YES TO LIFE - Key Persons

Adrian Taylor

Job Titles:

Trustee

Adrian is a financial professional with more than 20 years of experience analysing companies. He started his career in investment banking, doing M&A on behalf of companies in the industrials sector, before moving to global investment roles in the hedge fund sector. As a recently appointed Trustee, Adrian will be able to contribute his experience in all aspects financial, for a charity whose mission hits particularly close to home. In his spare time, he can be found building elaborate Brio train sets with his sons, or watching Manchester United, sometimes at the same time.

Anuradha Vittachi

Job Titles:

Advisory Board

Anuradha is an internationally recognised people's media pioneer, using responsible media to save children at risk worldwide. A writer and filmmaker, she was the G8's UK delegate on the digital divide. She co-founded OneWorld, OneClimate, and the Hedgerley Wood Trust. "Anyone who has had a family member with cancer will know what a minefield of good and bad information there is out there. It's a nightmare wading through it all, especially at a time of distress and exhaustion. From personal experience, we know what a tremendous support Yes to Life can be at such a time, gathering a wide range of information and providing an empathetic (never directive) listening ear as the person with cancer chooses the treatment path they want to follow."

April Ozlem Moss

Job Titles:

Trustee and Volunteer Online Researcher

Barbara Flynn

Job Titles:

Patron

Barbara Flynn is a TV actor who, over the years, has portrayed a huge raft of "feisty, strong women" as she says, including royalty such as Mary Queen of Scots, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, as well as appearing in everything from Z Cars to Doctor Who! Barbara is a hugely valued long-term supporter of Yes to Life. Experience has shown her the value of Integrative Medicine in supporting someone with cancer. and we are delighted to now welcome her as a Patron.

Clare McLusky

Job Titles:

Trustee

Clare McLusky - Clare is a mindfulness teacher. She began practising meditation as part of a healing journey following cancer treatment. Before this she was an occupational therapist working in mental health. She first started working for Yes to Life in 2007.

Daniel Bleich

Job Titles:

Web Developer
Website Designer and Developer

Daniel Bleich is a dedicated and passionate individual who has been helping to develop the Yes to Life website for more than 15 years - in particular the Life Directory and the many searchable facilities that make the website such a useful resource. Daniel's dedication to Yes to Life is rooted in his personal experiences with cancer and cancer-related issues. He strongly believes in the philosophy of Yes to Life and the use of Complementary and Functional Medicine to promote overall health and well-being.

Dominic Brierley

Job Titles:

Trustee

Dominic has over 30 years' experience in the Financial Services sector, holding several senior positions at Prudential over the course of 12 years and now as Director of his own financial advice practice. During the last few years he dedicated a proportion of his time as a volunteer consultant to small charities, one of which was Yes to Life. He has continued to support the aims and objectives of the charity since, and has now joined the Board of Trustees.

Dr Damien Downing

Job Titles:

Advisory Board
Scientific & Medical Panel / Integrative Medicine Lead / 510

Damien is a pioneer in Ecological Medicine and is the Chair of the British Society for Ecological Medicine. He was also a founder member of the British Society for Integrative Oncology, the professional association of practitioners interested in developing Integrative Medicine for cancer.

Dr Nyjon Eccles

Job Titles:

Scientific & Medical Panel / Screening & Prevention Lead / 530

Dr Eccles is a general and naturopathic physician with a special interest and long experience in complementary nutritional supportive treatments that promote well-being and recovery. He is Medical Director of The Natural Doctor in London.

Dr Penny Kechagioglou

Job Titles:

Scientific & Medical Panel / Integrative Oncology Lead / 545
Senior Clinical Oncologist and Chief Clinical Information Officer and Deputy Chief Medical Officer

Dr Penny Kechagioglou is a senior Clinical Oncologist and Chief Clinical Information Officer and deputy Chief Medical Officer at UHCW in the NHS. She has served in various leadership roles including as Chief Medical Officer at GenesisCare UK, a private integrative oncology provider, as Clinical Governance lead in the NHS and as CQC advisor. Penny is passionate about quality in healthcare, integrative oncology and offering patient choice to care and is recently being awarded a senior fellow in the faculty of leadership and management.

Dr Sam Watts

Job Titles:

Scientific & Medical Panel / Lifestyle Medicine Lead / 550

Sam completed his PHD in cancer research at the Department of Primary Care at the University of Southampton, since then Sam has completed his clinical training in Ayurvedic Medicine. Sam specialises in preventative medicine and the holistic management of chronic health conditions that conventional medicine alone is often ineffective at managing. Sam has published numerous research papers relating to integrative medicine and has presented his work at internationally acclaimed medical conferences and continues to share his passion for integrated medicine through workshops, training and his practice at Mind Body Medical.

Elisabetta Fumagalli

Elisabetta Fumagalli - Elisabetta came across Yes to Life shortly after having been diagnosed with cancer in 2009. She met Robin at a workshop and joined Yes to Life as a Help Line Volunteer in 2013. Elisabetta also runs Art Therapy workshops for Yes to Life.

Emma Georgiou

Job Titles:

Online Community Engagement Manager

Emma started volunteering with Yes to Life in 2022, and now also works as the Community Engagement Manager. Emma has a passion for complementary and holistic health.