IoN Parental Leave Champions

IoN has dedicated Parental Leave Champions who are here to support students and staff with queries regarding their rights and UCL policies and procedures.

Professor Olga Ciccarelli

MATERNITY LEAVE CHAMPION:

I am happy to discuss and advice how to deal with maternity leave. I had two children while working at UCL Institute of Neurology and have tried to find a balance between my professional commitments and my family life. I am now a Professor of Neurology.  So if you are a mum-to-be and are working at UCL, please feel to get in touch for a chat. I will be able to tell you who to contact if further advice is necessary or particular issues are identified.

Professor Michael Lunn

Paternity and Adoption Leave CHAMPION:

Dr Michael Lunn is a consultant Neurologist and Clinical Lead in Neuroimmunology. He took eight weeks adoption leave in 2012 and is our paternity/adoption leave champion.

Dr Josephine Barnes

Maternity Leave Champion

Dr. James Jepson

Paternity Leave Champion

I am a Principal Research Fellow at the UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, and Father to a young son. Please feel free to contact me regarding paternity leave, balancing work and parenthood, and who to contact within UCL for further parental advice. 

Laura Allum

Shared Parental Leave Advisor

Laura Allum is IoN HR Manager. She has a wealth of HR experience, working at UCL for several years. Over the years she has supported many members of staff planning their Parental Leaves and she is particularly knowledgeable on Shared Parental Leave. 

Dr Edward Smith

Parental Leave Champion

I am a postdoctoral researcher and father of two children born while employed at UCL. For both children I have organised and taken shared parental leave so I feel I have good experience of what is required. Feel free to contact me for advice at any stage of the leave process and I will be very happy to help.

Dr Mireia Mato Prado

Parental Leave Champion

I am a Deputy Laboratory Manager at the UK Dementia Research Institute. I started working at UCL in February 2020 and became a mum in June 2021. Feel free to get in touch if you want to know more about maternity leave and shared parental leave, motherhood, or anything else – always happy to have a chat.