Who we are

Tom is a chartered surveyor and founding partner of Coventry-based commercial property firm Bromwich Hardy. He was appointed chairman of the Get A-Head Charitable Trust after a long-standing association with the charity and its founders. Tom’s twin brother was treated by charity co-founder John Watkinson after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Tom himself also had to undergo major surgery to have part of his own thyroid removed to reduce the risk of him developing the same cancer because of a genetic disorder. His three children have also had the same surgical procedure known as a thyroidectomy. Both Tom’s personal and professional experiences combined with his entrepreneurial drive are invaluable to the charity as it continues to grow and support research into innovative treatments to help individuals impacted by head and neck diseases.

John Watkinson has led a distinguished career as one of the UK’s top ear, nose and throat surgeons and was one of the original founders of the Get A-Head Charitable Trust in 1994 along with Adrian Drake-Lee, the late Roy Castle, TV celebrity doctor Hilary Jones and the Warwickshire Cricketers. For 25 years John was the consultant head and neck thyroid surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. Here he held a large clinical and research thyroid practice. He also worked at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, has helped orchestrate and supervise more than 40 higher degrees and in 1998 was given the title of Hospital Surgical Doctor of the year. His experience, knowledge and expertise has been instrumental in driving forward the charity’s principal aims and ambitions.

Wendy Davies first became involved with Get A-Head as a patient when she was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2009. Charity co-founder and fellow trustee, John Watkinson, was her consultant and through the charity she received some complementary therapy in the form of acupuncture and counselling to aid her recovery. Grateful for the ongoing support of both John and the charity, Wendy, who has since made a full and healthy recovery from the cancer, was keen to maintain her links with Get A-Head. Therefore, when a position arose for a finance trustee to join the board in 2013, Wendy jumped at the opportunity. Having worked in corporate finance since graduating from university, Wendy’s professional skills and experience has helped guide the charity enormously. Outside of Get A-Head, she holds the position of corporate partner at CK Chartered Accountants in Dudley.

Based in the Midlands, Shahz Ahmed is a leading surgeon specialising in sinus and skull surgery. He currently practices as an NHS consultant rhinologist and skull base surgeon at University Hospitals Birmingham and University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire and Birmingham Childrens’ Hospital. Shahz has also been instrumental in setting up specialised clinics for people suffering from chronic facial pain, allergy, vasculitis and hereditary blood vessel disorders. He has a wide-range of research interests and in 2011 undertook a PhD with funding support from Get A-Head. He now supervises numerous higher degrees and has had more than 160 research articles published in various medical literature. His clinical and research expertise is invaluable to the charity and is influential in driving forward our key priorities.

Paul Mourton, a real estate lawyer, has been a trustee of the Get A-Head Charitable Trust since 2015. He first came to know about Get A-Head at our charity ball in 2009 and his enthusiasm to do more for the organisation saw him appointed as a trustee a few years later. Paul lives in Cheltenham with his wife Melanie and daughter Olivia and is currently managing partner at UK-based Lodders Solicitors. His exceptional leadership skills saw him crowned winner of the Professional Services Leader of the Year Award at the 2023 Business Desk West Midlands Leadership Awards. His professional expertise and experience has helped shaped the charity’s focus and community impact over recent years.

Simon first became involved with Get A-Head after losing friend and colleague Mel Jaggard to a rare form of cancer known as Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, which affects the salivary glands and other parts of the head and neck. Looking to do something positive in Mel’s memory, Simon and a group of colleagues decided to organise a sponsored bike ride to raise funds for Get A-Head. The event proved such a success it became an annual fixture and over the course of five years, more than £300,000 was raised for Get A-Head. Simon was determined to continue his involvement with the charity following the fundraising success and was appointed to the board of trustees in 2020. He currently works as a sales director for a food company and has more than 20 years’ experience in the industry. His continued support, knowledge and experience is vital to the ongoing work of the charity.

David Spooner joined the Get A-Head board of trustees in 2023. As a consultant clinical oncologist at University Hospital Birmingham, he has seen first-hand, on multiple occasions, the physical impact that cancer can have on patients. By working with us, his knowledge and expertise is helping to direct our support to the right places and people. David specialises in cancer diagnosis and management with a particular interest in treating the brain and central nervous system, young people’s tumours and treatments for breast cancer.

Professor Akhil Tripathi is one of the newest appointments at Get A-Head, having joined the board of trustees in 2023. As a successful serial entrepreneur and innovator in the medtech sector, he brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the charity. He is the co-founder and CEO of pioneering firm Signifier Medical Technologies, which among its successes developed the world’s first clinically proven daytime therapy to treat primary snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea. Akhil is passionate about making a difference to the lives of individuals and by supporting the charity he hopes more people will be empowered to overcome the challenges they face so that they can achieve their full potential.