Events Big Weekend Speakers We're thrilled to introduce the inspiring individuals joining us for the Alopecia UK Big Weekend! Our lineup features a diverse group of speakers—ranging from medical experts and researchers to people with lived experience—who will share valuable insights, personal stories, and the latest updates. This page will continue to be updated as and when we confirm more speakers. Lived experiences: Zoe Lyons Comedian and Alopecia UK Ambassador Zoe is an award-winning critically acclaimed comedian. She has appeared on many TV shows including, Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo, Room 101 and QI. Zoe first experienced alopecia areata when she was 11 years old. She had further patches in her 20s and lost about 80% of her hair in her most severe episode in 2020. In 2022, Zoe took part in the South Coast Ultra Challenge and raised over £2,400 for Alopecia UK. “My latest episode of alopecia took a massive toll on my mental health. It was only when I began to be more open about what I was going through, and talking about it on stage, that I felt better. It made me realise just how important it is to discuss the condition.” Donna Easton Donna is a Joyologist who speaks from the heart, hits with humour, and doesn’t do fluff. Her talks blend honesty, comedy, and real-life tools to help people reconnect with their confidence, their joy, and their sense of self, especially when life hasn’t gone to plan. With decades of experience leading global campaigns and creating joyful experiences for brands like Google, Disney, and ITV, Donna now uses that same energy to spark transformation in people. She shows that joy isn’t a luxury, it’s a lifeline. And when we prioritise it, everything changes. Expect laughter, truth bombs, and practical ways to start feeling good again. This isn’t a motivational talk. It’s a wake-up call to joy. Medical experts & Researchers: Dr Matthew Harries Profession: Consultant Dermatologist Topics at the Big Weekend: Lived experiences with JAK inhibitors. The British Association of Dermatologists living guideline for managing people with Alopecia Areata. Work/academic background: Matthew received his medical degree from the University of Leeds, UK in 1998. In 2001, he gained membership of the Royal College of Physicians of London, and in January 2003 took a post as a Specialist Registrar in Dermatology in Manchester. During training Matthew took time out of programme to study the hair immune system in primary cicatricial alopecias, working as a Clinical Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, and a visiting Research Fellow in Experimental Dermatology at the University of Lübeck, Germany. He was awarded a PhD from the University of Manchester in 2011 for this work. Matthew now works as a Consultant Dermatologist at Salford Royal Foundation Trust in Manchester and has an Honorary Senior Lecturer post at the University of Manchester. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London. Matthew has a special interest in hair loss disorders, in particular the scarring alopecias, receiving specialist referrals from around the region. He is a founder member of the British Hair and Nails Society (BHNS) and acts as the research lead on the BHNS executive committee. Dr Leila Asfour Profession: Consultant Dermatologist Topic at the Big Weekend: Research on future treatments (the clinical trial pipeline) for all types of Alopecia. Work/academic background: Dr Leila Asfour is a UK-trained Consultant dermatologist. Her interest in hair disorders has evolved during her experience in a regional specialist hair clinic led by Dr Harries. She has completed an international hair and scalp disorders fellowship under the mentorship of Professor R. Sinclair in Australia. She was supported through the American Hair Research Society mentorship programme to shadow Associate Professor B. King and Dr B. Craiglow at Yale Dermatology. She leads the hair service at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation trust, including hair-related research. She is the principal investigator in several alopecia and eczema related clinical trials. She has been awarded a British Skin Foundation research grant for her project on chemotherapy-induced alopecia. She has presented nationally and internationally for which she has received several awards for her presentations and written work. She has over 30 publications in peer-reviewed journals and written several book chapters in her areas of interest. She developed the section on ‘medical ethics and law in clinical practice and research’ for the British Association of Dermatologists’ registrar curriculum. She has contributed to the updating of Health Education England e-learning modules on hair loss. She has collaborated with Alopecia UK on a treatment blog and development of national patient leaflets. She has co-authored a national curriculum on alopecia areata and atopic dermatitis for Australian GPs, trainees, specialists and dermatologists. She is the president of the British Hair and Nails Society. Leah Redmond Profession: PHD Student Topic at the Big Weekend: Current research on Androgenetic Alopecia and possible future treatments. Work/academic background: Leah is a PhD student under the supervision of Dr Claire Higgins at Imperial College London, where her research focuses on hair follicle regeneration, evolution, and hair fibre pigmentation. With a strong background in lab work, she’s at the heart of research uncovering the biological secrets behind hair growth. She first got hooked on hair during her MEng in Bioengineering at Imperial, where she carried out her research project on pattern hair loss. Since then, she’s continued to explore the field both in the UK and abroad—including a research fellowship at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden—and has spoken about her work at major scientific conferences. She’s also the first author of a published article on pattern hair loss in the Journal of Experimental Dermatology. In addition to her academic research, she recently completed her diploma in Clinical Trichology with the Institute of Trichologists. Awarded a full scholarship for her outstanding contributions to hair research, she’s now combining clinical knowledge with scientific discovery to better understand and support those experiencing hair loss. In addition to her work in the lab, Leah has received several competitive grants and fellowships: a Turing Scheme Global Fellowship (2023), a Research Grant from the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) (2025), and a Travel Grant from Alopecia UK (2023), which enabled her to present her work at the EHRS 2023 Conference where she also won the Best Scientific Research Poster Award. Leah is also passionate about outreach and loves making science accessible—especially to school children through Imperial’s outreach programmes. This is her first event with the Alopecia UK community, and she couldn’t be more excited to be part of it. Madoc Dawson Profession: PHD Student Topic at the Big Weekend: AUK funded PhD project: ‘Alopecia Areata Rapid Access Clinic: Can early access improve outcomes in patients with recent-onset AA?’ Work/academic background: I have been with the Manchester Hair Research Group for four years now, first as a technician, and now as a PhD student. My work is focussed on identifying changes in the pathobiology of the autoimmune inflammatory hair loss disorder alopecia areata (AA) based on how long people have had AA. To this end, we have set up a rapid access clinic (RAC) that aims to collect materials from people with recent-onset AA that we can interrogate for differences in serum, scalp, or hair follicle specific biomarkers compared to those with established disease. This could allow us to identify markers that indicate whether AA is likely to resolve or worsen, how likely people are to respond to certain treatments, and eventually to evaluate whether early intervention might provide better treatment options. Dr Susan Holmes Profession: Consultant Dermatologist Topic at the Big Weekend: Links between alopecia areata and other conditions Work/academic background: Susan qualified in medicine from the University of Glasgow with BSc (Hons) MBChB in 1989, later obtaining an MD in 2000. She undertook dermatology training in Glasgow under Professor Rona Mackie and became a dermatology consultant at Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 1999. She developed an interest in alopecia as a trainee, working with Professor Colin Munro on the genetics of monilethrix. Susan established an alopecia clinic in Glasgow in 1999 and has a longstanding interest and involvement in alopecia research. Dr Kevin McElwee Profession: Research Consultant and Scientist Topic at the Big Weekend: The historical context of AA and what we know about possible causes Work/academic background: Dr. Kevin McElwee is currently a consultant for several companies developing treatments for alopecia areata and androgenetic alopecia. He is also the Chief Scientific Officer for RepliCel Life Sciences, a Canadian company that develops regenerative therapies using cells derived from hair follicles. Dr. McElwee was previously a Professor in the Centre for Skin Sciences at the University of Bradford, UK and an Associate Professor in the Department of Dermatology and Skin Health at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Dr. McElwee has worked as a hair research scientist for more than 25 years and has published over 120 medical journal articles and academic book chapters on hair loss research. Dr. McElwee received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland and his PhD from the University of Dundee, Scotland. His postdoctoral training included three years at the Jackson Laboratory in Maine, USA and four years at the University of Marburg, Germany, studying various hair loss diseases. . Professor Desmond Tobin Profession: Professor of Dermatological Science Topic at the Big Weekend: The triggers of hair loss Work/academic background: Dr Desmond J. Tobin is Full Professor of Dermatological Science and Director of The Charles Institute of Dermatology at University College Dublin, Ireland. Prior to Sept 2018 he was Professor of Cell Biology and Director of the Centre for Skin Sciences at Bradford University, Britain. He holds a BSc from the National University of Ireland (Maynooth), a PhD from the University of London, Britain (St. John’s Institute of Dermatology) and post-doctorate from New York University Medical School’s Dept. of Dermatology, USA. Over the past ~25 years Des has researched in basic and applied skin/hair sciences, with a focus on the biology of human melanocytes /pigmentation in health and disease (incl. melanoma) and of hair growth disorders, especially those with an immune basis. Des holds fellowships from: Royal College of Pathologists, Royal Society of Biology, Institute of Trichologists, Royal Microscopical Society, Institute of Biomedical Science, and is an elected Member of the Royal Irish Academy. Des is a past president of the British Society for Investigative Dermatology, a founding member of the UK TREND Skin Health Working Group, and secretary to National and International Skin Registry Solutions (charity). He serves(ed) on several editorial boards, and scientific advisory panels including the UK-based Research Excellence Framework (REF2021). He has published over 200 publications. His H-Index is currently 68 (Scopus) and 81 (Google Scholar) Spring 2024. Dr Fabio Zucchelli Profession: Senior Lecturer in Psychology at UWE Bristol Topic at the Big Weekend: Recommendations for psychological support and a self-help resource for people with visible differences Work/academic background: Dr Fabio Zucchelli is a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol and a researcher affiliated with the Centre for Appearance Research (CAR). His work focuses on the psychological experiences of individuals with visible differences, particularly those living with alopecia. Dr Zucchelli has led several projects exploring the emotional and social impact of alopecia, with a special emphasis on men’s experiences and understanding the key features of effective psychological support for alopecia. His research often employs Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a framework for developing self-help tools to support individuals coping with the condition alongside other causes of visible difference. He has collaborated with Alopecia UK to conduct workshops, focus groups, and national surveys, contributing to initiatives like the NHS Wig Provision Charter for Best Practice. Dr Vangelis Christou Profession: Dermatology Specialist Registrar Topic at the Big Weekend: Genetic research on Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia and treatments Work/academic background: Dr Vangelis Christou is a Dermatology Specialist Registrar at Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. He is a Visiting Research Fellow at St John’s Institute of Dermatology, King’s College London and a 2024 British Skin Foundation Fellow. His research focuses on hair disorders. Dr Kehinde Ross Profession: Reader (Associate Professor) in Molecular and Cellular Biology Topic at the Big Weekend: Research on RNA-based treatments for scarring alopecia Work/academic background: Kehinde Ross is a Reader in Molecular and Cellular Biology at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU). He earned his PhD from the University of Sheffield, where he studied cytokine signalling proteins associated with inflammatory diseases. He then completed postdoctoral training at Newcastle University, studying signal transduction associated with inflammatory skin disorders, prior to starting independent research related to microRNA (miRNA) expression and function. His focus on skin spans alopecia, psoriasis and chronic wounds. His current projects centre on the development of interdisciplinary collaborations to support the generation of nanocarriers for miRNA-directed therapy in alopecia and other conditions. Kehinde leads the Transformative Peptide Chemistry for RNA Nanotherapies Thematic Doctoral Pathway program at LJMU, one of the inaugural cohort-based PhD training schemes in the university. Additionally, he co-leads the LJMU Institute for Health Research Diagnostics and Therapeutics group, chairs the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee of the RNA Society and is the post-1992 University representative on the Physiological Society EDI Committee. He can often be found in a local park with one or other of his four sons during his spare time or else in the kitchen sorting the family dinner. Dr Ashley McCarty Profession: Clinical Psychologist Topic at the Big Weekend: Research on psychological support and healthcare experiences for people with alopecia Work/academic background: My name is Dr Ashley McCarthy, I am a clinical psychologist. I trained at the University of Hertfordshire. For my doctoral research in clinical psychology, I completed my thesis on Alopecia. I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata at the age of 14. Therefore, researching and supporting the psychological well-being of those with Alopecia is important to me, both personally and professionally. My interests are varied and include forensic psychology, health psychology and trauma. I am currently working in an Adult Community Mental Health team in North-west London. Dr Margo Gkini Profession: Consultant Dermatologist and Honorary Senior Lecturer Topic at the Big Weekend: Psychodermatology Work/academic background: Dr. Maria-Angeliki Gkini is a Consultant Dermatologist at 401 General Army Hospital in Athens, Greece and a Locum Consultant Dermatologist and Hon Senior Lecturer at Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK. She has developed a special interest in hair diseases while running hair specialist clinics and her PhD thesis focused on the efficacy and safety of platelet-rich plasma in non-scarring alopecias. Her other special interests include advanced treatments (biologics and small molecules), inflammatory diseases and psychodermatology/psychotrichology. Dr Gkini is very passionate about the holistic management of her patients (screening for comorbidities and management) and treats them as a whole. She has a strong research interest and she has served as a principal or sub-investigator in more than 45 studies, being able to offer innovative and promising treatments to her patients. She has participated as a speaker/invited speaker at many national and international congresses and she has published her research in international peer-reviewed journals. Dr Gkini has also been awarded numerous prizes and grants by prestigious institutions and organisations, such as the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, the British Association of Dermatologists and the Royal College of Physicians. Manage Cookie Preferences