Dr Ava Easton, the Chief Executive of the Encephalitis Society, is one of the top 30 charity leaders on social media.

Ava was among the winners in the Social CEO awards on Thursday, November 16, the annual competition which is supported by the Guardian newspaper and highlights the good work of charity leaders online and encourages others in the sector to follow their example.

Ava said:

I am proud and humbled to have been chosen as one of the top 30 charity leaders on social media.

Having an online presence is an important way for me to connect with people who have an interest in the work of the Encephalitis Society and also to get to know more about the person who is championing their interests.

My Twitter account allows me to stay in contact with health professionals and people affected all over the world and has done so much to raise our profile at very little cost.

This is the second recent success for the Encephalitis Society which was also named Charity of the Year: with an income under £1 million by in The Charity Times Awards in September.

Follow Ava on Twitter @encephalitisava