Speaker Profiles
Profiles Updated : 06/10/2025
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Ashley is the newly appointed Lead Perfusionist at Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust, where he has worked for the past ten years. He has an extensive career spanning multiple professions and continents. Ashley’s primary focus as lead is to create a positive working environment and improve his teams wellbeing.
Victoria is a senior clinical perfusionist specialising in paediatrics, with over 20 years experience. She delivers lectures both in-house and to MSc students at UCL. Victoria is a faculty member of Euro ELSO. Victoria work at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust.
Paul Fricker is currently the CCPS President. He is the Deputy Chief Clinical Perfusion Scientist at St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Paul Fricker specialises in all aspects of adult clinical perfusion, with specific interests in management of the heart lung machine during complex surgery of the aorta, minimally invasive procedures, and long term cardiac devices.
John O’Neill is the chief perfusionist at Barts Health. He trained at Harefield Hospital, where he developed a strong foundation in cardiopulmonary bypass and patient-focused care, before moving to Barts Heart Centre in 2009. John has wide ranging interests and a desire to optimise perfusion for patients and perfusionists. After joining the Perfusion College in 2018 he has used the experience to help promote safety culture with several presentations at the AGM as well the first N+1 staffing survey on behalf of the College.
Andrew started his career in perfusion in 1998 at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge. During the 14 years he spent at Papworth, Andrew played a key role in the development of the VAD and ECMO programmes and was the lead trainer of senior ICU staff to care for patients on ECMO. In 2013 he moved to Leeds and started working in paediatrics for the first time. Having already experienced a management role in Papworth, he was keen to expand his positive influence in Leeds, becoming deputy manager in 2014 and chief perfusionist in 2015. In Leeds Andrew again focuses his attention to developing the ECMO programme and training ICU staff to care for paediatric patients on ECMO.
Dr Shruthi Narayan is the Medical Director of Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT). SHOT is the UK’s independent, professionally led haemovigilance scheme. Shruthi is also a member of the Donor Medical Team at NHS Blood and Transplant. She chairs the Royal College of Pathologists Transfusion Specialty Advisory Committee, is a member of the leadership team of International Society of Blood Transfusion Haemovigilance Working Party and is the current President of the International Haemovigilance Network. Shruthi is deeply committed to advancing transfusion safety and is actively engaged in education and quality improvement initiatives. Her passion extends to partnering with patients to enhance safety through shared understanding, transparency, and collaborative care.
Mark is a member of the Hospital Liaison Committee for Jehovah’s Witnesses. This global network of more than 2000 HLC’s endeavours to create an environment of cooperation and understanding between hospitals and patients declining blood transfusion. It maintains a medical library of peer reviewed journals to support hospital services. And has a database of over 100,000 clinicians with experience in performing complex procedures without blood transfusion. Mark has made scores of presentations to clinical teams, has assisted with creating blood refusal policies and is available for consultation at any time. All HLC services are free of charge. In his spare time, he likes cycling and walking and has completed climbing the 214 fells in the Lake District and the national three peaks challenge.
Noel Kelleher is currently the SCPS Chairman. Noel is the chief perfusionist at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff.
Jacqueline Simmons is a Clinical Perfusion Scientist with extensive experience in the profession. Holding both a BSc and a BSC hons degrees, as well as an MA in Health Care Leadership and Management. She Combines clinical expertise with a strong focus on patient safety after completing her thesis on Perfusion Error and application of simulation. Her safety interest has been utilised as the Chair of the Safety Committee for the SCPS, working nationally and internationally with Amsect, Orum and PIRs. She is an avid educator and as part of the Education and Training Committee she has assisted in running the examiners course, lectured on the MSc in Clinical Perfusion Science at Bristol University and continues as a lead examiner.
Aswani was elected to the Society’s Executive during the SCPS AGM 2021. Currently, Aswani sits on the Meetings and Seminars, ECMO and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion subcommittees. Aswani sits on the Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion subcommittee for the Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons.
Paul Fricker is currently the CCPS President. He is the Deputy Chief Clinical Perfusion Scientist at St Georges University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Paul Fricker specialises in all aspects of adult clinical perfusion, with specific interests in management of the heart lung machine during complex surgery of the aorta, minimally invasive procedures, and long term cardiac devices.
John O’Neill is the chief perfusionist at Barts Health. He trained at Harefield Hospital, where he developed a strong foundation in cardiopulmonary bypass and patient-focused care, before moving to Barts Heart Centre in 2009. John has wide ranging interests and a desire to optimise perfusion for patients and perfusionists. After joining the Perfusion College in 2018 he has used the experience to help promote safety culture with several presentations at the AGM as well the first N+1 staffing survey on behalf of the College.
