Team

The World Dementia Council (WDC) is an international charity. It consists of senior experts and leaders drawn from research, academia, industry, governments and NGOs in both high-income and low- and middle-income countries. The WDC has an executive team based in London, UK.

World Dementia Council
4th Floor Rex House
4 – 12 Regent Street
St James
London SW1Y 4PE

Lenny Shallcross

Lenny is Executive Director at the World Dementia Council. Prior to that he was Head of Community Engagement leading programmes across the UK to establish Dementia Friendly Communities. This includes the Dementia Friends programme which is the biggest health social movement campaign delivered by 10,000 volunteers that have recruited 2 million individuals through a community, digital and corporate offer. Before working for Alzheimer's Society he worked in the UK government as a political adviser at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Health as well as working in Parliament and for the Labour Party.

Melanie Saunderson

Melanie is Office Manager at the World Dementia Council, responsible for the administration of the charity, including finance and project management. She provides executive assistance to the Executive Director. Melanie is legally trained and has had a varied career in finance, property and senior executive administration. She has worked for The Crown Estate, The US Embassy in London, Department for Transport and Richard Green Art Gallery in Bond Street London. She is a fellow of the Institute of Administrative Management.

Laura Cilmi is the Communications Officer, Executive on Loan to the World Dementia Council (WDC). In her role, she develops and implements marketing and communications campaigns to advance the mission of the WDC. She also serves as the Vice President of Public Policy Marketing & Communications for the Alzheimer's Association, responsible for multi-faceted communications and marketing campaigns to influence federal and state dementia public policy. Prior to working with the WDC and the Alzheimer’s Association, Laura provided communications and public affairs support to clients in the health care field.