AGM 2025 summary - 15th January 2026

Adoption of the Annual Report

The first agenda item was the adoption of the Annual Report. No questions were raised.

Proposed by: Kirsty Patterson
Seconded by: Mark Lewis

The Annual Report was approved unanimously by those in attendance, along with five proxy votes submitted in advance.

Adoption of the Financial Report

Proposed by: Clare Payne
Seconded by: Tony Larlham

The Financial Report was approved unanimously by all members in attendance and by five proxy votes.

Trustee Reappointments

Trustee reappointments were discussed and voted on by members present and by proxy.

• Clare Payne was reappointed as Honorary Secretary.
• Haleema Saadia was reappointed in recognition of her longstanding commitment and took on the new title of Pregnancy and Maternity Lead.
• Peter Hill was reappointed as Honorary Finance Lead, continuing his valued work overseeing the charity’s finances.

Chair’s Review of the Year

Anne delivered the Chair’s Review, referencing the 2025 end-of-year video and encouraging members to watch it.

She reflected on the significant leadership change since the previous year and spoke positively about Gareth Owen’s leadership since the charity’s inception. Anne highlighted the exceptional quality and volume of work Gareth delivered as the charity’s first Chair and expressed sincere thanks for his contribution.

Anne also noted that the team will continue to grow over the coming year, with plans underway to expand the committee further.

Strategic Priorities

1. Supporting Patients and Families

Anne highlighted the continued strength of the Buddy Group, which remains highly active on Facebook as well as through in-person support. Several successful regional meet-ups took place during the year, including events in Kent and Warwickshire.

A special mention was made of Lisa Skinner for her outstanding work leading the Bereaved Buddies Group, both online and through face-to-face support.

2. THINK AORTA

Tony Webb assumed leadership of the THINK AORTA initiative in 2025, with Kari Roberts recently joining as Deputy Lead.

Plans were announced for the introduction of online training in 2026, alongside a new set of THINK AORTA posters currently being rolled out to Emergency Departments.

Anne praised Rob Glass for his work supporting the international expansion of THINK AORTA, which is now active in 11 countries. Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal were the most recent additions, with France, Japan, Hong Kong, and Sweden having formally expressed interest. Anne emphasised that the more lives THINK AORTA can save, the better.

3. Supporting Care in the NHS

Anne referenced several patient awareness events held throughout the year and the ongoing importance of patient guides in supporting healthcare professionals.

She highlighted the charity’s attendance at key events, including:

• SCTS Conference
• The Vascular Conference
• Aortic Dissection Day (UK & Ireland), attended by the Mayor of Dublin

Anne also announced that the charity has been invited to attend the Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM) Annual Conference in April.

4. Enabling Research

Anne outlined the charity’s support of the DECIDE-TAD programme, ensuring that patient perspectives are represented within research.

She announced that Gordon McManus will be stepping down as Research Lead and confirmed that recruitment for a new Research Lead for 2026 is underway.

Financial Position

Anne confirmed that the charity remains in a strong financial position, allowing continued support for buddy days and the provision of patient resources free of charge, both digitally and in printed form.

She acknowledged ongoing sponsorship from Terumo, which continues to fund the distribution of patient guides to hospitals across the UK.

Trustee Update

Anne announced that Founder Dan Burgess is stepping down as a Trustee and committee member after many years of dedicated service and expressed her sincere thanks for his amazing efforts over the years. She shared the positive news that Dan will continue, alongside Tony Larlham, to co-run the Facebook Buddy Group.

Closing Remarks

Anne thanked all committee members, trustees, and volunteers for their significant support during her first year as Chair. She noted the charity’s strong and “warm reputation” and added:

“I’m gratified that we’ve built up a strong and reputable charity over the years.”

Following a short question-and-answer session, the 2025 AGM was formally closed.