Catherine Woodhead, CEO
Catherine has worked in the charity sector since 2000, with her fundraising experience spanning senior strategic and operational planning roles in a number of large and small charities.
A former member of The Prince’s Charities fundraising advisory group, Catherine joined Muscular Dystrophy UK in August 2016 as Director of Development and was appointed CEO in September 2018.
We know that every day counts, and only by working together can we accelerate treatments for people with muscle wasting conditions. I am proud to lead our team to deliver faster access to treatments, drive change for better care, and support to enable individuals and their families to stay active, independent and connected. Thank you to everyone who supports us as donors, supporters and volunteers who make every day count.
Dr Kate Adcock, Director of Research and Innovation
Kate joined us in June 2018 from her role as Head of Neuroscience and Mental Health with the Medical Research Council. She’s also worked in a senior role with the Wellcome Trust. Kate has a PhD in Neuroscience from the University of Cambridge, after gaining her first degree at Imperial College London. She then worked as a post-doctoral assistant at the University of Basel and in the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at the University Children’s Hospital in Zurich before joining the Wellcome Trust in 2005.
She is currently a Trustee of the Association of Medical Research Charities and an Executive Committee member of the European Neuromuscular Centre in The Netherlands.
After over five years, I’m still excited to be a member of the team at Muscular Dystrophy UK. I get to work with such a great community of researchers, people with lived experience of neuromuscular conditions and of course, terrific colleagues. We have seen fantastic progress in research, clinical trials and access to treatments and I can’t wait to see what the next five years will bring...
Rob Burley, Director of Care, Campaigns and Support
Rob joined us in 2018, and has spent 18 years in the charity sector, with a strong focus on health and disability. Before joining MDUK, he had senior roles at Alzheimer’s Society and RNID. He started his career at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, where he completed the NCVO’s Certificate in Campaigning. Between 2015 and 2019, he served as a trustee of Charityworks, the UK non-profit sector’s graduate programme, and is a Clore Social Leadership Fellow. Rob leads our support services, policy work, as well as MDUK’s involvement as co-chair of the Changing Places toilets consortium.
MDUK’s mix of research, campaigning and direct support mean that we deliver real improvements for individuals living with muscle-wasting conditions. I hugely value the unique relationship MDUK holds with the neuromuscular clinical community and the connections we build with our amazing community of supporters and people with muscle-wasting conditions.
Wojtek Trzcinski, Director of Finances and Resources
Wojtek is a CIMA qualified management accountant with over 10 years’ experience of working at senior level within the UK charity sector.
Before joining Muscular Dystrophy UK, Wojtek worked as a Consultant at Counterculture LLP, Interim Executive Director (Finance) at the Prince’s Foundation, CFO at The Design and Artists Copyright Society (DACS) , Finance and Operations Director for the Prince’s Foundation for Binding Community (PFBC) and Head of Finance for the British Cardiovascular Society (BCS).
Wojtek holds a MRes in Cultural Studies at the London University and MA in Slavonic Languages and Culture from Adam Mickiewicz University (UAM). He is also a Trustee of two theatre companies based in London – Blind Summit and Paines Plough.
I am really proud to join MDUK at this exciting time when the charity is entering a new chapter with its ambitious and inspiring new strategy. I am hoping to support my colleagues as we deliver our plans and achieve what we set out to do. It’s a great privilege to be part of such a motivated and thought-provoking team.
Leanne Thorndyke, Director of Marketing
Leanne joined us in June 2023 and has spent over 16 years in marketing and communication roles in the charity sector. Before joining Muscular Dystrophy UK, Leanne was Head of Marketing and Communications at Bowel Cancer UK and previously held roles at St Elizabeth Hospice, Beat and Save the Children.
Leanne has been a trustee of the mental health charity Suffolk Mind since April 2019 and is also a research grant lay reviewer and expert panel member for Sarcoma UK having being diagnosed with the disease in March 2021.