Our Team

Chief Executive - Helen McAteer

Helen McAteer has been the Chief Executive of the Psoriasis Association since 2010. She has frequently represented the patient experience of psoriasis at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the Scottish Medicines Consortium, amongst other regulators and national bodies, including NHS England.

She oversees the Association’s research programme and has been a patient representative lead on numerous psoriasis research projects and consortia. These include the Psoriasis Stratification to Optimise Relevant Therapy (PSORT) project, the Identification and Management of Psoriasis-related Comorbidity (IMPACT) project and the Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) Top 10 Research Priorities for Psoriasis in the UK. She is a regular contributor to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Skin and enjoys working collaboratively with colleagues from other Immune Mediated Inflammatory Disease organisations on projects with a mutual interest.

Chair - Dr Julia Schofield MBE

Dr Julia Schofield became Chair of the Psoriasis Association Trustees in June 2024 at our annual conference.

She is a Consultant Dermatologist at United Lincolnshire Hospitals, and a Principal Lecturer in the School of Postgraduate Medicine at the University of Hertfordshire, where she has been involved (since 2006) in developing a Masters in Clinical Dermatology. This is an educational programme for nurses, doctors and pharmacists.

She has been a Trustee since 2008 and very much enjoys working with the Association. Julia says, ‘It is only through working with patient groups that we can understand patient needs and develop patient-centred models of care’.

Vice-Chair - Russ Cowper

Russ was elected as vice-chair at our annual conference in June 2024, and joined our Board of Trustees in 2022. He has had psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis since his early teens and has experienced a full range of treatments during that time including nine different biologics. He was a member of the Psoriasis Shout Out Team and took part in both the Psoriasis and the Psoriatic Arthritis Priority Setting Partnership.

He has spoken at events run by the Salford Royal Foundation Trust to help newly qualified Dermatology doctors from North Africa and worked with pharma companies to explore how living with psoriasis has affected him. He has also shared his experiences with the British Association of Dermatologist (BAD),The British Association of Dermatologists Biologic and Immunomodulators Register (BADBIR),Global Psoriasis Atlas and the British Skin Foundation.

He is currently a member of the patient panel at Innovation Health Manchester looking at research initiatives including the effects of Covid and is working with the new Dermatology research user network at Manchester University.

Treasurer - Brian Murkin

Brian Murkin is a retired chartered accountant who, following an early career in financial services, was finance director for the Institute of Directors and then the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Brian has lived in rural Northamptonshire for over twenty years and has served as a governor at Northampton College and also as a parish clerk.

He is married with two grown up children who have now left home enabling him to pursue his interests in hill walking and classical music.

Steven Astaire was a Stockbroker by profession and is a horse racing fanatic who is heavily involved in Point-to-Point racing. Steven has been a psoriasis sufferer since his early teens, and became a Trustee some years ago to try to help fellow sufferers by ensuring that the work of our Association continues as strongly as possible. He is married with three children and seven grandchildren.

Adam Bushby has been a solicitor for 27 years and is also a professional pension scheme trustee. He has been living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthropathy since he was 13, giving him a first hand understanding of the challenges posed by these conditions.

Adam has been a life member of the Psoriasis Association for over 25 years and is deeply grateful for the invaluable information and support the charity has provided him with since his youth. When he was a teenager, his only other sources of information were outdated dermatology textbooks in Hull Central Library, a far cry from the wealth of resources available today.

With vivid memories of the less-than-ideal treatments of the past, such as coal tar ointments containing ammoniated mercury, Adam has closely followed research into better therapies. He has been fortunate to participate in studies of biological treatments including infliximab at Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital. He’s now on his sixth biological drug treatment.

Adam is particularly passionate about addressing the disability and discrimination faced by individuals with psoriasis and psoriatic arthropathy, whether at school, work, or in other aspects of life. His personal experiences have fuelled his commitment to raising awareness and advocating for those affected by these conditions.

In his spare time, Adam volunteers as a patroller for Love Your Doorstep Community Patrol Dulwich, a volunteer group providing an adult presence after school to help children feel safe, and he enjoys singing in choirs.

Sophie Field has over twenty years of experience working in the voluntary and community sector, with a focus on working with young people and people with long term conditions. In these roles Sophie has worked managing residential programmes, creating local community programmes, providing specialist volunteer management knowledge, and championing involvement, equality and diversity.

Sophie has lived with Psoriasis since she was around 5 years old, and is keen to pass on her skills and knowledge to help further the amazing work of Psoriasis Association. She lives in Worcestershire and enjoys ballet, being out in the countryside and building Lego with her daughter!

Marie Fryers is an experienced HR leader and a Chartered Fellow of the CIPD. Over the last 30 years, Marie has held leadership roles within several FTSE 100 organisations and she enjoys working with teams to deliver great outcomes together. Marie has close family and friends with psoriasis, and she feels passionately about progressing education, support and research to help people living with the condition. Marie is married with one son, and she enjoys learning Spanish, travelling and listening to live music.

Gill Hynes has over 30 years Marketing experience. She started her career in the corporate environment at British Airways, before moving agency side and specialising in loyalty and membership programmes at Carlson Marketing Group. She has extensive expertise in mobilising start up ventures including AirMiles, Webloyalty, and Artemis and she also specialises in corporate positioning, branding and reputational management, and public speaking.

Although originally from Scotland, and having extensively travelled and lived abroad, she is now firmly settled in South West London. In the last couple of years she has got the property development bug and as an avid fan of Grand Designs, has renovated two houses and a flat. Gill has had psoriasis since the age of 15, been a member of the Association for over 25 years, and a trustee since 2016. She is really keen on psoriasis myth-busting and improving the general public’s understanding of what psoriasis is and is not.

Michael Israel is a Life Member of the Psoriasis Association and has seen our Association grow to be where it is today. Michael is keen on our social media and how the Association encourages younger people with psoriasis to be members and to be involved with the future of the Association. Michael has had psoriasis for over 50 years and has travelled many times to the shores of the Dead Sea in Israel and Jordan for Natural Climatic Treatment for his skin. Michael is passionate about our Association and is humbled and proud of the work we all do to raise the awareness of psoriasis. Michael also serves as a member of the Psoriasis Association Finance Committee.

He was Vice Chairman of Young Norwood Ravenswood (1995 - 1998) and also between 2007 and 2009 a Trustee and Senior Warden of the West London Synagogue in London and was reappointed a Trustee for another 3-year term until July 2020. Michael spent his business career in the Wine and Food Industry, today finding time to volunteer at The Harrington Scheme who support students with learning difficulties in horticulture and the retail environment. In 2023 Michael commenced volunteering at the famous Highgate Cemetery where he will train to become a tour guide. His hobbies are Travel and Photography.

Karina Jackson is a nurse consultant who has worked in specialist dermatology roles for over 25 years. She has developed a number of specialist nurse-led services for people with psoriasis, including medicine management clinics and a day treatment centre for topical therapy administration. She is very aware of the significant psychological impact psoriasis can have and has campaigned hard to improve access to psychological support. Karina is involved in teaching and training other healthcare professionals to raise awareness and improve care provision for people with skin conditions. She currently works in a large teaching hospital and research centre in London where many psoriasis research studies are conducted. Karina was keen to join the Psoriasis Association as a Trustee to offer her expertise and experience as a healthcare professional, especially in relation to developing support and guidance for people.

Susan Morgan has over twenty years of experience in the charity sector, building up a deep knowledge and understanding of fundraising in the UK. This has included fundraising roles at British Red Cross, Action for Children and Sue Ryder. For the last ten years as a consultant, Sue has worked with a wide range of charities providing advice, market insight and practical tools to help develop income. She is keen to use this expertise and knowledge to help increase the fundraising at the Psoriasis Association.

Sue has had psoriasis since being a teenager and knows from personal experience that the information and support provided by the Psoriasis Association can be a great practical source of advice and comfort. After twenty years in London she is now based in York and has three daughters who motivate and inspire her work as a Trustee in providing support for future generations.

Dr Manisha R Panchal is a Consultant Dermatologist at the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, where she leads clinical initiatives with a focus on psoriasis and biological therapies. As the clinical lead clinician for these areas, Dr. Panchal is at the forefront of managing and advancing treatments for psoriasis, leveraging cutting-edge biological therapies to improve patient outcomes.

Her dedication to education is evident through her active involvement in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, sharing her extensive knowledge and experience with the next generation of medical professionals. Dr. Panchal recruits to dermatological research trials, contributing to the development of new treatments and therapies.

Dr. Panchal holds membership in several prestigious organisations, including the Midlands Dermatology Society, the British Association of Dermatology, and the European Association of Dermatology and Venereology. Her role extends beyond clinical practice into community service, notably as a Trustee of The Psoriasis Association. In this capacity, she offers her expert guidance on managing psoriasis, with a particular focus on addressing the needs of patients from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities, ensuring inclusive and comprehensive care for all.

Her multifaceted contributions to dermatology encompass clinical excellence, education, research, and community service, making Dr. Panchal a respected clinician in her field. She is married to a respiratory physician, has twin children and enjoys spending time with the family; bike riding, travelling and cooking.

Matthew Swift has been a trustee for eight years. His grandfather and his father have also served as trustees of the Association. He established his own online retail business several years ago and has useful experience with commercial strategy, website design and social media. Matthew has had psoriasis for many years and his personal knowledge and sympathetic understanding of the condition help him to recognise good practice and treatments. He is especially interested in research and is keen to engage in upcoming developments in this area.

The position of Honorary Life Vice President is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to The Psoriasis Association and psoriasis community as a whole. The list of our esteemed Honorary Life Vice Presidents is provided below.

Professor Jonathan Barker - Medical and Research Support

Nick Evans - Former Chairman

John Ford MBE- Founding Honorary Treasurer

Professor Chris Griffiths OBE - Medical and Research Support

Ray Jobling MBE - Long-term Chairman

Professor Terence Ryan – Founding Member & Medical and Research Support