Our People
The British Cardiovascular Society (BCS) plays a pivotal role in ensuring that British cardiologists are some of the best in the world. Our work in training, education and research allows our membership to save thousands of lives every year.
Our Board
The BCS Board is legally responsible for the governance and strategic direction of BCS and acts as the ultimate decision-making body. Our Board is made up of elected Executive Trustees (Officers) and appointed non-executive Trustees.
Executive Trustees
Professor André Ng
BCS President (2024-2027)
Professor André Ng became president in 2024 and will serve for three years. Prior to being elected as president, he was BCS vice-president for research and education, and chair of the Programme Committee, which oversees our major annual conference.
André is Professor of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Head of the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences at the University of Leicester, and consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist at the University Hospitals of Leicester. He is an expert in the management of cardiac arrhythmias especially in catheter ablation and the use of mapping systems in such procedures. He has a distinguished research profile in investigations into cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmia mechanisms, leading cross-disciplinary teams of talented researchers including basic scientists, clinical fellows and biomedical engineers.
Dr Andrew Archbold
BCS Honorary Secretary
Andrew is a consultant cardiologist at the Barts Health NHS Trust in London, specialising in chest pain, breathlessness, palpitations, hypertension, and preparing patients for heart surgery. He has held several positions with the BCS including Vice-President for Clinical Standards before becoming Honorary Secretary in 2023. He is heavily involved in teaching and the organisation of medical education locally.
Dr Neil Swanson
BCS Vice-President for Clinical Standards
Neil is a consultant cardiologist in Middlesbrough. He has a subspecialty interest in coronary intervention and also does CT coronary angiography. He has worked for the BCS for about 8 years in the Clinical Standards and Guidelines division, in various roles. He tries to practice evidence based medicine, even when that means changing his mind.
Professor Amitava Banerjee
BCS Vice-President for Communications, Digital and Marketing
Amitava Banerjee is professor in clinical data science at University College London, and honorary consultant cardiologist at University College London Hospitals and Barts Health NHS Trusts. He is a researcher, educator and clinician with interests spanning data science, heart failure, cardiovascular disease prevention, global health, training and evidence-based healthcare, and risk associated with underlying chronic diseases during pandemics.
After qualifying from Oxford, he trained as a resident in Oxford, Newcastle, Hull and London. His interest in preventive cardiology and evidence-based medicine led to a masters in public health at Harvard(2004/05), internship at the World Health Organisation(2005) and DPhil in epidemiology from Oxford(2010). He was clinical lecturer in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Birmingham, before moving to UCL in 2015. Ami is National Specialty Cardiovascular Lead for the NIHR Research Delivery Network, and has other national and international roles, including Senior Advisor to the World Heart Federation Emerging Leaders Programme.
Professor Nik Patel
BCS Vice-President for Corporate Finance and Development
Nik is a consultant cardiologist at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (ESHT), Deputy Chief of Medicine and cardiovascular lead (stroke, diabetes and cardiology). He is also a visiting consultant cardiologist at both Guy’s and St Thomas Trust and the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton. He specialises in general cardiology including chest pain, heart failure, hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation and syncope). His range of educational roles includes overseeing training programmes in the Kent, Surrey and Sussex School of Medicine and supervising higher research degrees. From 2019 to 2022 he was chair of the Royal Society of Medicine’s Academic Board, and a Trustee.
Dr Shouvik Haldar
BCS Vice-President for Education
Shouvik is a consultant cardiologist and electrophysiologist at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals and an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at Imperial College, London. He specialises in the management of patients with heart rhythm disorders and is an active researcher in cardiac arrythmias, atrial fibrillation and digital health. He is passionate about medical education and in addition to his BCS role, he is National Program Director for the Heart Rhythm Congress and his involvement with the Arrythmia Alliance charity has helped patients in managing their conditions.
Dr Abhishek Joshi
BCS Vice-President for Professional and Society Ethics
Joshi is a consultant cardiologist at The Royal London Hospital and the Barts Heart Centre, at Barts Health NHS Trust. He is a general cardiologist with a special interest in cardiac imaging and preventative cardiology. He specialises in echocardiography, cardiac CT and management of high risk coronary artery disease, including inherited and thromboinflammatory causes. He is a former president of the British Junior Cardiologist’s Association (BJCA). He holds a PhD in Cardiovascular Systems Biology and has published on translational multiomic studies in cardiovascular disease, including on platelets and lipids. In his spare time he plays the bass guitar, the Legend of Zelda games with his kids, and badly at chess.
Professor Mark Westwood
BCS Vice-President for Training
Mark is a consultant cardiologist at Barts Health NHS Trust in London and Director of Medical Education at Barts Heart Centre, responsible for the training and education of junior medical staff. He is also the Training Programme Director for Cardiology for the North East Thames region in London. He specialises in cardiac CT/MRI, chest pain, shortness of breath and palpitations, and cardio-oncology. At Barts he has been heavily involved in the development and delivery of the cardio-oncology services, now one of the largest in the UK. He is a former president of the British Society of Cardiac MRI and sits on committees and boards of several national and international professional medical societies. As the chair of the Specialty Advisory Committee for Cardiology, he leads development of specialist training policy, curricula and performance assessment methods.
Caroline Langley
BCS CEO - In attendance
Caroline joined BCS in November 2023 following five years as Chief Executive of the British Psychoanalytical Society, also known as the Institute of Psychoanalysis. Prior to that, she was Director of Education at The Royal Society of Medicine where she was responsible for their continuing professional education programme along with the RSM Dean. She also worked in the NHS for 18 years in various managerial positions in NHS Trusts and Primary Care Trusts. She holds a BA (Hons) degree in Combined Arts, a Master’s degree in Health Services Management and postgraduate diploma qualifications in health services management. Outside of the BCS, she is a Trustee of South Bucks Hospice, a local day hospice, and a Trustee at Arthritis Action.
Non-Executive Trustees
Ms Melissa Coutino
Prof Sir Bruce Keogh
Mr David Lawrence
Ms Cheryl Lee
Ms Lois Whittaker
Staff
We have a busy and dynamic team of dedicated and professional staff who advise, support and work with our trustees to understand cardiologists needs and how the BCS can help. They bring an impressive breadth of expertise and experience to the Society, as well as a passion for the BCS mission.
To contact staff, please use our contact form.
Executive office
Caroline Langley
Finance
Graeme Newton
Membership and Marketing
Education
Digital
BHF - Clinical Research Collaborative
The BHF-CRC is funded by the British Heart Foundation and hosted by BCS.