OUR
PEOPLE
““Rosamund is one of the world’s most successful campaigners on clean air. Her personal story, combined with her determination, drive and unrelenting commitment to improving air quality, is awesome to see. She has that rare ability to connect at a deeply personal level with a wide range of audiences including parents, campaigners, film stars and world leaders. She is a powerful ambassador for everyone impacted by air pollution.””
Jane Burston, Executive Director, Clean Air Fund
ROSAMUND ADOO-KISSI-DEBRAH
Rosamund is the founder, director, and trustee of the Foundation as well as Ella’s mum. She is one of the most prominent advocates for clean air worldwide, a powerful voice in the air pollution debate. She started campaigning as soon as she realised its role in her daughter’s death. Her determination to highlight the human cost of air pollution has led to her addressing audiences all over the world; from her recent TED Talk to conversations with other eminent environmentalist and health advocates, such as Christiana Figueres, Dr Maria Neira and Arnold Schwarzeneger. Her work frequently involves lobbying politicians, as well as medical professionals, for more education and stronger legislation when it comes to air pollution.
However, Rosamund is more than just a powerful voice. She and her legal team made history when a Coroner found a direct link between her daughter’s death and the air quality near her home, 25 metres from the south circular, one of London’s busiest roads. Ella’s death certificate was amended to have air pollution listed as cause of death, potentially changing the legal landscape to enable other people to do the same.
Rosamund is now a leading light in the global fight against air pollution, a position recognised by the World Health Organisation, who made her a BreatheLife Ambassador. She uses her experience and position to highlight the inequality of those affected by air pollution. She is also an Honorary Fellow of the British Science Association and was named among You Magazine’s 21 Most Extraordinary Women of 2021, British Vogue’s 25 Extraordinary Women of 2021, The Times’ Green Power List 2021 and BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour Power List 2020.
THE
TEAM
Jeffery K. Smith
Jeff is an air quality monitoring expert and clean energy advocate. Jeff is the Senior Advisor for Global Clean Air at The Ella Roberta Foundation. Jeff consults for the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland for air pollution and urban health projects with a focus on citizen science and community engagement. Jeff works with individuals, citizens groups, industry, and policymakers to help connect research and data for informed decisions and environmental responsibility. He believes that data visualization will allow us to make better choices to protect public health, increase productivity, and slow climate change.
PROFESSOR STEPHEN HOLGATE
Professor Sir Stephen Holgate, a consultant respiratory physician at the University of Southampton, was the expert witness at Ella’s second inquest, where pollution was found to have contributed to, and exacerbated her asthma. He has been a supporter of the Foundation and Rosamund, since he started working with the team in 2017.
EMILY STEADMAN
Originally hailing from the US, Emily has lived in London since 2004. A long-time environmental advocate, she became particularly passionate about improving air quality after the birth of her daughters. Troubled by the lack of greenery at their primary school in Catford and the high levels of air pollution in the playground, she spearheaded the planting of a ‘wildlife corridor’ – a mix of hedgerow trees and laurels – around the school. In addition to her involvement in community initiatives, Emily works as a customer insight consultant, writer and editor. She first met Rosamund in 2017, as they campaigned together for a local clean air group. Inspired by Ella’s story and Rosamund’s tireless efforts to highlight the human cost of air pollution and improve air quality for all, she’s “honoured to support the Foundation as a Trustee.”
Catherine Sutton
Catherine is the Secretary to the Trustees of the Foundation. Catherine previously had a long career as a Chartered Company Secretary. She now runs Airborne Allergy Action CIC which awareness of indoor air quality issues in homes and schools. Catherine was on the Technical Advisory Panel for the 2020 Royal College of College of Paediatrics and Child Health Report on Indoor Air Quality. Like Rosamund, Catherine believes in a world where no child should die from asthma or other illness arising from the air we breathe and is proud to support the amazing work of the Ella Roberta Family Foundation.
SHARON FARNLEY
Sharon’s daughter Eloise was in Ella’s class at primary school in Catford. They were friends as well as classmates. Sharon and Rosamund were governors together on the same school’s board. Sharon is still there, as the Chair, and she works for telecommunications regulator, Ofcom. She became a Trustee in 2015 and is “proud to support the work that Rosamund has been doing; making the air we breathe safe for everyone.”
BARBARA GRAY
Barbara has been involved in the community sector for 25 years, and is a strong advocate for Lewisham, where she worked in the council for 15 years. Her current role is CEO of Urban Dandelion. “The Ella Roberta Foundation has had a global impact that will benefit many people’s lives and fits with the work of Urban Dandelion, which inspires communities to bring about the changes they want to see.”