Dr Grace Dowling was appointed as the President of Headway Surrey in 2008

She previously served as High Sheriff of Surrey from 2004 to 2005.

Born in Goa and brought up in Zanzibar, Dr Dowling studied medicine in Dublin before moving to the UK in 1962 to complete her training. Following her hospital internships, she initially trained as an anaesthetist, but later joined general medicine after the birth of her second child. Her medical practice straddled the borders of Kent and Surrey, with the main surgery being located in Biggin Hill and the second surgery being located in Tatsfield Surrey.

During her years as a General Medical Practitioner she took a special interest in the health of women. She continued as Senior Partner in the practice of five doctors, twenty staff and some 12,000 patients until her husband, Professor Patrick Dowling, moved to Guildford to accept the post of Vice Chancellor of the University of Surrey.  Grace played an active part in supporting the role of the Vice Chancellor and served the community in the official, social and charitable events associated with that position.

As High Sheriff, she immersed herself in numerous charitable and other community activities, and took a special interest in young people, particularly those in need of support. She continues her involvement with the community through her participation in the Community Foundation for Surrey and Surrey Care Trust. And she chairs the Guildford Diocesan Committee on Child Protection. Grace was involved in the High Sheriff Youth Award scheme for a number of years

In October 2009 she was privileged to open the new premises which marked the latest stage of development for Headway Surrey. She looks forward to continuing her support for this vital Charity as it enters a period which is likely to be challenging for all Charities.

Jenny has been a Trustee of Headway Surrey since 2002 and Chair since 2005, succeeding Roshan Bailey who made a major contribution to Headway Surrey’s development over many years.  Jenny has been proud to work with two excellent Chief Executives, Margaret Bray and Oliver McGeachy.

As Chair, Jenny’s role is to ensure the effective governance of the organisation, including financial probity, facilitating the participation of other Trustees.  She supports the Chief Executive, and in conjunction with him acts as ambassador for the organisation.  She gives a lead on ensuring that Headway Surrey has a clear strategic direction. 

Jenny has lived in Surrey since 1998.  Her earlier career was in National Health Service management, including eleven years as a Health Authority Chief Executive.  Since 2001, she has worked nationally on health and well-being (including sustainable development and climate change), with the UK Public Health Register, the Royal Society of Public Health and the Faculty of Public Health.  She is a Non-Executive Director of NICE (the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence).

In Surrey, she also chairs the Surrey Youth Consortium of voluntary organisations providing services for young people and is a Trustee for the High Sheriff Youth Awards.

Jenny is always pleased to hear from people about Headway Surrey: please contact her through the North Road Centre.

Helen heads up the Barlow Robbins personal injury team, acting personally for clients with severe injuries and for those whose cases involve complex issues of law or evidence.  Helen also acts as a Court of Protection Deputy for a number of clients who have suffered brain injury.

For several years Helen played an active part in the national Association of Personal Injury Lawyers Brain Injury special interest group, first as secretary then as Co ordinator, only stepping down when the demands of motherhood took over.  Her work has brought her into contact with a wide network of people in the healthcare sector.  She is well known amongst local schools, rehabilitation centres and charities.  She is the founding chair of the Surrey Acquired Brain Injury Network.

Helen is also a school governor and a Church Warden of the parish church in Godalming.  She is married and has a son and a daughter.

Tom worked in the NHS from 1967 until his retirement in 2007.  Tom qualified as a Registered Mental Nurse in 1970 and Registered General Nurse in 1978.  Since 1970, Tom has worked in mental health services in the NHS as a practitioner and manager both in the hospital and community settings.   During his long carer in the NHS, Tom has had experiences in managing corporate as well as clinical services.  Since his retirement, Tom has worked part-time as a lecturer in St George’s University of London.  

 Tom Chan sees learning as a life-long process which is reflected by his record of post-registration and post-graduate education.  He has an interested in the use of clinical information to inform health and health care, and participates in a number of collaborative research projects with academic and NHS partners.  Tom Chan has a number of publications in peer-reviewed journals and successful research grant applications as joint applicant, the most significant of which is the joint application between the Trust and Aston University to the Department of Health's New and Emerging Application of Technology (NEAT) Scheme; the value of this research funding was £245,457 over 2 years (2003/05).

Sophie is an experienced, senior healthcare manager with a strong interest in applying commercial skills in a not for profit environment. She works full-time for a large global consulting firm specialising in selling and delivering sales and marketing strategies for pharmaceutical companies. Prior to that, Sophie worked for the world's largest pharmaceutical company in a senior management role running the information services for doctors and pharmacists who prescribe the companies medicines.

Sophie is a biochemist by training and also holds an MBA from Ashridge Management School. Her role at Headway Surrey is to support the good governance of the organisation and run the annual strategic planning process.

My involvement with Headway Surrey started in 2005 when I first met Margaret Bray and Roshan Bailey.  They explained the purpose and objectives of Headway to me and I was both moved and impressed by their commitment and dedication.  I became a trustee later that year and my role within Headway is Treasurer.

My first job after university was as an economist with the Standard Chartered Bank.  Following the arrival of three sons I taught A Level Economics at girls’ independent schools.  I was Head of Economics at St. Catherine’s, Bramley and The Royal School, Haslemere.  My last position was at The Marist Convent Senior School in Sunninghill.  During my teaching career I had a special interest in encouraging pupils to set up Young Enterprise Schemes.  These schemes operated as small businesses and the profits raised were donated to charities.  At present, I help my husband with his small business and I am the Company Secretary. 

As a trustee of Headway I am committed to improving awareness of the difficulties faced by those affected by acquired brain injuries.  I support wholeheartedly measures to enable our client group to lead fulfilling lives with as much independence as possible.

"Ian Cooper was a Senior Civil Servant in Central Government (his last 20 years in the Treasury) before he retired in 2000.  He still lectures occasionally at the National School of Government.

On his return from 4 years in Canada, Ian became a Trustee in 2004 in order to lead the project which has provided our new Resource Centre and 10 affordable and social housing units.

Ian is a skiing fanatic and keeps fit by walking, cycling and going to the gym most weekdays.  Married with 3 adult children, he also spends as much time as possible with and supporting his 6 grandchildren.

Having had a brain tumour successfully removed in 2000, Ian fully understands the importance of Headway's work and is wholly sympathetic to its aims.  Even though his work on the Resource Centre is now complete he remains a committed and enthusiastic member of our team."