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Mr Harold Porter, chairman

Harold Porter is a local trustee, co-opted onto the board in October 2000. He took on the role of chairman of the board in July 2003. He is a qualified chartered accountant, and has been financial controller for a major UK company for a number of years.

Mrs Eileen Springford, vice-chair

Eileen Springford joined the board as a co-opted member in May 2003. She chairs the services committee. She began her working life in the NHS, nursing children, and then moved into her second career in social services. Her final post was deputy director of social services with Buckinghamshire County Council.

Mr Derek Wilson, honorary treasurer

Derek Wilson joined the board as a co-opted member in July 2003. In October 2004 he became honorary treasurer and chairman of the finance and general purposes committee. A chartered accountant, he had a career in finance and property, and was chief executive of a large quoted property company from 1996 until his retirement in 2002.

Ms Louise Boden, OBE

Louise Boden has been a governor of NSE since 1996. She is chief nurse of UCLH NHS Foundation Trust and was awarded an OBE for services to nursing in 2002. She is chairman of the NSE medical, nursing and clinical governance committee.

Professor David Chadwick OBE, DM, FRCP, F Med Sci.

David joined the board in 2008. He is Professor of Neurology and Consultant Neurologist at the Department of Neurological Sciences at the Walton Centre for Neurology and Neurosurgery in Liverpool. David is a leading expert in epilepsy and was awarded an OBE for services to road safety, in recognition of his role as Chair of the Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Disorders of the Nervous System. His research into epilepsy has improved understanding of the condition, and has resulted in revisions to the driving restrictions for people suffering from epilepsy.

Mr Edward Datnow

Edward Datnow has been a governor of the NSE since 1988. He is a retired surgeon. He was chairman and chief executive of a major public company in the retail field, and continues to run a successful property business. He was formerly a governor of the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery and remains a trustee of its development foundation.

Mrs Gwyneth Davies Ridgway

Gwyneth Davies Ridgway joined the board of governors in January 2003 as a co-opted member. She recently retired, having worked for 14 years as assistant clerk to the Lieutenancy of Buckinghamshire.

Professor Alan Gillett, OBE

Alan Gillett has been a governor of the NSE since 1995. Having retired as senior partner from the family firm of chartered surveyors he was chairman of Ealing Hospital NHS Trust. He is still very active today as visiting professor to Kingston University School of Surveying. He is also property adviser to a major pension fund and to a number of schools and charities. He is chairman of the NSE estates committee.

Mrs Sally Gomersall

Sally Gomersall was elected to the board as an additional governor in 2001 and became a full member in 2007. She runs an epilepsy training consultancy, and manages the education and awareness project for Epilepsy Bereaved. She has was involved with developing epilepsy best practice guidelines for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.

Arshad Hussein

Arshad Hussein joined the board as an additional governor in 2007. A civil servant from Birmingham, he has been a volunteer in NSE's epilepsy information network since October 2005.

Richard Knox-Johnson

Richard Knox-Johnson joined the board as a co-opted member in 2007. A business consultant from Kent, he spent ten years in the Army followed by 30 years in financial services.

Mr Christopher Morris-Coole

Christopher Morris-Coole has been a governor of the NSE since 1995. He is a barrister and recorder and chairman of the sports dispute resolution panel.

Helen Pernelet

Helen Pernelet has also joined the Trustees. Helen has worked in the City for nearly 20 years, firstly as a solicitor and then as an investment banker, with a number of leading banks, advising companies on mergers and acquisitions and corporate strategy.

She is currently a ‘hands-on’ charity trustee of both The Royal Wanstead Children’s Foundation, where she is primarily involved in marketing and strategy, and Combat Stress where she is a member of the strategy and the fundraising sub-committees.

Helen is married with two sons (one of whom has epilepsy) and lives in Surrey.

Mr Tony Purssell

Tony Purssell has been a governor of the NSE since 1993, and was chairman of the Society from 1995 to 1998. He is a former chief executive of Guinness Breweries. He is chairman of the trustees of the NSE pension scheme and is a member of the finance and general purposes committee.

Mr Derek Sach

Derek Sach has been a governor of the NSE since 1995 and is a member of the fundraising development board. He is a member of the corporate banking & financial markets board of The Royal Bank of Scotland.

Ms Tanya Spensley

Tanya Spensley joined the board as an additional governor in October 2006. She was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 18 months and has had brain surgery which has significantly reduced her seizures. Her current daytime work is as a project manager in British Telecom. She has been involved with raising epilepsy awareness since 1984 and is currently a volunteer with NSE's Epilepsy Information Network.