Who's Who

Elected Officers

Chairman - Jim Higgins - Northamptonshire KPA

Born and raised in central London just after the war, Jim married Marion in 1967 and moved to Northampton in 1975. My wife was told her kidneys were not well and started dialysis in 2000. Together, they went through all forms of dialysis available. This sparked his interest in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and along with a few other patients and carers, he formed the Northamptonshire KPA in 2003.

He then became aware of the NKF and how important it was for all kidney patients at a national level, helping to form pathways with the NHS and parliament.

Jim's working life was spent in the transport industry and he retired aged 56 to care for Marion, who sadly passed away in 2015. He has remained committed to the NKF since as he believes the charity is important to kidney patients.

Vice-Chairman - Brian Child - North East KPA (NEKPA)

Brian worked in the chemical and telecommunications industries for over 40 years before taking early retirement in 2006 to become full-time carer for his wife when she elected for home haemodialysis. At that point she had been a renal patient for over 30 years, including 14 years as a transplant recipient.

A member of Addenbrooke's, North Tyne and North East KPAs, Brian joined the committee of the NEKPA in 2014 and became chairman following the sudden death of its then-chairman in 2017. Brian joined the executive committee of NKF in 2018 and became vice-chairman in 2019.

Secretary - George Palmer - Exeter & District KPA

Executive Committee

The executive committee consists of the elected officers plus the following:

John Burdett - Northamptonshire KPA

Wajid Iqbal - Manchester Royal Infirmary KPA

Michael Sinfield - Six Counties KPA

Michael received a kidney transplant in August 1995. He had PTLD (post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder) in 2001 but had a course of chemotherapy which sorted out the lymphoma. With a change of medication all has been well since.

Michael has PKD and was fortunate enough to receive a transplant before needing dialysis.

He works as a chartered accountant.

Barbara Soden - Shropshire and Mid Wales KPA

John Roberts - Hope KPA

After seven years in the military and 27 years in the ambulance service, John retired early in 2011 due to CKD. He then started home dialysis, but spent six months in-centre because of another medical condition. John received a transplant from his daughter in 2019.

He became a member of the NKF through Hope KPA, who he has been working with for many years, along with other kidney-related charities.

A keen advocate for home dialysis, he monitors a Facebook page for UK patients who use the NXStage dialysis machine.

David Coyle

Glen Smith - Addenbrooke's KPA

Honorary President

Kirit Modi

Kirit is a transplant recipient and has been past-chairman of the NKF. He is currently honorary president of the National BAME Transplant Alliance (NBTA), chair of the Lister Area KPA and chair of the Jain and Hindu Steering Group on organ donation (JHOD). Kirit has frequently spoken at the All-Party Parliamentary Kidney Group and written two manifestos for change; one on BAME issues and one on living kidney donation.

Kirit is a member of the project board for two NHSBT programmes, the Community Investment Scheme, and Living Transplant Initiative. Kirit received a Points of Light award in 2018 from the prime minister for his work on organ donation.