Our People

Miriam is Director of Policy and Strategy at NHS Providers, the membership organisation which represents NHS trusts, and has been a Trustee for AFK since 2022.  She works with government, parliamentarians, and national decision makers to try and influence health and care policy constructively on behalf of NHS trusts.  Miriam also plays a lead role in the running of NHS Providers as its interim deputy chief executive. 

This means that Miriam knows about how the health and care sector works and about how policies which affect us all get agreed by government.  She is also really interested in how we tell people about the good work the charity does. 

Prior to this role, Miriam has worked in social care, and in policy and influencing roles in local government.’

Stacey is a highly regarded, passionate entrepreneur and a leading voice in finance, innovation and Fintech.

As co-founder of Start-Up of the year 2022 in The International Business Awards, his knowledge, experience and caring leadership are invaluable to every business he supports. From start-ups looking for meaningful guidance to businesses and CEOs looking to turbocharge their plans, Stacey has a wealth of proven experience both as a mentor and with his own acquisitions and businesses.

ⓘ This means Stacey knows a lot about money and how to set up a business and how businesses work. 

After launching several successful businesses and with numerous profitable exits, Stacey not only has first-hand experience of the reality of business growth and financial structuring but he also provides a sense of reality for entrepreneurs looking for a solid partnership. His resume includes an enviable range of experiences and as a seasoned NED, he is an advisor and board member for several notable companies. In his own words, he disrupts the status quo and introduces fresh initiatives to solve age-old problems.

Thanos is a Chartered Accountant, CA, with 15 years of auditing experience in large corporate organizations in areas such as Private Banking, Asset Management, Finance and Treasury. He has further developed his technical knowledge through studying and passing all three levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst, CFA, exams.

Thanos is the proud dad of a 5 year old son with cerebral palsy. He has experienced first hand the difficulties that individuals with disabilities and their families face. Therefore, he is extremely grateful and happy to provide service to AFK in order to help as many children and young adults and their families to live more independent, successful and fulfilling lives. He has been actively fundraising for several charities, mainly in the health space, over the past 10 years by participating in long distance running events.

ⓘ This means Thanos knows what it is like to care for a child with a disability.

Dom Hyams is Global Client Director at Purple Goat Agency, and consults and educates internationally on a range of topics including diversity, inclusion and accessibility.

Dom joined the Purple Goat agency team in February 2021 – the world’s first and only social-first inclusive marketing agency, looking to create the most progressive, representative and authentic marketing campaigns in the world by integrating disability know-how and lived-experience in all aspects of campaign development and execution.

Dom previously worked in TV, as a producer at the sports TV production company Sunset+Vine, working across output including the groundbreaking Paralympic coverage in 2012 and 2016. He has since worked in various digital media, marketing and communications roles, which led him to Purple Goat.

He is also the founding editor of the Disability Power100 – Power List of Disability, which looks to showcase the most influential disabled change-makers in society.

ⓘ This means Dom knows how to create opportunities for creative and exciting work, breaking down the barriers around disability.

Tim is a Managing Director and a senior Sales and Relationship Manager for the J.P. Morgan Corporate and Investment Bank.

Tim has over 20 years industry experience and has been with J.P. Morgan for the last 17 years, including 14 years in London and 3 years in New York. In that time Tim has developed extensive experience in helping manage change and business development, with an ability to both lead and collaborate within diverse teams.

Through his work Tim is an active contributor and sponsor of community outreach and philanthropy projects and is a steering committee member for a flagship Social Mobility programme. Outside of work Tim has been a committed fund raiser for various charities. Tim has a degree and post graduate qualification in law.

ⓘ This means Tim knows a lot about leadership, money and law.

Thembani is a chartered management accountant working as Associate Director of Financial Planning & Analysis at S&P Global. He is responsible for forecasting, budgeting and evaluating corporate performance against forecast and plan, and recommending remedial action.

He is a trusted business partner to senior strategic leadership. He has 2 years experience in the construction industry, two in the telecoms sector and 16 in financial services. He lives with a mobility challenge and knows first hand the challenges faced by children and their parents in their quest for suitable mobility equipment and related aids.

Alicia is a legal counsel at a financial institution and prior to that, was a finance lawyer at Shearman & Sterling (now A&O Shearman), having received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of Cambridge.

She is a disabled power wheelchair user who does disability advocacy on her Instagram, @ExploreDisabled, and is on the shortlisting panel for the Snowdon Trust’s master’s scholarships for disabled students. She has also been published by the New York Times and Time Out London.

ⓘ This means that Alicia knows a lot about money and the law surrounding finance

Dr Hannah Barham-Brown (affectionately known as Dr Pops) was studying at medical school when she was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome in 2015. She now uses a wheelchair and a cane to help her move around, and has become a well-known disability advocate.

In 2018 Disability Power 100 List by the Shaw Trust.

As an Ambassador for AFK, Dr Pops has completed a number of fundraising events including the Superhero Triathlon.

Tessa Peake-Jones is an actress best known for playing Raquel in the popular comedy series Only Fools and Horses. She also appears as Mrs Maguire in Grantchester for ITV, and has been in many theatre productions, the latest being The Winslow Boy on tour. Tessa has been associated with AFK for over 25 years.

“I think what AFK offers young people in terms of practical and emotional support is absolutely amazing! I’m very proud to be connected to such a worthwhile organisation and I look forward to many years of hearing their news and watching their development.”

Gaz Choudhry had his right leg amputated when he was just 10 years old; two years later, he was introduced to wheelchair basketball and he immediately fell in love with the speed and sense of freedom given by the sport.

Gaz has been an integral part of the GB Men’s Squad since his debut for the team at the 2009 BT Paralympic World Cup. Gaz made his debut for ParalympicsGB at the London 2012 Games and, in 2015, assisted the GB Men to qualification for Rio 2016 Paralympics and a third consecutive European title (2011, 2013).

He was part of the men’s team which brought home the Bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, the silver medal at the 2017 European Championships and gold at the 2018 World Championships in Hamburg.

Marcel Fearon is a former trainee at AFK. He joined AFK’s Employment and Skills Programme in 2014 and completed several successful work placements before securing a paid position at leading global design and consultancy firm Arcadis.

In the time we have known him, Marcel has grown in confidence and developed skills that helped him gain work and greater independence. He is now an enthusiastic speaker at AFK’s events, including a 2018 reception at the House of Lords, where Marcel shared the stage with Lord Shinkwin, our then CEO, the Chair of our Board of Trustees, and fellow AFK Ambassador and national disability advocate Dr Hannah Barham-Brown.

Marcel is a shining example of AFK’s positive impact in the lives of those we work with and we are proud to count him among our Ambassadors.

Paul and Michael Atwal-Brice became a couple in 2002. Paul, who comes from an entertainment and performing background, had to take a step back from show business in 2008 when Levi and Lucas came into their lives – and their lives changed forever when the twins were diagnosed with severe autism and epilepsy.

AFK has provided mobility equipment and support to the family, including specialist tandem bikes and high-specification car seats, which enable Levi and Lucas to access the wider community and gain more independence while getting fresh air and exercise. Paul and Michael have become passionate disability campaigners, fighting for better inclusion for disabled people in national press and TV.

In 2019 Paul was recognised for his dedicated contribution to his community and given a prestigious British Citizen Award (BCAc).