Governance
Our Board of Trustees
Duet Health Foundation is governed by its Trustees. They meet quarterly, approve every grant, and are personally responsible for how your donation is spent.
Who sits on the Board
Four Trustees, all appointments recorded with the Charity Commission. No Trustee has a declared conflict of interest on record, and none is paid for their role.
Co-Founder and Chair of Trustees
Appointed 1 June 2026
Julie Matthews
Jools began her career as a medical laboratory scientist in Cambridge, moving into the pharmaceutical industry in 1986 to run global clinical trials for two global pharma companies. She then moved to Paris to specialise in treatments for orphan (rare) diseases, first as Head of Clinical at Orphan Europe and later as its General Manager back in the UK. In 2000, with husband Mike, she launched TMC Pharma Services, which grew from a two-person business into a UK team of 40 permanent staff and 900 contracted experts worldwide. In May 2026 Julie and Mike moved on and founded Duet Health Foundation. One of Duet's early projects has a deeply personal connection: Julie's father died suddenly from a gastrointestinal haemorrhage while taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Mike had a similar adverse event but happily was hospitalised quickly and recovered.
Co-Founder and Trustee
Appointed 1 June 2026
Mike Matthews
Mike holds a medical degree from the University of Birmingham and has spent 35 years in drug development in the UK and France, a substantial part of it in medical monitoring of clinical trials and particularly drug safety. He was co-Director and Chief Medical Officer of TMC Pharma Services alongside Jools from 2000 until 2018, and is a founding member and Trustee of Duet Health Foundation. Mike has lived experience of the drug safety issue Duet has adopted as an early project, having had a near-fatal haemorrhage while taking a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. He has been a charity Trustee before, with Aerobility, the British disabled flying charity.
Trustee
Appointed 17 July 2026
Kristin Croucher
Kristin earned a degree in Occupational Therapy from Stellenbosch University in South Africa and began her career in clinical research with a global clinical research organisation in Cape Town. Over the following 12 years she developed extensive expertise in clinical research before joining a global tuberculosis vaccine foundation as Senior Director of Clinical Operations, a role she held in both South Africa and the UK. She worked closely with Duet's founding Trustees during her later role as VP Clinical Services at TMC Pharma Services, and now serves as Senior Program Officer for TB Vaccines at the Gates Foundation. Her experience across clinical drug development, global health and philanthropy brings Duet a deep understanding of the scientific, operational and charitable sides of improving health outcomes.
Trustee
Appointed 25 March 2026
Sarah Blondell
A Chartered Scientist, Sarah holds a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences and Psychology from the University of Leicester and an MSc in Clinical Pharmacology from the University of Aberdeen. She has built an extensive career in clinical research, progressing through operational and strategic leadership roles in pharmaceutical companies and contract research organisations, with a strong focus on mental health. She worked for more than three years alongside Duet's founding Trustees as Vice President of Clinical Services at TMC Pharma Services. Sarah is also a qualified therapeutic coach supporting people living with chronic illness, and has volunteered with charitable organisations including The Samaritans. She brings scientific expertise, leadership experience and compassionate, person-centred support to Duet.
How the Board makes decisions
Projects are reviewed by a Trustee first, then discussed at the next quarterly Board meeting. Funding is approved only if at least three Trustees agree, and any Trustee with a connection to the project steps out of that discussion and does not vote.
Registered charity number 1217999. If you have a question for the Board, write to info@duet.org.uk.
Small charity, practical help
Duet is funded by our Founders and by people who believe useful research should not stall for want of a modest amount of money. Every gift goes into projects.