Our Team

Karen Cockburn

Charity Director

Karen joined the charity in 2010 initially in the role of Finance Manager, when it was decided to bring the function back "in-house" for better control. Karen brought her experience of working in financial roles across all three major sectors, private, public and third sector. Her role has evolved, along with the structure of the charity, and she now leads the organisation as it’s Charity Director. She is eager to expand and develop the charity's work particularly its support services to the benefit of those living with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), NF2-related-Schwannomatosis (NF2) and Schwannomatosis (SWN).

Markus Bell

Marketing and Operations Manager

Markus joined the charity as the marketing and operations manager in 2019 and comes from a background in digital marketing and events. He is driving the charity forward by building media relations and establishing positive communication on various platforms for those affected by NF. He will also be supporting our fundraisers and giving them a voice.

Navasha Wray

Trusts and Foundations Manager

Navasha joined the fundraising team in September 2024. After a career in
publishing and communications, she became interested in supporting the nonprofit sector as a volunteer and then changed career to become a fundraiser. She has spent many years working with Trusts and Foundations, first in the arts sector and then with health and medical charities, to raise awareness of and support those affected by long-term conditions. She is responsible for stewarding and cultivating long-term
relationships with Trusts and Foundations, and pursuing a secure and positive growth strategy for the charity.

James Yelland

Communications Manager

James joins the team having worked for c.20 years in the charity sector, across a wide range of international, national and local charities, where he has daily engaged with the challenges of fighting for a charity’s mission and message to be received, heard and understood.

A communications, marketing and engagement all-rounder, he brings a wide-ranging skillset, with particular strengths in copywriting, editing, proofreading, comms planning and strategy, website and social media management, product creation and media work. He is passionate about enabling NTUK’s external and internal communications to work effectively, particularly engaging people with impactful transformation through storytelling.

Outside of work, James is an active member of his church, enjoys following football and cricket, watches as many films as he can and runs around after his three children!

Rosalie Ryce

Community Engagement & Fundraising Manager

Rosalie joined the fundraising team in March 2019.  Originally from New Zealand she has been living in London for 30 years, she was actively involved in her children’s school's and sports club's fundraising.  Organising events such as quiz nights, auctions, comedy nights and various other events which helps her in offering fundraising support, advice and guidance to anyone looking to support Nerve Tumours UK. Besides managing the shop she actively organises fundraisers and support to the community.  She brings passion and energy to the team to help those affected with NF. 

Alison Lobo

Community Fundraising & Campaigns Coordinator

Alison joined the NTUK team as Digital Communications Officer in August 2021 and is now the Community Fundraising and Campaigns Co-ordinator. She comes from a background of live television production, and worked on a wide range of events and projects in over 27 years at the BBC. 

She enjoys helping tell your stories, supporting your fundraising activities and raising awareness through our content and the 'Shine A Light on NF' campaign.

Sarah Harris

Fundraising Manager: Large Scale Events

Sarah has been with the team in her capacity as Community Fundraising Manager since 2016. She came from the fast-paced world of sales at a major broadsheet newspaper and has brought with her a cheery, yet no nonsense approach to help us fundraise to further support people with NF. She provides great support to all our challenge event participants, supporters, runners and cyclists; don’t hesitate to give her a call and find out more about what events are on at the moment! 

Rob Pierce

Digital Project Coordinator

Rob first joined Nerve Tumours UK in 2015 and left in 2018, to pursue a career in digital marketing, honing his skills in strategy, content creation, and outreach.

During COVID Rob decided to leave digital marketing and train to become a Veterinary Surgeon. Rob has returned to Nerve Tumours UK, bringing his marketing expertise and personal dedication to the team to support NTUK alongside his studies.

Alice Rosen

Volunteer

Alice dedicated her life to fundraising for charitable causes in 1997, when she began raising significant funds for The Moat School, a secondary school for dyslexic pupils. She joined Nerve Tumours UK in 2013 as the Trusts and Foundations Fundraising Manager. She has been responsible for building positive relationships with Foundations and Trusts that have directly benefited the charity’s support services.

Alice stepped down from her position in September 2024 but remains an essential part of the charity in her new role as a volunteer.

Louise Carlstrand

Volunteer

Louise has lived in Wimbledon for many years and started volunteering at Nerve Tumours UK in 2018.

She works on various initiatives, supporting the head office team with admin functions and on an ad hoc basis as demand requires fitted in around her other charitable commitments.

She is very happy to be part of a great team and to be able to support such a worthwhile charity.