Ellie Dawes, Deputy CEO and Head of Fundraising and Comms Ellie is our Deputy CEO and has responsibility for our Fundraising and Comms Expand Ellie has worked for The Aplastic Anaemia Trust since 2020, leading on Fundraising and Communications. In 2025, she was made Deputy CEO. Ellie previously worked as Digital Engagement Manager at Blood Cancer UK, before spending five years in the world of international development, running comms and fundraising as part of the senior team at Child.org. Ellie loves food and once appeared on a TV cooking show! She's passionate about helping charities to be bold, ambitious and inspiring. You can email her at [email protected].
Emily Roberts, Trusts and Grants Manager Emily works part time securing resources to further the work of the AAT. Expand Emily works part time securing resources to further the work of the AAT Emily enjoys connecting people and organisations who share the same goals. She has twenty years’ experience working in the charity sector in administration, events and fundraising. She loves small charities that punch above their weight which is why she joined the AAT in September 2022. If you’re part of a trust, foundation or organisation that would like to support the AAT community please get in touch at [email protected]
Hannah Mitchell, Community Fundraising and Events Manager Hannah joined the team part time in 2021 to support our community with fundraising. Expand Hannah is the key contact for anyone fundraising for The Aplastic Anaemia Trust. From our annual Super rare campaign to our chilly Santa Splash events Hannah has taken our community fundraising to new levels of fun during her time at the charity. Hannah previously worked for a number of years for a conservation charity, where she led a large team of volunteers, as well as being responsible for membership sells and fundraising at one of the sites. She currently volunteers with two organisations who work to empower women around the world. Her main passion in life is travelling, she loves meeting new people and is a mommy to two beautiful bunnies. She is a self-confessed fundraising geek, so if you need any support with any events please email her at [email protected]
Joe Kirwin, CEO Joe joined the Aplastic Anaemia Trust in April 2025 as its new CEO Expand Joe joined the AAT in April 2025 as its new CEO and brings with him many years of experience in charity leadership. Joe has joined us from Pancreatic Cancer Action where he was CEO for a number of years. He is passionate about strategy development and implementation, policy and public affairs, volunteer management, fundraising, communications and delivering winning campaigns that make a tangible difference to people’s lives. Having just become a new father, Joe is spending much of his time knee deep in nappies! You can contact Joe on [email protected]
Katharine Parkin, Head of Finance Katharine manages our charity’s accounts and finance and works with us about one day a week. Expand Katharine runs a small accountancy firm with her husband, specialising in charity sector clients. Katharine qualified at EY and then spent ten years working for Macmillan Cancer Support in a variety of finance and change roles. She is passionate about supporting small charities to manage their finances well so they can maximise the support they offer to beneficiaries.
Linzi Kavanagh, Support & Outreach Coordinator - Scotland Linzi Kavanagh is the newest member of the Support & Outreach Team, and will be working two days per week to build our community in Scotland. Expand Linzi joined the Aplastic Anaemia Trust as the Support Coordinator for Scotland in September 2024. With a passion for community outreach and supporting others, Linzi is excited to help individuals and families affected by aplastic anaemia navigate their journeys with compassionate and practical support. Before joining the AAT team, Linzi worked in a local school and also has her own business supporting women to emotionally heal after divorce. Linzi lives near Glasgow with her 3 teenagers and Betsy the Goldendoodle. She's not sure who causes her the most stress out of them all! Linzi enjoys going to live music gigs and some may say she is slightly obsessed with country music (the good stuff not country and western!)
Lorraine Parry, Support and Outreach Programme Manager Lorraine heads up our Support and Outreach Team, delivering projects that support people with aplastic anaemia and the people around them. Expand Lorraine joined the team in May 2025 as the Support and Outreach Programme Manager. She brings have a wealth of management experience in the charity sector having spent many years managing support and advice services for adults and children with learning and physical disabilities. More recently she worked for a military charity and a local branch of Home-Start where she set up and managed information and advice services that supported people and families with a wide range of needs. Lorraine is a passionate advocate of the person-centred approach and strives to ensure that everyone understands their rights and is empowered with the knowledge and skills to advocate for themselves and their family member while living with Aplastic Anaemia. Lorraine lives on Hayling Island near Portsmouth and in her spare times loves making her own clothes (which are often quite colourful) and making gifts for family and friends.
Raymond Lam If you've received booklets, a care package or a magazine in the post - it probably came from Raymond in our Birmingham-based post office. Expand Raymond joined The AAT family in September 2025 as a Community Support Administrator. He previously worked for Caritas Hong Kong – Youth & Community Service over 26 years. In 2023, he joined St. John Ambulance as a Community First Aider in the UK. Raymond likes watching movies, assembling and playing radio remote control car toys, video games as well as reading. He is passionate about learning new things. You can email Raymond at [email protected].
Sam Williams, Support and Outreach Community Manager Sam was recruited in 2020 to support patients on our helpline and online, and is often the very first person you'll hear from when you contact the AAT. Expand Having been through aplastic anaemia treatment himself as a child and receiving a stem cell transplant at the age of 21, Sam is passionate about supporting patients. He's here to provide you with a friendly ear, and expert, up to date information about the disease and treatment. Sam has extensive experience of managing online communities and manages our thriving Facebook community, supported by our wonderful volunteers. He has also been an ambassador for Anthony Nolan for many years, encouraging people to join the stem cell register. If you'd like a chat with Sam, you can call our helpline number on +44 (0) 300 102 3202 or email [email protected].
Zoe Smith, Support & Outreach Co-ordinator - North of England Previously a volunteer and active community member, Zoe joined our Support and Outreach Team in 2022, to work part-time to support people and build relationships. Expand Zoe joined the AA Community when she was diagnosed in November 2020 and received HATG treatment in Leeds in April 2021. Zoe is new to the team and started as a volunteer in 2022. Zoe worked previously as a Pastoral Manger in a large primary school in Leeds delivering bespoke packages of support to children and families who had social, emotional and mental health needs. Zoe is now keen to work with the charity to support children and families who are affected by aplastic anaemia. Zoe lives in Leeds with her husband and two teenage sons Harvey and Kyle. Zoe has a passion for running and has previously run two London Marathons. She has now joined back as a beginner with her local running club to restart her running journey. Zoe enjoys raising awareness of aplastic anaemia through fundraising events and loves meeting new people.