Mike Harnor

A member of the Council of Management for over 20 years, (Chair 2006-9), Mike is also a Trustee and Executive member of the Greater Manchester Neurological Alliance (Chair 2005-8). He is a Governor of the Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust which incorporates the Greater Manchester Neurosciences Centre, hub provider of neuroscience services to Greater Manchester, east Cheshire and north-west Derbyshire.

Mike has been a member of various advisory groups concerned with neurological service provision and research.

Nationally Mike is currently the lay member of the Expert Advisory Group on Neurology, Pain and Psychiatry for the 'Commission on Human Medicines' and a member of the 'Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency' (MHRA) lay members panel. He was recently appointed to the 2009 - 2011 'NICE' Guidelines Development Group for the epilepsies as a patient member.

Mike is currently an accredited member of NHS Research Ethics Committees, ('National Research Ethics Service / National Patient Safety Agency').

Substantially retired from an academic career, most recently following many years at Manchester Metropolitan University, Mike had a substantial career in schools and higher education. He was also active as the university representative of the Association of University Teachers and was a member of various university bodies at MMU promoting the interests of staff and students with disabilities.

Mike’s interest predominantly arose from his own experiences with epilepsy following a mid-career haemorrhagic stroke and brain surgery. He believes strongly in self advocacy and that rights and choices are best expressed when properly informed people speak for themselves. “Epilepsy Action as the principal ‘membership led’ epilepsy organisation should be the lead body in enhancing the voice of the epilepsy service user. Such voices are now generally regarded as most significant within the political climate of public services provision and in the rapidly developing NHS ‘choice’ agendas.”