a North London SEN charity. As well as overseeing the finance Mark has a good working knowledge of Systems and Fundraising. As he has retired from full time work he concentrates on Guitar lessons and growing vegetables.
Brad is a Trustee for SpotlightYOPD and a Technical Specialist for the Division of Psychology at Nottingham Trent University. His work focuses on experimental development, with current projects including the development of virtual reality exposure therapies with integrated neurofeedback. His PhD focused on the psychometric, neurological, and behavioural underpinnings of Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory. His main role in SpotlightYOPD is to act as the lead for the website.
Lee joined Spotlight YOPD as a Trustee in 2025. He is a Chartered Financial Planner, Fellow of the Personal Finance Society, he holds a Master’s Degree in Financial Planning & Business Management and a BA (Hons) in Banking, Insurance & Risk Management.
Lee spent over 25 years working in the personal finance profession and his been an active community volunteer over the last 30 years serving as an Army Reservist, District Councillor, youth football team coach and Trustee/Board Member of a number of organisations.
Lee was diagnosed with YOPD in January 2018 at the age of 46. Lee is motivated to advocate to raise the profile of the challenges of YOPD in the wider community. Lee is married to Jo and has three children and is a keen football fan.
Beth is a Trustee at SpotlightYOPD. She is also a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist within an IAPT service. Beth has trained in adapting therapy for those with long term conditions and aims to develop materials to make therapy more accessible for sufferers of long term conditions, such as YOPD.
Vidya brings a wealth of experience to her voluntary role as Charity Secretary, combining a strong professional background with a personal passion for making a difference. A part-qualified Chartered Secretary and seasoned Company Secretary, she has built her career around excellence in corporate compliance, governance, entity management, and legal advisory services. Her expertise extends to supporting numerous charities in enhancing their governance frameworks and ensuring regulatory compliance. She is also a trainer and a dedicated mentor, actively guiding professionals in the fields of governance and compliance.
A graduate of the Landmark program, Vidya is deeply involved in leadership and personal growth initiatives. Beyond her professional commitments, she is a committed yoga practitioner and fitness enthusiast, believing in the power of wellbeing to drive focus and efficiency. Her love for cooking and natural flair for networking add a personal touch to everything she does.
Kajal is a qualified Company Secretary and Chartered Secretary, with a Bachelor’s degree in Law. She has professional experience as a Company Secretary, with strong expertise in corporate laws, governance, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Her work has involved supporting organisations in maintaining regulatory compliance while aligning governance practices with socially responsible objectives.
Kajal has a strong inclination towards social causes and is motivated by opportunities where her professional knowledge can contribute to meaningful and sustainable impact. She values ethical governance, structured processes, and collaboration, and is committed to applying these principles in her professional engagements.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Kajal enjoys reading and practising calligraphy, interests that reflect her creativity and attention to detail. She also enjoys cooking, which she considers a creative and grounding pursuit alongside her professional work.
Positivity Activist. Proud recipient of the BNA’s Public Engagement of Neuroscience Award 2020, Co-Founder and Frontman of Parkylife Finalist at the National Diversity Awards 2020 – Positive Role Model (Disability).
Carl Beech is a recognised advocate, organisational leader, published author, broadcaster, and social and business entrepreneur. He serves as Patron of Spotlight YOPD, the UK’s leading voice for those diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s. Since his own diagnosis in 2023, Carl has used his platform to raise awareness, drive innovation, and champion practical solutions—including inventing the BeechBand, a breakthrough wellness device now on sale in the UK and launching globally.
At great personal risk, Carl entered a heavily guarded illegal cobalt mine in the DRC, capturing the first evidence ever seen by UK parliamentarians and human rights activists of child labour in cobalt mining—where children as young as six were found working barefoot and without safety equipment in dangerous conditions.
A well-known conference speaker at business events and festivals, Carl is known for his clarity, conviction, and unflinching honesty. Rooted in his Christian faith, he draws strength from friends, family, and a lifelong drive to squeeze the most out of every moment—having completed multiple marathons and endurance cycling events spanning thousands of miles and several continents
Gaynor is the founder of Spotlight YOPD and played a crucial role as CEO until stepping into her role as patron in 2023. She founded the charity in January 2016, just a little over three years after her own diagnosis at the age of 42. Gaynor is also the Co-Chair of YOPD Leadership Group at the World Parkinson’s Congress.
Nurse/Lecturer until retired after husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I have Hereditary Hypersomnia and synaesthesia, which add colour and sounds. With these gifts, I discovered that people with Parkinson’s have a unique smell. So, the question at a Parkinson’s UK lecture was, “Why do we not use the smell of Parkinson’s to diagnose it earlier.” A proof-of-concept study at the MRCP in Edinburgh produced surprising results as I pre-diagnosed one of the control group. This led to a research study at Manchester University to find an early biomarker for Parkinson’s disease.
The discovery of a biomarker for Parkinson’s disease with the Barran Group at Manchester University has been a pleasure with all of the ups and downs that such a project gives those involved, I treasure their friendship, and the investigation into sebum has surprised us all!
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