AGM 2025 It's nearly that time again, when we invite our members to get involved in the direction of the charity by attending our Annual General Meeting (AGM)! 2025's AGM will be held online on Saturday 5 July 2025, from 10.00 - 11.30 GMT, using Zoom. Instructions on how to join can be found below. With so many exciting plans for our face-to-face member events in Birmingham and Newcastle this year, we have decided to keep our AGM separate and make it virtual so that members from all over the UK have the opportunity to be involved. Following the formal AGM agenda, we are thrilled to announce that ADSHG Trustees, Dr Alessandro Prete and Endocrine Specialist Nurse, Lisa Shepherd, will be hosting a Q&A to answer any questions you have on Addison's and adrenal insufficiency. Why attend an AGM? The Agenda - what can I expect from the meeting? Expert Q&A with Dr Prete & Lisa Shepherd Panellist and Trustee Profiles Register to attend Proxy Voting Reporting on 2024 Not yet a member? Not sure how Zoom works? FAQs To join us for the AGM and Q&A, please register as soon as possible using the button below. The deadline for registration and submitting your questions for the Q&A panel is Saturday 21 June. Register to attend Why attend an AGM? Transparency You can gain insights into our operations, financial health, and strategic direction. This helps you to feel reassured that we are working to support your needs. Engagement 'Meet' with our committed trustees who set the course for the charity, ask them questions, or let them know your opinions. Help us to better understand your needs and help us to shape our services to meet those needs. Decision Making Get involved in key decisions affecting the ADSHG, such as approving financial statements, electing trustees, and discussing future plans. Compliance An AGM is a requirement outlined in our charity's governing documents. We work hard to make it as relevant to you as it can be, so it is a benefit of your membership, not a chore. What can I expect from the meeting? We have put together an Agenda that balances the needs of the AGM with the opportunity for our members to ask questions of our expert panel, and a chance for you to get a feel for what the charity is involved in at the moment. Overview Agenda 09.45: Zoom meeting room opens. Please join us in good time to test your connection 10.00: Welcome and Introduction (Dom Hargreaves, Chair of Trustees) Annual General Meeting: order of business can be found in the FAQ section below 10.40: Comfort break (10 mins) 10.50: Q&A with Dr Alessandro Prete and Endocrine Nurse Specialist, Lisa Shepherd 11.20: Closing comments (Dom Hargreaves, Chair of Trustees) Expert Q&A with Dr Prete & Lisa Shepherd The AGM will include an expert Q&A session - one of the most popular parts of our events! The ADSHG is very fortunate to have two Addison's and adrenal insufficiency experts on the board, Dr Alessandro Prete and Lisa Shepherd. In this session, both Medical Trustees have offered to answer submitted questions as part of our AGM. We encourage questions about managing Addison's and adrenal insufficiency, what to do in the event of adrenal crisis, and the science behind the conditions. Please note we cannot answer direct medical questions specific to your individual health. The Q&A is open to active members of the charity attending and voting at the 2025 AGM and you will need to join us at the start of the AGM session in order to be included in the Q&A session, i.e. joining at the interval will not be possible. Thank you for your understanding. Submitting questions in advance will allow us to cover as many topics as possible. Please email your questions to [email protected]. We will also take questions from attending members on the day. Panellist and Trustee Profiles Dominic Hargreaves MBE (Chair of Trustees) Dom was diagnosed with Addison’s disease in 2004, after a three-year battle with a variety of “illnesses” all whilst operating in Army roles in remote, hostile and austere areas of the world, with little continuity of medical care. Diagnosis led him to leave the military in pursuit of a new career in business and engineering. Dom volunteered to join the board because the charity enabled him to recover his confidence to live my life to the full, after diagnosis, through the online forum, events and informal gatherings of people living with adrenal insufficiency. He was elected trustee in 2019 and chair in 2022. Dom is standing for re-election this year. Stuart Pinkerton (Treasurer) Stuart has been a Dental Surgeon for over 35 years, working in Scotland and Australia before settling in Oxfordshire in 1990, where he continues to run a successful practice and business. He has been involved in other charities, including again as Treasurer and as a fundraiser. A family member was diagnosed with Addison's disease in 2011, and Stuart joined ADSHG at that time, and was last re-elected to your board in 2024. Christine (Chris) Walters Married and based in South Wales, Chris has 3 sons, one of whom was diagnosed with Addison's disease in 2018 after a period of feeling very unwell. She joined us immediately whilst her son was an inpatient being stabilised on his meds, as she needed to know more about his condition. She shares: "knowledge is power' and that the help and support that I received as a Mum was invaluable". This experience makes Chris a powerful advocate for the patient on the board, and for the charity more widely. Chris was last re-elected to your board in 2023. Robert McClements Robert is a banking professional who has successfully led teams in that complex environment, working in challenging corporate situations where leadership and organisational skills are paramount. We are fortunate to have such knowledge and experience available to the charity at board level. Robert's daughter is affected by Addison's disease, and he was last re-elected to your board in 2023. Katie Harris Katie is originally from Ireland, but currently resides in Portugal. She was diagnosed with Addison's disease in 2021 following an adrenal crisis whilst working as a nurse. This journey - adapting to life as a young person with a lifelong diagnosis - has made Katie realise the importance of support and education, to be able to make the most of life and move on. Katie joined your board in 2024 and in particular, wants to advocate for young people to know that having this diagnosis doesn’t have to limit their dreams. Whether you want to travel, start a business, or live your life to your full potential, you can achieve your goals with the right support, mindset and preparation! She was last elected to your board in 2024. Dr Alessandro Prete Dr Alessandro Prete completed his training in Endocrinology and Diabetes in Rome, Italy. Since 2018, he has been a Diabetes UK Sir George Alberti Research Fellow in the Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research at the University of Birmingham, UK, and an Honorary Consultant Endocrinologist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust. His research focuses on functioning adrenal tumours, cortisol excess and novel therapies for adrenal insufficiency, combining clinical trials and experimental medicine studies. Alessandro was elected as a trustee in July 2022 and brings an incredible depth of medical and scientific knowledge to the team. He is standing for re-election as a trustee this year. He also sits on the ADSHG Clinical Advisory Panel. Lisa Shepherd (RN) Lisa is an Endocrinology Advanced Nurse Practitioner at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and a Clinical Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham. Within this role, she manages the case load of patients with endocrine disorders, runs nurse-led clinics and supports the Consultant and other multidisciplinary clinics. This includes diagnosis and performing dynamic function tests, treatment, management and education of patients with long-term, highly complex needs. She has worked in endocrinology since 1999 with a special interest in adrenal insufficiency. She is currently lead Advanced Nurse Practitioner at HSG, now part of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and an active member of the Society for Endocrinology Nurse Committee. She collaborates with other Endocrine nurse organisations globally, working to improve nurse education and patient care. Lisa was elected to the board in 2019, and her clinical experience has proved invaluable to us ever since. She is standing for re-election as a trustee this year. Martin Hendry Martin lives in Glasgow with his wife Cheryl and two children, Ava and Noah. He was diagnosed with Addison's disease in 2021 following illness and an undiagnosed adrenal crisis. Adapting to life with long-term chronic illness, whilst trying to raise a family and work full-time, has been a big challenge. ADSHG was a great resource for support and helped him adjust to life with Addison’s. He was elected to the board in 2024 and says: “I want to help others who are going through a similar journey. As a member of the board and as a Scottish representative, I want to promote the great work of this charity and help support our Scottish members in particular.” Tom Barnes Tom is a Civil Servant in a central government department and brings experience leading teams across a range of health and complex regulatory policy areas. Tom says: “The Addison's Disease Self-Help Group provided me with invaluable support when I had a temporary form of adrenal insufficiency a few years ago. I’m pleased to join the ADSHG as a trustee, and look forward to working with the staff and volunteers here to support others with Addison’s disease and adrenal insufficiency and their families” Tom is standing for election to his first term with the charity. He hopes to bring his skills in policy, strategy and cross-sector working to support the work at the ADSHG. Your vote matters The existing trustees are unanimously asking ADSHG members to vote in favour of all ten resolutions being presented at this meeting. Register to attend Register to join our AGM via Zoom Register Proxy Voting If you wish to vote on the resolutions but are unable to attend the 2025 AGM, then you can cast your votes by proxy online. To do this, please click on the secure link below. Vote by Proxy Your vote must be received by 8am on 5 July 2025 to be counted. The chair will cast your vote at the meeting on your behalf, as you instruct. Please note that for you to be able to vote, you must be a member and payment of your annual membership fee must be up to date. Reporting on 2024 Trustees' Annual Report and Accounts (2024) Not yet a member? Our AGM is a member event - just one of the many benefits of an ADSHG membership, along with access to our member-only online forum, our welcome pack and our bi-annual magazine. Be an active part of the Addison's and adrenal insufficiency community - together we are stronger! Join the ADSHG If you can't afford membership at this time, please apply for free Sponsored Membership. Not sure how Zoom works? If you are unsure about how to use Zoom to join our online AGM, you may want to read through the Zoom Webinar User Guide. FAQs 1. Can I leave and re-enter the Zoom? You are able to leave, but unfortunately you are not then able to re-enter, so if you are just nipping away for a couple of minutes, don't formally exit the webinar. Please bear with us if you are in the waiting room initially, we are a very small team running a busy event! 2. I can't attend now, will there be AGM recordings? We hope to provide on-demand recordings on the forum after the event for those unable to attend. However, we are dependant on the technology working for us on the day for this to be possible. We will also be providing a full round-up in our next members' magazine! So keep an eye on your letterbox for our next bumper packed edition! 3. What will be covered in the AGM section of the event? Apologies for absence from trustees Resolution 1: To approve the minutes of the 2024 AGM Highlights of the Trustee's Report (Dom Hargreaves, Trustee and Chair) Finance Report (Stuart Pinkerton, Trustee and Treasurer) Summary of the charity's plans for 2025 and 2026 (Cathy Thompson, Ops Manager in 2024, now Director) Members' questions to trustees and CEO on the charity's activities and accounts Resolution 2: To accept the Trustees' Report & Accounts for 2024 Resolution 3: To re-appoint Mercer Lewin as independent financial examiner for 2025 Resolution 4: To ratify Tom Barnes as a trustee for a first three-year term Resolution 5: To re-elect Dominic Hargreaves as a trustee for a third three-year term Resolution 6: To re-elect Lisa Shepherd as a trustee for a third three-year term Resolution 7: To re-elect Dr Alessandro Prete as a trustee for a second three-year term Resolution 8: A vote of thanks to Phil Kaye, who stood down from the board in early 2025, for his friendship and many years of service to the charity Resolution 9: A vote of thanks to Dr Stephen Kell, who stood down from the board in early 2025, for his friendship and many years of service to the charity Resolution 10: To amend the wording of the charity's constitution to reflect the fact that we increasingly support people with primary, secondary and tertiary adrenal insufficiency, work which is not adequately represented in the current Charitable Objects clause (Clause 3). Trustees propose that Clause 3 paragraph 1 is amended from; "The objects of the CIO are TO PROMOTE THE RELIEF OF PERSONS WITH ADDISON'S DISEASE, IN PARTICULAR BY THE PROVISION OF SUPPORT, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION FOR SUCH PERSONS, THEIR FAMILIES AND CARERS AND BY SUCH CHARITABLE MEANS AS THE TRUSTEES DETERMINE." to "The objects of the CIO are: TO PROMOTE THE RELIEF OF PERSONS WITH ADDISON'S DISEASE AND OTHER FORMS OF ADRENAL INSUFFICIENCY, IN PARTICULAR BY THE PROVISION OF SUPPORT, INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION FOR SUCH PERSONS, THEIR FAMILIES AND CARERS AND BY SUCH CHARITABLE MEANS AS THE TRUSTEES DETERMINE." Whether you're newly diagnosed or have lived with the condition for years - please join our community and support our cause! You'll receive the latest expert advice, guidance and ADSHG news, whilst being part of our inspiring and supportive community. Become a member today! Join the ADSHG Connect on social media! 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