Chairs
David Proud (Co-Chair) and Elizabeth Owen (Co-Chair)
David Proud: I’m David and I am the lead CF Dietitian at the All Wales Adult CF Centre (AWACFC), based in the University Hospital Llandough (UHL), just outside Cardiff. Since qualifying in 2003 I’ve worked in a variety of clinical settings, always with a keen interest in respiratory health and have worked exclusively in adult CF care since 2011. In 2018 I completed an MSc in Advanced Practice and in 2021 completed the non-medical prescribing course. Whilst CF offers us the potential to understand a veritable constellation of associated health conditions, I have a particular interest in exploring the potential of assessing body composition and its ability to inform on health markers.
Elizabeth Owen: Liz has extensive clinical paediatric experience and expertise in CF, specialising in caring for children with CF since 2007. She has worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children for over 20 years and is Clinical Lead for Respiratory Dietetics. In 2016 she completed an MRes and continues to actively engage in research, guideline development and teaching. She has held previous committee roles both in the UK and European CF nutrition groups, including former co-chair of ECFNG 2019-2023. Her area of interests are nutritional assessment, growth and body composition.
Treasurer
Clare Woodland: I am an Advanced Paediatric Dietitian. I have worked in Alder Hey Childrens Hospital in Liverpool for over 8 years specialising in CF and respiratory care. Prior to this I worked for 8 years in a district general hospital in North Wales, initially in adults but then in paediatrics which included CF patients.
Secretary
Laura Schembri: I am a Senior Paediatric Respiratory Dietitian at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, currently undertaking an NIHR-funded pre-doctoral research fellowship exploring diet quality in children with CF. I have a strong interest in research and have published on vitamin status in children with CF on modulator therapies. Since qualifying as a dietitian in 2015, I have worked in a variety of areas in Australia and the UK including paediatric allergy and neonatology. I hold a BSc (Hons) Nutrition and Dietetics and a Master of Public Health.
Social Media Officer
Rebecca McSparron: I have been working in the adult team at the Northern Ireland Regional CF centre for the past 4.5 years. After qualifying from the University of Nottingham in 2019, I briefly worked in York before moving home to Belfast to work in Oncology then CF. A specific area of interest is sports nutrition, having completed a masters in Sport and Exercise Nutrition at the University of Ulster last year. I am also a member of the CF Gastro working group and have an interest in supporting Transition in CF.
Research Officer
Darren Sills: I am currently a Research Dietitian and Clinical specialist. My research role is 4 days a week and my clinical work is one day a week. I work at the Nottingham Adult CF Centre, but my research spans both children and adults. I have working in Nottingham for nearly 11 years and in CF for around 14 years. I love the variety offered by CF and have an interest in most areas, but particularly assessing nutritional status, PERT and GI issues.
Education & Resources Officer.docx
Hannah Winterbottom: Hannah is a Specialist CF Dietitian at the Manchester Adult CF Centre and has been working in cystic fibrosis for almost five years. She began her career in diabetes care, which led to a continued interest in CFRD, patient education and practical nutrition support. She has contributed to national and international research, with publications in the BMJ and the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Hannah recently completed a PGCert in Sports and Exercise Nutrition at Leeds Beckett University and is particularly interested in helping people with CF use everyday, evidence-based nutrition strategies to feel well and stay active. As Education and Resource Officer, she is looking forward to helping develop clear, accessible resources for the CF dietetic community
Emma Molloy:
Events Officer
Megan Dunnage: I’m Megan and I am a clinical specialist dietitian in CF at St Bartholomew’s Adult CF Centre in London. I qualified in 2010 and fell into CF by providing some cross-cover for a few months in 2013 where I developed an interest. After completing an MRes, I joined the team permanently in 2015. I completed the non-medical prescribing course in 2018. Most recently I have moved into the new post of ‘Band 8a clinical specialist’ and I am developing a vision for this post and how dietetics can best support the CF service. I am particularly interested in CF diabetes and GI issues.
Newly Qualified /New to CF Member
Emma Miller: I began my career in dietetics in 2021 and have been working at the Regional Specialist Northern Ireland Adult CF Centre in Belfast since May 2024. Prior to this role, I gained valuable experience as a community dietitian, also covering a stroke rehabilitation facility. My main interests are body composition and healthy eating that supports longevity and overall health.
Ordinary Officer.docx
Diane McTavish: I am an Advanced Practice Dietitian for Cystic Fibrosis within the West of Scotland CF unit in Glasgow. I have 19 years of experience working within this forever evolving and thriving CF unit. Originally from Northern Ireland, my initial training was in Nottingham and Bristol. My interests are in diabetes, gastroenterology, equality for our patient group and myopenia/frailty as our population ages.
Interested in joining the committee?
We have a number of roles available, please click the links above to find out what each role entails. For an informal chat about how you can get involved please contact the current Chairs of the Cystic Fibrosis Specialist Group on [email protected]. The full role descriptors can be found by clicking the links above.