Who are we?
At the moment, there are eight Public Advisors, who have been appointed initially for a three year period. We are:
Simon Porges (Chair)
Simon has been involved in Research as a Research Champion for around three years, during this time he has also been a public representative on a large scale end of life study and participated in a COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial. Having been both a cancer patient and carer he is very excited about the prospect of the SHCRP delivering better outcomes for the people of Sussex through better, outcome driven, health and care research. He lives in Hove with his family and you’ll often find him at parkrun, running on the Downs or at other local running events!
“This has been a fantastic opportunity to contribute to and help shape something that has the potential to be of massive benefit to most importantly the health of people but also the economy of Sussex.”
Palo Almond (Deputy Chair)
Dr Palo Almond is a retired health professional and public health academic and now spends her time painting and exhibiting her art at exhibitions. When she’s not doing this she is supporting and advising on research policy, proposals, and education, either as a research champion with Sussex Community Foundation Trust (SCFT) or as an advisor with the SHCRP. She has a special interest in promoting health, reducing health inequalities and championing Engagement, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).
“It’s been great being involved in an evolving group and realising early on that our input was valued.”
Sarah Markham
Sarah is a long-term patient and mathematician with a deep interest in patient safety and addressing health inequalities. She is engaged in Public Participation and Involvement (PPI) and academic work in modelling population health and understanding underlying mechanisms. Like Simon, she is a regular runner.
“I am currently super excited to be a co-Investigator on a funded study of procedural justice in secure hospitals.”
Alan Sutton
Alan holds a number of volunteer roles, including being an Elected & Lead Governor for the Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and a long standing National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Public Research Champion for his trust, the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust and the wider Kent Sussex and Surrey region.
“I particularly enjoyed the Academic Conference where our group were fully engaged and contributed some great questions and lived experiences.”
Jane Woodhull
Jane is a retired nurse who spent 40 years in clinical, research and leadership roles within cancer services. In many of her roles she worked with national charities and academics working in partnership with patients and their families to improve services.
More recently she was Inclusion and Engagement Manager for Brighton and Hove LGBT Switchboard, a by and for charity, where she worked in partnership with communities, NHS Sussex, universities and the voluntary and community sector to address the inequalities LGBTQ+ people face. She has also been part of the Research Engagement Network Leadership Team which has developed a network of diverse community researchers to support Sussex-based health and care research.
“This role is a brilliant opportunity to ensure that people from multiply marginalised communities are able to influence future health and social care research.”
Mebrak Ghebreweldi
Mebrak Ghebreweldi, originally from Eritrea, is a Co-Founder and Director of Diversity Resource International (DRI) and has been an active public speaker, facilitator, start-up mentor and coach. She was a social entrepreneur at the University of Brighton for six years, and later served on the advisory board of the School of Business & Law for a further three years. Mebrak is a qualified community researcher and has been an active participant in the Research Engagement Network from the outset, advocating for community research at last year’s Clinical Academic Conference. “I strongly believe the full impact of PCIE has yet to be realised. For this to happen, communities and community researchers need to be meaningfully involved in collaboration with universities and research institutions. My passion is to ensure that communities are not just participants but genuine stakeholders in health and social care research.”
Avril Butler
Avril Butler is a retired pharmacist and now an NHS Sussex Community Ambassador. Her background is in pharmacy, having had many roles including research and development for a multinational pharmaceutical company, hospital Chief Pharmacist, partnership in a Community Pharmacy, lecturer to BTEC Pharmacy Technicians, Formulary and Medicines Information pharmacist and, latterly, promoting pharmacist prescribing. In retirement she became a patient with a rare blood disorder needing chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant so now views healthcare from another perspective. Her condition has benefitted considerably from research, for which she is very grateful.
Jane Green MBE
Jane Green MBE is the founder of the charity SEDSConnective, the world's first charity dedicated to hypermobile neurodivergent people. Disabled, multiply neurodivergent, volunteer, parent/carer and a fierce advocate, Jane was Honoured with an MBE in 2023 for Services to Neurodivergent people and Hypermobility (GJH EDS). She also works closely with Dr Jessica Eccles, who co-directs SHCRP’s Research Training Hub.
Wednesday Croft
Wednesday Croft is an economics graduate with experience in community participation and co-production, and with a background in local government, is familiar with current pressures on the NHS and recognises the exciting potential for research to alleviate it. She is a new arrival to the public advisory group, joining from her role as an NHS Youth Consultant, a voluntary position involving strategic insight provision in Sussex with a focus on children and young people. Wednesday also acts as Co-Director for The Plot Stanmer, an outdoor therapeutic space offering nature-based activities, highlighting a focus on public health and community provision. Professionally, she works as a data analyst, using insight tools to find conclusions and make recommendations. Wednesday lives in Brighton and can be found swimming in the sea during the warmer months... her own research shows it is the best place to be!
Maya Kihara
As part of her role as an NHS Volunteer Youth Consultant, Maya Kihara will be working alongside fellow PCAG member Wednesday Croft to bring youth insight into these conversations, ensuring young people’s perspectives help shape how research is developed and shared.
“I have been a youth consultant for two years and witnessed the importance of community work to improve conditions for all. My background is in medical neuroscience, and I currently work as a UX researcher. Being a part of this team allows me to bring in my educational insights to help create a more connected research community in Sussex.”
As our role and remit becomes clearer, we hope to expand the team ensuring it is as representative of the diversity of the Sussex population as possible.