Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah is the founder, director, and trustee of the Foundation as well as Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah’s mum. She is one of the most prominent advocates for clean air worldwide, a powerful voice in the air pollution debate. She started campaigning as soon as she realised its role in her daughter’s death. Her determination to highlight the human cost of air pollution has led to her addressing audiences all over the world; from her recent TED Talk to conversations with other eminent environmentalist and health advocates, such as Christiana Figueres, Dr Maria Neira and Arnold Schwarzeneger. Her work frequently involves lobbying politicians, as well as medical professionals, for more education and stronger legislation when it comes to air pollution.

However, Adoo-Kissi-Debrah is more than just a powerful voice. She and her legal team made history when a Coroner found a direct link between her daughter’s death and the air quality near her home, 25 metres from the south circular, one of London’s busiest roads. Ella’s death certificate was amended to have air pollution listed as cause of death, potentially changing the legal landscape to enable other people to do the same.

Adoo-Kissi-Debrah is now a leading light in the global fight against air pollution, a position recognised by the World Health Organisation, who made her a BreatheLife Ambassador. She uses her experience and position to highlight the inequality of those affected by air pollution. She is also an Honorary Fellow of the British Science Association and was named among You Magazine’s 21 Most Extraordinary Women of 2021, British Vogue’s 25 Extraordinary Women of 2021, The Times’ Green Power List 2021 and BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour Power List 2020.