It’s a sad day for us all at Fifth Sense as Nina Bleasdale leaves us to take up a new role within the NHS. Nina has been a fantastic colleague and I would like to take the opportunity to thank her for all her hard work over the last two years and share my perspectives on the impact that she has had during her time with us.

Nina joined Fifth Sense as our Director of Development and Operations in February 2020 after 14 years in the NHS. She became our first staff member, starting in what was a brand new role both for her and us, in a completely different operating environment to the one she was used to.

Within only a matter of weeks things changed completely with the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Not only were we unable to deliver our plans in the way we had intended, we were faced with a significant increase in demand for our information and services. On top this were the challenges that the pandemic and lockdowns placed on us all.

The way that Nina has driven Fifth Sense forwards in spite of these challenges has been remarkable. Her dedication, initiative and enthusiasm has resulted in us delivering a significant body of work and a fantastic level of support and engagement not only to people in the UK but across the world; our new information resources and website, the highly successful #LetsTalkSmellAndTaste programme and our growing team of Fifth Sense Ambassadors being just a few examples. One particular highlight for me is Nina’s excellent work as operational lead for the Smell and Taste Disorders Priority Setting Partnership alongside a team of Fifth Sense members, clinicians and representatives of the James Lind Alliance.

Nina has been a fantastic ambassador for Fifth Sense, our cause and the people we represent and she has done it with passion, kindness and a smile on her face at all times. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with her. On behalf of myself and everyone at Fifth Sense I would like to say a huge thanks to Nina for all her hard work and we wish her all the very best in her new role.

Duncan Boak

Chair and founder