Neil Bindemann 

Following the completion of his Neuroscience PhD in 1993, Neil decided that working in a laboratory was not for him. So he moved into the field of medical education and communication. He has worked in various medical and healthcare fields, including endocrinology, immunology, psychology, rehabilitation, respiratory, gastro and neurology, and stimulated a number of healthcare initiatives. In 2001, he set up Innervate Ltd to support the provision of health and medical education in partnership with healthcare professionals.

Then in 2015, after a period of disturbing neurological symptoms, and after urgent neurosurgery, Neil was diagnosed with a non malignant, but growing brain tumour. Thankfully, using ketogenic dietary approach and his mental fitness approach, the growth of the tumour (a pineocytoma) as become undetectable, since his scan in 2020.

Using his personal experience, creativity and life-long interest in human behaviour and quality of life, Neil works with a great team of people at Innervate to help support people through challenging times. More details about Neil and his background can be found on LinkedIn

Rachael Hansford

Rachael has worked in publishing for almost 30 years, and launched ACNR (Advances in Clinical Neuroscience & Rehabilitation) in 2001 while living in Edinburgh. At the time she was working for a small medical publisher, despite not having a medical background.  However, she had an interest in the field of brain injury rehabilitation thanks to her brother’s brain injuries, sustained in two separate motorcycle accidents in 1984 and 1989. He went on to have a third significant brain injury in 2013.

Rachael felt there was a need for an open access neurology journal bringing together neuroscience and rehabilitation, and after discussions with Drs Stephen Kirker and Roger Barker in Cambridge, ACNR was born.  As a result, for the past 20 years Rachael has been lucky enough to do a job with great personal meaning and to freely share the respected work of many inspiring people.

Juliet Burridge

Juliet is a medical student at the University of Birmingham with a keen interest in nutrition and lifestyle medicine. She is the Head of Operations at Nutritank – a medical student run organisation which aims to help promote national education to all trainee doctors and herself has a particular interest on how food interacts with our mental health. She is also involved with multiple research projects within the British Lifestyle Medicine Society and has a clear focus on patient led care. Her vision is to eventually be able to facilitate patients taking ownership of their own wellbeing and encouraging a view of holistic health encompassing mind, body and soul.

Stephi Onnes

Originally from the South African capital, Pretoria, Stephi travelled to Europe and quickly settled in central London. 

Her early career in the retail sector enabled her to work in management in both high street and luxury brand environments, which sparked a desire to increase her financial awareness, business understanding and customer focus.

Moving to office management at an international HR and Recruitment consulting business, she gained deeper knowledge of overseas operations and the financial and employment structures required in different primarily European locations. With a promotion into the Finance team, Stephi was responsible for Sales Ledger for a highly mobile team of Technology Consultants servicing projects and clients in numerous global locations. This included ensuring a happy workforce and client base in a fast moving and ever-growing Software services business. 

Stephi took a planned career break to raise two sons, both of whom at an early age share her love for fitness and good nutrition. She juggles the various family sporting activities with the challenges of currently renovating a grade II listed lodge. A never-ending task in itself !

Francesca Rios

After completing her BSc in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Birmingham, Francesca decided to take on a Masters in Neuroscience at King’s College London. Here, she learnt that her passion and interest lie in the mechanisms of degenerative disease and the emerging role of the immune system. Francesca went on to specialise in Neurodegeneration and focused her research project on traumatic brain injury and the inflammatory link to Dementia at the MRC London Neurodegenerative Disease Brain Bank. Now, she works for Imperial College as a Medical Laboratory Assistant in blood sciences. Throughout her studies, Francesca came to realise the importance of research and the big impact this can have on quality of life, care and treatment when living through debilitating health conditions. Therefore, she is passionate about finding answers that can aid future health care. 

Linda Reid

Joining Innervate in 2014, Linda brought extensive experience of managing global events, rolling out global training initiatives to a staff of over 10.000 and leading teams within the Pharma industry.  After recovery from a serious back injury, she left the corporate world to retrain to work more with people living with challenging conditions and through this became Chair of Chronic Pain Support Group. 

During her time with Innervate Linda has drawn on all current and past experiences whilst managing the Therapy Outcome Measures (TOMs) training, along with other events run in partnership with the Community Therapists Network CTN and the Primary care and Community Neurology Society.

Seeing the demand for TOMs training grow, become diverse in its target audience and change has been personally rewarding and exciting. 

Linda is also a key member of the team partnering with the British Society of Lifestyle Medicine, supporting relationships between, speakers, exhibitors and delegates through clear communication, attention to detail, planning, and flexibility. 

Linda also runs Mulberry Therapies, specialising in psychotherapy, clinical hypnotherapy and MAP method techniques. Linda can support clients through challenging life situations and help them reach their full potential. 

Barbara Rudd

Barbara is an experienced Marketing Manager with a demonstrated history of working in the health industry. She was the Marketing Manager for one of the UKs leading suppliers of food supplements to health practitioners including, Independent Pharmacies, Nutritionists and Osteopaths. One of her proudest achievements was the development of the Lamberts® UK wide seminar programme for practitioners that qualifies for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours. One of the biggest and most successful practitioner education programmes for CPD in the UK. During the COVID pandemic, Barbara efficiently adapted this seminar programme to webinars to ensure that practitioners still had access to CPD education.
Barbara also owns Rudd Healthcare Limited, providing independent marketing and nutrition consultancy.

Syreeta Vitalis

Upon leaving secondary school, Syreeta wasn’t completely sure of the direction she wished to take her life. Although she continues to have a big interest in both dance and fashion, she started to study Business, Media and Sociology. Unfortunately, due to a childhood trauma, Syreeta struggled to focus and progress in her studies and as a result, she consulted with the college and eventually, having had a second attempt at start her studies, Syreeta felt it better to follow the apprenticeship route. Still having interest in business and while searching for an apprenticeship in Business admin, she secured a part time job in customer service and then went onto retail customer assistance.

While Syreeta continues to work through her mental health challenges, she is delighted to be a mum and has dedicated her last two years to raising her son. During this time she has realised that through her lived experiences she has a desire to offer support to others, who may also be going through challenging times.

Innervate Ltd is delighted to welcome Syreeta as the newest member of the team, to support our mission.