Guy Paisner, Chair of Trustees

Guy is an analyst at a London-based investment firm. He has a background in fundraising and investor relations for alternative asset managers and started his career as a financial journalist focused on European private equity and venture capital.

Hilary Samson-Barry, Vice Chair

Hilary is a leadership and professional development coach working mainly in the public and not for profit sectors. She has personal experience of bipolar through family members.In addition to being Chair she is also a member of the charity's Finance Committee.

Sarita Dent, Treasurer

Sarita is the Global Chief Commercial Officer with Wolff Olins Ltd and brings significant commercial and financial expertise to the board of Trustees. Sarita chairs the Finance Committee.

Jeremy Clark, Trustee

Jeremy is a Business Manager at the Department of Health. He has a diagnosis of bipolar and been an active service volunteer with Bipolar UK for many years. He co-facilitates one of our Support Groups and helps raise awareness through workplace training within our Employment Support service.

Mohini Morris, Trustee

Mohini works in social policy.  Mohini has familial experience of bipolar and has undertaken academic work on the prevalence of bipolar in the U.K.

Bill Walden-Jones, Trustee

Following a highly successful career in the charity sector, including 11 years as Chief Executive of mental health charity Hafal, Bill retired in 2014 to focus on developing a writing and consultancy role. He retains his close links with Hafal as a consultant.

Allan Young, Trustee 

Professor Allan Young is the Director of the Centre for Affective Disorders (CfAD) within the Department of Psychological Medicine in King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry (IoP). His research interests focus on the cause and treatments for severe psychiatric illnesses, particularly mood disorders.

Alice Alphandary, Trustee

Alice Alphandary works in banking supervision at the Bank of England. She studied Natural Sciences specialising in Biology at university and so is always interested in learning about different medication and therapy used to manage the condition. Alice has family experience of bipolar.

Robert Print, Trustee 

Robert is Head of Executive Office at the Law Society, working primarily on strategy, business improvement and governance. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2010, and in 2018 ran his third London Marathon in support of Bipolar UK.

Jennifer Trent Staves, Trustee

Jennifer is a Digital Content Manager at the Welcome Trust and has more than 10 years of experience in communications. She has personal experience of bipolar through her family.

Nadia Silver, Trustee

Nadia is a barrister specialising in financial, and serious and organised crime.  She has a particular interest in how the criminal justice system deals with defendants who are suffering from mental ill health. She has personal experience of Bipolar Disorder through a close family member

Melissa Barnett, Trustee 

Melissa Barnett, Trustee

Melissa is Head of Public Affairs at Healthcomms Consulting, a healthcare focused communications and public affairs agency. Melissa has worked at Healthcomms Consulting for a number of years, gaining expertise in healthcare public affairs and PR and understanding of the NHS and current policy initiatives.

Derrick Dale, Trustee

Derrick is a QC who practices commercial law from Fountain Court Chambers. He also sits as an arbitrator and is a bencher of Middle Temple. He is currently involved in developing fund raising strategies within the charity.

We would like to say thank you to Clare Dolman, Ashley Toft, Maggie Gibbon, William Courage and Tamasin Little who stepped down as Trustees in September of 2018 and 2019 respectively.