Meet the team

Our Trustees & Patrons

Vanessa Babouram

Interim Chair

Vanessa serves as Vice-President and country manager for the UK / Ireland at the PayPal Giving Fund. She joins The Loss Foundation’s board after operating as its Head of Strategic Development and describes herself as an incorrigible learner.

Sarah Barrick

Trustee

Sarah joined the board of trustees in 2018 to help advise the charity on all things HR related. Sarah is currently a People Partner for a technology company, following a number of global HR roles in the finance industry.

Edward Levey

Trustee

Edward has been a barrister for almost 20 years specialising in commercial and regulatory law. He joined The Loss Foundation as a trustee in 2018 with the aim of putting some of his knowledge and experience as a barrister to good use outside of a courtroom.

Rebecca Mahallati

Trustee

Rebecca is a highly experienced strategic and insightful senior fundraiser. She has worked in the third sector since 2005 – spending 10 of those years at Cancer Research UK – where she honed her skills and led one of CRUK’s high-value fundraising teams.

Peter Osborn

Trustee

Peter started attending The Loss Foundation after the death of his wife Gayle in 2010, and became a Trustee in 2016. He makes videos and organises workshops to promote skills of dialogue and organisational management for charities and social enterprises, and he runs singing and wellbeing weekends.

Kate Rowlandson

Trustee

Kate has supported The Loss foundation for several years since losing her mum and dad to cancer, and became a trustee in 2022. She has worked in the Volunteering Division at Macmillan Cancer Support for 10 years in varying roles but currently as Volunteer Experience Manager.

Shereen Sally

Trustee

Shereen joined The Loss Foundation at its inception. Currently working as Assistant Registrar of Student Experience at TEDI University London, Shereen also has an MSc in Voluntary Sector Management and over 15 years experience of working and fundraising for cancer, children, and mental health charities.

Kirsten Smith

Trustee

Kirsten has been involved in The Loss Foundation since it’s creation in Erin’s living room over garlic bread and a cheeseboard. She is a Clinical Psychologist and Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and conducted The Oxford Grief Study, a large scale investigation of the psychological processes involved in adaptation after loss.

Colin Ware

Trustee

Colin started work with The Loss Foundation in 2020 and joined the board of Trustees in 2022 to help advise on technology and leveraging data. Colin has spent over 30 years in the technology industry and currently splits his time working on an educational start-up and advising charities. He is passionate about helping others realise their true potential, but also loves to roll his sleeves up and solve challenging problems as they arise.

Staff

Dr. Erin Hope Thompson MBE

Founder and Director
she / her /hers

Erin founded The Loss Foundation in 2012 after witnessing the lack of support that was available when her father died from cancer in 2008. She is dedicated to cancer bereavement support. Erin was awarded an MBE for Services to Bereaved Families on the Queen’s Honours List in 2022, as well as being a Churchill Fellow and Acumen Fellow. In 2019 Erin was invited to join the Wall of Honour at the Royal Society of Medicine, a place where professionals from across the spectrum of medicine and healthcare are recognised for their dedication, both to their patients and their work. Erin also works as a Clinical Psychologist within the NHS and private sector.

Rohan Misthry

Charity Administrator
he / him / his

Rohan has worked in the charity sector for over a decade, working in fundraising and programme coordination. He has also works as a counsellor in private practice and in the NHS.

Shelley Heath

Fundraiser
she / her / hers

For nine years, Shelley worked as a copy and content writer in the corporate sector. After volunteering as a grant writer for several charities, Shelley felt that the third sector was where she wanted to spend the rest of her working life. She feels honoured to play a part in furthering the charity’s incredible work of supporting people to live with loss.

Emma Rafferty

Social Media Officer
she / her / hers

Since graduating in English at Sussex University 2008, Emma has worked in a variety of roles in sales, writing for children and marketing.
After the birth of her first child, she wanted a change of direction and volunteered with a local domestic abuse charity and went on to become a busy communications assistant for them for 4+years.
She joined the Loss Foundation in April 2023 and feels honoured and excited to be part of such an important charity.