INVOLVING THE PUBLIC
We are committed to meaningfully involving the public in all aspects of our work.
WHY PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT MATTERS
We believe that the public, whose sensitive data is at the heart of what we do, must be included in the decisions that affect how their data is managed. By inviting members of the public to join our decision-making boards and provide feedback throughout the programme, we ensure that we are accountable and transparent. Our commitment to public benefit is reflected in our efforts to understand public interests and concerns, demonstrate trustworthiness, and integrate public involvement throughout our work.
PUBLIC DIALOGUES AND PARTNERSHIPS
DARE UK engages in dialogues with the public to better understand their perspectives on how public data is used for research. We also collaborate with partners and initiatives across the UK data research community to ensure transparency and public involvement in decisions related to public data use and protection.
Learn MoreOUR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTORS
ANGELA COULTER
Member, Programme Board
Angela Coulter is an NHS patient and a health services researcher with significant experience studying patient and public views of healthcare, their experiences and outcomes. She has published more than 350 academic papers, reports, books and book chapters and was the founding editor of Health Expectations, the first academic journal to focus on patient and public involvement. Now semi-retired but still involved in research and policy analysis, Angela’s previous roles include chief executive of Picker Institute Europe and director of the Health Services Research Unit at the University of Oxford. She lives in an Oxfordshire village.
CHRIS MONK
Member, Scientific and Technical Advisory Group
Chris is the COO of Decoded, a company that teaches people about data science and technology. He is passionate about the power of data to transform the way that we do things in business and life. Outside of work, Chris is a long-standing volunteer with St. John’s Ambulance and South Central Ambulance Service, where he sees first-hand the primary care needs of the public that he believes could be better met by more effective use of data. Chris is also passionate about the ‘big questions’ relating to the use of data for health research, in particular, how the public can be persuaded to share their data and how the privacy of data subjects can be safeguarded.
MAISIE MCKENZIE
Member, Scientific and Technical Advisory Group
Maisie’s experiences as a carer for multiple family members with serious medical conditions led to an interest in public involvement and patient engagement. She currently supports two of the National Institute for Health Research policy research units as a patient representative on its collaboration groups, which focus on data use in research and clinical trials, and is a member of useMYdata. Maisie has worked in operational management, health promotion and disease prevention for the NHS in a non-clinical capacity. She currently works as an adult mental health first aid associate and trainer with Mental Health First Aid England.
JOYCE FOX
Public Advisor, DARE UK Delivery Team
With personal experience as a carer, and with long-term health conditions, Joyce cares deeply about public involvement at all levels: in their own care, in service design and improvement, and in research. She has held a range of operational and strategic involvement roles with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), and other organisations locally, regionally and nationally. Joyce works closely with the DARE UK programme delivery team providing advise from a public perspective on key programme delivery activities and decisions.
ANGELA KING
Member, DARE UK Public Advisory Group
As an active patient advocate and public involvement collaborator for over 30 years, Angela has personal experience of long-term illnesses and of cancer-related end of life caring for three loved ones. Angela serves on advisory committees and commissioning boards/panels (mostly in the NIHR) and is involved in research studies in a variety of roles. She co-authors articles and papers, delivers workshops and lectures and presents at conferences. Angela’s background is in the voluntary sector in a variety of roles including crisis helpline volunteer, Trusteeships and CEO of a national charity. She has also undertaken and co-delivered leadership development courses and one-off workshops.
ANDREW KELL
Member, DARE UK Public Advisory Group
Andrew has worked across technology, innovation, and healthcare, with experience in clinical trials, the NHS, and assistive technology development. He is committed to using data responsibly to support research while protecting individual privacy. His cross-sector background provides insight into the potential of data-driven research and the importance of public trust. As a member of the Public Advisory Group, he advocates for clear, ethical use of data — ensuring it is handled fairly, transparently, and in ways that deliver meaningful public value.
NIA TAYLOR
Member, DARE UK Public Advisory Group
Nia has worked and volunteered for several charities during her career and now in her retirement in west Wales. She was Chair of the Patient Liaison Group of the British Pain Society for 5 years. She became a participant in UK Biobank in 2007 and has had a strong interest in how patient and public data is used for public benefit while at the same time protecting privacy and preventing unscrupulous profiteering. She is on a number of PPI groups with a particular interest in severe mental health and long-term conditions.
BAVON JOSHUA
Member, DARE UK Public Advisory Group
Bavon is a community advocate with a background in youth engagement, health equity, and digital inclusion. He brings lived experience and a strong commitment to making data research more transparent, accessible, and representative of underheard communities. As a new member of the DARE UK and TREvolution Public Advisory Groups, Bavon is passionate about helping shape how sensitive data is used for the public good, ensuring fairness, and amplifying diverse voices in national conversations. He is particularly interested in how Trusted Research
SARAH MARKHAM
Member, DARE UK Public Advisory Group
Sarah is from the South East via the North East of England and has worked in many different types of jobs, including teaching and accounting. She has over 12 years’ experience of public involvement in diverse aspects of health and social care delivery and research and has written several blogs for the British Medical Journal. Sarah is a grounded advocate for health equality and human rights-based practice and has had papers published on this in several academic journals. She is passionate about promoting public involvement in all aspects.
FARHEEN YAMEEN
Member, DARE UK Public Advisory Group
Farheen is a South Asian woman passionate about health data and research. Living with multiple long-term conditions (MLTC), she is deeply interested in how data can improve healthcare, especially for diverse communities. Farheen is a Public Adviser in Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast (ARCNWC) and a member of HDRUK PIONEER Acute Medicine Data Hub. She is especially interested in how data can help to reduce health inequalities and give a stronger voice to patients like herself.
KAMIL STERNICZUK
Member, DARE UK Public Advisory Group
Kamil is a patient and public contributor to research in various roles. His interests include multimorbidity, health literacy and service improvement among many others. He particularly enjoys creating content and public speaking. Teacher by education, he is retraining to be a software engineer.
BRIDGETTE BILL
Member, DARE UK Public Advisory Group
Bridgette is a writer and storyteller by passion, a virtual assistant and a web3 enthusiast by profession, and a firm believer in the power of lived experience to shape research that truly matters. Bridgette joined the DARE UK Public Advisory Group because she is passionate about making data and health research more inclusive, especially for communities whose voices are often left out. With a background in public involvement across mental health, disability, and health equity spaces, Bridgette brings both personal insight and professional curiosity to the table. For her, public involvement isn’t just a concept, it’s a commitment to storytelling, advocacy, and systems that listen.
FRANCESCA MONTEIRO
Member, DARE UK Public Advisory Group
Francesca’s background in neuroscience, medical affairs and patient engagement reflects her interest in how people engage with healthcare and decision-making. She has worked across the NHS, pharmaceutical and charity sectors, and currently supports patient and public involvement (PPI) in research for a national health charity. Alongside this, she contributes to digital health and rare disease initiatives, advising on PPI strategy and community outreach. Her motivation to work with DARE UK is shaped by both personal and professional experience, and a belief that data research should be transparent, inclusive, and guided by the people it is designed to serve.
RACHEL HILL
Member, DARE UK Public Advisory Group
Rachel is a former languages teacher with long term experience of living with a mental health condition. After forced retirement left a huge gap in her life purpose, she now endeavors to use her experience to inform, encourage, inspire and motivate others. She is passionate about survivor / service user collective activism to create impact and shape future decisions about what is helpful, needed and potentially beneficial. Not only for those suffering but for the policy makers who decide where funds are spent in the research and treatment of mental illness. She cares deeply about public involvement at all levels and believes more effective use of data can work toward a more equitable society.
OUR DATA, OUR SAY
Are you a member of the public interested in getting involved in our work? Click the button below to join our growing online network of public contributors.
JOIN THE NETWORK