Following the 2026 election, the Society is pleased to confirm that Professor Heidi de Wet (University of Oxford) will stand up as the next Chair of the Policy Committee at the 2026 Member Forum, and Professor Nephtali Marina-Gonzalez (University College London) will serve a second term as Chair of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Committee.
Professor Heidi de Wet
Heidi de Wet received her Bachelor of Science degree from North Western University, South Africa, and completed her doctoral studies in Department of Chemical Pathology at the University of Cape Town (UCT) Medical School. She moved to the University of Oxford to pursue post-doctoral studies in 2003, where she joined the group of Professor Frances Ashcroft. She joined the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics as a University Lecturer and Associate Professor of Physiology in 2013. She is a Fellow and Director of Studies for Medicine for St Catherine’s College.
Professor Nephtali Marina-Gonzalez
Professor Nephtali Marina-Gonzalez is a cardiovascular neuroscientist based in the UCL Division of Medicine. He earned his medical degree and PhD in Neuroscience from the National University of Mexico. His research focuses on the role of glial cells in regulating sympathetic nervous system activity and their contribution to the development of arterial hypertension and heart failure.
In addition to his core scientific work, Professor Marina-Gonzalez has recently expanded his research interests to include community engagement approaches aimed at addressing health inequalities. By integrating biomedical research with participatory methods, he seeks to bridge the gap between scientific discovery and real-world health outcomes in underserved populations.
Professor Marina-Gonzalez also plays a key leadership role in promoting inclusive excellence in science. He serves as the Vice Dean for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at UCL and as the Chair of the EDI Committee for the Physiological Society.