Meet The Team
Cally Walker
Executive Director
Cally is a strong believer in “putting back” into the world what is taken out. She loves adventure and travel which makes the perfect fit through Dental Mavericks. More importantly a mother of two gorgeous twins, Billy and Tallulah.
Cally believes in a strong work ethic coupled with determination and stamina which she brings to her work and projects with Dental Mavericks. A former Girl Guide & Brownies Leader, Cally supports local charities each year.
Her role in Dental Mavericks takes her to often to Morocco and Lebanon where she empowers ground teams in each country to drive the work forward and meet the emergency needs of impoverished communities with vital dental treatments and oral hygiene programmes.
Her passion is in research so that we can make every penny count and be able to improve the health and oral hygiene of beneficiaries who come under the Dental Mavericks team.
“The ability to get oral hygiene in check long term has a positive effect systemically. Our aim is to obtain this funding so we can make a difference to our beneficiaries and change their journey in terms of a healthy mouth. Our focus is on children so that we can break the cycle and teach the benefits for future generations.”
Alexander Saber
Field Coordinator Lebanon
Alexander Saber, Graduated as a Periodontist from Saint Joseph University-Beirut, Lebanon. Activist in the Oral hygiene awareness field.
Since my early days in the dental world, volunteering and promoting oral health have been a second nature, hence the chance to work with Dental Mavericks is a perfect opportunity enabling me to accomplish my passion.
As the new Field Coordinator in Beirut, I look forward to continue the great work already established and help grow Dental Mavericks in Lebanon. Furthermore, I am eager to implement the goals of DM by promoting oral health, implementing new outreach programs, treating patients and relieving their pain especially through the difficult situation of the country.
I hope to use my expertise in both the dental and humanitarian fields to be able to contribute as much as possible to the work of Dental mavericks and the necessities of the community.
Samanta Espinosa
Project Coordinator
Sam has lived in various places in her life, including Spain, London, Brussels and upstate New York. She has held a variety of jobs including working in the buying department of Emporio Armani, radio presenter, filming and editing commercials teaching English as a second language and head of education in a zoo.
‘As a single mother of two amazing girls, having this chance to expose them to new and wonderful cultures is really important to me. The opportunity to work for Dental Mavericks is so exciting, it combines my love of travel, and being of some help to a lot of children, it’s unique and very fulfilling.’
‘None of this would be possible without the amazing leadership and training by Cally and the support of all the volunteers, abroad and in situ.’
Sam will be taking on the coordination and organisation of the charity and will be working hard to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Mike Leach
Digital Coordinator
Mike Leach, Web Marketing Strategist at Connect My Marketing first got involved with Dental Mavericks back in 2012 when he was involved in the third Mavericks trip to El Jebah in Morocco.
Since then Mike has stayed involved with Mavericks by taking on all the website, design and content work, which he does in his spare time.
Outside of work Mike is a massive football fan, supporting Liverpool. In actual fact he was married at Anfield, the stadium of Liverpool FC.
Abby Leach
Social Media Coordinator
Abby works alongside Cally to help produce content and ideas for the charity social media pages.
Abby is part of the Social Media team at Connect My Marketing and uses their software to help produce and schedule great, engaging content for the charity to increase our followers and ultimately bring in more volunteers and donations.
Gill Bird
Gill Bird is a Dental Therapist from New Zealand, she works as a Professional Advisor for Nelson/Marlborough Community Oral health Service. She has a passion for travel and volunteering and has been with Dental Mavericks since 2017. She brings NZ teams of volunteers, to join in on the Maverick adventures.
“I’m so grateful to be part of such an amazing organisation, every trip just gets better. Only thing better than seeing the sheer joy that volunteers get when they are helping, is the grateful smiles from the kids and parents.”
Richard Howarth
Trustee
Dentist Richard Howarth qualified from Turner Dental Hospital, which is part of the University of Manchester.
Richard loves the precise nature of dentistry and the challenge of trying to achieve perfection while his great communication skills and ability to build rapport have given many anxious patients the personal and emotional support that has allowed them to receive dental care.
Richard said, “We know how to cure tooth and gum disease and it is my aim to help as many people as possible choose dental health for life.” Richard is active both in his community, nationally and internationally promoting dental health.
Chris Branfield
Trustee
Chris originally hails from Chorley, Lancashire, and is the son of a bricklayer. He graduated from Leeds Dental School in 1992. Since then he has invested heavily in his postgraduate education and trained under some of the best dentists in this country and abroad.
Chris is a founder member, trustee and clinical advisor to the Dental Mavericks Charity and has made several charitable expeditions to Morocco to help Moroccan children out of the misery of daily dental pain.
He has completed a number of fundraising events including two coast to coast bike rides to help raise money to buy essential equipment and materials for the charity.
Michelle Reid
Trustee
After doing my first Dental Mavericks trip in 2016 I was hooked!
I have been Dental Nursing since I left school, so Dental Mavericks was the new challenge I needed and it hasn’t disappointed.
Travel, new friends, experiencing new cultures it so much more than just a charity. I have made lifelong friends on my trips, and always get sad when it comes to home time.
I am proud to be a Maverick and help spread the word of the great work we do in improving vulnerable communities access to dental care.
Fran
Fundraising Officer
Fran graduated from Cardiff University as a dental hygienist in 2015 and completed a Masters in Dental Public Health at UCL in 2017.
Having volunteered in Nepal, Cambodia and India she is passionate about global oral health and considers it her lifelong ambition to use her clinical and academic skill to help those in less fortunate circumstances.
She currently works as a hygienist in London’s West End and holds a fellowship position with Health Education England working on dental public health issues in the UK.
Fran is very sporty and an intrepid traveler; she is always looking for the next adventure!
Gautam Sharma
In addition to helping his patients get the healthy and beautiful smiles they deserve, Dr Sharma also lends his time and professional skills to help the local community and beyond. He has developed an exclusive Teeth For Life Programme and provided dental care for refugees in Lebanon.
He has been featured on BBC Radio Norfolk; seen on ITV; and mentioned in a variety of articles in the British Dental Journal, The Henderson Herald and the Eastern Daily Press. As a well-known and reputable dentist in the Norwich area, Dr Sharma looks forward to helping NHS patients from ages 6 months old to those in retirement.