We are a charitable organisation dedicated to eradicating osteoporosis
We are the Global Osteoporosis Foundation, and our goal is to raise awareness of the causes of diminished bone health and to demonstrate that osteoporosis is a very common but entirely preventable and reversible disease. In the few seconds it has taken you to start reading this page, someone somewhere in the world has had a broken bone caused by osteoporosis.
Every three seconds, as you continue to read, another person will suffer an osteoporosis fracture, causing pain, incapacity, and potentially life-limiting illness and injury.
Sir Graeme was president, later chair, of the General Medical Council until April 2009. He is also an Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the Universities of London and Aberdeen. He was an honorary consultant nephrologist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
Professor Catto has been interested in bone health for many years, during which time our understanding of bone health has transformed. Professor Catto advocates better care for osteoporosis and metabolic bone diseases. He is an Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the Universities of London and Aberdeen.
Professor Catto is also the Co-Founder of the London Osteoporosis Clinic and President of the Global Osteoporosis Foundation.
Miss Anthea Turner, an advisor to the Global Osteoporosis Foundation (GOF), has had a stellar 35-year career in the media. She's known for hosting shows like GMTV, Blue Peter, The National Lottery, and more. In her 60s, she continues to be active, promoting her book "How To Age Well: The Secrets" and writing a popular 'life hacks' column for My Weekly Magazine.
Anthea's recent appearances on shows like Celebrity SAS and E4's 'Real Life Dirty Dancing' have highlighted her resilience and determination, proving that age is no barrier to her vibrant spirit. Her involvement with GOF reflects her commitment to health and well-being.
Taher is the Co-Founder and Director of the London Osteoporosis Clinic and a Trustee of the Global Osteoporosis Foundation.
He trained at King's College Hospital, St Thomas' Hospital and Guy's Hospital. Taher was an Honorary Consultant at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in Bath, Lead for Osteoporosis and Consultant Rheumatologist at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.
Taher's interests include holistic osteoporosis treatments, raising awareness about bone health and preventing osteoporosis fractures.
His MD and MSc research studied the mechanisms of drug side effects.
As well as being a Trustee of the Global Osteoporosis Foundation, John is a founder of City & Westminster Corporate Finance LLP and is its Managing Partner.
He is a Chartered Accountant by trade with vast experience in private and public sector markets. He has been a director of many such companies.
John is also chairman of the Genesis Initiative Limited, a lobbying group for SMEs in the UK Parliament. It has over 1 million members within its 117 trade associations.
Emily is a Professor of Screen Industries at the University of West London, where she is Director of the Policy and Practice Research Institute of Screen Media (PPRISM).
She is an author, regular Sky Arts Contributor, BAFTA, and Film London 2007-20015 board member. Working previously as an Executive Producer at Ridley Scott Associates, Emily produced over a hundred award-winning commercials and promos.
Emily acts as an awards judge and advisor to several charities and recently served as an advisor on a publicly funded multi-million-pound screen industries award.
She graduated with a 1st class honours degree from Cambridge University and holds an MA from Birkbeck London University and a PhD from Cambridge University (King’s College).
Helen Esmonde was a teacher and a commissioning editor for McGraw-Hill in Toronto and later founded and ran Esmonde Publishing Limited for over 30 years until it was acquired by GMC Publications Ltd in 2012.
Helen stayed on as Publishing Director and retired in late 2020. Esmonde Publishing published books and stationery in partnership with major institutions, think tanks and retailers.
Helen was Director of Hoopers Photography Gallery for nine years, having also been a Director of a fine art gallery earlier in her career.
She is a Past Master of the Stationers and Newspaper Makers' Livery Company, where she is now a Court Assistant, a trustee of the publishing company Hymns Ancient & Modern, a trustee of Hoopers Africa Trust, a director of the Leigh Academies Trust, a member of the Book Aid International Development Board and is a member of the City & Guilds Council.
Helen is married to Bob Couldrey, who commanded the 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles in Brunei and Hong Kong.
Roger Hooper is a renowned wildlife photographer whose work has taken him to all seven continents. He sees his photography as a way of informing others of our planet's frailty. He has exhibited on many occasions, published several wildlife photography books and collaborated on several photographic projects. Prior to his work as a photographer, Roger enjoyed a successful business career both in the UK and Canada.
Roger's photographic travels frequently take him to Africa, where in 2007, he founded his charity, Hoopers Africa Trust (HAT), established to help transform the lives of disadvantaged girls in Kenya. To date, HAT has funded more than two hundred girls through secondary schooling, more than thirty of whom have also completed university education and enjoyed rewarding careers.
Vinny is the Global Osteoporosis Foundation Trustee, founder, and Chief Commercial Officer of Somo, the world's leading independent digital agency.
He founded Maverick Partners, which creates market-leading digital products that deliver world-class user experiences.
An experienced business leader and angel investor with a strong history of delivering technology solutions for global brands across multiple industries and territories.
Nusrat is the Head of Corporate and Commercial Law and Associate Director at StevensDrake, with over 20 years of experience. She is particularly skilled in selling and purchasing businesses and companies and establishing partnerships and joint ventures.
Nusrat has a wealth of experience in high-value and complex corporate transactions. Her experience includes advising on mergers, investments, shareholders, restructuring, banking re-financing, and corporate governance work. Her clients have included entrepreneurs, owner-managers, mid-market companies, SMEs, PLCs, international corporates, private equity, banks and financial institutions, joint venture parties, LLPs, partnerships and individuals.
She aims to be involved in preparing a business for sale or purchase from an early stage to ensure that the process runs smoothly and without unnecessary risk, helping to reduce both time and cost for her clients. Her experience allows her to advise companies on strategy – enabling entities to realise the next stage of their growth plans and support more sophisticated businesses to achieve their commercial objectives.
In this role, Anne-Marie supports the UN Refugee Agency and its partners in assisting refugees and displaced individuals in over 125 countries.
With over 30 years of experience, Anne-Marie has held leadership positions in organizations like UNHCR, Save the Children, UNICEF, and Share our Strength. She also contributed to cultural institutions in Australia before returning to the United States.
Anne-Marie's extensive international experience includes living in Norway, Burkina Faso, Australia, and the United Kingdom. She is the author of two books and a frequent speaker on international development, partnerships, resource mobilization, and leadership topics.
Mrs Charlene Golding brings a wealth of experience to her role as the First GOF-Prize Advisory Chair. Her journey in hospitality management saw her opening five-star hotel resorts during her impressive 20-year tenure with Kerzner International.
Beyond her corporate prowess, Charlene is an enterprising entrepreneur, collaborating with numerous luxury organizations worldwide. Her global reach extends far and wide, making her a prominent figure in the Arab World. Charlene is celebrated for her unwavering determination and is highly esteemed in the Middle East for her genuine compassion and steadfast integrity.
Sarah studied as a foundation scholar at the Royal College of Music and was appointed Junior Fellow of the RCM in 2000.
Sarah is a professional musician who plays bassoon for the Orchestra of The Royal Opera House.
She has held posts with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Sarah has also had a busy chamber music career and is a prize winner at the European Chamber Music Competition - Le Musique d’Ensemble.
She has enjoyed the privilege of performing regularly as a chamber musician at private functions for the royal family at Highgrove House, Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
Since her diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2022, Sarah has become an advocate of being proactive about her health and well-being. She continues daily to ask questions and seek solutions to live a healthy and pain-free lifestyle and continue with her career as a musician. She feels it is important to educate yourself on your body and actively take a role in your own health and well-being.
Matt is a Consultant at the globally renowned strategy management consultancy Bain and Company. Matt's expertise, specialised in corporate sustainability, lies in guiding international corporations and private equity firms through the complexities of sustainability challenges and the implementation of decarbonization initiatives.
With a strategic mindset, robust commercial acumen, and a wealth of international experience, Matt is committed to tackling complex societal issues. He is known for his innovative solutions and thought leadership, particularly in clean energy. Matt has also made his mark as a content creator, frequently publishing online articles and previously hosting a podcast dedicated to renewable power.
With over 30 years of senior management expertise in the insurance sector, he is an Executive Director at AON.
Christina is a dedicated advisor for the Global Osteoporosis Foundation. Her leadership in managing captive insurance and strategic insurance programmes is instrumental to the foundation.
Mrs Bell's depth of knowledge in underwriting and claims functions is invaluable in driving the Foundation's initiatives to combat osteoporosis and enhance bone health internationally.
Mr Gary Rhodes brings over a decade of expertise to his role as the Advisory Board Lead at the London Osteoporosis Clinic, where his dedication to health advocacy is unparalleled. His journey in the health sector was ignited by a deeply personal mission to improve his grandmother's quality of life. This led him to explore cutting-edge treatments and preventative strategies in bone health.
His exploration led to the discovery of the innovative bioDensity system, a turning point in his approach to osteoporosis management.
At the Global Osteoporosis Foundation, we are honoured to have Mr Rhodes on our advisory board, guiding our efforts to champion proactive health care. His vision and experience are invaluable assets in our mission to empower individuals and businesses to prioritise bone health.
Dr Ahmed is a highly experienced healthcare professional with numerous accolades for his dedication to healthcare and other ventures. Notably, he was honoured with Prime Minister David Cameron's Point of Light award and received the British Empire Medal during the Queen's Birthday Honours in 2019.
Dr Ahmed's educational journey began at Guy's, King's, and St Thomas' Hospital, where he excelled and even won the St Thomas' Hospital Cup. He started Academic Foundation Training at King's College Hospital, followed by specialised Radiology and a subspecialty imaging Fellowship at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital.
Furthermore, Dr Ahmed is the founder of Selfless, a global health NGO, a co-founder of the MedTech startup ImproveWell, and a consultant radiologist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. His extensive contributions and leadership in various domains make him a remarkable figure in the healthcare and public service sectors.
Magnify PR is one of the UK's fastest-growing PR and media agencies. A former award-winning Fleet Street journalist for over two decades, Nick helps his clients magnify their expertise and quickly connect to the right contacts in print, digital and broadcast media outlets across the UK.
In addition to running his PR agency, Nick is a passionate campaigner. He has volunteered to provide PR support to mental health charities, the Laura Hyde Foundation, and the Frank Bruno Foundation.
Nick wrote both of Frank Bruno's acclaimed autobiographies, Let Me Be Frank and Sixty Years A Fighter, which both tell the harrowing yet ultimately uplifting story of Frank's battle with bipolar disorder and the campaign he has embarked on with Nick's support.
A former Associate Editor of the Financial Times, he was the first global Editor-in-Chief of the Boston Consulting Group before founding Thinking Cap Communications, a London-based strategic thought leadership and public relations consultancy.
Simon works with business leaders, helping them develop, write and publish their brand-defining ideas and insights as books (Harvard Business Review Press, McGraw Hill, Random House, Wiley & Co), articles (FT, Harvard Business Review, Fortune) and blogs.
He is co-author of New World, Inc. (a history of the founding of America by English merchants before the Pilgrims), a part-time tutor at Oxford University’s Department for Continuing Education (where he teaches courses on Anglo-American history and newspaper history), and chair of Richmond Local History Society.
As well as the FT, he has written for the Economist, the Washington Post and the Boston Globe, among other publications. He has served as a judge at various press awards, including the British Press Awards.
Simon has a PhD in history from Cambridge University.
Osteoporosis is the weakening of bone strength. As we age, this growing fragility of bones increases the likelihood of fractures. Osteoporosis can occur at any age, although it is most common in older people - the cliché of the grandmother stooping and shrinking as she gets older is one based entirely on the effects of osteoporosis, but this image is not inevitable. The bad news is the condition is very common; the good news is it's entirely preventable.
We want to empower individuals worldwide to manage and prevent osteoporosis. There are a handful of simple, practical and low-cost solutions to ensure you and your loved ones can lead healthy and active lives. Think of it like a pension plan: the earlier we begin putting a little bit of money away each month, the better and healthier the picture will be upon our retirement. The first step on this path is the test we are currently developing, which will help draw a picture of your bone health and advise on the way forward. We want to see a world for our children and grandchildren where that cliched picture of the stooped shrinking grandmother is an image cast into history. Help us make that dream a reality.
