National Management Committee

Professor Zahir Irani 

Zahir studied Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Salford before working as a Project Engineer in industry. He then secured a scholarship from Brunel University London, where he completed a PhD in Investment Decision Making. His professional development has seen him complete his leadership and financial management training at Harvard Business School (HBS) and University of Cambridge, respectively.

He started his academic career in the Department of Computer Science at Brunel University London. Five years later becoming the youngest Professor in the UK, followed by a period as Head of Department, where he championed industry-academia partnerships.

A move to a more senior management position saw him lead the Brunel Business School. After completing a 7-year tenure as Head of the Brunel Business School, where he won the prestigious Times Higher Education (THE) Business School of the Year award, he accepted an invitation to work in Central Government, where he was seconded to Whitehall as a Senior Policy Advisor in the Cabinet Office during the UK coalition Government. On completion, he returned to academia, as Founding Dean of the newly established College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences at Brunel University London; an amalgamation of four previous Schools – Business, Law, Social Sciences and Education.

In 2016 the University of Bradford appointed Professor Irani as Dean of Faculty (Management and Law), where he led a successful merger with the Faculty of Social Sciences before assuming the role of a Founding Dean of the new Faculty. 

As a senior academic leader, Professor Irani expanded his portfolio when appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Bradford, with responsibility for Academic, Innovation and Quality, where he is accountable for:

•           Four academic faculty’s.

•           Directorate of Outreach, Recruitment and Marketing (DORM)

•           Directorate of Student & Academic Services (including registry, library, career services, counselling, etc),

•           Directorate of Learning, Teaching and Quality Enhancement, and,

 Professor Irani also leads the transformation and growth of the University’s undergraduate, postgraduate (taught and research) educational portfolio through Faculty and Professional services, where he leads on innovation and enhancing the quality of the student experience, teaching practice, curriculum development and support for student learning and success.

 The West Yorkshire Lord Lieutenancy formally recognized Professor Irani for his outstanding service to the community. He continues to support charities such as Age UK (Bradford and District) and the Volunteering Interfaith Partnerships (VIP) that help vulnerable communities.

He has also received the district governor’s award from Rotary International for services to the community.

 He is also leading social, economic and cultural value creation, having been appointed by the Bradford Metropolitan District Council as the Chair of the Bradford Covid-19 Economic Recovery Board that developed a 5-year economic recovery plan for the district; approved in 2021 by the council executive and elected officials. At a national level, appointed by the NHS (Health Education England), to Chair a Blended Learning Advisory Group that will revision the future of medical and health clinical placements. He is also a Higher Education representative on a Cyber Security Steering Group for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

 Professor Irani was named by the Sunday Times as a leading Bradford influencer. He tweets at: @ZahirIrani1

John Deans

I started suffering from chronic pain in 2002.In 2003, I had to give up my job as a nurse which had been doing for 25 years because of this condition. I never got a diagnosis and the doctor prescribed me painkillers and eventually ended up taking 14 a day. In 2004, a physiotherapist suggested I try Pain Association Scotland and went along to a meeting in Stirling. I felt uplifted after this first meeting as I met up with people who were in the same situation as myself and the lecture made me think more positive about how to live with chronic pain. I then began to attend the monthly meetings and became a member of the Association. In 2012,my G.P. sent me to a specialist to try and get a diagnosis. The doctor I saw didn’t believe that I was suffering from chronic pain so I now realised it was up to me to find a way of coping with this condition.

In 2013 ,I started thinking more about self-management and looked into everything that I had learned from the Pain Association meetings. I have now changed my life completely around and don't take any painkillers now and have a better quality of life. My main hobby is music and I play the guitar in a charity group called The Dolly Mixtures. I also do voluntary work one day a week doing therapy to a long term hospital patient. A few years ago, I was asked to join the National Management Committee and learned so much about the Association and the hard work done by the staff to keep the Pain Association running. As I am a sufferer of chronic pain, I have an understanding of what it is like to live with this illness so I am able to pass on all my knowledge to the Committee on how to live and cope with this condition.

Gregor Purdie

I graduated in medicine at Edinburgh in 1978 and became a partner in General Practice in 1983.

It became apparent to me that my training did not make me fit to support people with non-cancer chronic pain. The only avenue available at that time was the use of medication.

It became apparent that medication was only of partial value in relieving chronic pain. There were the problems of the body becoming used to the medication leading to increasing dosage. At that time it was considered that people would not become addicted to strong painkillers if they were prescribed for pain.

When I was made aware of Pain Association Scotland, I felt strongly that this filled a huge gap in the management of people with chronic non cancer pain. Using the techniques taught by Pain Association Scotland, people with chronic non cancer pain have been able to live more productive lives and keep medication under control such that the medication does not become a problem in itself.

As the management on chronic non cancer pain became a special interest in my practice, I was pleased indeed to become a Trustee on Pain Association Scotland and thus become involved in the planning of services of people with chronic pain.

Thus, I feel that Pain Association Scotland has played a very important part in moving forward the care and management of people with chronic non caner pain.

Susan Scott

In 1991 I qualified as a dentist & spent most of my career working with children & people with addition needs. Unfortunately, in 1995 my life changed in an instant when I damaged my spine due to a previously undiagnosed condition of Hypermobility Syndrome & I was left with long term persistent pain. I was first introduced to pain management in 2000. It really helped me to take control of my pain & get my life back. I was able to continue working part time which meant a great deal to me.

 However, I found through time my chronic pain started to overwhelm me again & I was soon struggling. In 2008 I was introduced to Pain Association Scotland’s pain management courses & monthly groups. I did my second pain management programme but what made a difference this time was the ongoing support of their monthly groups. This monthly, regular support made a huge difference to my life. It helped me stay at work until 2020 when I had to take ill health retirement. I was so pleased when I was asked to serve on the management committee as it allows me to give back, in some small way, to the association that has helped me so much. I want to help continue the association’s work & hopefully allow it to spread to help even more people in need.

Marlene Lowe

Marlene previously worked at a highly regarded international consultancy located in Sweden and the Ukraine, who specialise in a variety of digital transformation and business solutions such as e commerce platforms. She brings a breadth of sector experience having worked in banking, retail, IT, consultancy, and non-profit organisations.

Marlene’s successful experience in digital transformation further enhances our team’s capabilities, and she brings a genuine passion for people, and how technology can work for a business rather than the other way around. Having suffered from chronic pain for most of her adult life, she is passionate about helping others manage their pain and find a happy balance.

Will Scott

Will Scott OBE, a former civil servant, first encountered the Pain Association Scotland when he joined the then Scottish Office Home & Health Department in 1991.  Later, as Head of the Long Term Conditions Unit in the Scottish Government Health & Social Care Directorate, he was involved with implementing the Government’s decisions to designate chronic pain as a condition in its own right and to make it a national priority.  He retired in 2012 and became Chair of the Association in 2014.

Dr David Rigby

I am a GP working in the Western Isles and have roles in developing patient pathways that put the patient at the centre in line with the principles of Realistic Medicine. This includes individualising care for patients, accepting that we can't cure all ailments but can help people live better with their disabilities and delivering care in the most convenient way possible for the patient- avoiding travel wherever possible.

I have been very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the Pain Association over many years and learn the principles of managing and living with Chronic Pain and all the associated issues this brings physically, socially, and psychologically. This has helped to shape my thinking of how we best provide care for a large group of patients living with this diverse condition.

The forward thinking approach and innovation shown by the Pain Association has allowed us to develop new ways of providing support remotely, face to face, one to one and other modalities to cover all aspects of patient expectations and abilities.

Dr Mary Harper

I graduated in science at Aberdeen University in 1974 and spent the next 15 years working in research - embryology, developmental genetics, molecular biology - in London, the US, and back in my home city of Glasgow.

In 1989 I switched careers to NHS management, first at NHS Borders and then NHS Dumfries and Galloway (D&G). In my role as strategic planner and commissioner with NHS D&G I worked with Pain Association Scotland to develop a Board funded Service Agreement and supported the local Chronic Pain Improvement Group, whose membership included Pain Association Scotland. For two years (2014-2016) I chaired the National Chronic Pain Steering/ Improvement Group.

I retired in summer 2016, but in autumn 2022 I was invited to join the National Management Committee of Pain Association Scotland. As I have great respect for their work in supporting people with chronic pain through self management training, I was delighted to accept.