Meet Our HLA Faculty
Dr Johann Malawana
Managing Director of the HLA
Johann has been in leadership roles for more than 20 years. He founded The HLA to address many issues he faced and witnessed in his career. Johann wanted to create focus and attention on developing students and professionals earlier in their careers. The HLA intends to support these individuals so they can take up leadership roles more confidently and improve the health systems they are part of.
​​
Johann was a former President of Barts and The London Students’ Association, a former University of London Medical Students’ Officer at ULU and the founding Editor of The Medical Student. Following the crisis caused by Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) via Medical Training Application System (MTAS) in March 2007, Johann took over the Education and Training portfolio at the BMA in September 2007. He was responsible for a lot of detailed negotiations around the education and training environment in medicine for the next three years till 2010. Johann subsequently has held several roles including on the Boards of the General Medical Council, the Postgraduate Medical Education and Training Board, the Institute of Leadership and Management, the Healthcare Leadership Academy. He was also the lead for Education and Training at Healthcare UK at the Department for International Trade.
​
Johann served as an advisor on several reviews of the medical education environment with a strong belief in the need for strong medical leadership and the power of early-stage clinicians and students to be a force for good in the NHS. Many of the engagement strategies developed for these reviews were a direct result of the work Johann undertook.
George Miller
Chair of the HLA Executive Committee
​​
George is an Emergency Medicine Doctor. The Executive Committee takes responsible for the day-to-day running of the HLA, George also separately chairs the HLA Research Collaborative. He is also an Honorary University Lecturer, a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management and a lead for the Intermediate Leadership Programme.
In addition to his work at the HLA, he is a President at Amnesty International and sits on the International Advisory Council at Action Against Hunger.
He was one of the top scoring applicants for the AFP, CST and Public Health Training across the country, and has since presented national courses on ‘Success in Medical School’, ‘Preparing for the AFP’ and ‘Preparing for the PSA’. He has conducted his policy research at the Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford.
Pedra Rabiee
Director of Communication, Cohort Director
Pedra is the Director of Communication for The HLA and is also currently an Education Fellow in London. She is also a Trustee at Students for Global Health, and a Junior Advisor for the Gender Equity Initiative in Global Surgery. Pedra has previously worked for several health organisations including Doctors of the World UK, THET and The World Health Organisation. In the past, she conducted policy research on global health security alongside the former Special Advisor to the UK Health Secretary and held a position as an Undergraduate Research Fellow at KCL. In her spare time, Pedra enjoys exploring her passion for gastronomy.
​
Ali Jawad
HLA:IDEAS Director
​​
Ali is currently a junior doctor in north-west London and an NHS Clinical Innovation and Entrepreneur Fellow as part of the first-ever cohort under the National Clinical Director for Innovation at NHS England. He has a background in graphic design, innovation, charities, management, and education. He regularly gives talks on innovation in medical education and has presented his research internationally.
​
He continues to teach locally and also leads a national teaching course for medical students. Currently, he is developing a student-selected component for students at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry encouraging students to innovate in the healthcare field.
​
Derek Gallen
Emeritus Professor
​​
Derek is the Postgraduate Dean in England and Wales. His main role is to facilitate the research interests of the deanery team around educational standards and introduce medical education to the generic curriculum of all trainees. As National Director of the UK Foundation Programme, he currently oversees the programme for the UK and was instrumental in securing initial funding. Derek was Chair of COPMeD (Conference of Postgraduate Medical Deans of the United Kingdom). He has developed many new innovative training schemes for junior doctors in academic medicine and leadership.
​
He is President and a founding member of the Academy of Medical Educators (ASME), helping to raise the profile and standards of medical education across the UK.
​
Arrash Yassaee
HLA:THINK Director
Arrash is an academic paediatric trainee in London and Clinical Director for Europe’s fastest growing technology company, with extensive policy experience with national and international organisations. He spent a year on the executive board of the NHS seven day services programme, has been involved in national contract negotiations, and has also contributed to various NHSE, DHSC, and international strategies including on child obesity, CAMHS, and substance use.
​
Much of his recent work focuses on the workforce. Following chairing roles at the BMA and RCP, Arrash published national guidance on junior doctor engagement and leadership with FMLM, before returning to NHS England to drive a number of time-critical national workforce projects as part of the Covid recovery efforts.
​
Arrash is also interested in healthcare finance, corporate governance and the business side of healthcare, completing his MBA in 2021. In recognition of his achievements was awarded a founding fellowship with FMLM in 2018, the youngest individual to have achieved this at the time.
​
“My role on the Faculty has offered me the privilege to work closely with some of the best and brightest future leaders and guide them through early, critical stages of their development. Now, I am now leading HLA:Think, the Healthcare Leadership Academy’s policy offering to our community and the wider system. We want to give early career professionals the platform to shape the wider healthcare conversations and have similar development opportunities that I was fortunate enough to have early in my career.” -Arrash Yassaee
​
Soham Bandyopadhyay
Cohort Director
A UK-based academic doctor with interests in neuroscience, global surgery, and medical education. He is an educational and research mentor for students internationally. Having held leadership positions in a number of national and international organisations, he joined the HLA as a cohort director in 2021.
​
Carina Dowson
Cohort Director, WIHL Mentor
Carina is an Acute Medicine Consultant and Clinical Lead at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation trust. Originally an HLA scholar in 2019, she is currently a cohort director for Newcastle and the network lead of the Women in Healthcare Leadership (WIHL).
She is passionate about improving flexible and LTFT working, focusing on this during her MSc in Medical Leadership and setting up the HEENE LTFT forum, which continues to aim to improve LTFT training across all specialties in the North East.
Carina is also an Honorary Clinical Tutor for UCLAN, teaching on the Core Principles of Healthcare Leadership PGCert module.
​
Yamen Jabr
Cohort Director
Yamen is a cohort co-director for Newcastle and a core surgical trainee based in the North West with an interest in orthoplastic surgery and medical education, the latter of which was expanded upon during his role as a scholar in 2020 while working as a clinical teaching fellow. His passion for improving access to educational opportunities served as the theme behind his project to support socioeconomically disadvantaged students in London aspiring to apply to and enter medical school.
​
As a medical student, he worked with several organisations including the International Federation of Medical Students’ Associations from 2011-2016 and participated in the WHO’s World Health Assembly as a youth delegate.
​
He aims to combine his clinical interests with effective and sustainable leadership within the NHS in the future, supported by currently working towards an MSc in Healthcare Leadership.
​
In his free time, he enjoys swimming, cycling and eating everything Italian!
​
Asha Thomson
Cohort Director
Asha is an unconventional portfolio dentist who holds formal roles within surgery, education and leadership and has a passion for authentic and compassionate leadership.
Asha joined The Healthcare Leadership Academy as a London scholar in the 2019-2020 programme where she was able to develop her passion for Global and Oral Health. She is now a cohort director for the London Cohort and is
passionate to encourage authenticity and compassion within leadership.
Asha holds a formal role as a Speciality Dentist in Oral Maxillofacial Surgery where she is a singly qualified speciality doctor currently undertaking her postgraduate medical degree at Barts and The London (Queen Mary’s)
University. She teaches undergraduate dental students at Kings College, London where she is a Senior Clinical Teacher in Oral Surgery and holds a leadership role with NHSE/I and the Local Dental Networks in East of England
as a Senior Leadership Fellow where she supports the Local Dental Network chair in East Anglia and has led on multiple regional projects to improve recruitment and retention in areas of unmet need and urgent access to dental care, this includes the Assistant Dentist Integrated Care Pilot
Programme which was published in the British Dental Journal in 2021. She also holds the role as the role as chair of the Dental Leadership Alumnus within Health Education Midlands and East.
Asha has co-lead and delivered workshops relating to clinical leadership at conferences such as the ‘Trailblazer’ conference hosted by the North West Deanery and the ‘Leadership and Innovation’ workshop at the Midlands and
East Dental Showcase. Asha also has a passion for 1 resilience development and led and implemented, with the co-founders from the Dental Leadership Collaborative, the first clinical leadership resilience programme at Kings
College, London in 2020 for undergraduate dental students.
As co-founder and director of the Global and Oral Health Collaborative she has co-led two Global and Oral Health conferences and is passionate about integrating and ensuring oral health is a priority within the healthcare
agenda.
She has presented over 50 presentations from regional to international levels and believes that inter-professional education, authentic and compassionate leadership and resilience are vital in creating the next generation of future
healthcare leaders.
​
Dr Eleanor Morris
Cohort Director
Elle is an Academic Foundation doctor, with interests in Psychiatry, Neurodevelopment and Medical Education, currently working in South Yorkshire. She is also the Trustee for Training with a global health charity, Students for Kids International Projects.
Elle graduated from Hull York Medical School in 2021 and was an HLA Scholar during the 2020/1 academic year. As a Scholar, Elle led the Women in Healthcare Leadership (WIHL) webinar series in partnership with HLA Live. One of Elle’s career goals is to increase inclusivity in medical careers, particularly with regard to gender and socioeconomic background.
​
Jacob Bloor
Director of Mentorship Programme, Cohort Director
Jacob is an Academic Doctor and Honorary Clinical Teacher currently based in South Yorkshire. Throughout medical training, Jacob has held a number of leadership positions including regional lead for the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management and Local educational lead for JASME.
In 2020 he obtained a scholarship with the Healthcare Leadership Academy where he co-founded MindHealth, a proactive well-being not-for-profit organisation for medical students. Subsequently, he has taken on the role of
Amsterdam Cohort Director for the HLA. Most recently, he was awarded the Jack M Legate award for his efforts in Leadership and for founding the first Medical Leadership and Management society at Liverpool University.
On a local level, he has also held a number of positions in both leadership
and education and founded an online revision resource, Just4Meds, which is used by over 5000 medical students monthly. Jacob has a passion for quality improvement across all sectors inclusive of healthcare in primary and
secondary care services, hospital management and medical education, with an ambition to work in Emergency medicine in the future. In his spare time, he enjoys teaching and practising yoga as a fully qualified RYT200, playing tennis and tutoring GCSE and A level students from disadvantaged
backgrounds.
Vassili Crispi
Network Lead, Cohort Director
Vassili is a Brain Tumour Junior Research Fellow at Leeds Teaching Hospitals. Originally from Italy, he is an aspiring academic neurosurgeon. As an LGBTQ+ doctor, he is also passionate about equality and inclusion within the profession, and especially in surgery. Vassili is a trade unionist, having worked towards significant changes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, enhancing student representation, developing UK Medical Licensing Assessment policy, calling for changes to UK Foundation Programme recruitment, and fighting for better pay, safe rotas and working conditions.
Iain Campbell
Cohort Director, HLA Artificial Intelligence Lead
Serving as the Lead Director for HLA Scotland and Head of AI Policy, Ethics, and Transformation at HLA, Dr. Iain Campbell brings a wealth of experience, having successfully navigated both medical and law schools. His extensive senior leadership roles include serving as Secretary General, Deputy Head of Legal, Executive Director, and Chairman of the board in various trade association offices and organisations.
Currently holding the position of Chair of the board at LinkLiving, a trauma-informed NGO within Link Group, he oversees services in Lothian and Fife, with a focus on social care, employability training, and Scottish Qualifications Authority approved qualifications, contributing to an annual turnover exceeding £6 million. LinkLiving operates within the larger Link Group, one of Scotland's major social landlords with a turnover exceeding £70 million and over 15,000 customers.
Dr. Campbell's media presence is marked by numerous appearances on national TV and radio news, addressing topics such as the impact of immigration rules on healthcare, taxation, and participation in expert panels on COVID-19 for Sky TV. His expertise extends to commentary on self-employment, employment status, and IR35/Off Payroll matters.
Dr. Campbell has made significant contributions to parliamentary select committees, consultations with HMRC, and policy development round table sessions in Westminster, particularly focused on future healthcare staffing strategies.
Within the educational sphere, Dr. Campbell holds the position of honorary clinical senior lecturer at the University of Edinburgh and has served as an Educational Supervisor to University of Edinburgh Medical Students. He also serves as Lead Director for HLA Scotland within the HLA organisation.
As the Head of Artificial Intelligence Policy, Ethics, and Transformation at HLA, Dr. Campbell plays a pivotal role in shaping organisational policies on AI usage, staying informed about developments in the field. His responsibilities include upskilling cohort directors on AI tools and encouraging their adoption. In his medical capacity, Dr. Campbell works as a locum consultant geriatrician, providing services to numerous clients.
Beyond his professional commitments, Dr. Campbell is an experienced campaigner with a focus on public affairs and a deep understanding of Freedom of Information Act campaigns. He has written and published an Android app offering guidance on navigating the Act's complex exemptions. His diverse interests include 3D printing, salsa dancing, invention, innovation, and exploring the transformative potential of AI in healthcare and beyond.
Chevonne Risbrooke
Cohort Director
Chevonne currently serves as the Cohort Director for the HLA Amsterdam Virtual Cohort and is a medical trainee in the West Midlands, UK. Originating from Trinidad and Tobago, She relocated to the UK to pursue a career in medicine. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Health Management and Leadership from the University of Birmingham. She has a passion for Women's Health, focused on addressing health inequalities faced by women from minority ethnicities and improving access to maternity services. She aims to broaden her skills and knowledge to aid in the improvement of the health system in Trinidad and Tobago, collaborating with like-minded allies to effect positive change.
“Being part of the HLA provides a unique opportunity to learn from diverse perspectives and innovative ideas, leaving me inspired and optimistic about the future of healthcare after each cohort session. This engagement not only fuels my professional growth but also strengthens my resolve to drive meaningful advancements in healthcare. I am excited about the potential to inspire and be inspired, forging pathways that will lead to tangible improvements in global health landscapes.” – Chevonne Risbrooke
Andrea Johnson
Cohort Director, Co-lead for the Dental Network
Andrea is the chair and co-founder of the dental charity Den-Tech, an orthodontic and maxillofacial laboratory manager/highly specialised dental technician, quality improvement coach, healthcare careers ambassador and clinical research intern at Doncaster & Bassetlaw NHS Foundation Trust. She is an advisory board member, careers pathway reference group member and fellow of the College of General Dentistry. She has a PGCert in charity management and a 1st class BSc Hons in Dental Technology. She is regularly called upon to sit on advisory committees and working groups with bodies such as the General Dental Council, Health Education East Midlands and many more. Andrea’s previous roles include Chair of the Orthodontic Technicians Association (OTA), council member of the Dental Technologists Association (DTA), associate lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), visiting lecturer at the University of Chester, a sessional teacher at Nottingham College, a Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ambassador and Chair of the Women in Healthcare Leadership Summit 2022. Outside of her professional activities, Andrea enjoys running, going to the gym, walking her dogs and adventure travel.
​
“The HLA is an environment where talent, passion and the ambition to become a better leader are supported and nurtured regardless of where you are within your career journey. It is an environment where we all look after each other, where everyone wants to see others succeed and will do whatever is required to help every individual achieve their very best, not only while they are scholars, but every day going forward from that point. You become part of a community, a supportive network that is an incredible place to network, grow and develop yourself and others.” – Andrea Johnson
​
Eamon Rawlins
Cohort Director
Eamon is a motivated teaching fellow with an interest in Paediatrics. He has taken part and led a number of teaching initiatives since his time at medical school and is dedicated to education. As a Bristol Cohort Director he has been able to meet, teach and learn from a variety of individuals and considers this endeavour to be very rewarding.
Leila Ellis
Cohort Director, Mentor, and Lead for HLA Community Activities
​Leila is a NIHR Academic Clinical Fellow in Paediatrics based in Bristol with a research interest in childhood cancer. She is also undertaking an MSc in Healthcare Management, Leadership and Innovation.
Leila joined the HLA in 2020 as a scholar where she worked with the Medical Defence Union to create a support toolkit for healthcare professionals and organised the HLA Annual Conference. Subsequently, she co-founded the HLA Café and HLA Clubhouse international networking sessions. She is currently a Cohort Director, mentor and lead for HLA Community activities.
Ellen Nelson-Rowe
Cohort Director, Assistant Director of Communications
Dr. Ellen Nelson Rowe is a Cohort Director at Healthcare Leadership Academy, specialising in Medical Education. She currently serves as a foundation doctor in the East Midlands, participating in a specialised foundation programme (SFP) focused on medical education. Her role encompasses a multifaceted approach, where she not only hones her clinical skills but also actively engages in academic pursuits.
Ellen's passion for education and leadership is underscored by her publications, including notable works such as "Filling in the Blanks: Senior Medical Student Supporting the Transition of Incoming First-Year UK Medical Students During COVID-19." Through her dedication to medical education, leadership, and advocacy, Ellen Nelson Rowe is making significant strides in shaping the future of healthcare.
​
​Intishar Rashad
Cohort Director, Assistant Director of Mentorship Programme
Omar Risk
Cohort Director
Mariam Pereira
Cohort Director, Community Lead
Margurite O’Riordan
Cohort Director
Dasha Ibrahim
Cohort Director
Latifa Haque
Cohort Director
Yathu Maheswaran
Cohort Director
​Fatnin Mohd Fuad
Cohort Director
Owens Iguodala
Cohort Director​
