Guiding the Conversation: Meet the RDF26 Programme Content Committee

RDF26 was powered by community; and at the centre of that community is the Programme Content Committee.

Made up of passionate professionals from across the UK, the committee worked together to design a programme that informed, inspired, and represented the full breadth of health and care research. From operational excellence and workforce development to patient voice and partnerships, their collective insight ensured that RDF26 allowed for collaboration that drives meaningful change.

Chair Carolyn Maloney

Research & Innovation Director of Operations
University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Carolyn Maloney is an experienced research management professional with over 23 years in the field. She currently leads the operational aspects of research at a major teaching hospital in the East Midlands, where she plays a pivotal role in driving innovation and excellence. Carolyn also serves as a Trustee of the R&D Forum, where she has spent the past two years leading the team responsible for organising the national conference. A passionate advocate for psychological safety, she is committed to developing high-performing teams and empowering individuals to thrive. Outside of work, Carolyn channels her energy into weightlifting, indulging in her love for craft gins, and expressing her creativity through cooking and baking. She thrives on connection and cherishes time spent with inspiring and supportive people.

Mark Brandon-Grove

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Mark Brandon-Grove is a Trustee of the R&D Forum and member of the Conference Content Committee. Mark is Head of Clinical Research Performance and Quality, leading the Joint Clinical Research & Development Core Services team at The Royal Marsden and the Institute of Cancer Research. He is responsible for quality and regulatory compliance, governance and operations, business intelligence, statistics and database programming, and secretariat across the cancer research portfolio of over 900 active clinical research studies, in addition to central oversight of legal, finance and communications. Mark holds an MSc in Medicine, Health and Public Policy from King’s College London, and has worked in clinical research since 2006, building multi-sector experience across the NHS, higher education institutions, medical research charities and industry. Mark is passionate about the hope and options that clinical research gives to patients and the public, and the importance of building a robust community of practice across professionals.

Dr. Philippa Brice

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Pippa is Associate Director for Research and Impact at NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board, where she leads a specialist Research Office for primary and community care combining an RRDN-funded specialist R&D function alongside NIHR research hosting and management, and wider activity to maximise the system benefits of research, evidence and innovation. Her vision is People Powered Research – helping professionals, patients and the public to deliver inclusive, high-quality research that drives improvements in health and care services, experiences and outcomes.
A trustee of the Research & Development Forum, Pippa is also a member of the UK National Screening Committee Fetal, Maternal and Child Health group and a Non-Executive Director of Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. She joined the NHS in 2023, having previously worked in genomics and personalised medicine, most recently as Deputy Director of the PHG Foundation, a policy think tank with the mission making science work for health.

Shahista Hussain

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Shahista Hussain is Head of R&D Governance for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (OUH). She is responsible for the oversight and management of the R&D governance services to facilitate and support high quality clinical and translational research as both a Sponsor and host organisation. OUH currently hosts around 1800 active clinical studies, many of which involve close collaboration with the University of Oxford; the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre; CRN and Oxford Brookes University.
Shahista has over 15 years NHS experience having worked in variety of roles across the OUH trust. During her time with the R&D department she has assisted in implementation of various national and local changes, as well as in the development of the department structure and functions. She has significant understanding and experience of setting up and managing large multi-centre studies, both CTIMP and non-interventional research; Pharmacovigilance; QA systems and GCP training

Bernie Pearson

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Bernie Pearson is Head of Health and Social Care Northern Ireland (HSCNI) Research and Development Governance in the HSC R&D Division of Public Health Agency. She is responsible for leading research governance and research costing in Health and Social Care Northern Ireland. Bernie leads on the UK approvals for research, currently in development and a priority at UK policy level and the HSCNI wide research governance agenda. Bernie represents HSCNI on a number of UK wide forums including the Four Nations Policy group on research governance and ethics. Bernie led the WHSCT Cardiology and Respiratory Services though the extremely challenging pandemic characterised by crisis in the acute services. Bernie worked on the UK compatibility programme as change manager leading the changes within Northern Ireland and has led and implemented the UK Research National Contract Value Review for Northern Ireland. Bernie believes that research is essential for any improvements and innovation across Health and Social Care.

Helen Riding

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Helen is the Research and Development Forum Coordinator and Research Manager for North East & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB). As Research Manager, Helen supports and manages the delivery and development of primary care research and evaluations in the North East, North Cumbria. Prior to this role she worked clinically as a Midwife and as a Research Facilitator supporting GP practices in Newcastle and North Tyneside. Helen has also completed a Masters in Clinical Research (Leadership) from Newcastle University. Helen’s Dissertation was titled “Research activity and quality indicators in primary care” and this has been disseminated widely locally and at national conferences. Helen has been a member of the Programme Conference Committee since joining the Research and Development Forum in 2022 and has supported RDF conferences in Newcastle, Newport and Manchester.

Angela Topping

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Angela has been a Trustee of R&D Forum Charity since 2022, and appointed Chair in 2023. In 2025, she also became Director of RDF Professional Development Limited. A Chartered Management Accountant by profession, she started her career in the NHS, moving in 1998 to Newcastle University to become the Faculty Accountant in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, a role which had close operational and strategic working relationships with the NHS, particularly with Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. In 2018, she took on a secondment opportunity as Head of Newcastle Joint Research Office (NJRO) and was appointed substantive in that role in September 2018 until August 2024. The COVID-19 research response taught Angela a lot about what matters, and in 2021 she became a Mental Health First Aider, a Listening Volunteer with Samaritans, a Qualified Personal Trainer and started her MSc in Coaching and Mentoring. She graduated from her MSc in December 2023, and in 2024 left her role as Head of NJRO to set up a Community Interest Company (CIC) – Conscience Coaching and Consulting. Through the CIC, Angela brings together her life and work experiences, her academic and volunteer work and commitment to social justice by providing coaching and consulting services to anyone who could benefit, where the ability to pay is not a barrier of access.