Ann Harding is the Road Services Director at Quattro Plant, one of the UK’s leading plant hire companies, where she has been a driving presence for over 14 years. Beyond her professional achievements, Ann has dedicated her life to transforming outcomes for people living with Hereditary Angioedema (HAE), a rare and life-threatening genetic disorder.
She joined HAE during its earliest days in 2010 and her unwavering commitment saw her appointed Chair of the Board in 2021. Under her guidance, the charity has raised essential funds, heightened public awareness and achieved the once-unimaginable: a cure for HAE. Her leadership has attracted national media coverage, driven medical research and inspired families across the world.
Ann’s daughter, Sian, was diagnosed with HAE after years of uncertainty and misdiagnosis. Throughout Sian’s childhood, they spent countless nights together in hospital emergency departments, seeking answers as doctors struggled to identify the cause of the severe and dangerous swelling that threatened her daughter’s life. Determined that no other family should endure the same fear and frustration, Ann became a champion for progress, leading advocacy, fundraising and collaboration with global research teams.
After fifteen years of persistence and pioneering clinical trials, a cure was finally discovered. This milestone stands as a testament to Ann’s vision, resilience and determination, as well as to the strength of the charity she helped build. Ann’s daughter, Sian, now leads a life without suffering or fear, the ultimate and once-unimaginable outcome. Finding a cure for such a rare and complex condition was like finding a needle in a haystack, yet Ann’s relentless pursuit made it possible.
Described by colleagues as “one of the most dynamic female leaders in business”, Ann is renowned for her clear and direct communication style and her ability to unite people behind a shared purpose. Whether in the boardroom, in broadcast interviews or addressing Parliament, she speaks with clarity, conviction and compassion.
Her leadership of the HAE Charity has changed the course of medical history.