Who's Who

Chairman - Caryl Bryant - Royal Free KPA

Caryl became involved in renal issues when her son was diagnosed with Goodpasture's disease. Caryl helped him through haemodialysis, CAPD, APD and two transplants. His first, a gift from grieving family, saw home through school, university, several Transplant Games and an adventure sailing around the world in the Clipper Race. His second transplant was donated by his younger sister and is doing well.

Caryl has been an active member of the Royal Free Hospital KPA (RFHKPA) since 1990. She is a retired university programme leader and senior law lecturer. Caryl's subjects included Human Rights, Equality and Discrimination Law, Criminal Justice, Consumer Law and Jurisprudence.

Vice-Chair - Geoff Downes

Geoff has experienced the impacts of renal failure as both a patient and a relative of a kidney patient.  He was first impacted by renal failure when, in his early teens, his sister was suddenly taken ill and required dialysis, firstly in hospital and then later at home. In 2014, Geoff was diagnosed with progressive Kidney failure due to his kidneys ageing prematurely. In early 2018, he started peritoneal dialysis but fortunately, received a kidney transplant in March that year.  So far, this has continued to work successfully and as a result Geoff is able to live a normal life. 

Geoff is involved in the Yorkshire and Humber Kidney Network as a patient representative and board member.  This works to improve the experience for patients whilst also trying to help Kidney units become more efficient and sustainable in the face of ever rising numbers of people requiring kidney care.

Secretary - Ros Aird - Lister Area KPA

Ros was born in Rochdale, and made a career in public sector procurement. She was first aware of kidney disease when her widowed brother developed polycystic kidney disease and was on PD until he died. Then, her husband, Steve, a diabetic, was diagnosed with kidney failure. He started PD, but a bad infection meant this had to be abandoned.

He then dialysed in unit, but soon moved to home HD, managed by Ros, and this improved life tremendously. They became involved in the local KPA but sadly, Steve died two years ago. Ros remains committed to Lister Area KPA (LAKPA) in his memory.

Treasurer - Mike Sinfield - Six Counties KPA

Mike received a kidney transplant from a deceased donor in August 1995. In 2001, he developed PTLD (post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder) but successfully underwent chemotherapy to treat the lymphoma. Following a change in his medication, he has remained healthy since then.

Mike's kidney failure was due to polycystic kidney disease, inherited from his father. Fortunately, he received a transplant before needing dialysis. Mike is also an active member of Six Counties Kidney Patients Association.

Soumeya Bouacida 

Diagnosed back in 2017 with IgA Nephropathy that led to kidney failure, Soumeya had to go on dialysis for a short period before she successfully had the chance to receive the gift of life from her perfect matched sister. Since then, she embarked into exciting journey of spiritual growth, community volunteering and health research engagement.

Soumeya is a public contributor sitting at the Bristol Health Partner Research and Innovation steering group together with Trauma informed and Kidney disease Health Integration Teams. She is part of the ICB BSSNG Community Research Engagement Network and has recently joined the NIHR RSS University of Birmingham and partners Hub strategy board. Soumeya believes strongly on the importance of amplifying the patients and public voice and the role of their non tokenistic participation as a key element at the implementation and service improvement levels. 

Patricia Gooden - Royal Free Hospital KPA

I am a double transplanted kidney patient at the Royal Free Hospital. I am very involved in the kidney world as a member of the Royal Free Hospital Kidney Patients Association. I do what I do because I vowed that no other patient would go through what I did during early diagnosis. I am a voice for kidney patients, and I'm really pleased to be on the executive Board of the NKF. 

Jose Rico-Diaz - Six Counties KPA 

Jose has a wealth of renal experience having navigated both dialysis and transplantation. As the Chairman of the Six Counties KPA he is passionate about elevating the patient voice and improving support for the Kidney community.
Jose’s background in business and reasearch initiatives bring valuable knowledge to the table.

Charleen Sepede - Friends of Derriford KPA

Complications at birth have led to Charleen having CKD her whole life. Charleen underwent 2 periods of in-center haemo dialysis and has had 2 transplants. The second of which was found to be contaminated with an unidentified nylon-type substance, but is still functioning. Charleen has been a registered member of NKF via 'friends of Derriford Hospital Kidney Unit' KPA since 1989. She joined the board of 'FODHKU' as Treasurer in 2018.

Charleen is a keen advocate for all stages of renal patients, and their families and carers. Promoting health and wellbeing, and fighting to make life easier for those facing the challenges of renal disease.

Tarsem Paul - Lister Area KPA

Tarsem has extensive experience as a kidney patient. He had been dialysing at the Bedford unit for many years and has recently undergone a second kidney transplant. He is a very active committee member of Lister Area KPA (LAKPA), with an additional role as the liaison officer for the Bedford renal unit.

This involves regular visits to the unit to offer help to staff and support to dialysis patients, and to build good relations with the staff at the unit. Tarsem is also a member of the Lister hospital peer support service and has helped many patients, on a confidential basis, by sharing his experience and supporting them.He is very passionate about supporting kidney patients and their families. Tarsem has established very good relationships with many staff and his contributions have been recognised by both the LAKPA committee and hospital staff.

Zoe Buchanan - Gloucestershire KPA

Zoe joined Gloucestershire Kidney Patient Association in 2023 when she was on dialysis in the Forest of Dean. She has now received her second living donor kidney transplant, in May 2025. She is passionate about giving back to the community.

Edmund Clottey - Guy's & St Thomas's KPA

Edmund was diagnosed with CKD in 2018 and commenced haemodialysis in 2021. As a patient representative and health advocate, he is deeply committed to championing quality healthcare services that meet patients' needs. His valuable experience engaging with NHS managers, decision makers, policy developers and service providers has contributed to meaningful change and continuous improvements.

John Roberts

I was born with the most common, rare kidney disease, sadly back in the dark ages, it was not diagnosable. I ended up retiring from work early as I started haemodialysis, until 2019 when I was fortunate enough to have a transplant.

Dr John Stoves BSc MD FRCP 

John graduated from the University of Edinburgh and trained in the West Midlands and Yorkshire before taking up a consultant post in Bradford in 2003 and latterly serving as service lead. He was clinical lead for Yorkshire and the Humber in 2013-17, overseeing the introduction of regional KQIP in 2017 as a step towards resurrection of regional renal networks.

His main interests include renal care in the community, including the development of e-consultation and other IT solutions for chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury (Innovation in Renal Medicine 2011 and BMJ Team of the Year 2013 awards), renal transplantation, living donation, transitional care for young adults, metabolic stone disease, polycystic kidney disease and sustainable kidney care.

John served the NHSBT Kidney Advisory Group (KAG) and co-chaired the UK Living Donor Network from 2022-25. He has worked closely with the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare and contributed to UKKA Sustainable Kidney Care workstreams, also the UKKA Transition to Young Adult Special Interest Group. Other main interests include multidisciplinary team service development projects, including the development of a cultural and health improvement officer post to support the care of South Asian patients in Bradford, the Health Foundation Tackling AKI project, and several regional and national KQIP initiatives.

John has taken lead roles in medical education, including regional simulation training, and established an independent renal research programme in Bradford. Patient-centred care is the key driver for these interests, with ongoing initiatives to involve patients more in providing feedback about their experience of care, including PREM, and strengthening of patient forums, including KPA and the Kidney Information Network (KIN).