Our people
Discover the people powering Borne’s mission to prevent premature birth and give every baby the best start in life.
Board of Trustees
Julian Mylchreest
Julian Mylchreest is Executive Vice Chairman, Global Corporate & Investment Banking at Bank of America, overseeing key global Natural Resources clients and senior relationships across EMEA, with a focus on CEEMEA and the UK. He joined the firm in 2010 after more than two decades at Citigroup. Julian and his wife, Fiona, are parents to five children born prematurely at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, where two now live with autism and one with cerebral palsy. Founding Donors of Borne, they have funded the hospital’s music therapy department. Julian has also served on the hospital’s Development Board and held trustee roles at I Can and Create.
Charlotte Moffat
Charlotte is the Managing Partner of Albyns, a London-based property development and investment business, and holds several business directorships. Formerly Director of Conferences at Euromoney Institutional Investor plc, she led the company’s global events division. Charlotte also supports the inclusive theatre company Chickenshed, which brings together children of all abilities to create inspiring performances. As Chair of Borne’s Events Committee, she plays a central role in driving fundraising through a committed volunteer network. Charlotte and her husband Andrew actively support Borne in gratitude to Professor Mark Johnson, whose care transformed their son’s premature start in life, and are dedicated to advancing research to prevent preterm birth.
Hetty Pye
Hetty leads the Global Industrial and Infrastructure Services practice at Russell Reynolds Associates, where she advises quoted, private and private equity–backed companies on board succession and development. She joined the firm in 2004 after serving as a Consultant in the Board Practice at Whitehead Mann, now part of Korn Ferry. Hetty holds an M.A. in Modern History from Brasenose College, Oxford. She and her husband Nick are longstanding supporters of Borne’s mission to prevent preterm birth, shaped by their own experiences as parents of two prematurely born children and the stillbirth of their son Freddie. Nick climbed Mount Kilimanjaro with Borne’s challenge team in 2015.
Francesco Vanni d’Archirafi
Francesco has served as Chairman of Euroclear Group since 2021. He began his career with Citi in 1983, holding a range of senior roles including Global Co-Head of Mergers & Acquisitions, Country Corporate Officer for Spain, Chairman and CEO of Citibank International plc, and CEO of Citi Transaction Services. He sits on numerous boards, including the Citi Foundation, PEFCO, Mapfre International and Junior Achievement Worldwide, where he is Chairman. Francesco also advises IESE Business School, American University’s Kogod School of Business and the Vatican Foundation Centesimus Annus Pro Pontifice. A graduate of American University and Columbia Business School, he and his wife Charlotte are Founding Donors of Borne and parents of two daughters.
Razan Jafar
Razan is a Director at the Crescent Group of companies, based in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Working in the Chairman’s Office of Crescent Petroleum, she oversees a wide range of business services and strategic initiatives, manages legal matters across the organisation, and serves as Secretary of the Dana Gas International Advisory Board. In her role, Razan supports governance, cross-group coordination and senior leadership decision-making within one of the region’s leading energy enterprises. Her work reflects a deep commitment to strengthening the company’s regional and international partnerships while contributing to the long-standing legacy of the Crescent Group in the Middle East’s energy sector.
Prof Lucilla Poston
Professor Lucilla Poston CBE is Professor of Maternal & Fetal Health in the School of Life Course & Population Sciences at King’s College London. Her research focuses on maternal nutrition, obesity and gestational diabetes, examining both immediate and long-term health consequences for mothers and their children. She is President of the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2009. Previously, she was the Tommy’s Chair of Maternal & Fetal Health, Director of the Tommy’s Maternal & Fetal Research Unit at St Thomas’ Hospital, and Head of the School of Life Course & Population Sciences.
Prof Mark Johnson
Professor Mark Johnson is Clinical Chair in Obstetrics at Imperial College London and a Consultant Obstetrician and Head of R&D at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. His research career began early, culminating in a 1995 PhD from the University of London that defined the role of relaxin in human pregnancy. Initially trained in general medicine, endocrinology and diabetes, he specialised in reproductive endocrinology and established the hospital’s successful IVF unit. Mark later became the UK’s only dually accredited Consultant in General Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynaecology before his appointment as Professor in Clinical Obstetrics in 2010. In 2013, he founded Borne, which became an independent medical research charity in 2016.
Robert Cope
Robert Cope is a British fund manager and trustee of The Vaseppi Trust, which provides grants primarily in the fields of arts, education, and heritage. Robert has held directorships in a number of companies, including Cantillon Capital Management LLP and A.I.R‑Edel Recording Studios. Though his public profile is relatively low, his role in the Vaseppi Trust underscores a commitment to philanthropy and cultural preservation.
Lady Philippa Cadogan
Lady Philippa Katharina Cadogan is a British interior designer and director of PC Interior Design Ltd, known for her distinctive, colourful approach to contemporary interiors. Featured as a Tatler Rising Star, Philippa has been recognised for her creative vision and modern reinterpretation of classic British style. Her work spans residential and commercial projects, reflecting a passion for craftsmanship, bold pattern, and personal expression. She continues to develop her portfolio across the UK and internationally.
Dr Stephanie Eltz
Dr Stephanie Eltz is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Doctify, a global health-tech company revolutionising healthcare reviews. A former NHS trauma and orthopaedic surgeon, Stephanie launched Doctify in 2015 with Suman Saha to bring transparency and trust to how patients find and review specialists. Under her leadership, Doctify has expanded internationally, offering verified patient feedback and analytics to both patients and providers.
Scientific Advisory Board
Professor Lucilla Poston CBE
Professor Lucilla Poston CBE is Professor of Maternal & Fetal Health in the School of Life Course & Population Sciences at King’s College London. Her research focuses on maternal nutrition, obesity and gestational diabetes, examining both immediate and long-term health consequences for mothers and their children. She is President of the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2009. Previously, she was the Tommy’s Chair of Maternal & Fetal Health, Director of the Tommy’s Maternal & Fetal Research Unit at St Thomas’ Hospital, and Head of the School of Life Course & Population Sciences.
Prof Mark Johnson
Professor Mark Johnson is Clinical Chair in Obstetrics at Imperial College London and a Consultant Obstetrician and Head of R&D at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. His research career began early, culminating in a 1995 PhD from the University of London that defined the role of relaxin in human pregnancy. Initially trained in general medicine, endocrinology and diabetes, he specialised in reproductive endocrinology and established the hospital’s successful IVF unit. Mark later became the UK’s only dually accredited Consultant in General Medicine and Obstetrics & Gynaecology before his appointment as Professor in Clinical Obstetrics in 2010. In 2013, he founded Borne, which became an independent medical research charity in 2016.
Professor Gordon Smith B.Sc., M.B. Ch.B., M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc.
Professor Gordon Smith is Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Cambridge. He is an internationally recognised clinician-scientist whose research focuses on improving outcomes for mothers and babies, particularly in areas such as preterm birth, stillbirth and placental dysfunction. Alongside his academic work, Professor Smith is a practising obstetrician and has played a leading role in translating research evidence into clinical care. He is committed to multidisciplinary collaboration, mentoring the next generation of academic clinicians, and advancing innovation in women’s and reproductive health at Cambridge and beyond.
Lauren Richardson, Ph.D.
Dr Lauren Richardson, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Texas. She is a reproductive health researcher whose work focuses on improving maternal and reproductive outcomes through rigorous clinical and population-based research. Dr Richardson’s scholarship addresses health equity, access to care, and the translation of evidence into practice, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration. She is actively involved in mentoring students and trainees and is committed to advancing research that informs policy and clinical decision-making to improve the health and wellbeing of women and families.
Sarah K England, PhD
Dr Sarah England, PhD, is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She is a nationally recognised scientist whose research focuses on the molecular and physiological mechanisms regulating uterine function, pregnancy, and parturition. Dr England’s work has significantly advanced understanding of uterine smooth muscle biology and the causes of preterm labour. She has held numerous leadership roles in academic medicine and is deeply committed to mentoring trainees, fostering interdisciplinary research, and translating fundamental discoveries into clinical insights that improve maternal and reproductive health outcomes.
Marian Kacerovský, PhD
Professor Marian Kacerovsky, PhD, is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Charles University in Prague. He is an internationally recognised clinician-scientist whose research focuses on the role of infection, inflammation, and immune responses in pregnancy complications, particularly preterm birth and preterm prelabour rupture of membranes. Professor Kacerovsky’s work has contributed significantly to understanding the biological mechanisms underlying adverse perinatal outcomes and to improving diagnostic and therapeutic approaches in obstetric care. Alongside his research, he is actively involved in clinical practice, education, and mentoring, and is committed to advancing collaborative research in maternal–fetal medicine.
Leo Gurney
Leo Gurney is a Consultant Obstetrician and Clinical Lead for Fetal Medicine at Birmingham Women’s Hospital. He is a highly experienced specialist in prenatal diagnosis and the management of complex fetal conditions, with a strong focus on delivering high-quality, patient-centred care. In his leadership role, Mr Gurney oversees the development and delivery of fetal medicine services and works closely with multidisciplinary teams to improve clinical pathways and outcomes. He is actively involved in training and education and is committed to advancing excellence and innovation in fetal medicine practice.
Dr Lynda K. Harris, PhD
Dr Lynda K. Harris, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a faculty member of the Olson Center for Women’s Health. She is a reproductive and placental biologist whose research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate placental development, trophoblast function, and pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Dr Harris is committed to interdisciplinary research, mentorship, and the advancement of women’s health research, with a strong emphasis on translating fundamental biological insights into improvements in maternal and fetal outcomes.
Professor Brian Cox
Dr Brian Cox, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Physiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Toronto, Canada, and a former Canada Research Chair in Fetal and Maternal Health. His research focuses on trophoblast development and placental pathologies, using genome-wide and systems biology approaches to investigate the genetic regulatory mechanisms that shape cell fate and differentiation. Dr Cox’s work also uses mathematical modelling and large-scale data from human patient samples to better understand disease heterogeneity and the relationships between genes and clinical outcomes. His research aims to deepen understanding of placental development and disease and advance knowledge of fetal and maternal health.
Our Team
David Badcock
David Badcock joined Borne as Chief Executive in 2023. With over two decades of experience in the charity and public health sectors, David previously served as Chief Executive of Drug Science and Mainliners, championing evidence-based approaches and harm reduction. He has contributed to several influential committees, including the Cambridge Ethnic Community Forum and the London Joint Working Group for Substance Misuse and Hepatitis C.
David is recognised for forging innovative partnerships and medical research, bringing strategic leadership and a strong commitment to improving public health.
Prof Michael Taggart
Michael, working closely with the Chief Executive and Scientific Advisory Board, provides scientific oversight to Borne’s research endeavours and critical strategic advice for future programmes of work.
Michael holds Professorship positions at Coventry University and Newcastle University (Emeritus). He has led research groups of international renown investigating the molecular, cellular, tissue and organ remodelling events in the mother and fetus during pregnancy and the impact these have for post-natal life to adulthood. This is crucial to informing what may go wrong in situations of preterm birth and why it results in both immediate and lifelong health risks for babies.
Nirali Daudia
Nirali joined Borne as Head of Philanthropy in October 2024 and leads our fundraising strategy across major donors, trusts and foundations, corporate partnerships, and events.
With more than 20 years of experience in the charitable fundraising sector, Nirali has worked with organisations including Prostate Cancer UK, the National Heart Foundation Australia, Family Lives, and Student Volunteering England.
With a passion for unlocking philanthropic potential, Nirali plays a pivotal role in driving Borne’s mission — securing long-term funding, cultivating high-value relationships, and translating donors’ generosity into real-world impact for mothers and babies.
Céline Hotonnier
Céline joined Borne in 2020 and leads our financial, operational, and HR functions. She brings more than two decades of experience in financial management, including 21 years on the finance team at St Paul’s Cathedral, managing fabric grant-funding and the finances of several trusts, and a year as Finance Manager at Campaign Bootcamp, a charity dedicated to training marginalised activists and communities.
With a blend of meticulous financial expertise, operational leadership and a deep commitment to mission-driven work, Céline is dedicated to strengthening the organisations she supports.
Evangeline Fordham
Evangeline Fordham is our Fundraising Relationship Officer. So far, Evangeline has spent most of her career in the arts sector. Before joining Borne, Evangeline was Individual Giving and Events Officer for Streetwise Opera, an opera company that provide transformative opportunities to people who’ve experienced homelessness. Previously, Evangeline has worked as Development Assistant at London Sinfonietta, a chamber orchestra for contemporary classical music.
Evangeline is passionate about developing meaningful donor journeys, producing impactful fundraising campaigns and creating exciting events that make a difference.
Penny Seymour
As an Event Director, Penny Seymour, has had over 30 years’ experience organising events which have ranged in size from 2 guests up to 5,000 guests with budgets from £1,000 for a small private dinner, to a wedding which was invoiced at £1.7 million and sporting events with a budget of £4.5 million.
These events have been a mix between corporate, private & charitable, all over the world.
Her attention to detail is second to none, she has a personable nature and is extremely organized and thorough. Her work on Borne’s events bring her great satisfaction and enjoyment so she is much looking forward to all future Borne events!
Becca Bedier
Becca is Co-Founder of Bloom Marketing, with over 14 years’ experience in brand strategy, communications and social media. She has worked across sectors, helping purpose-driven organisations find their voice, grow their audience and inspire action every day. Becca loves combining creativity with data-led insight to produce campaigns that connect with people meaningfully. She’s passionate about supporting Borne’s mission, working closely with the team to amplify research and raise awareness of premature birth. When she’s not immersed in marketing, you’ll find her reading a good book, enjoying nature with her family and joy, or discovering new ideas over an iced coffee.
Melody Small
Melody is Co-Founder of Bloom Marketing, with over 10 years’ experience in brand strategy, communications and social media. She has worked across multiple sectors, supporting purpose-led organisations to grow their presence and build meaningful engagement. Melody combines strategic thinking with creativity to deliver campaigns that inspire action and strengthen communities. She’s passionate about supporting Borne’s mission and works closely with the team to help drive awareness and accelerate progress in research around premature birth. Outside of work, Melody loves spending time with her dog Winston, discovering new sushi spots, and enjoying a great coffee with even better company.