Chairs
David Proud (Co-Chair) and Elizabeth Owen (Co-Chair)
David Proud: I’m David and I am the lead CF Dietitian at the All Wales Adult CF Centre (AWACFC), based in the University Hospital Llandough (UHL), just outside Cardiff. Since qualifying in 2003 I’ve worked in a variety of clinical settings, always with a keen interest in respiratory health and have worked exclusively in adult CF care since 2011. In 2018 I completed an MSc in Advanced Practice and in 2021 completed the non-medical prescribing course. Whilst CF offers us the potential to understand a veritable constellation of associated health conditions, I have a particular interest in exploring the potential of assessing body composition and its ability to inform on health markers.
Elizabeth Owen: Liz has extensive clinical paediatric experience and expertise in CF, specialising in caring for children with CF since 2007. She has worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children for over 20 years and is Clinical Lead for Respiratory Dietetics. In 2016 she completed an MRes and continues to actively engage in research, guideline development and teaching. She has held previous committee roles both in the UK and European CF nutrition groups, including former co-chair of ECFNG 2019-2023. Her area of interests are nutritional assessment, growth and body composition.
Treasurer
Clare Woodland: I am an Advanced Paediatric Dietitian. I have worked in Alder Hey Childrens Hospital in Liverpool for over 8 years specialising in CF and respiratory care. Prior to this I worked for 8 years in a district general hospital in North Wales, initially in adults but then in paediatrics which included CF patients.
Secretary
Katie Roberts (nee Marsden): I have worked in CF since 2020 and is based at the West Midlands Adult CF Centre in Birmingham as a CF specialist dietitian. She leads the inpatient service here but is involved in all areas of patients’ dietetic care too. Katie is also one of the University Hospitals Birmingham dietetic leads in student training.
Social Media Officer
Fiona Moore: I'm Fiona and I have been working as a dietitian since 2010. I have been working in the West of Scotland Adult CF Centre since 2017. I previously specialised in upper GI and HBP surgery. In 2024 I completed a MSc in Advanced Practice and have qualified as a supplementary prescriber. I have always been an active volunteer with the BDA previously working as secretary for the BDA West of Scotland branch. I also sit on the ECFS nutrition group committee and co-chair the nutrition interest group of the NTM Network UK. I am particularly interested in CF related bone health, micronutrients and body composition. This is an exciting time to work with CF adults and I feel passionate about health promotion and prevention.
Research Officer
Darren Sills: I am currently a Research Dietitian and Clinical specialist. My research role is 4 days a week and my clinical work is one day a week. I work at the Nottingham Adult CF Centre, but my research spans both children and adults. I have working in Nottingham for nearly 11 years and in CF for around 14 years. I love the variety offered by CF and have an interest in most areas, but particularly assessing nutritional status, PERT and GI issues.
Education & Resources Officers
Veronica Lynch and Joanna Snowball
Veronica Lynch: I have worked as a dietitian since 2008. I previously specialised in diabetes and gastroenterology and then from 2013 in CF. I am the lead CF dietitian in the regional specialist Northern Ireland (NI) centre in Belfast. I am the Council for Allied Health Professionals Research and National Institute of Health Research (CAHPR/NIHR) regional research champion for NI. I am currently undertaking an NIHR doctoral fellowship. My research interests in CF include healthy ageing and cardiovascular disease.
Joanna Snowball: Jo has been working in CF since 2007 and has worked with both adults and children. She is the lead dietitian at the Oxford Adult CF Centre. She has worked closely with the CF Trust on the development of nutrition factsheets. Her research interests include the nutritional changes in the ageing CF population and the assessment and treatment of overweight and obesity in people living with CF. She has been awarded an NIHR Clinical Doctoral Academic Fellowship to start in 2025. She also holds other committee roles; current joint co-chair of the European CF Nutrition Group and AHP representative on the UK CF Registry Steering Committee.
Events Officer
Megan Dunnage: I’m Megan and I am a clinical specialist dietitian in CF at St Bartholomew’s Adult CF Centre in London. I qualified in 2010 and fell into CF by providing some cross-cover for a few months in 2013 where I developed an interest. After completing an MRes, I joined the team permanently in 2015. I completed the non-medical prescribing course in 2018. Most recently I have moved into the new post of ‘Band 8a clinical specialist’ and I am developing a vision for this post and how dietetics can best support the CF service. I am particularly interested in CF diabetes and GI issues.
Newly Qualified /New to CF Member
Chrisitna Pickersgill: I'm Christina and am very fortunate to have started my dietetic career in 2023 in paediatric CF at Leeds Childrens Hospital. I am passionate about working with young people and their families, and have experience working in Respiratory and General Medicine. I started volunteering for the BDA as soon as I qualified and have found the network to be an amazing source of information and support.
Ordinary Member
Laura Kinsey: I have been working as a Dietitian since 2004 and specifically in the CF since 2019. Currently I am the lead dietitian for Manchester Adult CF Centre and manage a team of 7 CF dietitians. My prior experience includes working in gastroenterology, colorectal surgery, upper GI surgery and the nutrition support team. I have always been research-active. From 2022 to 2024 I completed a 2-year NIHR ARC-GM pre-doctoral fellowship, focusing on the nutritional implications of Elexacaftor/Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor. I am interested in research, body composition, and promoting optimal long-term health for people with CF. I have always been an active member of the BDA. Prior to my appointment as ordinary member for the CF specialist group, I held positions on the North West BDA committee and the Gastroenterology Specialist group.
Interested in joining the committee?
We have a number of roles available, please click the links above to find out what each role entails. For an informal chat about how you can get involved please contact the current Chairs of the Cystic Fibrosis Specialist Group on [email protected]. The full role descriptors can be found by clicking the links above.