The Team

Gillian has specialised in the field of human milk banking and breastfeeding for 30 years and co-founded the UK Association for Milk Banking and European Milk Bank Association.

Flic is a digital communications specialist with 16 years’ experience managing award-winning campaigns for charities and healthcare brands on a global level. With a psychology degree and having first started her career in the NHS, she has always wanted to make a difference to people’s lives. Flic initially became involved in the Hearts Milk Bank as a milk donor in 2017 and helped to launch the HMF charity in 2018. Her role includes managing all communications for the Hearts Milk Bank and Human Milk Foundation across all channels including the website, social media, press/tv/radio/print, and the creation of fundraising and outreach campaigns through video. Flic also works with Trusts and Foundations applying for grant funding, strategic planning and impact reporting and manages the relationships with our charity corporate partners. Flic is passionate about creating societal change in how we support new parents and changing perceptions of human milk.

Tina Crombie was elected Trustee of the HMF in February 2020. Tina is co-founder and director of TCR UK Solutions, implementing scalable systems and processes for life science companies. She has 25 years’ life science business experience and is an experienced charity trustee. Tina joins the HMF to help navigate challenges and opportunities in growing the organisation to contribute to delivery of the best possible support for families.

Gemma joined the HMF board as a Trustee in January 2021. She has lived experience of our work, having been a milk donor following the birth of her son, Wilf. Gemma is a Consultant Obstetrician with a special interest in maternal medicine at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, providing holistic care for women with diabetes and other medical conditions in pregnancy and beyond.  She brings with her an understanding of the complex landscape of health care in England and hopes to help the HMF achieve its ambition of equitable access to human milk.

Emma joined the HMF Trustee Board in 2022. After spending 9 years as a primary school teacher and Deputy Head in inner London, Emma became a mother and realised how desperately breastfeeding support was needed by so many. She qualified as a Breastfeeding Counsellor with the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers in 2007 and started volunteering on the Department of Health’s National Breastfeeding Helpline when it first opened, alongside offering support for families at home and at drop-in groups.

Emma became an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant in 2011 and re-certified in 2016 and 2021. She works as a private lactation consultant and also continues to offer voluntary support at groups across West Haringey and on the National Breastfeeding Helpline and ABM national helpline. 

In 2022, Emma received the Lactation Consultants of Great Britain award for outstanding contribution to breastfeeding.

Simon held the position of Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Sussex, where he was responsible for driving excellence in research and teaching for 30 years. He has since served on and chaired a number of UK and European research grant review panels, and he is currently Secretary and an active volunteer and Trustee at SERV Sussex (charity No.284455). Most recently, Simon has helped to co-ordinate the set-up of the Hearts Milk Bank donor milk hub in Sussex. In his role as Trustee with the Human Milk Foundation he brings his unique skill sets to helping drive excellence and innovation through our programme of research, in support of infant and maternal health.

Andy joined the HMF as Treasurer in 2024, having previously provided support in our finance team on a voluntary basis. He has a broad range of experience in leading and supporting the charity sector, with a focus on empowerment and inclusion, working n frontline leadership roles supporting young people in educational and youth work settings. He also volunteers with the Scout Association and leads a charity organising and delivering residential holidays for children with and without disabilities.

My volunteering role with the HMF began in 2020. I was sitting at home undergoing treatment for breast cancer and thought it would be an opportunity to do something positive and keep my mind busy! So far I have enjoyed assisting at events, seeking out donations of prizes for raffles and coming up with ideas for fundraising, such as a virtual balloon race. It is exciting to be a part of this growing charity, the team always make me feel appreciated and valued, which I can say, hand on heart made a huge difference to my mental state during my treatment.

Deb is supporting our Northumbria Hub by assisting the coordination of the distribution of donor milk to local hospitals, whilst also liaising with local ‘blood bike’ volunteers. Donor milk from milk donors in the local community is stored at the hub until it can be transported to the Hearts Milk Bank HQ in Hertfordshire for pasteurising and redistribution. Deb is an Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (ANNP), Independent Prescriber, Tongue-tie Practitioner and Lactation Consultant. She has worked within neonatal services in the NHS for over 20 years, supporting newborn infants and their families.

Clare volunteers with the HMF in a variety of ways including assisting with transportation of donor human milk to hubs, helping with events and supporting with tasks in the milk bank.