Our Trustees and Leadership Team
Mast Cell Action is led by a dedicated team of people who share a commitment to improving the lives of everyone affected by MCAS.
Our Trustees provide strategic oversight, governance and guidance, helping to ensure that the charity is well run, sustainable and always focused on the needs of our community. They bring a wide range of professional expertise, skills and lived experience to their roles.
Working alongside them, our team is responsible for turning our ambitions into action – developing our services, supporting our community, building partnerships and driving forward our work to improve understanding, recognition and support for MCAS.
Most of us have direct experience of MCAS, either someone living with MCAS, through a family member or through a friend. Though our stories are each unique, they share the common thread of the difficulties and frustrations that accompany learning to cope with chronic illness, searching for a diagnosis, and struggling to receive treatment.
Together, our Trustees and leadership team are helping to shape the future of Mast Cell Action and create lasting change for people affected by MCAS.
Chris Wood
Chris is a Mast Cell Action trustee and says "The complete vacuum of understanding and support within the medical system convinced me something needed to be done, so when I was approached by Gawain and Jennie, I was happy to join them in founding Mast Cell Action.
My background is one of branding, design and communications so I was able to help in the initial stages of sorting a name, branding, website and so on. I was subsequently volunteered to raise some money which led to undertaking two walks of the Thames along with 15 different dogs (another story!)". You can read more about Chris here.
You can contact Chris at Chris@MastCellAction.org
ERIC GROUNDS
Eric is a trustee and his background spans military service, business, sports and he is an author. Key to his skill set, is extensive charity experience, having worked in the voluntary sector for over 30 years and being a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.
You can read more about Eric here.
You can contact Eric at eric@mastcellaction.org
CLAIRE BOUNDS
Claire Bounds, (BA Psychology, PgDip HR, MSc HR, Assoc CIPD) is a Trustee at Mast Cell Action. Claire has volunteered with us for many years, overseeing recruitment, policies and procedures, and exit procedures.
Among other tasks, Claire also supports with health and safety, and is our safeguarding lead. You can read more about Claire here.
You can contact Claire at claire@MastCellAction.org
TOM WRIGHT
Tom is a trustee with a background in healthcare leadership, having served as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of NICE. He brings expertise in medical research development and a strong interest in improving diagnosis and treatment pathways for complex conditions.
You can read more about Tom, here.
You can contact Tom at Tom@mastcellaction.org
ALEX CROOM
Alex completed her specialist training in Allergy at the Royal Brompton Hospital and has worked as a Consultant Allergist for nearly 25 years. Now retired from the NHS, she most recently worked at Queen's Medical Centre Nottingham.
Her clinical interests are broad, with particular expertise in anaphylaxis, chronic urticaria and mast cell diseases. She strongly believes that knowledge is power and has been committed throughout her career to the education of doctors, other healthcare professionals and patients.
Outside medicine, Alex's interests include fighting a losing battle with the garden, managing to continue cross-country skiing, and catching up on the books she has not read for the last 25 years.
Alex is also currently failing to train a Border Terrier puppy.
CHLOE HALL
Chloe is a registered Dietitian with over 15 years’ experience, working within the NHS alongside running her specialist private practice, The Calm Gut Dietitian.
She specialises in Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), histamine intolerance, gut health, Long Covid and Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS), and has extensive experience supporting people living with complex, co-existing conditions including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).
Chloe is particularly passionate about improving access to evidence-based nutrition information for people with MCAS and reducing the confusion and unnecessary dietary restriction that can surround the condition.
Her commitment to this area is both professional and personal, following her husband’s experience of living with MCAS, PoTS and Long Covid.
You can read more about Chloe here.
BETHAN MYERS
Dr Bethan Myers qualified in Cambridge and Cardiff, and trained in haematology in the East Midlands, becoming a consultant in 2000.
Although Dr Myers is primarily a consultant in Haemostasis, Thrombosis and Obstetric Haematology, she has always had an interest in Mastocytosis, which over recent years has expanded to an interest in Mast Cell Disorders in general.
Dr Myers has initiated and presented proteonomics research in mastocytosis, and is involved in a current international MCAS commercial study.
JOY MASON
Joy is our CEO and leads the day to day running of our charity. Joy has MCAS and cares for 2 children with MCAS. Having worked in various charities for the past fifteen years, she has extensive experience which she brings to the team.
Her personal experience with MCAS provides her with a deep understanding and empathy for those we support, ensuring our initiatives are both relevant and impactful. You can read more about Joy's experiences with MCAS and her work here.
You can contact Joy at Joy@MastCellAction.org.
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Mast Cell Action relies entirely on the generosity of people like you. Please make a donation now and together we can make a difference to those affected by MCAS.
