About Us

At UKCPO, we believe that real change starts with listening — and that’s why our patient community will play a vital role in shaping how we grow and operate as an organisation. From guiding our priorities to informing the support we offer, the voices of people living with obesity will always be at the centre of our work.

This isn’t just part of what we do, it’s our unique strength. Unlike many organisations, UKCPO is built with the community, for the community, and by the community. Our lived experience network gives us insight, authenticity, and credibility that can’t be replicated. It ensures our work is not only relevant, but deeply rooted in the real experiences of those we serve.

Together, we’re building something different, an organisation that listens first, leads with empathy, and never leaves the patient voice behind.

Our mission is to advance public education on obesity by providing comprehensive, accessible, and up-to-date information on a wide range of treatment methods available, with a focus on empowering individuals to make informed decisions about their health.

We aim to raise awareness and promote understanding of obesity, including but not limited to surgical interventions for weight loss, medical treatments, lifestyle changes, and support systems. Through the publication and maintenance of a dedicated website, we will offer reliable resources, expert advice, and educational materials to help individuals and healthcare professionals better understand obesity and its impact.

Additionally, we will organise and host regular meetings, conferences, and community outreach events to engage with the public, facilitate knowledge exchange, and encourage open discussions on obesity and its treatments. Our goal is to ensure that people have access to the tools, information, and support they need to take control of their health, reduce the stigma around obesity, and explore all available options for effective treatment. By fostering an inclusive, supportive community, we aim to create a positive and lasting impact on the health and well-being of individuals affected by obesity.

Our Management Team

Our management team is made up of individuals who bring not only professional insight but also invaluable lived experience to everything we do. Each member of the team has a personal connection to the challenges and realities faced by people living with obesity. This shared experience fuels our commitment to compassionate leadership, informed decision-making, and meaningful change.

By drawing on their own journeys, our team ensures that the voices of those with lived experience are at the heart of every conversation, strategy, and service we deliver.

Ken Clare

Executive Director

Ken has been living with obesity all his life. Starting in childhood he watched his mums struggles. He was bullied at school and put on weight at a steady rate through adolescence and into adulthood.

He had tried every treatment available until starting in weight management in 1999 and Bariatric surgery 2002.

Alison Lake

Director of Operations

Alison has had a varied career in nursing and mental health. She is an experienced project manager and is passionate about PPIE and hearing the unheard voices.

She has lived experience of Obesity and mental health challenges. She also works as a PPIE coordinator and for other charities.

Andrew Healing

Director of Compliance & Communications

Andrew has lived with obesity his entire adult life after struggling with weight in high school. He had weight-loss surgery in 2014, losing 14 stone, but later regained weight. Now, he is losing weight with medication.

He is passionate about helping others—obesity is a disease, and setbacks are not personal failures.

Our Operations Team

Our operations team are the people who keep things running day to day. What makes this team truly special is that every member brings their own lived experience of obesity to the role.

They understand the realities, the challenges, and the triumphs that come with living with obesity, and they use that insight to shape how we deliver support, create resources, and engage with our community. Their experience isn’t just valued, it’s vital to ensuring that everything we do is grounded in empathy, relevance, and authenticity.

Helen Atkinson

Administrative Assistant

Bianca Scollen

Knowledge coordinator

Having lived with obesity for as long as she can remember and attended her first slimming club at the age of 10. In 2004, Bianca had bariatric surgery, and since then, she's been an active volunteer, trustee, and advocate across various organisations. Having also facilitated a support group in Leeds for 16 years, she is passionate about making a difference and giving back the same support she received over the years—truly believing that helping others helps her, too.

Professionally, she works as a private practice manager for two consultant surgeons. Outside of work, Bianca is married is mum to a wonderful daughter who is a mental health nurse and currently training as a cognitive behavioural therapist.

I’m proud and honoured to be part of this community.

Our Board of Trustees

Our trustees have been carefully selected for the unique lived experiences they bring to the leadership of UKCPO. Each trustee offers a distinct perspective shaped by their own journey with obesity, ensuring that the voices of those directly affected are guiding the organisation at the highest level.

Their collective insight strengthens our mission, grounds our governance in real-world understanding, and helps shape a future that truly reflects the needs and aspirations of the community we serve.

Safi Abdi

Trustee

Safi Abdi is 42 year old mother of 2 from North London. She is a neuro-somatic coach and therapist, certified hypnotherapist, and advocate for people living with obesity and disordered eating.

With over 20 years of experience in mental health and a BSc in Mental Health and Social Work, she integrates somatic practices, hypnotherapy, and cognitive behavioural approaches to support long-lasting change.

Safi specialises in working with neurodivergent individuals and those navigating the psychological impact of disordered eating and post-bariatric recovery. Her lived experience with childhood obesity and weight loss surgery deeply informs her compassionate, client-centred approach.

As the host of The Gastric Mindset podcast, she shares practical tools and insights to help others build a more peaceful relationship with food and their bodies.

Rhys Courtney-Tucker

Trustee

Jenny Teke

Trustee

Jennifer is an accomplished healthcare leader with over 20 years of experience in health research and epidemiology, working across both national and international settings.

As the Head of Research and Innovation at MFT, she plays a key role in shaping the organisation’s research strategy, overseeing governance, patient safety. Her expertise spans academic, commercial, and translational research.

A strong advocate for inclusive research practices, she embeds equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) principles across her work. Her doctoral research focused on addressing health inequalities in Black and Minority Ethnic communities, specifically examining systemic barriers to weight management services.

Beyond her leadership role, Jennifer contributes to academia as a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at Canterbury Christ Church University, where she supports research development and mentors the next generation of healthcare researchers.

Jacky Nesbitt

Trustee

Obesity affected Jacky throughout her adult life, gradually making it harder to stay active and impacting her health.

She was eventually diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and her confidence in social settings declined. Although her GP was sympathetic and prescribed every available medication, nothing brought lasting improvement.

After thorough research, Jacky decided to pursue weight-loss surgery. It was a long and difficult journey, but ultimately a successful one.

She still lives with the daily challenges of obesity, and food remains a key consideration in many of her decisions.

On the positive side, Jacky found a community of people who truly understand her experience. Through this support network, she has formed deep, lasting friendships with individuals she might never have met otherwise.

Our Academic and Clinical Advisory Group

The UKCPO Academic and Clinical Advisory Group is made up of leading professionals from across healthcare, research, and policy. Each member brings invaluable expertise to our organisation, offering guidance grounded in years of experience across obesity care, public health, psychology, nutrition, surgery, and lived experience research.

This diverse and highly skilled group helps ensure that our work is evidence-based, ethically sound, and aligned with best practice. Their insights strengthen our ability to advocate effectively, support our community responsibly, and contribute meaningfully to national conversations on obesity.

By combining professional knowledge with our lived experience leadership, UKCPO bridges the gap between science, care, and real-world impact.

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UKCPO (CIC) - 16335799