Meet the team

This is your PR and Campaigns Team.

From left to right: Louise Whalley, Aimee Gee, Pete Scott, Leanne Creighton, Lucy Olafsson, Nicole Crosby-McKenna.

Louise is Epilepsy Action’s press officer, working to increase awareness of epilepsy by representing the condition in the media.

Aimee is Epilepsy Action’s PR and campaigns manager, working to increase awareness and achieve positive change for people living with epilepsy through campaigning and the media. Aimee manages Epilepsy Action’s campaigning and media work.

Pete is Epilepsy Action’s campaigns and policy Officer, campaigning and influencing policy to improve life for people with epilepsy.

Leanne is Epilepsy Action’s education policy and campaigns officer, campaigning and influencing policy to improve life for people with epilepsy in the education sector.

Lucy is Epilepsy Action’s PR and communications officer, working to improve communication within Epilepsy Action, and working with Epilepsy Action branches in the media.

Nicole is Epilepsy Action’s development officer for women, working to raise awareness of healthcare issues for women with epilepsy.

Education

Hello, I’m Leanne and I’m the education policy and campaigns officer here at Epilepsy Action.  I identity and campaign on issues to make sure people with epilepsy can access education and receive the right support to reach their full potential. Everyone has the right to receive an education regardless of whether someone has epilepsy or not. Epilepsy Action has an important role to play to ensure that people with epilepsy have their voice represented, and that includes people in education.

So what do I do? My work is very varied. I could be reading and responding to a consultation, meeting with MPs or ministers, reviewing an educational resource with the advice and information team or writing an article for Epilepsy Today. I also speak at conferences and seminars to help educational professionals grasp a better understanding of the issues. I like the fact that some days I can be working on something very research and development based and then another I could be out at a conference networking and meeting people. The variety is what makes my role exciting.

I now hope you are thinking ‘so how can I get involved?’ I hope being part of the Campaigns Supporters’ Group (CSG) means you want to see change and make a difference, and that’s why I’m here! As CSG members you’ll find out about the campaigns we are running and how to get involved, and you’ve taken the first step by being part of the group!

My first request is for nominations for the Edwards, our annual awards scheme recognising good practice in education. We are looking to award ten educational establishments that are going the extra mile to support pupils with epilepsy. Let’s show others that it doesn’t take much to make sure pupils with epilepsy are given the opportunity to reach their full potential.

That’s about it from me – other than to say I look forward to working with you!

Leanne

Women’s issues

Hello,

I’m development officer for women at Epilepsy Action, a post I’ve held for over five years.  To sum up my job in one sentence: I find out how epilepsy impacts on the lives of girls and women with epilepsy, and then I share that information with as many people as possible. This means women themselves, their families, health professionals, the media and politicians.

To find out how epilepsy impacts on women and girls, I read journal and research articles, carry out surveys and speak to (the lifeline which is) the Epilepsy Action Women’s Advisory Panel. The panel is made up of nine professionals who have expertise in various areas of women’s health and epilepsy. A lot of the emerging research in areas such as menopause, contraception, fertility and pregnancy is often extremely complex and hard to understand. I feel lucky to have access to a panel of experts who help Epilepsy Action to quickly and accurately pass on that information.

The other part of my role, and just as important, is to talk to women with epilepsy, their families and their health professionals. Many people take the time to tell me what information, advice and health service improvements women need to make their lives run more smoothly. To this end, I am really grateful to all the campaign supporters who took the time to tell me what they wanted to see in Epilepsy Action’s three year strategy for women. Your ideas and information were really useful, and I will send you a copy of the new strategy soon. I look forward to working in partnership with you, to strengthen Epilepsy Action’s women’s campaigns. 

Nicole