Meet the trustees

Lynne Gillon

Chair

Lynne’s career as an international business leader has been in the technology sector ranging from start-ups to large global organisations and most recently at Oracle Corporation. She has now embarked on a portfolio career and qualified as an Executive Coach and is a member of the Advisory Board for a Cyber Security Company – Reliance acsn.

Lynne brings a deep understanding of digital technology and comprehensive insights into cloud software and emerging technologies. She holds a B.A. in Computer Science, a post graduate diploma in International Marketing from INSEAD Business School, and graduated from IMD Business School’s International Management Program. She is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) as well as a Chartered Information Technology Practitioner (CITP)

Lynne suffers from tinnitus and is very keen to contribute to our vision of: ‘A world where no one suffers from tinnitus’.

In her spare time she loves to go to the opera, the theatre and spends time reading. In the winter she likes to be on the ski slopes as much as possible!

Lucy Colenso

Vice Chair

A marketing specialist with a background in chocolate manufacturing and retail, Lucy is a recent appointment to our trustee panel. Her involvement concentrates on our strategic direction, helping to shape and guide the marketing plan and vision for our short and long term together with our team in Sheffield.

James Corcoran

Trustee

James stepped down from a successful corporate career in 2019 and now enjoys plural activities, including sitting on three Boards around the world, advising private equity companies, and managing his family charitable foundation.

He is married and has three children and two grandchildren. Downtime is spent travelling with family and friends and trying to lower his very high golf handicap. James has been a tinnitus sufferer since 2015.

Simon Dodd

Trustee

Simon is an experienced marketing and marketing communications expert, with a background in working with major household brand names. He also has extensive CEO, management and board experience in a range of corporate environments, include working at a senior level within a professional body.

Outside of work, Simon's hobbies include playing and coaching cricket, skiing, literature and real ale.

Lucy Handscomb

Trustee

Lucy Handscomb trained as a hearing therapist in the 1990’s. She worked in a number of NHS clinics across the UK offering one-to-one counselling and support to adults with acquired hearing loss and their communication partners. Over time she developed a special interest in tinnitus, and for 10 years ran the tinnitus therapy clinic at St Mary’s Hospital, London. More recently she has been running group information sessions and short self-management courses for people with tinnitus in various locations. Alongside her clinical career she developed a teaching role and has worked as a lecturer on hearing therapy and audiology courses in Bristol and London. She currently teaches undergraduate and graduate students at UCL Ear Institute and co-organises the longstanding tinnitus and hyperacusis masterclass there .

Lucy gained her PhD from the University of Nottingham in 2018. This was an investigation of a cognitive behavioural model of tinnitus distress. This PhD studentship was funded by Tinnitus UK, so she was happy to be able to give something back to the organisation by becoming a trustee.

Lucy lives in London with her partner and their daughter. She loves singing and is a founder member of High Holborn Chamber Choir.

Veronica Kennedy

Trustee

Dr Veronica Kennedy is a Consultant Audiovestibular Physician. While she worked for many years with adults with tinnitus, she is now the clinical lead for the Paediatric Audiology Service at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.

She has been a long time supporter of Tinnitus UK and was first a member of the PAC in 2007 going on to become Chair. She has since continued to work with Tinnitus UK on its ongoing Information Standard accreditation through the development and quality assurance of its leaflets.

Veronica was part of the working group which developed the British Society of Audiology’s national Practice Guidance on the Management of Children with Tinnitus and worked with Tinnitus UK on the development of a series of leaflets and workbooks to support children with tinnitus as well as their parents and teachers. She is also one of the facilitators of Tinnitus UK course on the practical management of children with tinnitus.

Nicola Heron

Trustee

Dr Nicola Heron is Chief Strategic Impact Officer at Medicines Discovery Catapult (MDC). She brings over 24 years of experience in life science including holding senior positions in organisations including AstraZeneca and the NHS.

Dr Heron has experience of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and diagnostics, and gained a PhD in Chemistry in Boston, USA and an MBA from the University of Sheffield. Nicola joined AstraZeneca in 1998 as a medicinal chemist. She moved to Sheffield Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in 2009, where she was Programme Director of the NIHR Healthcare Technology Cooperative, D4D. She is an accomplished scientist with over 45 publications and board-level experience in multiple life sciences organisations.

As well as being one of our Trustees, she is a non-executive director at Cheshire and Warrington LEP Science and Growth Corridor sub-board and Chair of the Industry Board for the Manchester Clinical Research Facility.

Nicola joined MDC in 2018 as Head of Collaborative R&D, joining the Executive team in January 2021. In her role as Chief Strategic Impact Officer, Nicola builds and maintains MDC’s strategic national relationships.