Meet the Trustees

Simply put, our trustees enable the charity to exist. Running a charity is no small feat. We have a very senior board of trustees who oversee DocBike activity on a national scale, whilst helping to ensure the governance, enhancement and sustainability of everything that we do. With senior backgrounds in the Emergency Services, experts in advanced motorcycle training and law and experience in running other life-saving charities, they are able to help us form partnerships with national organisations, allowing the DocBike charity to help shape motorcycle injury prevention across the UK.

Adrian Whiting QPM (Chair of the Board and Trustee)

Adrian is a retired Assistant Chief Constable with Dorset Police. A passionate motorcyclist himself, he brings a wealth of experience which has been essential when engaging with organisations at high level in other areas around the UK and with the National Police Chief’s Council.

Adrian has a gift for sifting the wheat from the chaff and ensures that the DocBike as a charity remains focused and able to deliver meaningful change to the United Kingdom with regards the prevention of future motorcycle deaths and injury.

An ex-police traffic motorcyclist himself, he is more than aware of the causes and consequences of a motorcycle crash and is determined to ensure the charity leaves its mark in reducing deaths in the future.

Chris Smith QPM (Trustee)

Chris founded the DocBike project along with Dr Ian Mew in 2013. He is a retired police motorcyclist with over 20 years’ experience and remains an advanced police riding instructor and examiner.

Chris was awarded the Prince Michael of Kent International Road Safety Award in 2011 for reduction in motorcycle fatalities in Dorset and subsequently received the Queens Police Medal in 2017 for his ongoing service to motorcyclists. His wealth of knowledge on why motorcyclists crash and what they can do to avoid being in a collision is astounding and gives the charity the information it needs to make a real difference.

Chris also acts as liaison to other DocBike areas ensuring the specifications of the DocBikes are adhered to and ensuring their riders are trained appropriately.

Dr Ian Mew (Trustee)

Ian is a Consultant in Anaesthetics and Intensive Care Medicine and former Director of Major trauma at Dorset County Hospital. Half of his working hours are also spent as a critical care doctor aboard the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance.

Ian soon realised after attending multiple motorcycle-related fatalities, that to really make a difference & save motorcyclists lives, he needed to get to them before they crashed – and so his passion for motorcycle injury prevention was born.

Ian sits on the National Motorcycle Working Group, has direct liaison with national agencies such as the police and fire chief councils, Highways England and of course the national BikerDown team.

He lectures on motorcycle injury prevention around the UK and is a keen supporter of research and evidence base to inform the methods and direction of the charity.

Tim Blackwell (Trustee)

Tim is a solicitor helping and supporting victims of motorcycle crashes who have suffered catastrophic injuries or death and he understands the devastating effect that motorcycle collisions have on the victims and their families.

Tim says:

“Over the years I have seen so much suffering and misery because of preventable motorcycle crashes and I want to do all that I can to reduce the number of collisions on our roads involving motorcycles.  Being a trustee of the DocBike Charity allows me to make a difference and to see the positive results of the education, training and critical care that we provide.”

His ambition is to eradicate preventable deaths and life changing injuries of motorcyclists.

Lara Battersby (Trustee)

Lara is a Communications Officer for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and started volunteering for DocBike in January 2020, before becoming a trustee in June 2022.

Working for the air ambulance for a number of years and in local government beforehand, Lara has a broad range of expertise across the marketing communications mix and leads in all aspects of digital fundraising, media and communications.

In her role with the air ambulance, Lara meets patients who have needed their service first-hand, so understands the devastating impact that motorcycle collisions can have on patients and their families.

Seeing the positive impact that charitable work can have on people’s lives, she is passionate about raising awareness of injury prevention and how this can help to save people’s lives, whilst doing all that she can to inspire and support those who fundraise on the charity’s behalf.

After working alongside Dr Ian Mew for several years and seeing the charity grow, Lara saw the opportunity to use her expertise to help to raise awareness of DocBike’s work and assist with the charity’s expansion across the UK. In her role with DocBike, Lara provides strategic direction to the Board for all media, communications and fundraising aspects of the charity, whilst also managing these areas in her own time.

Furthermore, Lara also acts as a liaison for other DocBike regional teams, ensuring that they can maximise opportunities to promote their work and support those who wish to fundraise on their behalf.