Meet The Team

Robert Verkerk BSc MSc DIC PhD FACN

Founder, Executive & Scientific Director

Over the last four decades working in non-profits, academia and as a consultant, Rob Verkerk has developed an intimate relationship with the tightropes that span between science and law, between academia and industry, between corporations, governments and the people — and not least — between our species’ internal and external environments. He has masters and doctorate degrees from Imperial College London, where he also worked as a postdoctoral research fellow for 7 years.

Rob’s work has taken him to all the corners of the earth and his recognition of human co-dependence on nature, as well as the human propensity to exploit and destroy it, has helped him devote his life to finding better ways of working with, rather than against nature. Rob is firmly of the view that nature-based solutions hold the key to human and planetary sustainability.

In 2002, Dr Verkerk founded the Alliance for Natural Health International (ANH-Intl) and has acted as its executive and scientific director since this time.

He has directed legal actions to protect the right to natural health and has campaigned on diverse issues including against toxins in the food supply, in drinking water and in the environment, as well as against genetically modified foods, gene editing and transhumanism. He has been among the leading scientists exposing the distorted science during the COVID-19 crisis as well as in risk analysis as used by drug and food regulators. He is a recognised pioneer in the development of novel, scientifically rational risk-benefit assessment approaches as well as a new, sustainable model for community-based health regeneration. He is also the executive director of the Alliance for Natural Health’s US office (www.anh-usa.org) and a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition.

Dr Verkerk has authored some 60 papers in scientific journals and conference proceedings and contributes regularly to magazines and other popular media. He is an accomplished and inspirational speaker and communicator on a wide range of issues relating to challenges and solutions as they relate to scientific, medical, political, social and environmental aspects of healthcare, agriculture, human nutrition and the environment.

Meleni Aldridge BSc NutrMed Dip cPNI Cert LTFHE mNNA

Executive Coordinator, Director

Meleni Aldridge has been immersed in the field of natural and integrative medicine for over 30 years. She is a practicing clinical psychoneuroimmunologist, functional medicine practitioner and certified Metabolic Balance coach. For 11 years she lectured at St Mary’s University College, Middlesex on the Sport Rehabilitation programme. During this time, she was also instrumental in furthering student personal development initiatives, putting to good use the communications and organisational skills she gained in the banking and insurance sectors in her previous career.

In July 2005, Meleni joined our team at the Alliance for Natural Health International. In her role as executive coordinator, she keeps every wheel of our organisation turning smoothly and efficiently, whether it's our educational programs, campaigns, events, projects, or nurturing our role with other organisations and donors. In her role, one that she's held for over 18 years, she works closely with Dr Robert Verkerk, our founder and the executive and scientific director both of ANH-International and ANH-USA.

Meleni has been instrumental in forging links with the global integrative medicine community, as well as industry stakeholders, and leads ANH's educational initiative through the ANH Health Creation Faculty.

As an integrative practitioner with over 3 decades of experience, she regularly contributes to articles, columns and press releases in the field of natural and regenerative health. She has sat on the board of ANH-USA for over 15 years, and has been its treasurer since March 2023.

Paul Harris BSc MBA

Chair, Financial/Administrative Director

With more than 3 decades of experience directing various manufacturing and service companies, Paul joined ANH in 2005 as Financial & Administrative Director. He has over 16 years of direct experience in the natural health sector. His wealth of experience across all functions of business and the non-profit sector makes him ideally suited to his role as Chairman of ANH-Intl.

Melissa Smith Dip ION mNNA CNHC

Outreach & Communication Officer

Melissa Smith is The Outreach & Communication Officer at ANH International. As a qualified Nutritional Therapist she is passionate about empowering individuals to take control of their own health using natural approaches to health care where possible.

Melissa has had a wide & varied career to date and now brings this wealth of experience to ANH International to inform practitioners about the work that ANH is doing as well as supporting them in promoting natural approaches to healthcare.

Mike Abbott

Head of ANH Media Unit

With wide and extensive experience in the media industry working across all platforms and content sectors including broadcast, digital and online, Mike joins ANH as Head of the newly formed Media Unit.

His broad range of pre-production, production and post-production skills, honed and crafted over a 30 year career predominantly at ITV, alongside his project management experience will help ANH to push the boundaries of our creative output.

Lisa Taylor

Finance Manager

Marta Scull BA Hons

Digital Media Designer

Marta has a wide and varied background in the creative skills arena with a particular interest in sustainability and design. She has a BA (Hons) degree in Graphic Design. She has a great love of nature, particularly in foraging and enjoying time outside appreciating the health benefits of being in a forest. Being inspired by nature, she gets motivated to get creative at work making her a perfect fit for the ANH team.