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Co-Founder, Meternal: The MCCA
A Consultant in Adult Critical Care and current Head of Clinical Services for Emergency and Acute Care at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Steve’s experience has unveiled how pregnant and recently pregnant women can fall through the gap between maternity and critical care services. This knowledge is a key driver as to why MCCA exists.
More widely Steve is Maternity Lead for the East Midlands Critical Care Network, a member of the Intensive Care Society’s Maternal Critical Care Steering Group, and an assessor for the UK confidential enquiry into maternal deaths (MBRRACE-UK). He also serves on the European Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Scientific Committee (Obstetric Subforum) and contributed to the 2025 European Resuscitation Council Advanced Life Support Guidelines.
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Co-Founder, Meternal: The MCCA
A Consultant in Anaesthesia and Critical Care at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Deborah has duel expertise in Critical Care and Obstetric Anaesthesia. She is passionate about improving the care and outcomes for critically ill pregnant and recently pregnant women and has been working locally, regionally and nationally to achieve this for over 10 years. She continues to work clinically both on delivery suite and ICU and it is this direct experience that has allowed her to pinpoint the current gaps in education and care which the MCCA aims to address.
Deborah is also a member of the Department of Health Perinatal Deterioration group, Yorkshire & the Humber Maternal and Enhanced Critical Care (MEaCC) steering group Chair, Chair of the Intensive Care Society Maternal Critical Care group and is a Critical Care and Anaesthesia Clinical Advisor for MNSI.
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Trustee, Meternal; The MCCA
Sarah is a professional Career and Leadership Coach, working predominantly with senior healthcare staff. This role draws on her previous experience, where she worked for 19 years as an NHS doctor, most recently as a Consultant in Obstetric Anaesthesia and Critical Care medicine.
Sarah’s working mission is in empowering healthcare staff to use their strengths and skills to thrive in an increasingly complex and demanding system.
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Trustee, Meternal: The MCCA
Dr Nuala Lucas is a Consultant Anaesthetist at London North West University Healthcare Trust. Her major interest is obstetric anaesthesia. She is the President of the Obstetric Anaesthetists’ Association and chairs the Education Subcommittee.
Nuala is the anaesthetic co-lead for the UK Confidential Maternal Death Enquiries (MBRRACE-UK). She is a senior editor for the International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia. Her research interests include airway management in obstetric anaesthesia and complications of obstetric anaesthesia. She has published numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals, focusing on topics ranging from perioperative management in preeclampsia to the safety and efficacy of anaesthesia techniques during childbirth.
She is committed to advancing the field of obstetric anaesthesia through collaborative research efforts and advocacy initiatives. In 2020 she was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to anaesthesia. In 2021 she was awarded the Featherstone Professorship by the Association of Anaesthetists.
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Trustee, Meternal: The MCCA
Marian Knight is Director and Professor of Maternal and Child Population Health in the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, UK and the Programme lead for the MBRRACE-UK Confidential Enquiries into maternal and perinatal deaths and mortality. She is a public health physician whose research focuses on the care and prevention of severe complications of pregnancy and early life and addressing disparities in outcomes for women and babies from different population groups. She was elected to fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2021 in recognition of her exceptional contribution to the advancement of medical science, and awarded an MBE in the 2023 King’s New Year Honours for services to maternal and Public Health.
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Trustee, Meternal: The MCCA
An Obstetric Physician, Endocrinologist, and General Physician at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, and Honorary Associate Professor in Obstetric Medicine at King’s College London. A national and international leader in women’s health, she specialises in medical disorders of pregnancy, maternal deterioration, and cardiometabolic health.
She has led the development of national guidance and education programmes to improve care for women with complex medical conditions during and after pregnancy. Anita is President of the UK Maternity Cardiology Society, a member of the Department of Health’s Perinatal Deterioration Group and is committed to reducing health inequalities and advancing personalised, equitable care. In 2025, she was awarded the Honorary Fellowship (FRCOG ad eundem) by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
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Trustee, Meternal: The MCCA
Lisa is a Professor of Applied Social Health Sciences in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford. Her research uses qualitative and mixed methods to understand patient, carer and staff experiences of health and illness and uses these experiences to improve care. Lisa has conducted in-depth interview studies with women and family members who have experienced maternal critical illness and published resources for women, families, and health professionals on Health Experiences Insights.
She has published over 115 peer-reviewed journal articles for clinical, sociological, policy and practitioner audiences. She is Director of Oxford Qualitative Courses, the University of Oxford’s expert-led programme of short courses in qualitative research. A major area of focus of her research is women’s health and maternity care (including antenatal and postnatal care and maternal illness) and inequalities. Lisa was a trustee of the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre and currently serves as a trustee for Action on Pre-Eclampsia.
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Trustee, Meternal: The MCCA
Helen is a highly experienced finance professional with nearly 25 years’ expertise across a range of senior leadership roles spanning multiple industries. She currently serves as Head of Strategic Treasury within a multinational professional services organisation.
Helen brings deep technical knowledge and strategic insight to her work and is passionate about applying her skills to make a meaningful impact. She is delighted to support the charity in strengthening its financial governance, helping to develop and implement a robust financial management and compliance framework to ensure long-term financial health and sustainability.
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Trustee, Meternal: The MCCA
Kate spent over twenty years in the legal profession before moving in-house to the legal team of a national charity. She now serves as a trustee for Azalea (having managed governance and fundraising as part of its Senior Leadership Team), a charity which works to empower and facilitate sustainable transformation in the lives of women, men and neighbourhoods impacted by Modern Slavery Sexual Exploitation. Kate is privileged to support the vital work of Meternal (MCCA) by bringing her legal background and experience of charity governance to the Board.
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Trustee, Meternal: The MCCA
A brand strategist, Tamarind’s career is founded on building brands, managing complex messaging and effective reputation management.
A communications expert and crisis consultant, her expertise spans 20+ years across a multitude of organisations and sectors, including the NHS, private healthcare, insurance and charities.
She leads on all communications to ensure that MCCA’s messaging is precise and achieves positive impact.
