Trustees

• John Milne MBE

  John qualified from Leeds in 1980 and has worked mainly in general dental practice in Wakefield since then.

  He has a special interest in orthodontics having worked as a clinical assistant at Mid Yorks hospital. John has been involved in dental politics for most of his career.

  At local level John is Chair of Wakefield LDC and also represents West Yorkshire on the BDA General Dental Practice Committee. As Chair of GDPC from 2009-2015 John represented the profession at national level with a particular interest in NHS reform.

  John now works part time in practice and as National Dental Advisor to the CQC. John was awarded an MBE for his services to dentistry.

• Andrew Paterson

  Andrew is a Senior Clinical Lecturer/Honorary Consultant in Restorative Dentistry at Glasgow Dental School. He Graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 1987. He practised in a specialist referral based restorative practice for 22 years in Glasgow. Previously he has been an NHS Consultant in Glasgow and Leeds Dental Hospitals and in Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock. He has a masters degree in medical law and ethics and has worked as a dento-legal adviser for a dental defence organisation. Andrew is s a clinical lead, regular volunteer and member of Bridge2Aid’s Clinical Advisory Group. Andrew’s academic research interests are the ethics of international healthcare volunteering.

• Patrick Allen

  Patrick is the Managing Director of Henry Schein UK and Ireland. He has worked for Henry Schein in a number of sales and management roles since 1994, and more recently his responsibilities have expanded to include both the Southern African and Nordics-based Henry Schein Dental businesses.

  Patrick is a serving council member of the British Dental Industry Association and has supported the work of Bridge2Aid since 2008. Firstly as a volunteer, then Advisor, and now as a Trustee.

• Martha Thomas Mwammale

  Martha is a Tanzanian Gender and Development specialist, with over eight years of experience supporting grassroots organizations across Asia and South Asia. Her work focuses on Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting, child marriage, and feminist movement building, advocating for lasting social change.

  She holds a BA in Political Science and Public Administration from the University of Dar es Salaam and an MA in Gender and Development from the University of Sussex, where her research explored the intersection of girls’ agency and early marriage in Tanzania.

  Martha leads the GBV portfolio at AmplifyChange UK, bringing her deep passion for social norm change and her commitment to advancing gender justice. Bringing hands-on experience in managing and coordinating grants and projects for development at global, regional, and national levels.

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• Ian Wilson Co-Chair

  Ian qualified from Edinburgh University in 1987, working in NHS general practice in the North-East. In 1990 he began exploring how his dental skills could meet the needs of the poorest communities in Africa, visiting several countries in West & East Africa delivering dental services and training.

  Ian and his wife Andie, as founders of the Dental NGO Bridge2Aid, moved to Tanzania in 2002 with their young family. Coming back to the UK in 2011, Ian now serves Dental Foundation training for NHS England – Directorate for Workforce, Training and Education Yorkshire and Humber as Training Programme Director JDFCT Scheme.

  In this capacity he has helped to innovate an awareness of Emotional Intelligence within the Dental Workplace, specifically supporting Foundation Dentists through teach and coaching. He also works as a clinician and regional clinical director for Rodericks Dental Partners. He continues to visit Africa and work alongside other colleagues who are passionate to provide oral health services to the poor and marginalised communities here in the UK & Overseas. He and Andie have 4 children; Jake, Imani, Neema & Maisha.

• Caron Best: Co-Chair

   

  Caron has worked in numerous roles across the dental sector for the last 40 + years in both independent and group dentistry most latterly at Dental Partners and Rodericks Dental Partners.
  Over recent years she has been in Executive Director roles in Operations and Strategy. Caron has worked with Bridge2Aid for a number of years helping fundraising.
  Caron is now looking forward to taking on the role of a Bridge2Aid Trustee using her experience and business skills to support the charities ongoing aims, and strategic growth.
• Dr Nila Jackson

   

  Nila has been Bridge2Aid’s strategic partner in Tanzania for a number of years. He is supporting the work of The Ministry of Health to eradicate the practices of Infant Oral Mutilation in the country. He has managed the IOM education workshops since 2021.
  Nila is a dentist and owns and runs The Sibaba Dental Clinic. He has worked in the role of Regional Medical Officer in Mara, and is on the Management Committee of the Tanzania Dental Association.