It takes everyone to make the NeuroMuscular Centre what it is, from our senior leaders to our volunteers and the people who use our services every day. We can’t possibly list them all here, so here are those in key leadership roles.
Bill Duckworth
Chair of Trustees
Bill has spent his entire professional life working in the steel industry, starting in South Wales in 1987 before re-locating to Chester in 2000. He has held a number of management roles within Sales, IT, Logistics and Manufacturing. He has been the Site Manager of the Tata Steel plant in Shotton, North Wales since 2013. He joined the NMC Trustees in 2021 and became Chair in 2024.
Bill has a longstanding connection with the NMC who have been supporting his wife, Andrea, for the last 20 years. He applied to join the Trustees to make a broader use of his management experience but, more importantly, to try and repay the debt of gratitude he has for the Centre after so many years of physical and emotional help for his family. He has two grown up children.
Ben Edson
Chief Executive
Ben joined the team at NMC in the summer of 2024, so he’s one of the newest members here. He has worked in the charity sector throughout his career, and when he saw the opportunity at NMC, he thought, that looks like an interesting role at a charity that’s really making a difference in people’s lives.
Now, alongside the day-to-day practical tasks, Ben also provides strategic leadership for the charity. He works closely with our Board of Trustees to ensure the organisation stays focused on delivering the best possible service to people with neuromuscular conditions, whilst maintaining the highest legal and ethical standards. You’ll find him in the office just beside the front door, so do pop in and say hello.
Ben Dale
Head of Operations
Ben joined the Centre in 1997 as a Trainee Business Manager, when we were about a quarter of our current size in terms of turnover. We were a small team in a very challenging period for the charity, but we survived and have gone on to thrive with significant growth in income, numbers in our community, and services provided.
Ben is now the Head of Operations with responsibilities including Finance Management, Payroll and HR, dealing with our NHS funding relationships, and Fundraising.
Paul Orme
Head of Physiotherapy
Paul first came to NMC in 2012 as a student and fell in love with the holistic approach to treatment and the serenity of the surroundings. After volunteering for several months, he joined the team and progressed to Clinical Lead and then Head of Physiotherapy in 2022.
Paul makes sure our service offers the highest standards and best experience for the people in our care, providing our team with continual professional development to further their skills and knowledge. He is particularly interested in exercise, cardiac rehabilitation and wellbeing.
Claire James
Head of Engagement
Claire joined NMC as Fundraising Events Manager in 2011 on a temporary contract, organising and delivering events such as Spirit of Christmas and Live in the Park.
She is now responsible for increasing our reach and enhancing our reputation as the leading organisation for people affected by neuromuscular conditions, which involves leading a team to produce all NMC’s promotional materials and our digital presence.