About Us

Care: Every single service we provide has been patient-led. We take time to listen: learning from others’ experiences, and understanding their challenges. We care about outcomes and want what’s best for everyone living with PBC.

Commitment: Our passion drives us to do everything we can to make a positive difference to the lives of those affected by PBC, making sure their voices are heard, and needs are met. We keep our promises.

Honesty: We are honest with ourselves and with others in everything we do, We say what we mean, we do what we say in order to build trust within the community.

Respect: We believe in a world of opportunity, of equity, of equality, and of inclusion where everyone, regardless of circumstance, can feel valued, heard, and seen as an important part of the community.

Transparency: We always put patients at the heart of every single decision we make, and ensure we are seen to do so. We bring openness and accountability to our decisions and actions.

By living within these values, we aim to empower the PBC community, bringing greater autonomy and control to people affected by PBC, helping them to take ownership of the decisions that impact upon their quality of life. By incorporating these values into what we do, we are able to embrace, support and be an active part of the international PBC community advancing knowledge, co-creating solutions and leading change.

Robert Mitchell-Thain

Drawn into the world of PBC with his mother’s diagnosis in 1994, Robert has, in one way or another, been involved in PBC advocacy since even before the PBC Foundation was founded in 1996.  An experienced and powerful patient advocate, Robert’s specialist subject is listening to the patient, and using the patient experience to improve the patient experience. An international leader, presenter, innovator, academic, committee member and author on a number of topics, his driver is to ensure the patient voice, and experience, is front and centre of every potential solution to the challenges they face. An agent for change, he has led various campaigns and innovations to improve the PBC patients’ quality of life on a multinational stage.

Mo Christie

Mo was diagnosed with PBC in 2007 and has undergone two liver transplants. Following her second transplant, she began volunteering with the PBC Foundation in 2013 before joining the staff full-time in January 2023 as Head of Patient Services.  Before joining the Foundation, Mo spent almost 34 years with Police Scotland, building a career in information and communications technology, service delivery and operational support. She brings that experience to the Foundation, helping to develop and deliver services that put patients at the heart of everything we do.  Living with PBC gives Mo a unique understanding of the challenges faced by patients and their families. She is passionate about ensuring the patient voice is heard at every level, working alongside healthcare professionals, researchers, industry partners and policymakers to improve care, influence research and advocate for better outcomes for people living with PBC. Mo is committed to supporting, empowering and connecting the global PBC community, helping people feel informed, confident and, above all, that they are not alone.

Rebecca West

Rebecca is a registered nurse with 25 years of experience, including 16 years in the NHS working in gastroenterology, hepatology, clinical research, and practice education. For the past 10 years, Rebecca has worked in the charity health sector, leading a specialist liver nursing team and developing national services.  Whilst Nurse Manager at the British Liver Trust, Rebecca led the creation of the UK’s only nurse-led helpline and email support service for people affected by liver disease, and has worked across areas including mental health, safeguarding, and patient involvement. Rebecca has also contributed to national liver health campaigns and clinical quality improvement work.  Rebecca is now Head of Research and Education at the PBC Foundation, working to ensure people with Primary Biliary Cholangitis and their healthcare teams have access to clear, reliable information and the latest research to support better care and informed choices. 

Cheryll Alomai

Cheryll joined the Patient Services team in January 2023. Her career has spanned over twenty years of working in UK health related charities. Cheryll’s passion is supporting others to realise their potential and to feel empowered on their lives journey. Supporting a friend with a new diagnosis of PBC led Cheryll to the Foundation and she loves to now be a part of the organisation and to have the opportunity to shape the future of the services we provide the patient community. Cheryll looks after our volunteer network and loves nothing more than sharing self-care tools and techniques with as many of the PBC community as possible.

Jo Goodman

Jo joined the PBC Foundation team in January 2024 on a part-time basis, and has been with the team full time since January 2025.  Jo has worked in the rare disease space for 15 years, previously working closely with clinical trial participants and their families. During this time, personal stories shared with her provided a small insight into daily life living with a rare disease and sparked a passion for inclusion of the patient and caregiver perspective to inform betterment including clinical trial design, innovation, the diagnostic pathway, and the provision of services.  Jo’s main projects at the Foundation are the organisation of the annual International PBC Summit and the translation project – a project with big ambitions to translate the website and resources into over 20 languages, as well as managing our social media accounts.  Jo is excited to bring her skills and experience to the PBC Foundation team and use them in a different way to serve the PBC community.

Jacqueline Sapsed

Jacqueline started at The PBC Foundation at the end of 2019 after 10 years in banking. The role of Trust and Grants officer is a very challenging and rewarding change of environment for her. Her main focus is to continue to source funding and grants, to ensure the Foundation can continue to provide its invaluable services to its members. She also works closely with Fundraisers, members and their families to support then with all events from coffee mornings and car boot sales to cycles and runs. If you need support and advice or have any information on anything funding or fundraising related please get in touch.

Pamela Henderson

Pamela joined the team as Finance Systems Manager in January 2025.  She trained as a Chartered Accountant and has worked across a wide range of organisations and sectors in finance roles for the last 30 years.  Her focus is to manage financial reporting and compliance within the Foundation and liaises with the staff, Trustees and auditors to ensure this runs smoothly.  Her dog Kenzie regularly attends the office to boost morale, provide comfort, and supervise snack breaks! Our 4-legged member of the team loves his wee corner in the office!

Alan Sutherland

Alan joined the PBC Foundation in 2009 and has been a valued member of the team ever since. Over the years he has supported the Foundation in a variety of roles, helping to ensure the organisation continues to run smoothly behind the scenes.  Now working as our part-time Office Coordinator, Alan supports the day-to-day running of the office and helps keep everything organised behind the scenes. His attention to detail and extensive knowledge of the Foundation make him an invaluable member of the team. Outside of work, Alan has a longstanding interest in the history of his hometown of Dunfermline and is well known for leading guided historical walks, including special tours for members of the PBC community on PBC Day.

Linda Butler

Linda has worked at the Foundation for over eleven years taking in a wide range of responsibilities. She was the trooper who held the office together during the Covid era and has also in her time led services for both patients and our Volunteers. Linda currently focusses on our patient community, providing first contact support, arranging and hosting meetings- both physical and virtual- and opening up opportunities for members of our community to meet and engage with each other: particularly in areas where there is no Volunteer.  Linda also has the unenviable task of managing Robert’s diary and keeping him in the right place at the right time.

Collette Thain MBE

Diagnosed with PBC in 1994, Collette struggled mainly because there was no information or support to be had. Collette, with others, founded the PBC Foundation in 1996 and was relieved that support was offered from Hepatologists across the UK allowing her and others to help and offer information to all those in need. Receiving an MBE for services to PBC some years ago was not only a highlight of her life, but it brought much attention to the Foundation’s work. As Collette points out, emails and letters are not ignored when there is an MBE after one’s name! Collette has now taken a well-deserved rest from running the Foundation but continues to speak with members on the helpline offering information, support and of course her trademark – friendship.

Eve Christie

Eve has been part of the PBC Foundation community for most of her life. Following her mum’s diagnosis with PBC when Eve was just one year old, she has grown up with a unique understanding of the impact the condition can have on individuals and families.  She began fundraising for the Foundation at the age of eight and spent a year volunteering with the team before joining as a part-time Patient Services Digital Support Assistant. Alongside her role at the Foundation, Eve is studying English Literature at the University of Aberdeen and is also a trained nail technician.  Being able to give something back to the community that has supported her family for so many years means a great deal to her.