Council
Our Council of Forensic Toxicologists is composed of distinguished professionals recognised for their expertise, integrity, and dedication to advancing the field. Collectively, they provide strategic guidance, uphold rigorous scientific and ethical standards, and support the mission of promoting excellence in forensic toxicology practice and research.
Leadership
Susan Grosse
Susan has over 20 years’ experience in the field of Forensic Toxicology and is the Research and Development Manager for the Forensic Toxicology Department and Workplace Drugs Department at Eurofins...
Geraldine Dowling
Dr Geraldine M. Dowling SFHEAÂ has 20+ years experience in analytical method development, method validation, laboratory accreditation, ISO/IEC 17025, laboratory quality management systems across...
Marcus Donohue
Marcus Donohue BSc (Hons) has over 25 years of professional experience in the field of analytical and interpretative forensic toxicology. He commenced his career with the former Home Office...
Karen Hayes
Karen is a Senior Analyst in the Toxicology section of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) in Dublin, where she has been a vital part of the team since 2008. She manages the team responsible...
Council members
Alexandra Park
Alexandra is a Senior Forensic Scientist within the Criminal Toxicology Team at the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), Edinburgh. She holds a BSc(Hons) in Chemistry from Massey University, New Zealand. She joined the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd...
Dr Duncan Stephen
Duncan is a Consultant Clinical Biochemist/Forensic Toxicologist within the NHS at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. After training as a Clinical Scientist in Aberdeen, he took up a senior post with a specialist interest in forensic toxicology from where he later progressed to his current post as consultant.
Hazel Torrance
Hazel Torrance works at the Scottish Police Authority, Forensic Services (SPA FS) as Head of the Forensic Toxicology Service, having moved the Post Mortem Toxicology Service from the University of Glasgow in December 2022. She has been responsible for the provision of...
John Farina
John is the Official Analyst to the States of Jersey. Under the Official Analyst’s (Jersey) Law 2022 he is responsible for using chemical and microbiological analysis to advise on and investigate matters where it is in the public interest, including law and order,...
Julie Tierney
Lindsey Ward
Valerie Forbes Forsyth
Valerie Forbes Forsyth has over 20 years’ experience in the field of Forensic Toxicology and is a Senior Reporting Scientist for the Forensic Toxicology Department at Cellmark Forensic Services. She has a BSc in Chemistry and a Postgraduate Certificate in Instrumental...
Communications Committee
Alice Seywright
Alice is from Edinburgh in Scotland and currently works as a Forensic Toxicologist at the Scottish Police Authority. She completed her BSc (Hons) in Forensic Science at the Robert Gordon University, and her MSc degree in Forensic Toxicology at the University of Glasgow.
Jake McMillan
Jake is from the South West of Scotland and currently works in the forensic toxicology team at Forensic Science Northern Ireland (FSNI) as a Scientific Officer and previous to this work as a reporting scientist for seven years reporting road traffic and complex toxicology cases at Eurofins Forensic Services (EFS). He completed his undergraduate degree in Forensic Biology at Edinburgh Napier University before going on to complete his masters degree in Forensic Science at the University of Strathclyde.Â
Past Chairs
- Professor David Osselton (2010 to 2014)
- Dr Sue Paterson (2014 to 2018)
- Dr Simon Elliot (2018 to 2022)
- Professor Atholl Johnson (2022 to 2024)
Past Secretaries
- Dr Gail Cooper (2010 to 2015)
- Dr Duncan Stephen (2015 to 2022)
- Dr Hazel Torrance (2022 to 2025)
Past Treasurers
- Mr Simon Cosbey (2010 to 2014)
- Mr Peter Streete (2014 to 2022)
- Dr Geraldine Dowling (2022 to 2024)
Past Webmaster
- Mr Peter Streete (2012 to 2025)
Past Council Members
- Mike Scott-Ham
- Sarah Tarrant-Wooding
- Nel Brahma
- Dr Yvonne Kavanagh