The board (PEC) and leadership
The board is the decision making body. It is the statutory board of directors for the purposes of company law, and the Principal Executive Committee (PEC) for the purposes of trade union law (unusually, but in common with organisations such as the British Medical Association, the BDA is both a company and a trade union).
About the board
The board agrees the strategy, policy and business operational plans for the Association, and holds the Chief Executive and his staff to account for their implementation.
The board receives advice and opinion from committees to help it in its role, and these are either focussed on constituent parts of the profession (the elected committees such as the General Dental Practice Committee) or subject areas (advisory committees directly appointed by the board with a specific remit, such as the Health and Science Committee). The views of members are represented by the country councils, and the craft committees. The BDA President also offers counsel through attendance at meetings of the board.
The boundaries for the seats are determined by postal district. Some postal districts cross national boundaries and therefore need to be more specifically differentiated.
The board is made up of 15 members:
- nine members elected from English regions
- one member elected from Northern Ireland
- one member elected from Scotland
- one member elected from Wales
- three members elected on a UK wide basis
For more information, please see our FAQs.
Board (PEC) elections
Each member serves for three years, but the three year terms are staggered so that a different cohort of five members is subject to re-election each year. Each yearly cohort must contain a member elected UK wide and one member elected from one of the countries of the UK outside England.
Learn about the latest election results.
Meet the board
Chair
Eddie Crouch
West Midlands region | Eddie was elected as Chair of the board in September 2020. Before that, he served as Deputy Chair between 2014 and 2020. He was Secretary and Chair of Birmingham Local Dental Committee. He qualified in 1984 from Kings and provided care in South Birmingham for 36 years, more latterly in two locations providing orthodontic care, having previously been a Clinical Assistant in Orthodontics. He stopped clinical practice at the end of 2022. His term of office ends on 31 December 2026.
Deputy Chair
Peter Crooks
Northern Ireland | Peter worked entirely in general practice, first as an associate for four years and then as a practice owner in Ballymena for thirty years. The practice began life fully NHS but was a mixed practice when it was sold in 2017. Peter is a BDA Trustee, Chairs the BDA Finance and Review Body Evidence Committees and is the Board nominee on the Board of Trustees of the BDA Benevolent Fund. His term of office ends 31 December 2027.
Deputy Chair
Lauren Harrhy
Wales | Dr Lauren Harrhy, a Cardiff University graduate of 2009, is the Welsh member of the Principal Executive Committee and an educational supervisor for foundation dentists. She was elected as Chair of the Regulation and Education Committee in September 2025. She also chairs the BDA Equality and Diversity Committee. With a down-to-earth approach, Lauren combines her life as a dedicated Principal dentist, wife, and mother to three children with her commitment to the dental profession. She is a strong advocate for the mental health and well-being of dental professionals, emphasising the importance of supportive working conditions. Lauren firmly believes in the critical role of professional associations and trade union activities in strengthening the dental community. She champions inclusivity and equal opportunities, reflecting her dedication to making the dental profession better for all. Lauren's term of office ends on 31 December 2026.
Mick Armstrong
Yorkshire and Humber region | Mick has been a member of the board since June 2012. He served as Chair from 2014 until 2020. He qualified in 1985 from Newcastle and has spent all of his practising life in General Practice. He was a partner in Armstrong & Haire Ltd, a six surgery, mostly NHS practice in Castleford, West Yorkshire for over 20 years where he is now an associate. He is Chair of BDA Health and Science Committee, Chair FDI Dental Practice Committee and an Educational Supervisor. His term of office ends 31 December 2027.
Natalie Bradley
UK wide - Natalie is a Consultant in Special Care Dentistry at King's College Hospitals and Clinical Director for Dentaid the Dental Charity. She is current co-vice chair of CCHDS and sits on EDIC and English Community Dental Services Committee. She is immediate past chair of the Young Dentist Committee and has in the past sat on various other committees within the BDA. She has experience working across hospital, community and general dental practice and in NHS and private care. Her term of office ends 31 December 2028.
Shawn Charlwood
UK wide | Shawn was Chair of the BDA General Dental Practice Committee from 2020 until 2024 and led the committee throughout the pandemic and the years following. He appeared on national TV and radio on numerous occasions advocating for the profession and patients and appeared in Parliament in front of the Commons Health Select Committee on three separate occasions. He graduated from Birmingham Dental School and has post graduate qualifications from the University of Bristol and the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners. He held post graduate positions at Manchester Dental School and Manchester Royal Infirmary maxillo-facial department, as well as being an officer in the Royal Army Dental Corps. Shawn owned a large mixed general dental practice for almost 30 years and trained 20 new graduates in Foundation training. He was previously Chair of Lincolnshire LDC and member for 25 years. His term of office ends 31 December 2027.
Chris Morris
South East - Chris is a solicitor and former NHS and private dentist with over 30 years’ experience across healthcare, law, and governance. He is a former Senior Partner of a national law firm where he headed a team specialising in defending dentists and dental bodies including the BDA. He has extensive expertise in professional regulation, public law, and ethical decision-making. He has sat on the Management Board of a large law firm; on the Board of Trustees of Certitude, London's leading adult social care provider for people with learning disabilities, autism, and mental health support needs; and has previously been a member of the PEC.
He is a Past President and current Committee Member of the Dental Law and Ethics Forum; was Legal Adviser to the BDJ for many years; and is an Honorary Fellow of the Faculty of Forensic Law and Medicine of the Royal College of Physicians of London.
He brings a combination of clinical insight and legal expertise, guided by a strong commitment to member accountability, and high professional standards. His term of office ends 31 December 2028.
John Edwards
North West | John qualified from Liverpool in 1974 and gained an MFGDP in 1993. He has worked throughout his career as a GDP in Blackpool and the Fylde Coast area. He was elected to serve on Lancashire LDC in 1986 and is currently Chairman of Lancashire Coastal LDC. He was appointed to serve on GDSC in 1986 representing the Lancashire region continuously on the GDPC until the present time. He is currently a member of the Legislation Sub Committee. His term of office ends 31 December 2026.
Sushil John
Greater London | Qualifying in 2000, Sushil has worked as a GDP in South London for over 20 years. In addition to his work in general practice, he has been the chair of the Croydon Local Dental Committee, Founding Director of South West London Local Dental Committee and GDPC Representative for South London. Sushil is also currently the Regional Training Programme Director for Dental Foundation Training for London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. His term of office ends on 31 December 2028.
Nigel Jones
UK wide | On qualifying at Kings, Nigel joined the Royal Navy for a five-year commission as a Dental Officer. Nowadays he lives in Dorset where he owns a High Street Practice. He has been a VT trainer for many years. For six years he worked part time in the Orthodontic department of a local Hospital. He has been involved locally, regionally and nationally with the BDA. He wants the BDA to remain relevant to members’ needs. His term of office ends on 31 December 2026.
Nick Marshall
Northern region | Nick qualified from Newcastle University in 2008 and has worked in general practice in the North East ever since. He is an associate and spends most of his time providing NHS treatment. He has been a foundation trainer for therapists since 2017 and is enthusiastic about using skill mix to facilitate efficient delivery of NHS dental care. He has sat on the Gateshead and South Tyneside LDC since 2018. Nick has a particular passion for improving access to NHS dentistry and reducing oral health inequality, especially for younger people. His term of office ends on 31 December 2027.
Jonathan Mynors-Wallis
Jonathan was elected to the PEC in 2021 and, before that, spent six years on the GDPC. He has worked as a GDP in Dorset for his entire career and is a member of the local LDC which he chaired for over 10 years. Jonathan owns and works in a mainly NHS practice and has looked after many foundation dentists. He has always been committed to lifelong learning and has several postgraduate qualifications, including a Master’s in Clinical Dentistry from King’s. He is former president of the Wessex region BDA and is currently their treasurer. He is currently Dorset Dental Advisor for Dorset ICB and is Chair of the Audit Committee of the BDA. His term of office ends 31 December 2027.
Jason Stokes
Jason qualified from Birmingham Dental School in 1992. After a brief stint in Birmingham as a Foundation Dentist he moved to Norfolk. Until 2025 Jason was, the co-owner of the Cathedral Street Dental Practice in Norwich. Jason is the Secretary of Norfolk LDC. He also works as an Associate Postgraduate Dean for NHSE in the East of England supporting Dental Foundation Training. Jason also works as an Associate Postgraduate Dean in LKSS supporting Foundation Dentists and Therapists. He is currently Chair of the Student Committee. His term of office ends on 31 December 2026.
John Ho-A-Yun
Scotland - John has worked in a variety of settings including general practice, specialist practice and in latterly hospital for the past 21 years. During his hospital career he has also worked out with dentistry for Clinical Governance and Occupational Health and Wellbeing. A career long member of the BDA since graduating BDS in 1993, he has served as an SAS grade representative on SCHDS, CCHDS, SHDRG (Chair), Scottish Council; cross representing on BMA SSASC including the BMA SSASC negotiation reference group. John has served on the SAS Education Committee for Dentistry, RCS England since its inception. He holds an Advanced Certificate in Medical Education from RCPS Glasgow, an MSc (with distinction) from Glasgow University and is an Associate Fellow of the College of General Dentistry. John ceased clinical dentistry in 2022. His term of office ends 31 December 2028.
Sarah Canavan
East Midlands and Central
Her term of office ends 31 December 2028.
Declaration of interests