Our Vision:

A world without scarring

The Scar Free Foundation is chaired by Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, former NHS Medical Director of NHS England. Our Patron is HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh. Trustees include leading clinicians, business leaders and people with a lived experience of scarring.

We were founded in 1999 in response to the King’s Cross fire, which highlighted the urgent need to improve the outcomes for people who sustain scarring injuries. 24 years later, we have made possible more than £50 million worth of important, life-changing research into wound healing and scarring. This includes establishing seven multi-million-pound research centres and programmes at UK universities and hospitals and numerous standalone research projects.

OUR MISSION

To achieve scar free healing within a generation and transform the lives of those affected by scarring.

OUR VALUES

- Define and lead an ambitious and innovative approach to medical research

- Keep the lived experience voice at the heart of all that we do

- Encourage collaboration among researchers, scientist, clinicians and other organisations to foster knowledge sharing and enhance research outcomes

- Maintain transparency and accountability in the management of resources, financial stewardship and efficient use of funding

- Work with integrity, upholding the highest ethical standards in research

- Embrace diversity, foster inclusion, and promote sustainability in all aspects of our operations

Our People
Membership Associations
Principal Members

HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh GCVO

Patron of The Scar Free Foundation

Her Royal Highness has been Patron of The Scar Free Foundation since 2002, and opened the Foundation’s Centre for Conflict Wound Research at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham in 2018.

The Lord Rose of Monewden

President of The Scar Free Foundation

Lord Rose is the President of The Scar Free Foundation, elected in 2011, and is Chairman of the internet grocery retailer Ocado. Previously, Stuart was the Chief Executive and Chairman of Marks & Spencer. Stuart was knighted in 2008 for services to the retail industry and corporate social responsibility and made a life peer in September 2014. He has supported The Scar Free Foundation since 2001 and served as both Appeal Chairman and Chairman.

Dr Geraldine Brough, FRCP

Geraldine is a retired rheumatologist and worked at The Royal Free Hospital, London, until 2018. Geraldine’s late husband, Michael, was responsible for founding The Scar Free Foundation (formerly The Healing Foundation) in 1999.

Professor Sir Kenneth C. Calman, KCB, MD, FRCS, DL, FRSE

Sir Ken Calman is Vice President of The Scar Free Foundation, and is a former surgeon, oncologist and cancer researcher. Ken was Chief Medical Officer of Scotland, and then England, and has been the Chancellor of the University of Glasgow since 2006.

The Rt Hon the Lord Patten of Barnes, CH

Lord Patten of Barnes is Vice President of The Scar Free Foundation, and is a former British Politician. He served as the last Governor of Hong Kong from 1992 – 1997, and was Chairman of the Conservative Party from 1990-1992. Lord Patten was also Chairman of the BBC Trust between 2011-2014, and now serves as the Chancellor of the University of Oxford. He was awarded a Knight Bachelor for services to medicine and medical education in the 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Professor Sir John Temple, MB, ChB(Hons), ChM, FRCS(Ed&Eng) DSc, FMedSci, FRCP(Ed&Lond) FRCA, FHKCS, FRCAS

Professor Sir John Temple is Vice President of The Scar Free Foundation, and former President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. A former surgeon, Sir John was appointed as the independent chair of the UK-wide review of the impact of the European Working Time Directive on junior doctors, reporting in 2010.

Mr Simon Weston, CBE

Lead Ambassador for The Scar Free Foundation

Simon Weston is our Lead Ambassador, and a veteran of the British Army. Simon was seriously injured in the Falklands War after his ship, the Sir Galahad, was bombed, leaving him with burns to 46% of his body. In the 2016 New Year's Honours, Simon was awarded a CBE for his charitable work. He is currently the Patron of the Falkland Veterans Foundation, The Enham Trust, Allied Service Trust and an Ambassador for Changing Faces.

Professor Sir Bruce Keogh KBE, MD, DSc FRCS, FRCP

Chairman of The Scar Free Foundation

Professor Sir Bruce Keogh is the Chairman of The Scar Free Foundation; appointed in 2017. A renowned cardiac surgeon, Bruce was the National Medical Director of NHS England until 2018, responsible for clinical leadership, quality and innovation. He is now Chairman of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Trust. He was knighted for his services to medicine and medical education in the 2005 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Professor Peter Weissberg CBE, MD, DSc, FRCP, FMedSci

Research Council Chairman

Professor Peter Weissberg is our Research Council Chairman, and is a cardiovascular physician. Professor Weissberg is the former Medical Director of the British Heart Foundation, and was appointed as the British Heart Foundation Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine in the University of Cambridge. Previously, Professor Weissberg also Chaired the UK Biocentre Board, and was a Trustee of the British Cardiovascular Society.

Mr Richard Collier

Richard Collier is a member of our Board of Trustees. He is a former Managing Director of Lehman Brothers and JP Morgan Chase. Richard was also Finance Bursar of Balliol, University of Oxford, between 2007 – 2019. As well as being a member of the Foundation’s Trustee Committee, Richard also serves on the Foundation’s Finance & Operations Committee.

Ms Alison Clarke

Alison Clarke is a member of our Board of Trustees, and has over 25 years of experience working with some of the world’s best known global corporations. Alison was CEO of Weber Shandwick Asia, before joining Huntsworth PLC as Business Development Director and then becoming the CEO of Grayling UK & Ireland. Alison also is the former President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, and the former Chairman of the Public Relations Consultants Association. As well as being a member of the Foundation’s Trustee Committee, Alison also serves on the Foundation’s Finance & Operations Committee.

Dr Hemani Modasia-Shah

Hemani Modasia-Shah was first introduced to The Scar Free Foundation in 2007, becoming one of our lived-experienced Ambassadors. Hemani survived severe burn injuries when she was eighteen months old. Hemani brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Board, not only as providing the patient voice, but in addition is a qualified doctor, working as a GP

Mr Timothy Streatfeild MBE

Tim is a former accountant and a survivor of the Paddington train crash, 1999. Tim has been a Trustee since 2006 and also serves on the Foundation’s Finance & Operations Committee.

Mrs Alexandra Thrower

Alex has over 20 years of legal experience; much of it in pharma and healthcare. Currently, Alex works as General Counsel for Reed & Mackay. Notably, Alex was a finalist for the award of ‘Young Corporate Counsel of the Year 2006 and 2008 in the British Legal Awards, as well as winning General Counsel of the Year in 2009 and a Team Finalist for Legal Department of the Year in 2010.

Lieutenant General (retired) Richard Nugee, CB, CVO, CBE

Chief Executive

Richard Nugee assumed the role of Chief Executive of the Scar Free Foundation in late April 2023, having previously been a Trustee for a number of years. Richard is a recently retired senior British Army Officer, serving in numerous operational theatres such as Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan and fulfilling several senior roles including the Chief of Defence People (2016–2020) with responsibility for all policy relating to the Wounded, Injured and Sick. More recently he lead a review into climate change policy in the Ministry of Defence. Richard was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2012 New Year Honours, a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) on 25 October 2016 and a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 2020 New Year Honours.

Ms Charlotte Coates

Head of Research Funds

Charlotte joined The Scar Free Foundation in 2014 having previously been Research Manager at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society for 5 years. Prior to this she worked in private office and project management positions at the Parliamentary and Health Services Ombudsman and the BBC.

Catherine Attwood

Finance and Operations Manager (Maternity Cover)

Catherine joined The Scar Free Foundation in 2024, bringing a wealth of experience from previous roles at charities, including Badger Trust and Blind Veterans UK. She brings with her a strong background in project management and process optimisation.

Dr Lubna Arif-Schmidt

Head of Development

Lubna joined The Foundation’s team in September 2021. Before this, she enjoyed fundraising and research communications roles within the Royal Institution, Organic Research Centre and Parkinson’s UK. Lubna is passionate about medical research and the transformative impact of philanthropy. In her spare time, she relishes the fun, challenge and adventure of Scouting. Lubna has a PhD in Genetics and a Diploma in Fundraising from the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

Jenni Herd

Communications and Project Manager

Jenni joined The Scar Free Foundation in July 2023, having previously worked at media co-op, an award-winning creative agency specialising in public and third sector communications. She trained as a documentary filmmaker with the Grierson Trust's DocLab scheme and has an MA in English Literature and Film and Television Studies from the University of Glasgow.

Ms Amanda McKechnie

Head of Finance & Operations (currently on maternity leave)

Amanda joined The Scar Free Foundation in 2014. She has previously worked as an Executive Assistant to Kevin Godlington, and as Company Secretary for the Godlington Foundation. In addition, Amanda has volunteered and worked in Asia and Australia. She is currently on maternity leave and will be returning in March 2025.

Fundraising Regulator

The Scar Free Foundation proudly works with the Fundraising Regulator, an independent body which sets and maintains the standards for charitable fundraising.

Association of Medical Research Charities

The Scar Free Foundation is a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities, and supports its position statement on the use of animals in research.