Meet the community
changing lives

Meet the wonderful people that really do make a difference and help to change lives!
Devi Patel

Founder and CEO

With over forty years of dedicated humanitarian service, Devi Patel is the visionary leader behind the Better Lives Foundation (BLF).
Read more....
Dr Michael Rafferty
MBBS, BSc, FRCS (Ortho)

Trustee and Medical Lead

Mike qualified from Imperial in 2008 and has worked in the UK, South Africa, Australia, India and Sierra Leone.
Read more....
Anne Barry

Trustee & Gynae Nurse Specialist

Anne’s is driven by her passion to improve the quality of people’s lives, especially those who have limited access to essential services.
Read more....
Raj Patel

Trustee & Head of Finance

Raj is more than just a numbers man! He is hands on participating in medical camps and visits to Sierra Leone.
Read more....
Hina Patel

Trustee

Hina has dedicated her career to social care since 1984, serving various Local Authorities, Housing Associations, MH England, and charities both in the UK and abroad.
Read more....
Ishver Patel MBE

Patron

Ishver is an accomplished organisation development consultant, offering extensive training experience of working in statutory, voluntary, and private sectors.
Read more....
Renu Gidoomal

Patron

From setting up luxury Holistic Spas to singing in front of an audience of 20,000 in Trafalgar
Square, Renu Gidoomal continues to live an interesting life post the Pandemic lockdown.
Read more....
Alimatu Dimonokene MBE

Ambassador

Alimatu is an award-winning woman and girls’ rights advocate. Founder of A Girl At A Time Organisation, an online platform for young people working on sexual and gender-based violence.
Read more....
Jordan Glover

Ambassador

Jordan Glover is a best-selling children’s author and grew up with her nose perpetually lodged in a book. As an adult, not much has changed.
Read more....
Dr Bijal Sisodia-Shah

Head of Dentistry

An award-winning dentist, Bijal is leading the team to create the very first dental teaching hospital in Sierra Leone.
Read more....
Dr Hannah Mistry
BSc MBChB MRCOG

Head of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Hannah is Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Better Lives Foundation. She brings a wealth of experience as a Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology having graduated from Warwick Medical School in 2009.
Read more....
Dr Kani Varshneya
MBBS, MA, DTM&H

Head of Education
and Medical Lead

With a Cambridge science degree and a medical one from Imperial - Kani would rather rip them up and pick up a shovel to serve society!
Read more....
Niral Karia
BSc, MBBS, FRCOphth

Head of Ophthalmology

Niral is Consultant Ophthalmology Surgeon and the Clinical Director for Ophthalmology for Mid & South EssexNHS Foundation Trust covering Southend, Basildon & Orsett, and Broomfield Hospitals.
Read more....
Kantilal Mistry
MCOptom

Head of Optometry

Kantilal has over 40 years of experience in the optometric practice. He has been involved in volunteer work across numerous countries.
Read more....
Nirali Sisodia,
MPharmS, PGDip, IPresc

Head of Pharmacy

Nirali is excited and determined to build a sustainable Pharmacy department and education programme for the students of Sierra Leone.
Read more....
Sameer Shah, CFP, MCSI, APFS, RLP

Strategic Adviser

I’m a financial planner with over two decades of experience helping individuals, families, and organisations align their financial decisions with their long-term goals and values.
Read more....
Mrs Kiran H Parmar

Head of Laboratory Services

Mrs Kiran H Parmar is a retired senior research laboratory manager. She is recognised for her work in the field of Thrombosis and many diseases associated with thrombosis and bleeding for the past 42 years.
Read more....
Allison Thompson

Quality Assurance Advisor & Consulting Midwife

Allison has almost 35 years’ experience in healthcare service delivery. Her paid and volunteering work is supported by academic qualifications to Master’s level in Risk Management.
Read more....

Human values at our core

The backbone of Better Lives Foundation is based on the five human values of: love, truth, peace, right conduct and non-violence.

Turn compassion into action

Join our mailing list to receive updates on our journey in changing lives.