The Council is the Royal College of Podiatry's Board of Directors and its strategic body. It decides policy, sets the College’s strategic direction, provides oversight of the company, and approves key organisational changes. Council members are elected by the Voting Members of the College.
Professor Jane McAdam (Chair)
Chair of Council
Assigned: 26.06.2021
Professor Jane McAdam (Chair)
Professor Jane McAdam is Associate Dean Enterprise and Engagement at the University of Salford.
She worked privately in Australia, and then joined the NHS working in various roles in London and Salford – overall working as clinician for over 25 years. Her areas of interest are biomechanics, orthotics and pressure relief, which includes complex high risk patients as well as providing stock, modular and bespoke footwear.
Jane is a Director and the Chair of the Council of the Royal College of Podiatry. She is an appointed Governor to the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust in Greater Manchester.
In her role at the University of Salford, Jane is part of the senior management team for the School of Health & Society, with senior executive responsibility for the School across strategic and operational key performance indicators.
Past service on Committees and Boards of Council
- Dean of the Directorate of Podiatric Medicine 2016 - 2021
- Member of Clinical Senate 2016 - 2021
- Member Committee of the Directorate of Education 2015 - 2021
- Assessor for Canonbury Fellowship 2016, 2017
- Assessor for College of Podiatry Fellowship awards 2017
Interests outside podiatry
Outside work Jane enjoys gardening, renovating her crumbling house, seeing friends, reading on holiday, watching rugby union, and crime or espionage dramas.
Martin Fox
Council member
Assigned: 26.06.2021
Martin Fox
Martin's podiatry career has developed mainly within the NHS and now involves a blend of clinical and healthcare leadership roles.
He trained at the University of Salford, graduating in 1990.
Martin's early career was in clinical podiatry, including diabetes and high-risk foot teams. He also worked at a leprosy street clinic in Kolkata. During this time, he served on a professional executive committee for his NHS Trust which sparked an interest in healthcare leadership.
Martin now works in the first CCG-commissioned, community-based NHS lower limb vascular service in Manchester, providing early identification, diagnosis and best clinical management of people with suspected peripheral arterial disease (PAD), in partnership with primary care, vascular teams and others.
Martin works both regionally in podiatry clinical effectiveness groups, and nationally for Foot in Diabetes UK, the NICE Guideline Development Group for PAD, and with the Royal College of Podiatry where he is Chair of the Clinical Senate.
He contributes to All Party Parliamentary Reports and to the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland publications on PAD.
He presents at, and chairs, conferences and has written journal articles on various aspects of high-risk foot care and lower limb vascular disease.
Past service on Committees and Boards of Council
- Clinical Senate - Vice Chair and now Chair
- Council Review Group
- Strengthen Ties project group
Martin is a member of RCPod's Vasular podiatry special interest group, and an Associate member of the Society of Vascular Nurses.
He is also a member of the Executive Commitee of Foot in Diabetes UK.
Interests outside podiatry
Martin enjoys bikes and motorbikes, walking, mountains and the great outdoors, techno music, the company of dogs, friends and family.
Krishna Gohil
Council member
Assigned: 23.06.2023
Krishna Gohil
Krishna is a senior lecturer in podiatry and prescribing at the University of Northampton.
She trained at the University of Huddersfield.
Early career
Krishna's early career has included the following roles:
- Community podiatrist, North Staffordshire
- Podiatrist, Scholl
- Podiatry project officer, Royal College of Podiatry
- Advanced podiatrist, Northamptonshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
- Clinical lead, Lower limb wounds, National Wound Care Strategy Programme.
Past service on Committees and Boards of Council
- This is Krishna’s first time on Council
- She is currently a member of the Medicine Management Committee
- She is also an executive member of Foot in Diabetes UK
- She coaches for the Student leadership programme for the Council of Deans.
Interests outside podiatry
Krishna’s interests outside podiatry include cooking, travelling, music and family.
Jake Heath
Council member
Assigned: 23.06.2023
Jake Heath
Adele Holmes
Council member
Adele Holmes
Keri Hutchinson
Council member
Keri Hutchinson
Usamah Khalid
Council member
Assigned: 07.07.2022
Usamah Khalid
Usamah Khalid qualified from the University of Northampton in 2018 with a First Class BSc Hons degree in Podiatry. He continued his studies, earning a Masters distinction in his MSc on the Theory of Podiatric Surgery from Huddersfield University in 2020.
Usamah was a one-time Chair of the College of Podiatry Students Association (CPSA), before taking his seat on Council following election in 2022. He is currently the Vice Chair of the College’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and is the Council champion of the Employment Support Committee.
With a strong clinical interest in Dermatology, Usamah has become a national speaker on skin tone and other dermatological conditions, particularly at the College’s Annual Conference and at the Primary Care Conference.
Usamah is passionate about podiatry’s future, and about current undergraduate training. Usamah would like to continue working with academics and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to improve recruitment of students into the profession.
Past service on Committees and Boards of Council
Chair of the College of Podiatry Students Association 2016-2018
Current positions:
- Council Champion to the Employment Support Committee
- Vice Chair of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Interests outside podiatry
Outside podiatry Usamah enjoys walking, reading and travelling.
Stephen Kriss
Council member
Stephen Kriss
Steve has worked in the NHS, in research and in academia. He has been a consultant podiatric surgeon. He also qualified as an acupuncturist
Steve qualified as a podiatrist in 1982 in Manchester. On completion of his studies he moved to London working at St Bartholomews and Hackney Hospitals. He took a keen interest in the diabetic and rheumatoid foot and became involved in a number of collaborative research projects with other hospital departments.
In 1982 he began a part-time course in Traditional Chinese Medicine qualifying as an acupuncturist in 1985. He was subsequently appointed as acupuncturist to the Rheumatology Department at Barts Hospital treating a variety of musculoskeletal and pain syndromes as part of a multidisciplinary team as well as his continued practice as a podiatrist.
In 1985 he began a Masters research degree. His thesis on Heel Pain: An investigation into its aetiology and management was submitted and accepted by the Council for National Academic Awards for an MPhil degree in 1990.
In 1992 he was appointed as a part-time clinical tutor in podiatry at the University of Westminster.
He started his training as a Podiatric Surgeon in 1992. In 1996 he established a Department of Podiatric Surgery in Reading and attained a Consultant appointment in 2000. His surgical interest throughout has been on the management of the Rheumatoid Foot.
Past Service on Committees and Boards of Council
Steve was Chair of Southern deanery in 2016 and was co-chair of the Annual Faculty of Podiatric Surgery conference in 2014. He has organised and run cadaver/surgical courses at Warwick University and has been involved in numerous study days and conferences as regional dean and beyond.
Interests outside podiatry
Now semi-retired he is learning how to cook. He has an interest in modern art and is reminding himself how to play guitar. Travel is on the agenda along with many other interests. He plans to revalidate as an acupuncturist and offer this on a voluntary basis.
Richard Leigh
Council member
Assigned: 07.07.2022
Richard Leigh
Richard Leigh is Consultant Podiatrist at the Royal Free Hospital and visiting Professor to Perm State Medical University (PSMU).
He specialises in acute foot care, especially conditions related to diabetes, vascular pathology and neurological problems and continues to research and publish in these and other lower-limb related fields.
Richard is a Director and Council Member of the Royal College of Podiatry. He is chair of the English Diabetes Footcare Network and also chairs the Diabetes and At Risk Foot Expert Reference Group for London and the South East.
He is clinical lead for NHSE (London) and co-chairs the London Foot Care Network and the Work-stream for NHSE (London). He is a member of the London Clinical Senate Council.
Past service on Committees and Boards of Council
This is Richard's first time on Council.
Interests outside podiatry
Outside work Richard enjoys classical music, cooking, ballroom/latin dancing and hill walks.
Liam McManus
Council member
Assigned: 23.06.2023
Liam McManus
Emma Noe
Council member
Emma Noe
Emma is currently Head of Service for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.
Emma graduated from University of Northampton in 2002. After a couple of years working for Scholl she gained a graduate role in the NHS. Over Emma’s 20 year career she has worked in specialist high risk and wound care roles before venturing into the ‘dark side’ of operational management. Emma is currently Head of Service for Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) which provides podiatry services to the majority of North Yorkshire and York.
Emma also holds an AHP lead role within HDFT and through that links into the Integrated Care Board (ICB) Allied Health Professions (AHP) strategic networks, holding a seat on the AHP Faculty.
Past service on Committees and Boards of Council
- Chair of NHS Managers Steering Group 2023 to date
- Member of Clinical Senate 2023 to date
- Workplace employment rep 2008 - 2009
Interests outside podiatry
Outside work Emma enjoys walks on the beach, jigsaws, time with family and friends and musical theatre.
Sue Pike
Council member
Assigned: 23.06.2023
Sue Pike
Sue works in both independent practice, and in the NHS where she is a Freedom to Speak up Guardian across South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust.
Early career
Sue started in independent practice in 1999, mainly in a domiciliary setting, where she specialised in treating patients with learning disabilities and neurological conditions as well as providing routine work for a range of conditions.
For the last 17 years, Sue has worked in a busy clinic in Tamworth (Footsteps). She provides a full range of routine treatments including nail surgery, but her passion is treating patients with neurological conditions.
Sue started her NHS career in Warwickshire in 1999 specialising in diabetes and wound care. In 2009 following a service redesign, Sue was appointed joint team leader of a newly-established neuro rehab speciality, and took responsibility for setting the standards, design and clinical delivery of the new service.
Sue has been a Freedom To Speak Up Guardian across South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (SWFT) and George Eliot Hospital Trust (GEH) since 2016. She chairs the Midland Region Guardian’s Network organising meetings, mentoring new guardians and offering support and guidance to colleagues.
Trade union activities
In 2000, Sue became a Trade Union Rep for RCPod (or the Society as it was then) and become an active part of the Midlands Reps network. From 2014-2016 she also sat on the Midlands TUC and has represented RCPod at the TUC Congress presenting motions on behalf of members. Sue has also undertaken TUC training on employment law and other courses
In 2011 Sue became the Chair of South Warwickshire Staff Side Committee and has been involved in a variety of activities, including change management, agenda for change matching, evaluating and consistency checking, policy development and staff engagement. She has worked on the EDI agenda for many years and was privileged to be part of a European project designing and evaluating “Healthy Diversity” aimed at educating university students on the vital importance of equality diversity and inclusion.
Sue set up and became chair of the LGBTQIA+ Staff Network in 2021 for SWFT and GEH. She has supported Pride events across Warwickshire and Birmingham.
Past service on Committees and Board of Council
- This is Sue’s first time on Council
- She has been a member of the Employment Support Committee since 2018
- She is also a member of the EDI Group
- She has previously served on the England Reps forum.
Interests outside podiatry
Sue’s interests outside podiatry include scouting, where she was chairperson for five years and is now involved as a helper; hiking, camping and travel; and spending time with family and friends. Sue also set up and leads a walking for wellbeing group and enjoys taking people on expeditions.
Michelle Scott
Council member
Michelle Scott
Michelle has worked as an educator, manager, trainee and trainer for the NHS, and is now in private practice.
She trained at Salford University and qualified in 1994.
After leaving Salford, Michelle spent several years working as a locum and took on several short term contracts until she acquired a permanent post with Suffolk PCT; this was a split Chief III post involved with the delivery of health promotion and generic worker training around the county.
After six years Michelle transferred into the surgical unit, commenced an MSc, and became a clinical assistant and lead of the unit. She then moved to Mid Essex and secured trainee podiatric surgeon posts at St Georges and Braintree Hospitals.
After a relocation to Somerset, and being unable to secure a similar NHS post within the county, Michelle moved into private practice, an area of podiatry that was significantly different to her previous experience Michelle says that the experience, knowledge and skills that she has gained as a private practitioner has moulded her into a forward-thinking and motivated individual with the drive and tenacity to continue pushing the boundaries of her professional practice
Past service on Committees and Boards of Council
Current positions:
- Chair, Strategic Communications and Influencing Committee
- Chair, Commercial Strategy
- Member, Conference Committee
- Member, Awards Committee
Michelle has previously served on the Independent Practice Group, Employment Support Committee, Professional Conduct Committee, Professional Practice Commitee, in a South West Region Liaison role, and on the Podiatric Surgery Committee. She was Chair of Council from 2022-24.
Interests outside podiatry
Michelle says:
Living in a small village in Somerset means that I can have long peaceful walks in the beautiful countryside.
I am currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate at Glasgow Caledonian University.
I have recently housed a family from Afghanistan who arrived in Dorset as a result of the conflict of late.
Peter Thomson
Council member
Assigned: 23.06.2023
Peter Thomson
