Vivienne Michael (Chief Executive)

Vivienne has been Chief Executive of Deafness Research UK since 1989. 

Prior to that she was Publications Director at the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), responsible for the charity's publications, direct mail, advertising and promotional strategy.

Vivienne is a scientist and researcher by training and spent ten years in media relations and as a journalist, writing on health and family matters for many national newspapers and magazines.

She is a Trustee of the United Kingdom Council on Deafness (UKCOD), a member of the Advisory Board of UCL’s Deafness, Cognition and Language Research Centre and serves on the Executive of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC) and the Council of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Officers' Association.

In 2003, Vivienne was elected to Mole Valley District Council where she has served as Vice Chairman of the Community Committee and on the Environment and Scrutiny and Policy Development Committees. She was re-elected in 2007 and currently serves as Chairman of the controlling group and Vice Chairman of the Policy Committee.

Vivienne sits on a number of bodies which reflect her interest in rural and environmental matters and the arts. They include the Strategic Aviation Special Interest Group, the Steering Group of the Gatwick Greenspace Partnership, the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Joint Advisory Committee, the Rural Commission and the Mole Valley Arts Forum.