International

I have been fortunate enough to be at the forefront of the development of neurological rehabilitation across the world at a time of initiation and growth of the specialty. I have lectured widely on many aspects of neurological rehabilitation and given over 200 plenary and guest lectures at international conferences. 

In 1996 I organised the 1st World Congress in Neurological Rehabilitation that was held in Newcastle upon Tyne. After this congress the World Federation for NeuroRehabilitation (WFNR) was formed and I was Founder President of the WFNR until 2008. The WFNR has been a great success and has stimulated the development of over 20 new national societies in neurological rehabilitation across the world. Further details of the WFNR are on our website - www.wfnr.co.uk.

I have also been involved in the growth and development of the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS) and have recently been elected on to the Management Committee and Finance Committee. I was chairman of the neurorehabilitation scientific group for many years. Neurological rehabilitation is now firmly on the agenda of the EFNS. (www.efns.org)

In 1989 I formed Action for Disability. This is a registered charity that initially raised money for local disability initiatives in the North East but in recent years has focussed on education and training in a number of rehabilitation centres in developing countries. Action for Disability has been responsible for teaching courses in Bosnia, Latvia and Moldova and has supported some excellent community rehabilitation projects in Tanzania, India and Pakistan.The charity wound up in 2009 after 20 years and after raising over £1m for work abroad.

I was elected to the membership of the European Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine in 2000. This is a body of the 50 most senior rehabilitation doctors in Europe. (www.aemr.eu)