Meet our Directors

The Board of Directors at The Griffin Institute…

Meet our Directors

Dr Vasiliki Kiparoglou MSc MBA (Oxon) PhD Chief Executive
Vasiliki is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working within the Research and Healthcare industry. Her skills include: Strategy, Operational Management, Clinical Research, Healthcare Leadership, Governance, Lean Six Sigma, Business Finance…
Nader Francis
Professor Nader Francis, MBChB, FRCS, FEBS(hon), PhD Director of Training
Nader is an expert colorectal surgeon at Yeovil, committed to minimal invasive surgery and enhanced recovery. He is a passionate teacher and educator with an educational PhD in assessment of surgical skills, which underpins his…
Professor Jia Hua, MD, PhD Director of Science
A qualified medical doctor and trained orthopaedic surgeon in China, Jia Hua completed his PhD in Orthopaedics at the University College London, UK. An expert in the development of endoprosthetic joint replacements, Jia has developed…

Sir John Griffin Honorary President

Sir John Griffin is a distinguished businessman and philanthropist. He founded Addison Lee in 1975 with just one car, and nearly 40 years later sold the company in 2013 to The Carlyle Group for £360 million. He left school with no qualifications after contracting tuberculosis as a child and went on to have an illustrious career, including serving as founder and chairman of the Private Hire Car Association. He is an Enterprise Fellow of The Prince’s Trust, committed to supporting and inspiring the next generation of British business leaders, and Chairman of Finito, which provides one-to-one mentoring, coaching and guidance to those starting out on the career ladder.

In 2009, Sir John was presented with the Entrepreneur of the Year award by global accounting firm Ernst & Young, and in 2013 was named The Irish Post’s first Business Person of the Year. In 2014, he established The John Griffin Foundation as a focus for his growing charitable and philanthropic activities, and he has since committed more than £12.5 million to refurbishing the building and supporting The Griffin Institute at Northwick Park.

Sir John was  Knighted in the 2024 New Year Honours List for services to Business and to Charity.

Sir John Griffin Honorary President

Meet our Trustees

The Trustee Board at The Griffin Institute oversees the strategy and direction of the Charity.

Professor Robin Kennedy MS FRCS
Co Chair, Visiting Professor of Surgery Imperial College London, retired consultant colorectal surgeon, St Mark’s Hospital, London.

Professor Anthony Goldstone CBE
Co Chair, Professor of Haematology, Medical Director HCA UK at University College Hospital & Chair of the HCA UK Cancer Department.

Bertie Leigh Hon FRCA and FRCPCH FRCOG ad eundem
Ex Senior Partner of Hempsons Solicitors with extensive experience in clinical negligence, commonly acting for doctors and NHS resolution.

Bruce Mauleverer QC FClArb MA
Vice Chair, retired barrister. Former Deputy High Court Judge of the UK with wide expertise in international law. Bruce practised at the Bar in England for 30 years.

Hugo Robinson
Treasurer, Partner at Kings Park Capital and a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

 

Kate Forster
Has over 20-years experience in human resources. Providing HR and organisational design advice to small businesses, mainly in health care related industries and tech, also charities/not for profits. Primarily in the UK and USA.

 

Meet our Trustees

Colin Green Founder and Emeritus Scientific Director NPIMR

Colin Green was one of the pioneers in developing cyclosporine A as a revolutionary new drug to prevent rejection of transplanted organs and helped set up the Restoration of Appearance and Function Trust (RAFT) charity as co-Director of its Institute for Plastic Surgery Research in Mount Vernon Hospital. In 1994 he founded the Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research and remained Director until September 2008. He was made full Professor of Surgical Science at University College London in 1996 and was made the UNESCO Chair in Cryobiology and Academician in the Ukraine National Academy of Sciences in 1998.

His main research interests have been in surgical reconstruction, tissue regeneration, stem cells seeded into decellularised tissues, novel burns treatments and organ transplantation. Most notably, he helped pioneer the development of carbon monoxide releasing molecules as potential therapeutic agents for inflammation, ischaemia-reperfusion damage and bacterial infections, particularly their possible role in coronary artery disease and strokes. He has written more than 500 publications and has a strong interest in global healthcare and education particularly as they impact on conflict resolution and human rights.

Colin Green Founder and Emeritus Scientific Director NPIMR

Current Vacancies

Interested in working with us at The Griffin Institute?
Browse our current vacancies here!