Our Team
Clive Fisher - Chair FAB
Clive Fisher is a Scientist & Engineer, BSc (hons), Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Chartered Engineer; Principal Scientist Government Service, Technical & Engineering Director Marconi (retired).
The founding trustees and supporters started FAB 15 years ago supporting clinical psychology to improve family life/wellbeing/community engagement/education/job prospects/life chances to help children and young people with sight loss and visual impairment in the UK reach their full potential.
Dr Richa Aspland - Lead Clinical Psychologist
Dr Richa Aspland is FAB's Lead Psychologist, chair of Peer Reviews and Cross Site Reviews for the FAB Psychology Team. Also, Lead Psychologist within the FAB funded Ophthalmology clinical psychology service at Cambridge. She is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist registered with the British Psychological Society and the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC). She has a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, an MSc in Psychology of Education, a Diploma in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with children and adolescents and certifications in Family Therapy. She has worked within Paediatric, Child and Adolescent mental health and Neurodevelopmental teams and has also contributed to teaching at clinical psychology doctoral courses and supervised and consulted to mental health, social care and school systems.
"I really enjoy working with young people and their families and listening to their unique personal stories, biopsychosocial journey and perspectives and helping to enhance their psychological wellbeing and resilience."
Dr Emily Goodman - Clinical Psychologist
Dr Emily Goodman (she/her) is a Clinical Psychologist at University Hospital Bristol and Weston. Her first degree (Psychology & Psychological Practice, MSci) was attained from the University of Birmingham in 2018 and she then completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych) at Lancaster University in 2022.
Throughout her career and training Emily has been interested in working with children and young people experiencing additional physical and emotional needs. Emily joined the Eye Hospital in Bristol in 2022, funded by the charity Fight Against Blindness (FAB), providing psychological assessment and support to children with visual impairments and their families.
Max Verlander – Assistant Psychologist
Max Verlander is an Assistant Psychologist at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston. He earned his BSc in Sport & Exercise Psychology from Loughborough University in 2021, followed by an MSc in Applied Clinical Psychology from the University of Bath in 2022.
Since graduating from the University of Bath, Max has gained experience in trauma-informed educational care and worked as an Assistant Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner in an NHS Talking Therapies service. In 2024, he joined Bristol Eye Hospital, where he supports Dr Emily Goodman in delivering psychological assessments and support to children with visual impairments and their families. His role is funded by the Fight Against Blindness (FAB). Max aspires to complete the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) and become a fully qualified Clinical Psychologist
Dr Melanie Osafo – Clinical Psychologist
Melanie is a Clinical Psychologist who joined the Child Psychology Team in Southampton General Hospital in 2023. Melanie completed her first degree in Psychology (BSc hons) at the University of Sussex, then completed an MSc in Mental Health Studies at Kings College London and completed her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPsych) at the University of Southampton.
Melanie is passionate about supporting children’s and families and is funded by FAB to provide psychological support to children and families who are under the care of the Children’s Eye Services (Ophthalmology) in Southampton General Hospital.
Dr Scarlett Davis – Clinical Psychologist
Hello, I'm Scarlett. I work at Leeds Children's Hospital as part of the Paediatric Psychology Department. I am a clinical psychologist registered under the HCPC. I am the lead psychologist for ophthalmology. Myself and my team have recently had the privilege of being funded to provide psychological support for children and young people experiencing visual impairment and their families. We work alongside our Paediatric Ophthalmology colleagues to assess the needs of each child and family and then either provide psychological support or signpost onto relevant services. Myself and my team take a flexible and person-centred approach to work creatively with children, young people and their families.
Dr Elise Marriott - Clinical Psychologist
Elise is a Senior Clinical Psychologist, funded by FAB to provide a clinical psychology service within Ophthalmology at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London since 2025. She received a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Oxford in 2018. Elise has many years of experience of working within the NHS and with children with additional physical, emotional and developmental needs, and their families.
She is passionate about supporting the wellbeing and psychological needs of children and young people with visual impairments and their families.
Fadila Farag – Assistant Psychologist
Fadila is an Assistant Psychologist, funded by FAB working with Dr Elise Marriott to support with providing a clinical psychology service within Ophthalmology at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) in London since 2025. She is a psychology graduate with an MSc in Child and Adolescent Mental Health from University College London in 2021. Fadila has over five years of experience working within the NHS in research, paediatric psychology and neuropsychology settings with children and young people living with a health condition and their families.
She is passionate about working systemically, creatively and collaboratively to make psychological support accessible to children and young people with visual impairments and their families.
Dr Ian McCubbin - Principal Clinical Psychologist
Dr Ian McCubbin is a Principal Clinical Psychologist and Chartered member of the British Psychological Society. His first degree (Psychology; MA (hons)) was attained from the University of Glasgow in 2003 and he completed his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (DClinPSych) at the University of Oxford in 2011.
For the past 11 years he has been funded by the charity Fight Against Blindness (FAB) to provide psychological assessment and support to children with a visual impairment who are under the care of the Eye Hospital in Oxford.
Ms Eleanor Darkin - FAB's Young Person Representative
Eleanor lives and works in London. She joined FAB in 2022 to provide input and advice to the chair and psychology team on lived experience of sight loss in the home and family environment. Her father has Retinitis Pigmentosa.
You can also see our Patrons here: Our Patrons