Each year, the British Polio Fellowship (BPF) typically sees changes to its Board of Trustees, with members stepping down, seeking re-election, or new leadership roles being filled.

This year, no election was required, as only two nominations were received to fill the two vacant Trustee positions. As a result, the nominees were appointed unopposed and officially announced at the BPF Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Thursday 18 September.

We are pleased to welcome Lisa Welsh and Nali Patel to the Board. They succeed long-standing Trustees Jerry Hutchinson and the late Linda Evers.

The Board extends sincere thanks to Jerry for his valuable contributions, especially his work on the BPF Strategy. We also pay special tribute to Linda for her many years of dedicated support and service.

Lisa and Nali will attend their first full Board meeting on 23 September.

Lisa Welsh, a long-time supporter of the BPF, currently serves as Chair and Treasurer of the Wolverhampton and Dudley Branch. Her strong IT skills have been instrumental in organising events and collaborating with local groups, including wheelchair services.

Nali Patel contracted polio at nine months old in Kenya and has lived in the UK since 2003. A former local councillor and Deputy Mayor, she has supported the BPF for over two decades in roles including Treasurer, Vice Chair, and advocate. Nali is passionate about amplifying the voices of polio survivors.

For more information on the current Board, please visit the About Us section on the BPF website.