I’ve been involved in the breast cancer community for 30 years, and I have experience in government and as a peer.
I started out wanting to be a scientist. But I was drawn into the charity sector through campaigning experience at university. I worked for Shelter and led the Workplace Nurseries Campaign, before becoming Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s first chief executive in 1995. In that role, I led the launch of the Toby Robins Research Centre, the Generations Study and the Service Pledge. I also campaigned for screening access for older women, and to reduce waiting times for breast cancer diagnoses. Then, in 2005, I was invited to join the House of Lords.
After 4 years as a government minister, I came back to the charity sector as chief executive of Breast Cancer Campaign in 2011. I went on to bring together the 3 leading breast cancer charities – Breakthrough Breast Cancer, Breast Cancer Campaign and Breast Cancer Care – to form the charity we are now.
I’m a campaigner and leader at heart, and my own family have been affected by secondary breast cancer. So, my role has always felt like much more than a job. I’m deeply motivated by the stories of those affected by breast cancer, and the expert staff I have the privilege to work with.
