Meet Our Team
Our dedicated compliance team are with you every step of the way
Our Team
Rajiv Lakhani
Founder/CEO
Before founding DCME, I was the Head of Compliance for a large Dental Corporate which involved managing CQC for multiple practices and also training practice managers in all aspects of requirements. When founding the company in 2019, my mission was to develop new, robust and innovative systems to help support dental practices manage their compliance more effectively, ensuring practices and their teams are updated with key regulations and changes in legislation to enable them to keep on top of their compliance.
Outside of work, I enjoy seeing the outdoors, travelling and spending quality time with the family.
Paula Grieve
Head of Compliance
I am a qualified dental nurse and have been in the industry since 2004, building my experience in different roles throughout dentistry and completing several post-op degrees. I have worked in a compliance-based field role since 2015, and I joined DCME in 2021. I specialise in CQC, HIS and NHS (Scotland) regulation, with 100+ successful inspection passes so far. My role as the Head of Compliance at DCME is to continue to develop internal compliance documents for members to make the system as up-to-date as possible at the same time as being user friendly, to support with compliance queries, and upcoming inspections.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, baking sweet goodies and walking my two French bulldogs.
Melissa Timms
Compliance Advisor
I’m a qualified dental nurse and practice manager with over 20 years of experience within the dental sector. My role at DCME is to provide support and training to our dental practices in all aspects of compliance. I work closely with our clients performing mock inspections to ensure they successfully pass CQC inspections.
In my free time, I love spending quality time with the family, keeping healthy and I’m also part of a netball league!
Helen Davis
Compliance Manager
With over 15 years experience as a GDC registered dental nurse and also holding a Compliance Manager position, I have mountain of practical experience dealing with CQC requirements from the client side. My role at DCME is to provide support and training to our dental practices in all aspects of compliance. I work closely with our clients performing mock inspections to ensure they successfully pass CQC inspections.
When not at work my free time is spent entertaining my kids but I love anything crafty – sometimes they join in too!
Sarah Court
Compliance Advisor
I qualified as Dental Nurse in 2013, I progressed into various roles within practice before becoming a CQC registered manager for two sites. I knew I always had a passion for Compliance and was delighted to be offered an advisor role in 2021. I joined DCME in 2024. My role at DCME is to provide support and training to our dental practices in all aspects of compliance.
In my spare time, I volunteer with a charity to provide dentistry in remote areas such as Kenya and Mozambique. I enjoy taking my dog out on long walks, cooking and socialising with friends and family.
Nicola Bawden
Compliance Advisor
I qualified as a Dental Care Professional in 2000 and I hold a current General Dental Council Registration. I worked as a Dental Practice Advisor/Consultant in the Dental Assess Centre, NHS, Private, Corporates and Community Dental sectors. I have achieved Care Quality Commission (CQC) compliance at numerous dental practices. In addition, I have been a CQC Registered Manager for two sites. My role as a Compliance Advisor at DCME is to provide support, advice and training, working closely with our members carrying out audits prior to CQC inspection and training sessions.
In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends also enjoy cooking new cuisines.
Anna Lown
CPD Advisor
Having qualified as a dental nurse in 2007, I later went on to gain my NEBDN certificate in Oral Health Education and Fluoride Application. I have over 15 years experience in practice, working both as a nurse and a practice manager, as well as a dental tutor for various dental nursing qualifications. My role at DCME is to produce and maintain the CPD.
When not at work, I love spending time with family and friends, reading and I am also a keen hiker!
Caroline Airton
Compliance Advisor
25years in dentistry as a qualified dental nurse & practice manager in corporate & independent practices, passion for compliance in dentistry .
Hobbies holidaying & city breaks with friends & family.
Veena Dharamshi
Portal Trainer and Demonstrator
Before joining DCME I worked as a software trainer for 8+ years, training schools, academies and trusts on how to use various software solutions. I would often deliver online webinars in order to help support existing customers use the platform more effectively. I am very passionate about my new role with DCME, and it gives me a lot of joy knowing that I can share my knowledge to help the user get the most out of the system.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my family and enjoy a good get together with lots of food; especially anything sweet. Besides my obsession for chocolate, I regularly attend the gym and have also completed couchto5k.
Charlee Ellis
Compliance Onboarding Advisor
I come from many years in the retail and travel industries. I had quite a late change in career and have since gained over 6 years experience as a qualified GDC registered dental nurse. I currently hold a GDC Registration within the dental sector. My new role is that of Compliance Onboarding Advisor and I am responsible for the onboarding of new members to DCME.
When not at work, I like to spend quality time with my family and fur babies!
Emma Winters
Head of Registrations & Regulatory Services
Before joining DCME I was the Regulatory Manager for a large corporate for nearly 8 years. I was responsible for ensuring that nearly 500 practices were registered correctly with CQC and supported new acquisitions and registered managers throughout the registration process. In this role I also had to keep up to date with any regulatory change within Dentistry to make sure that we were following the most up to date guidance from the regulators. I specialise in CQC, HIW, HIS and RQIA regulations and registrations and in my role as Regulatory and Registrations Manager at DCME, I provide support and guidance to our members on any regulatory applications, in particular new squat and partnership applications
Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, travelling and trying to keep fit and healthy.
Toni-Marie Burrows
Registration Support
I am a qualified dental nurse and joined the industry in 2004. I have gained experience in many roles within dentistry and was a HIW Registered Manager. I was a Compliance Lead for a large corporate supporting multiple practices with their CQC and HIW inspections. In my role as Registration Advisor at DCME I provide support and guidance to our members on any regulatory applications.
Outside of work I love spending time with my son, my family and my 2 dogs. I am an avid football fan and enjoy taking my son to London to watch Chelsea. When not at work, I like to spend quality time with my family and fur babies!
Angie Peppin
Registration Advisor
Before joining DCME, I was Head of Compliance and a Risk Manager for a large Dental Corporate for 11 years. I was responsible for ensuring all practices were registered correctly with CQC and supporting the managers through the Registered Manager process. I managed a team that provided compliance expertise and on-site practice assessments to ensure the practices remained compliant with the regulators.
Outside of work, I love spending time outdoors with family, cycling, running and just having fun!
Jane Chadwick
Registration Advisor
Before joining DCME I was the CQC Registrations Advisor for a large Dental Practice Brokerage and Consultancy Company. I was responsible for ensuring all the CQC applications for the sale transactions were completed correctly with the CQC and clients were supported and guidance was given to them on their journey with the CQC. Previously I worked as a Sales Negotiator for a Dental Brokerage Company, I assisted vendors and buyers with the selling and buying of a dental practice from the very start to completion.
Outside of my work I enjoy travelling, cycling, and being outdoors.
Graham Toft
Product Manager
Prior to joining the DCME team, I worked for nearly 10 years on a variety of software products supporting schools and multi-academy trusts in the education technology industry. In that time, I gained a broad experience of supporting clients large and small at all stages of the customer journey as well as most aspects of the design and development process.
When not obsessing over how to make dental compliance easier, I like to spend my time with my family and making music.
Glenn Guest
Technical Architect/Senior Software Developer
I’ve worked in the tech/software industry for over 10 years having worked for a large UK school software company previously and before that running my own software solutions and website business when I was at college. I’ve fulfilled many roles over the years from Junior Developer through to Director of IT & Internal Systems. I’m passionate about tech, cloud and server architecture as well as software development and ultimately cyber security. You will now catch me creating great new features for our customers as well as architecting large technical projects for DCME.
In my spare time you will find me in my garage with the spanners indulging my passion for racing karts since I was 8 years old. Currently I race my 130mph+ Superkart all around the UK at various race circuits with my family.
Daniel McDonagh
Software Test Specialist
A specialist within the software testing realm with almost 15 years of hands-on experience against websites, desktop applications and mobile apps. Having worked on a multitude of products throughout the years with some of the biggest software companies in the globe, right down to working with start up companies, I have utilised a wide variety of tools. These would include developing various testing suites to ensure the quality of a product is up to the best standard it can be. Passionate about Design and the User Experience, I work wholeheartedly to make sure a system works for the user, and that all new and old features make life even easier for our customers.
During my spare time you might find me assembling and painting miniatures, designing or creating mini videogames, or cooking and finding different ways to keep fit when I’m not spending time with my family.
Mikolaj Smigiel
Customer Portal Support Advisor
Before joining DCME, I was focused on obtaining my Bachelor’s in Software Engineering. Gaining experience in sales, customer, and technical support as well as in freelance software and games development along the way. Passionate about all things software and tech based, motorsport and gaming, cooking and fitness. Now I am utilising my skills to help the clients of DCME become portal wizards.
While not doing that, you will more than likely find me sim-racing in amateur leagues and spending too many hours on racing streams.
Vishaal Bhatt
Customer Portal Support Advisor
Prior to joining the DCME team, I was a lead I.T. & Computer Science teacher in a special education school for 12 years. I gained a broad range of technical experience since working in both education and radio broadcast. I have always been technically minded, and love teaching others how to embrace the use of technology. As support staff, I get to fulfil my joy of teaching by guiding users of the DCME software how to effectively use the portal.
In my spare time I am a multi genre DJ with 25 years’ experience. I love music and love to entertain!
Victoria Barrett
HR Advisor
I am a CIPD-qualified HR advisor and have been expanding my knowledge in various industries since 2017. My role at DCME is to provide HR support to our members in accordance with current legislation and ACAS recommendations. When I’m not at work, I am usually running around after three children (and a husband).
I enjoy socialising with my friends and organising social events.