Board of Trustees

Chairperson

I joined the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Network UK in June 2019. After being diagnosed with Stage IIIB inflammatory breast cancer in September 2017, I underwent trimodal treatment in Lothian and The Borders. Following recovery, I started working for the charity as Treasurer, although I also managed other administrative tasks.

My working background is primarily financial and business administration, having worked for both Lloyds and The Royal Bank of Scotland in various positions. I also served three years as Chairperson (elected) for a local authority partnership.

Outside of work, I am a committee member and moderator of a Kennel Club associated Breed Club. I also enjoy gardening, project renovations, art and reading.

It is a real privilege to be elected as Chairperson and to work alongside such a dedicated and hardworking Board of Trustees. I am grateful to be given the opportunity to give back to a charity that literally saved my life.

Vice chair

I am currently based in Worcestershire with my partner, a big dog, a little dog, a cat, three house bunnies and the occasional tortoise! When I am not vacuuming, I work in pharmacovigilance project management; monitoring product safety, supporting clinical research and tweaking processes to maintain regulatory compliance. I am motivated that this work may potentially influence the availability of life extending therapies for others through the ongoing monitoring of established and newly licensed products, often initially in unapproved indications. I am relatively new to the charity, but hopeful that my professional skills and contacts will prove useful in raising the profile of inflammatory breast cancer through medical education and within the pharmaceutical community.

In my spare time I swim (slowly), weed my lockdown garden (in vain), get far too excited about my Wordle score and am at my happiest up a hill with big dog.

Treasurer

I live in Leeds with my partner and my two sons.

I worked in dentistry for 22 years as a Dental Therapist.

I love painting, acrylic pouring, pottery and visiting art galleries. I am also a Scout leader of my son’s Beaver scout group and a Trustee for the local scout group.

I was honoured to be asked to join the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Network UK in January 2020 as a Trustee. I have since taken on the roles of Treasurer for the charity, Assistant Support Manager, for our support groups and I am also part of the website team as a Website Coordinator. I feel very proud to be a part of a charity that is solely run by volunteers providing help and support to so many individuals and funds into much needed research into Inflammatory Breast Cancer.

Secretary

I first heard of IBC and the work of IBC Network UK after one of my oldest friends was diagnosed with IBC back in 2016. Since then, I have been working to raise funds for the charity and am honoured to be appointed a Trustee and Secretary. A lawyer by training, I now act as the COO of a financial services firm based in Zurich, Switzerland and I hope to put my project management skills to great use in helping the charity develop and continue to provide crucial support to people like my friend and to push research into this rare form of breast cancer.

Born in London I have been fortunate to live abroad several times including in New York, Munich and Sydney but the UK will always be home. I am married to a man I met on the side of a wintry mountain in Wales and the outdoors continues to be a source of pleasure and enjoyment. I have undertaken a number of long-distance hikes for charity at home and abroad, including skiing to the South Pole for 53 days back in 2019/20 to raise funds for IBC Network UK.

Scientific Advisor

I have spent over 25 years working in cancer treatment and research. I trained as clinical scientist (medical physics) in London with the National Health Service (NHS) before working for a number of years as a clinical radiotherapy physicist in both the UK and Canada. I then spent a couple of years involved in radiobiological research at the renowned Gray Laboratory Cancer Research Trust in the UK.

In 2002 I joined Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) in California to specialise in proton beam therapy (PBT) – an advanced form of radiotherapy. LLUMC was the world’s first hospital-based PBT facility. In 2005 I joined the world-leading team at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to develop and advance PBT. I returned to London in 2013 to take leadership roles in both the development of a national PBT service for the NHS and the development of translational PBT physics research. I am currently Associate Professor of Proton Therapy and Research Lead for Translational Proton Therapy Physics at University College London.

Throughout my career I have been involved in clinical practice, research, and education. My research has focused on the development of PBT techniques to improve outcomes for adult and paediatric cancer patients with a number of indications, including inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). I have co-authored approximately 40 peer-reviewed papers, 100 conference papers, and five textbook chapters in the field of proton therapy. I am a Chartered Physicist, a Chartered Scientist, Associate Editor of the British Journal of Radiology, and a Fellow of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

I divide my time between London and Houston, Texas where I live with my wife, Wendy Woodward, a radiation oncologist and world-renowned leading expert in IBC. I have three children, Alex, Lara, and Siona.

Assistant Treasurer

Diagnosed with IBC in May 2022 at the age of 27 a complete surprise and treatment included chemo, double mastectomy and radio and finally ringing the bell in March this year.

I have found an incredible amount of support from the IBC network and wish to give back.

Outside of IBC, I am studying accounting at university and enjoy floristry, embroidery and cycling.

Fundraising Manager

I joined the IBC Network UK support group in October 2022, after being diagnosed in May 2022. My diagnosis was eventually changed to triple negative IBC in October 2022. I underwent chemotherapy, radiation treatment and immunotherapy in Peterborough and had my surgery in Guildford. I am currently still receiving immunotherapy.

I work as a nursery nurse, running a preschool room in a busy nursery, a job that I miss dearly and look forward to returning to when I am fit and able. I have worked in early years for many years although I have also trained as a legal secretary and worked in several bars and clubs over the years.

I live with my three children (who are not so little now) and my husband and enjoy going on walks and going to the gym (when my aches and pains allow). I look forward to being able to support the IBC Network as a fundraising assistant and working alongside the other volunteers to continue supporting IBC patients and their loved ones.