Here's Our Trustees
Donna Okell (Chair)
Donna lives in Cheshire and has over 35 years’ experience in the financial and retail sectors. Since 2013 she has also been supporting leaders in the voluntary sector. She has been a keen supporter of NMC since she first visited the centre in 2013.
Donna set up and co-facilitates Connect, Lead and Learn, a forum for CEOs of Cheshire Charities. She is the founder of Prosper on Purpose, an organisation which helps organisations clarify their vision, purpose, and values.
In 2021 Donna established Cheshire for Good; a unique community for Cheshire businesses who are committed to making a bigger difference to their people, communities, and the planet. She is part of the growing B Corp (responsible business) movement which encourages businesses to act as a force for good.
When not working she enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking the dogs, cooking gardening, and occasionally cycling!
Ian is a Royal Navy veteran of the first Gulf War but was discharged after being diagnosed with Charcot Marie Tooth disease. He now has over 20 years’ experience working and volunteering in Disability Sport and is full time employed as Head of Disability Cricket for the England and Wales Cricket Board. He has overseen the growth of disability cricket from c3000 participants in 2007 to over 71k in 2019. He has led 18 overseas cricket tours with England’s national disability squads and states that his biggest achievement is never losing a series in Australia!!
Ian has been attending NMC since 2005. He understands first hand the benefits of the centre and its holistic approach to treatment.
Outside of work, Ian lives in North East Wales and is married with 2 children. He enjoys reading (when he gets chance) and attending cricket and football matches with his son. Ian is a season ticket holder at Everton Football Club and a full member of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Ian is also a Trustee of The Lord’s Taverners. He has recently written a biographical account of his life and experiences which expected to be published towards the end of 2021.
Ian Martin (Vice Chair)
Bill Stothart (Treasurer)
Bill is a Chartered Accountant and experienced Finance Director who joined NMC Trustees on retirement from the University of Chester in 2016.
Bill previously worked for Shell, both in the UK and internationally, and then in further and higher education.
Bill wanted to continue to put his finance and general management experience to good use and to support and develop NMC to deliver on its objectives for people with Neuromuscular disorders and feels he has learned a lot from the experience.
Bill is married and lives near Chester. Bill enjoys spending time with his family, travel, cycling, bird watching, playing tennis and badminton, and watching a wide variety of live sport, theatre, and music.
Millie has been part of the NMC community since 2012 as a physio recipient, volunteer, employee, and now a trustee.
After graduating from Durham University with a Law degree, Millie was responsible for the development of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme at NMC, providing a vital platform for young disabled people to grow in confidence and independence.
Millie now works in corporate responsibility at a law firm in London, developing strategic partnerships with civil society organisations.
Millie is also a disability rights activist and uses her lived experience of Spinal Muscular Atrophy to campaign for the removal of societal barriers for disabled people.
In her spare time, Millie loves travelling, theatre, and spending time with family and friends.
Millie Hawes
Rosanne Diaz
Rosanne has recently relocated from London to Cheshire. She has joined the NMC as a trustee to better connect with the charitable sector and communities locally.
Rosanne is a Senior Policy Advisor at the Department of Health and Social Care, where she leads work on national policies in social care. Previously in Government she worked on national housing and homelessness policies in the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities, working closely with the VCSE sector.
Throughout her professional career Rosanne has worked directly with people living with long term health conditions, alongside designing policies and services to help improve healthcare, social and wellbeing outcomes.
Rosanne has a personal connection with people living with neuromuscular conditions having met close friends through working at Muscular Dystrophy UK and a family member is a specialist neuromuscular occupational therapist in Leeds. Whilst working at Muscular Dystrophy UK Rosanne oversaw the introduction of new national support services and as a result significant increase in people accessing support, advocacy and information and ultimately long-term supporters of the charity. It was during this role that she became aware of the NMC and was impressed by the values and services on offer.
In her spare time Rosanne enjoys being much closer to mountains, seeing family and friends and live music.
Dr Mark Roberts is a Consultant Neurologist at the Greater Manchester Neurosciences Unit at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, with additional clinical commitments at the Royal Manchester Childrens Hospital, University Hospital of South Manchester and Withington Community Hospitals. He qualified in 1989 with degrees in medicine and physiology.
Following a medical Senior House Officer (SHO) rotation in Manchester, he moved to the National Hospital for Neurology as an SHO on the Gowers Professorial ward. He was a research fellow to Professors Newsom-Davis and Angela Vincent at the Institute of Molecular Medicine in Oxford from 1993 to 1996, and has published widely on neuromuscular disease.
His speciality registrar training was at the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Liverpool, with electives in Kings College, London and Durban, South Africa.
In 2000 he was appointed as consultant neurologist in Manchester and commenced his private practice that same year. He has extensive experience in general neurology including epilepsy, parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and neuromuscular disorders. He interacts closely with physiotherapists and other Allied Health Professionals and lectures regularly to physiotherapy colleagues on neurological issues and research. He was awarded the FRCP and is an honorary lecturer to the University of Manchester.
Dr Roberts has a large NHS practice and leads the Neuromuscular Group. He is the Research Lead for Adult Metabolic Medicine at Salford. He enjoys teaching medical students, doctors in training, AHPs and GP colleagues. He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester.
Mark Roberts
Sunil Monteiro
Sunil joined the NMC community in 2018 when he attended the Centre for physical therapy. The NMC's fun and friendly approach helped him enjoy exercise once more and boosted his confidence in his physical abilities. After seeing the Centre's remarkable impact, he became a Trustee in 2021.
Sunil is an Actuary in a Life Insurance company focusing on its capital position. Sunil also supports and represents his colleagues on a range of issues, including accessibility, group policies and individual support.
In his spare time Sunil is a keen reader, an avid sports fan, a passionate advocate for the disability community and a very proud uncle.
Bill has spent his entire professional life working in the steel industry, starting in South Wales in 1987 before re-locating to Chester in 2000. He has held a number of management roles within Sales, IT, Logistics and Manufacturing. He has been the Site Manager of the Tata Steel plant in Shotton, North Wales since 2013. He joined the NMC Trustees in 2021.
Bill has a longstanding connection with the NMC who have been supporting his wife, Andrea, for the last 20 years. He applied to join the Trustees to make a broader use of his management experience but, more importantly, to try and repay the debt of gratitude he has for the Centre after so many years of physical and emotional help for his family. He has two grown up children.
Outside of work, Bill is a keen rugby and cricket fan although his playing days are long since gone. He plays golf occasionally and wants to play much more regularly in the future.
