Our Staff
Amy Francombe, Director of Charity Development
Amy joined MACS in August 2021 as the Fundraising and Communications Manager, moving in to the role of Director of Charity Development in December 2023. Before joining MACS, Amy worked for her local hospice as the Events and Community Fundraising Manager. Throughout her nine and a half years at the hospice, Amy covered various roles and remits within the fundraising team, including corporate, community, events, and legacy fundraising.
Amy has led in the review of the organisational structure, developing the existing roles and identifying skills and resource gaps to ensure capacity is maximised on both a strategic and operational level. Amy
is excited to be driving forward the development and delivery of MACS’ organisational priorities. With MACS’s great ambitions to expand our services and reach more families than ever before, Amy is excited to lead the MACS team into a bright future for its members.
Contact: amy@macs.org.uk
Emily Murphy, Trusts and Foundations Fundraiser
Emily joined MACS in April 2022 as the Trusts and Foundations Fundraiser. Emily brings a wide-range of experience having worked for her local hospice for nearly nineteen years, across various roles within the Fundraising department, but latterly as the Trusts Fundraiser.
Emily is excited to take on this new role at MACS and is looking forward to boosting the grant income from trusts and foundations to maintain and develop member services.
Contact: emily@macs.org.uk
John Leadbeater, Supporter Relations Officer
John has been a member of MACS since 2015 and joined the MACS team as the Fundraising Apprentice in September 2021. After successfully completing his Apprenticeship in March 2023, John was welcomed as a permanent member of the team in the role of MACS’ Supporter Relations Officer. John’s focus is very much on nurturing relationships with our valued supporters and ensuring they have all the support they deserve from us, as well as overseeing major fundraising events and looking for opportunities to galvanise new support. John also keeps our fundraising records up to date and works on establishing links with other charitable and philanthropic organisations. John is delighted to be part of the MACS team and work for the amazing organisation which has done so much to help him throughout his membership.
Contact: john@macs.org.uk
Kim Randall, Member Services Development Manager
Kim joined MACS in January 2024 as our Member Services Development Manager. Kim has had the privilege of working with a diverse range of individuals, including vulnerable teens, blind and pregnant parents, and the elderly facing challenges related to the loss of their eyesight. Kim brings a combination of lived experience and learned skills to the role, including from her previous employment as a Braille teacher and the many years she has been running Blind parents UK. While not having a MACS condition, Kim is blind from birth, married to Sean who is also blind. They live in the midlands with their daughter, Lily, almost 13, and cavalier King Charles spaniel Millie. You’ll often find Kim chatting, laughing, checking out the latest tech options or analysing the state of today’s music!
Contact: kim@macs.org.uk
Sharon Williams, Member Engagement Officer
Sharon joined MACS in January 2019 as our Regional Co-ordinator and now covers the role of Member Engagement Officer. Sharon is passionate about supporting members whether they have just received a diagnosis or have been living with their MACS condition for decades. Sharon is friendly, approachable and extremely dedicated to her role with MACS. Sharon has worked for several charities before, including the RNIB, and has spent many years supporting vulnerable people. Sharon has a niece with unilateral Microphthalmia and Coloboma which is how she first heard about MACS.
Contact: sharon@macs.org.uk
Communications and Outreach Officer – Vacant
We’re looking for a new Communications and Outreach officer to join MACS on a fixed-term 12-month contract
This is a critical role that offers the chance to raise awareness of MACS, reach new members and galvanise support. You will work with the management team to deliver the strategic objectives for communications across the organisation, with a cohesion between both membership engagement, retention and growth, and supporter recruitment.
Clare Jones, Member Services Coordinator
Clare joined the MACS team on a part-time basis in January 2024. Clare covers the role of Member Services Coordinator and brings with her a wealth of administrative experience, with an NHS background. Clare lives in Southampton with partner Sam, son Leo and French Bulldog Mabel. Leo was born with Coloboma in 2021. Clare tells us, ‘I remember feeling so isolated and alone the first few months with the unknowns. We were directed to MACS and the support we have received from the charity itself and other members has been amazing and really made such a difference to us. I am excited to start my new role in the new year and to work with such an amazing team of people.’
Contact: clare@macs.org.uk
Our Trustees
Teresa Gordon, Interim Chair
Teresa’s daughter Kara, born in 2008, has Microphthalmia with dense cataract and Nystagmus in her right eye. After attending a MACS Family Weekend with her children and husband Mel, Teresa felt she wanted to give something back, becoming a regional supporter, before standing as Trustee at the 2014 AGM.
After holding the position of Observer for many years, Teresea became a joint Vice-Chair in 2022 and Interim Chair in September 2022.
Teresa is really happy to be part of such a great team.
Contact: teresa@macs.org.uk
Sarah Hiley, Treasurer
Sarah Hiley is our Trustee and Treasurer. Sarah lives in Farnborough with her partner Richard and cat, Hope. She is a fully qualified Chartered Management Accountant working for Terumo, in the health care products industry.
Sarah is a long-standing MACS member as her sister, Jessica, has grown up part of the MACS community as she has Microphthalmia. Sarah is keen to support MACS in her role as treasurer and is looking forward to driving the charity to achieve its mission to become a leading authority on MACS conditions and to provide comfort and support to people impacted by them.
Contact: sarah@macs.org.uk
Rory Hallas, Trustee
Rory lives with his wife and two children in South Buckinghamshire. His daughter was born with bilateral coloboma, and although her age means the extent of her visual impairment is difficult to determine, she has developed good coping strategies to help her progress at both home and nursery.
Rory qualified as a chartered accountant with Deloitte and after a stint at a listed property company now works for London focused commercial property developer. Outside work, Rory is a keen sailor and runner. He completed the 2018 London Marathon for MACS, and sails locally and in his home county of Suffolk.
Contact: rory@macs.org.uk
Gary Murphy, Trustee
A Head of Finance by day, Gary puts his skills to good work on the MACS Board and the finance committee. Gary’s oldest child, Lily, was born in 2007 with bilateral Microphthalmia. Finding out about MACS was a lifeline for Gary and his wife Rachael. Gary still recalls the relief he experienced when he called MACS’ Helpline and was finally able to speak to someone who understood how he was feeling. Lily is now fourteen and enjoys school.
Contact: gary@macs.org.uk
Lisa Jefferies, Trustee
Lisa was introduced to MACS whilst at a Moorfields hospital appointment with her son, who was diagnosed with microphthalmia shortly after birth. The family found it incredibly reassuring to discover they were not alone in what we were going through.
Professionally, Lisa leads a team supporting finance and accounting professionals around the world. Lisa brings this experience to MACS to help us grow further and reach even more families. Lisa lives in London with her husband and their 3 sons.
Contact: lisa@macs.org.uk
Harvir Padda, Trustee
Harvir has two beautiful baby boys, Dylan and Dhian. Dylan, was born with anophthalmia, nystagmus, coloboma and a dermoid.
Harvir lives with her husband and children in Leamington and works as a Change Management Lead in the manufacturing/ construction sector.
Whilst initially in neonatal care, MACS was one of the first support networks they were advised of and accessed. Whilst navigating their new normal MACS became a fundamental part of their journey and so now Harvir is keen to reach those families going through similar and extremely difficult times whilst contributing towards driving forward the MACS vision.
Contact: harvir@macs.org.uk
Dr Jessica Gates, Trustee
Jess lives with her husband Aidan and son Thady in Newcastle upon Tyne. Thady was born with unilateral microphthalmia, cataract and has no iris in his left eye. Thady was born in 2021 and since then MACS has been an incredible source of emotional and practical support for the family.
Professionally, Jess is an academic researcher based at Northumbria University in Newcastle with a background in health psychology and expertise in health services research. She works within the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration in the Knowledge Mobilisation and Implementation Science theme, which is all about using research and knowledge in innovative ways to improve health and care. Having had challenging healthcare experiences relating to Thady’s care and knowing that this is a common theme among MACS families, her long-term professional goal is to drive forward MACS related research from applied health research perspective.
Jess brings these personal and professional experiences to MACS and is happy to be able to support the charity and help it grow.
Contact: JessicaGates@macs.org.uk
Ross Allen, Trustee
Ross has been a part of the MACS community since 1998, growing up as a MACS child and experiencing firsthand the invaluable support the charity provides. This deep connection has fuelled a lifelong commitment to the organisation, culminating in Ross’s role as a Trustee. Ross currently living in Exeter, enjoying the South West coastline, while working for an explainable AI technology start-up. In his spare time, Ross enjoys exploring the outdoors through cycling, hiking, climbing, and sailing
Contact: Ross@macs.org.uk
Our Patrons
The Rt Hon. the Lord Blunkett
Lord Blunkett has previously held office as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Home Secretary and Secretary of State for Education and Employment. He has been blind since birth.
Since first coming into contact with MACS at a fundraising event, I’ve been full of admiration for the charity, the youngsters and their parents and carers.By giving the support which enables everyone to cope practically and emotionally, MACS is offering positive mutual self-help. MACS is also raising the profile and awareness of these conditions.
I hope everyone who can, will give what they can, to help MACS to offer the help, advice and interventions that are needed.
Mr Richard Collin MA, FRCS, DO, FRCOphth
Mr Richard Collin is a leading specialist in Oculoplastic surgery focusing on microphthalmos, ptosis, eyelid anatomy, orbital implants, conjunctival replacement and eyelid tumour management.
Richard has been a Patron of MACS for many years.
He continues to be a source of invaluable information and guidance to the many MACS families who have visited his clinic.
Jodie Prenger
Actress and presenter Jodie burst onto the scene after winning the BBC's ‘I’d Do Anything’ and going on to play the part of Nancy in the West End show Oliver!
It was while playing Nancy that Jodie met MACS member Toby Ott…
Through taking part in shows like Oliver! I get to meet the most extraordinary people and one of them was Toby. Through him, I found out about Microphthalmia, Anophthalmia and Coloboma - all conditions I never knew existed.Learning more about MACS, I very proudly became a patron. For me it’s a total honour to be invited, not only into a charity, but into one big family. It’s great to see everyone working together to make a big difference to peoples’ lives.
Read more about Jodie at http://www.jodieprengerofficial.com
Martin Pemberton
An entertainer and stunt man for film and TV, Martin has been involved with the charity for many years and has seen both MACS, and the children and families it supports, grow and develop. Martin is both honoured to become a patron and enthusiastic about supporting the charity into the future.
To be part of MACS is truly humbling. Children should never feel vulnerable, left out or subject to negativity and that is why MACS is so special. I look forward to meeting more MACS members, becoming a friend and making some great memories. Thanks for giving me this opportunity.
Chris Ashton
Chris Ashton is an English rugby union player who has represented England in both Rugby League and Rugby Union and is a key player for Saracens.
Chris has a close link with MACS as his cousin Ben has bilateral anophthalmia. Chris says he is ‘proud to be part of MACS and help support it in any way’.
All at MACS are delighted that Chris has come on board and look forward to working with Chris to help promote MACS now and in the future.