Professor Jill Manthorpe CBE, a renowned expert in health and social care policy, has been appointed as the Health & Wellbeing Trustee of the Thalidomide Trust. This appointment marks a strategic step in enhancing support for thalidomide survivors across the UK. This recruitment, facilitated by trustee specialists Melissa Baxter and Jashan Sangha (Russam/Trustees Unlimited), underscores the Trust’s commitment to integrating evidence-based leadership into its governance.

Leadership in Health & Social Care Policy

As former Director of the NIHR Policy Research Unit on the Health and Social Care Workforce at King’s College London, Manthorpe shaped national strategies on ageing well, workforce development, and safeguarding—contributions recognized with a CBE in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours. Her research directly informs UK policies impacting disability healthcare access and elder care frameworks.

Strategic Trustee Roles in UK Nonprofits

Beyond academia, Manthorpe’s governance expertise spans:

• Nine years as a trustee for a major not-for-profit care provider, optimizing service delivery for vulnerable groups.
• Current trusteeship at a historic almshouse charity, focusing on housing solutions for older adults.
• Advisory roles with UK research funders, including the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).

Advancing the Thalidomide Trust’s Health Initiatives

Since her January 2025 appointment, Manthorpe has driven three priority areas for the Trust’s Health & Wellbeing Committee:

1. Lifelong Health Strategies: Applying her ageing-well research to address thalidomide survivors’ unique medical needs.
2. Policy Advocacy: Campaigning for systemic improvements in disability-related healthcare equity and funding.
3. Preventive Care Programs: Developing frameworks to reduce secondary health complications among survivors.

“Professor Manthorpe’s appointment aligns with our mission to embed academic rigor into survivor support,” a Trust representative noted. “Her ability to translate research into actionable care models is invaluable.”