Trustees
Nick de Naeyer - Chair
Married to Diane (area contact for Herts) and father of 4 children, including Jack our heart 'baby', who had AVSD, interrupted aortic arch, cleft palate, etc. etc. Operated on at 5 days old by Mr Anderson in 1996.
I've been a member of ECHO since 1997 and was originally seconded to the committee to have a look at the proposed plans for the new Evelina Children's Hospital. I was soon upgraded to joint vice-chair with Jo Wilson and took over as Chair when Jo became our Director.
I find it fantastically rewarding when we are able to reach out to families in need and help them feel special instead of desperate. Seeing the ECHO children at our events smiling and happy is always an uplifting experience.
When family time allows I am also a scout leader and a freemason.
chair@echo-evelina.org.uk
Margaret Arnell - Vice Chair
I have been with ECHO for nearly 7 years, first as Membership Secretary and now as Vice Chair. I became involved when my son Aaron was born with CHD in 1999. After a year of feeling that we were the only family that CHD had happened to we welcomed the ECHO family and the support that it offered us during some of the worst but also the best times in our lives. It has been great to watch the membership numbers grow and the charity go from strength to strength.
vicechair@echo-evelina.org.uk
Jane Ward
My second child, Jonathon was diagnosed with co-arctation of the aorta during my pregnancy. It was the start of the one of the loneliest and most frightening journeys that life can throw at you. The corrective surgery he had when he was 7 days old was successful and he is now a happy, healthy 9 year old but I still remember so vividly the fear and helplessness leading up to the birth and when sending him down for life saving surgery, and then the days and weeks and the years that follow. A few years on I helped with some fundraising for ECHO and the more I found out about who ran it and what it did, the more I wanted to get involved and help others going through situations we have all been through. I volunteered to become a trustee and do ward visits when I can.
jane@echo-evelina.org.uk
Joanne Williams - Treasurer
Hello. My name is Joanne and I am mum to Henry who is 2. Henry was born with Transposition of the Great Arteries and it is because of my son that I have volunteered to be the new Treasurer of ECHO. Henry was born at St. Thomas’s in April 2007 (his heart condition was diagnosed at the 20 week scan) and he had corrective surgery at the Evelina when he was 9 days old. After some initial setbacks we left hospital when Henry was 4 weeks old and since then he has gone from strength to strength. My husband Paul and I consider ourselves very lucky to have our healthy and happy little boy.
Until I went on maternity leave, I worked as a senior tax manager for a large firm of accountants in London. After Henry’s arrival returning to the long working hours and long commute into London held no appeal, and so I now work part-time from home doing freelance bookkeeping. accounting and tax work, which I fit around looking after Henry.
I am very much looking forward to working with the ECHO team. My new role is a small way of saying thank you to the Evelina and ECHO for everything that they have done for my family over the last couple of years.
treasurer@echo-evelina.org.uk
Grant Taylor - Youth Development
I joined the ECHO team in June 2008 and aim to make a real contribution to the future development of the organisation. Charlie my son was born in 2006 with a coarctation of the aorta and a large ventricular sceptal defect. He has suffered from feeding issues from birth and has been tube fed for much of his life, although a gastrostomy has been wonderful for him and his development. He also has a pacemaker. He is doing wonderfully well now and to look at him you would never know what he has been through. Everybody involved with the Evelina Children's Hospital has been amazing and this is my way of giving time to say thank you and help others.
My background is in executive recruitment and I lead a team of consultants who headhunt people for senior appointments in the public and charity sectors. I have experience of HR consulting with organisations at board level to help them define appropriate structures and resourcing strategies to make the best executive and non-executive appointments that they can. I hope that this professional experience, my business experience as a senior manager within a company turning over in excess of £130m, and my networks, will help me contribute effectively to the ECHO team as we develop and deliver ECHO's mission, aims and objectives.
grant@echo-evelina.org.uk
Alex Bicknell - Youth Development
Hi everyone, I'm Alex and I am the new Youth Worker for Echo Teen Club (ETC). I'm 26, I work in finance and live in central London. I enjoy tennis, badminton, going to the cinema and, of course, meeting new people!
Since 13 years old, I have had 4 heart surgeries so I can hopefully understand some of the difficulties and worries that all teenagers inevitably have about Congenital Heart Disease. Perhaps, it is about going away without your parents and are worried about your medication, how other kids may see you or even have questions about an operation that you might have to have soon. I may not have every answer, but I can provide some advice, support or at the very least, point you in the right direction for advice.
If you have any thoughts on what you would like to do with ETC, please let me know. Perhaps PGL weekend away, cinema, bowling, ice-skating??? All ideas welcome :)
I would really like to hear from all of you, so please send me an email and let me know a bit about you. I am always open to new ideas.
alex@echo-teen-club.org.uk