Do it Get involved Versus Arthritis works with and for people who have any type of arthritis. We are here to help you manage your condition better, and stay active, independent and connected Meet our new chair and trustees We are delighted to announce that, in late December 2022, we appointed a new chair of the board of trustees and six trustees, after a lengthy recruitment process. Our new chair, Kate Tompkins, has wide experience in integrated person-centred care and support, having worked in the community, as a chief nurse and chief executive in the NHS, and as CEO of Cavell Nurses Trust charity. Kate has been a trustee and chair at several charities including the Royal Osteoporosis Society, Dorothy House Hospice Care and Hospice UK. She has a particular interest in supporting people with long-term and life-limiting conditions in their own home. Kate said: It is my great privilege to have been appointed as chair of trustees for the board of Versus Arthritis, and I very much look forward to working with the staff, volunteers, supporters and members of the charity. Our new trustees almost all have a personal connection to our cause, whether with a diagnosis themselves, or a very close family member. A key objective during the recruitment process was to diversify the board to better reflect the experiences of people with arthritis. Our new trustees range in age, gender and ethnic background. Some have been trustees before, others have not. Some have been volunteering with us for a long time, and others are new to the charity. All bring a diverse range of expertise and experience to support our future development. Deborah Alsina, CEO of Versus Arthritis, said: We are very excited to welcome our new chair and trustees, who will be joining Versus Arthritis as we launch a new five-year strategy. We would like to convey our heartfelt thanks to our outgoing chair, Rodger McMillan, vice-chair Karin Hogsander and trustees, who are stepping down shortly, and wish them all the very best. OUR RESEARCHER HONOURED We are delighted that Professor Janet Lord was made a CBE in the 2023 New Year Honours List. Janet is the director of our Centre of Excellence for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research (CMAR), which is funded jointly with the Medical Research Council. She was honoured for services to immunology and ageing research. Janet and her colleagues at CMAR have been looking at the key factors that drive ageing of the cells and tissues that make up the musculoskeletal system. This allows them to identify new drugs and lifestyle changes, such as exercise and diet, to maintain a healthy musculoskeletal system. They aim to reduce age-related decline and keep individuals healthy and active for longer. 19 Inspire Spring 23 pp19-20 charity news.indd 19 15/02/2023 09:30