Board Members

John moved to London in 1995 from the Forest of Dean, after a detour of several years via Plymouth University where he studied Business and Finance. Since 1995, John has worked for a national builders merchant in various roles such as stocking taking, customer service, sales & purchasing administration, product procurement and system administration. Over that time he has also been part of the project teams that oversaw the introduction and training of internal computer systems.

John has been a HERO/GMFA volunteer for three years, helping out in the office on occasions, along with Sports Day, bucket rattling and helping out at other fundraising events.

Roland Brunner

Roland has been involved with LGBT HERO on and off for several years and decided in 2018 that he should take things further and apply for a role on the board. In 2019 he became the treasurer of the organisation and officially oversees finances.

Professionally, Roland is a management consultant specialising in process improvement, implementing efficient organisations, change & transformation and executive coaching. He has been doing this for more than two decades.

In his spare time, he is involved in the Church of England and recently became a first aider in mental health.

Tim O'Rahilly

Tim has been a board member since 2018 and is currently LGBT HERO's vice chair. Tim has been a long time supporter of LGBT HERO and the work we do through GMFA. Tim is very passionate about tackling mental illness and suicide within the LGBTQ+ community.

Paul joined LGBT HERO's Board in 2019. His background is in marketing and communications.

Paul Raybould

Ian Watters

Ian joined LGBT HERO's Board in 2019. He is keen about furthering the health and rights of bisexual people.

Alan Palmer

Chair

Alan is Chair of LGBT HERO and has volunteered for the charity since 2012, joining the Board in June 2015. He was Chair of Bristol LGBT Forum from 2009-2011, and volunteered extensively for a number of years on a range of advocacy projects, including for gay men's sexual health, relationships education for young people, and LGBT equalities. As a volunteer for LGBT HERO, he has worked on mass media campaigns, FS planning, Gay Sports Day, marched at Pride and spoken on behalf of the organisation at events. He has been a school governor since 2012, and is currently chair of an academy in south London.

Professionally, Alan has worked in education policy for over 15 years, taking up various roles in government, research funders and representative organisations. His current role is as Head of Policy and Research with an organisation representing a number of universities to promote and advocate for higher education policies that aim to ensure university remains an option for all students, including those from diverse backgrounds.

Seán Cassidy

Seán is a specialty doctor in sexual health and HIV medicine at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. He has volunteered with LGBT HERO since 2011 and joined the board of directors in September 2016. As a volunteer he has facilitated workshops and contributed to FS Magazine as a member of the editorial team. He ran the Paris Marathon for LGBT HERO in 2013 and has rattled buckets for World AIDS Day.

Seán serves as the Doctors in Training representative to the BASHH Education board and is a member of BHIVA's external relations subcommittee. He holds post-graduate diplomas in Genitourinary Medicine, Sexual & Reproductive Health and Tropical Medicine. He is currently undertaking a part-time Masters in Medical Education at UCL.

The Health Equality and Rights Organisation for LGBTQ+ people