Parent, Patient & Public Involvement Panel

PPPI PANEL MEMBERS

Ben Wills

I work as a research officer for Sands, the stillbirth and neonatal death charity, helping to support research projects, especially with involving parents and family members in research. I spent five years sitting on funding panels for the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) assessing funding applications, making sure that researchers were fully involving patients and the public in their proposed projects.

As someone who was born extremely preterm, I have campaigned for the charity Bliss for many years and have been involved in regional and national NHS groups and PPPI in research groups for various initiatives and projects around maternity and neonatal care and research. My wife and I have also just had our first child, a baby boy. I have recently completed my PhD  exploring the use of algorithms and artificial intelligence (AI) in the study and communication of historical research, so the algorithmic aspect of the DECIDE study is of particular interest to me. 

SUMAYYA MULLA  

I am the founder, project co-ordinator, sensory play lead and safeguarding lead of HappyMOMents, a local network supporting mothers and children in North Kirklees, West Yorkshire. The peer-to-peer support group provides social and educational classes for women and children, working in partnership with, and signposting to, other organisations such as the Maternity Voices Partnership, Community Hubs, midwives, health visitors and local schools and nurseries when needed. I have four sons and am particularly passionate about improving maternity experiences for women and families from seldom heard groups from local Black, Asian, minority ethnic, refugee or migrant communities. I have supported research to recruit women from these communities. I am also a secondary school Mathematics teacher, GCSE examiner, qualified Optometrist and an avid reader of mystery books.  

Kathryn Kelly

National Childbirth Trust

My background is as a practitioner, academic and staff-member for NCT, the charity that supports people as they become parents. While I am informed by learning and experience at NCT, I am not representing the charity on this panel. I have also volunteered for AIMS and Birthrights.

I am evidence- and human rights-informed, believe that women and birthing people are inherently capable, and wish to protect and expand the skills of midwives. I’m motivated to protect the physiological where practicable and desired, and informed decision-making in all situations. The thoughtful and wise use of technological innovation is an integral part of modern healthcare, so I’m interested to see where this project takes us.

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