PROSTATE CANCER RESEARCH - Key Persons
Alex has a degree in International Relations and has joined PCR as a Partnerships Assistant after completing an MSc in International Development. When she's not writing project proposals for crucial donations from trusts and foundation, she can be found in and around cafes as a self proclaimed avid coffee drinker and Goodreads enthusiast.
Ceri is our Treasurer, and a treasure. He has been a qualified Chartered Management Accountant for longer than the younger members of the team have been alive. Ceri is now semi-retired, and alongside his own business interests, he very generously gives much of his time and skills to a number of charities, including PCR.
Job Titles:
- Events and Community Officer
Charlotte is a ray of sunshine in our Events Team. She fell into the wonderful world of events management after treading the boards for a few years doing a degree in Theatre & Performance. Charlotte has lots of experience across pharmaceutical and charity events which she uses to transform our events and activities at PCR. Charlotte is often on the mic singing party starters, laughing away at her own jokes or showing off her snazzy nail designs!
Job Titles:
- Director of Patient Projects
David comes to the organisation after close to a decade in political and community organising and project management in far flung parts of the globe. He is passionate about advocating for patients and making sure they are better represented and respected across the board. He recently returned to the UK and loves dogs and running more than is healthy.
Job Titles:
- Finance
- Operations Executive
Derya's eye for accuracy and efficiency keeps PCR running smoothly, and if you need anything from Post-it notes to more obscure requests, Derya will make sure it is in the office in no time. We love the various treats she brings back from her family trips to Istanbul!
Job Titles:
- Translational Research Director
Jayne has a PhD from Cambridge University and spent her early post-doctoral career as a molecular and cellular research scientist. She has been a principal scientist with the Department of Health, an Associate Director at the National Institute of Healthcare Excellence (NICE) and has been in the third sector for 15 years (as a Director of Policy and Research and as CEO twice). Outside of work she loves taking long walks with her little dog, playing the piano and trying her best to learn Spanish.
Job Titles:
- Director of Research and Communications
Naomi has a PhD in science, for which she helped a new breast cancer treatment get to clinical trial. She has been writing and talking about science to anyone who will listen for a long time, and she came to work at PCR when she realized her conversations with test tubes in the lab were getting a little one-sided.
Job Titles:
- Health Information Manager
- Registered Nurse Back
Sara trained as a registered nurse back home in the Isle of Man and spent her early career working in hospitals. After leaving nursing she did a degree in Psychology and Zoology and a PhD in experimental cognitive psychology. Most recently she joined her local Healthwatch network empowering patients to have a voice in their health and care. When not working, she can be found hiking around the countryside with a rucksack full of camera equipment, looking for unsuspecting wildlife to photograph.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Product Manager at DeepMind
Trevor Back is a product manager at DeepMind where his role focuses on the translation of artificial intelligence to real-world problems in consumer, automotive, deep tech, and healthcare industries. Trevor was a founding member of DeepMind Health where he lead the research team to multiple Nature publications. Before DeepMind, he completed a Ph.D. in computational astrophysics at the University of Edinburgh.
Dr. Suman Shirodkar, is a physician-scientist motivated by transformative science leading to significant patient benefit and commercially successful products. She has management consulting expertise, having led consulting engagements at McKinsey, and broad commercial experience in oncology, HIV and cardiovascular areas from previous roles at Pfizer and Novartis. She is now Chief Executive Officer at Cambridge Epigenetix Ltd. Suman has a Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Bombay and competed a PhD in Virology at Harvard University.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Fundraising Director
Ellen is the life and soul of the organisation as well as being a dynamic, brilliant event fundraising machine. She's capable of taking the biggest, grandest ideas and making them practical and possible. She likes to wind Oliver up about his never ending stream of statistics and tells bad jokes about cheese.
Job Titles:
- Fundraising Database Officer
Gulay worked for more than ten years as physics teacher before moving into the commercial and charity sector. Her enthusiasm for data management comes from her excellent mathematical and problem-solving skills. Gulay takes care of PCR's database and supports the fundraising and finance team with income processing. She is a systematic, dynamic learner and helps us make data-driven fundraising decisions.
Job Titles:
- Communities and Communications Executive
Harriet trained in Sheffield and qualified as a Registered Nurse in 2017, which is a role she has brought with her to PCR. She has a background in Intensive Care, Surgical and Medical Nursing as well as working as a Research Nurse for the British Pregnancy Advisory Service. As the hard worker she is, prior to nursing she worked from the age of 16, from factory work, to Nannying, to managing pubs and music venues! Outside of work, she can be found running around the North Yorkshire Moors with her rescue dog (Lewis the Lurcher), surfing in Devon, attempting yet another DIY project or spending time with her family and friends.
Job Titles:
- Events and Community Manager
Harry is a fundraising superstar. She has boosted our Events and Community Team with her energy, efficiency and top-notch teamwork, resulting in fundraising being doubled in areas. Harry has worked in the charity sector for the last 9 years, a career highlight for her was taking a group of 35 chef ambassadors on a sponsored trek through the Jordanian desert & mountains, raising £250,000 for Action Against Hunger. Harry is the queen of Christmas with her carolling, crafting skills and special seasonal cheer!
Jordan has a BA Hons in Sociology from the University of Essex and has joined PCR excited to make a difference for people with prostate cancer, having previously enjoyed working with Breast Cancer Now on their Afternoon Tea event. When she's not supporting our brilliant fundraisers, Jordan loves baking and always makes sure to get an early start on her mince pies!
Judith worked as a book editor before moving into the charity sector. At PCR, her sharp eye for detail goes into our donor care - making sure income is processed correctly and contact records are up-to-date. The only thing sharper than Judith's attention to detail is her wry sense of humour.
Job Titles:
- Research Communications Executive
Kath has a degree in Biology and has joined PCR after completing an MSc in Science Communication. She enjoys combining her love of talking about science with meeting those at the heart of PCR- whether that be through working on Patient Voice or meeting PCR-funded scientists and finding new ways to communicate their research!
Ameet advises a range of businesses and investors on UK and international politics, including helping them navigate complex policy problems. He is Founder of Hanbury Strategy, a strategic advisory firm that provides political analysis, develops communications strategies and uses cutting edge data and research to understand public opinion. Prior to founding Hanbury, he was Chief Speechwriter, Director of Strategic Communications and Director of Strategy to Prime Minister David Cameron. He has been described by the Mail on Sunday as ‘the most influential figure from an ethnic minority background in British politics'.
Ben Monro-Davies is a TV journalist currently working for Sky News. He has 20 years' experience of news production. He launched All Out Politics with Adam Boulton, and was part of the launch team for Sky News at Ten. He also oversaw the 2012 relaunch of Channel 4 News, and oversaw special BBC1 programmes to mark the beginning and the conclusion of the EU referendum campaign. He has worked closely with many of the broadcasting world's leading journalists.
Jonathan has worked in fundraising roles across the charity, Arts and higher education sectors over the last 33 years - for causes as varied as mental health, breast cancer and the environment to Cambridge University, where he was part of the small team that delivered Europe's first billion-pound campaign. He is currently working as a fundraising consultant, supporting Arts and education clients alongside serving as Chief Executive of The Little Foundation.
Mark is a consultant to the pharmaceutical industry. Previously, he spent 30 years in the City as an equity research analyst covering the pharmaceutical and biotech sectors. In addition to his consulting activities, Mark has volunteered for several health-related not-for-profit organisations and was a Trustee of the international health NGO, Malaria Consortium between 2016-2021.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman of PCR
- Founding Member of Robey Warshaw
Matthew is a founding member of Robey Warshaw, a leading financial advisory firm. In recent years, Matthew has worked on some of the most high profile merger and acquisitions in the UK, including AstraZeneca / Pfizer and BG / Shell, and was listed by Financial News in their "40 under 40 rising stars" list in 2014. Before that, Matthew spent a number of years at Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch. Matthew joined the Board of Trustees in July 2016.
Richard trained as a lawyer, was admitted to the bars of New York and the District of Columbia and practised law for 5 years. Following this he spent 23 years as an investment banker in London and New York specialising in mergers and acquisitions and was involved in some of the largest cross-border transactions of the period. He has been active as a trustee in the charity sector for the last 15 years. He was a Fellow and Chair of the Investment Committee of Balliol College, Oxford University. He also served as a non-executive director of OXIP, an investment fund managing assets for charities, university endowments and pension funds.
Job Titles:
- Trustee
- Vice - President Business Development Operations at AstraZeneca
Shaun Grady is Vice-President Business Development Operations at AstraZeneca. His career background includes roles at ICI, Zeneca, and AstraZeneca in Corporate, Pharmaceuticals and US Legal departments, HR and Business Development. Shaun has worked on major projects including the AstraZeneca merger, creation of Avecia and Syngenta, acquisition of Cambridge Antibody Technology (CAT), MedImmune and Amylin, and the spin out of Albireo.
Louisa Fleure is Urology Consultant Nurse at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust, London. She has authored several publications on urology and prostate cancer and presented at regional, national and international meetings on these topics. Louisa has served as trustee for the British Association of Urological Nurses (BAUN) and held the posts of Secretary, Treasurer and Conference Lead.
Louisa specialises in the care of men with advanced prostate cancer with a special interest in androgen deprivation therapy. Her work and dedication in the field of advanced prostate cancer has been widely acknowledged and has included: the Lynn Adams Award for leadership and innovation in cancer nursing (2014), runner up in the BJN urology nurse of the year (2015), 2016 BAUN Urology Team of the Year, finalist in oncology quality in Care Awards: prostate cancer survivorship team (2016), and the Nightingale Award (2018). She was awarded The Urology Foundation/BAUN's ‘Urology Nurse of the Year' award in November 2019 for her work in providing information and support to men with advanced prostate cancer
Louisa is chair of the prostate Special Interest Group for the European Association of Urological Nurses.
It was during Marcella's experience of caring for her father, who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer, that Marcella realised the lack of culturally sensitive cancer support, together with the lack of awareness about cancer within the Black African, Black Caribbean and other culturally diverse communities. With over 14 years' experience in the voluntary/charity sector, Marcella founded Can-Survive UK (CSUK). Based in Manchester, CSUK provides culturally sensitive support for people affected by cancer. Marcella is instrumental in the design, coordination and delivery of several cancer related campaigns working in partnership with mainstream cancer organisations and statutory health providers. She also sits on various cancer related Boards and committees. Marcella's experience of losing her parents to cancer, drives her passion to address the cancer inequalities experienced by, and the lack of culturally appropriate cancer support services for Black African, Black Caribbean and other culturally diverse populations.
Oliver keeps the team on its toes making sure we are always moving at pace and striving to be the best, whether that's diversifying our funding, coming up with new ways to keep prostate cancer patients firmly at the centre of all we do, or making sure his team wins the Escape Room Challenge. Look out for him in December when he loves nothing more than dressing up as a Christmas elf!
Job Titles:
- Registered Nurse
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
Pauline is a registered nurse with over 40 years experience. She also works in the NHS with a specialist interest in working with people with prostate cancer. She has an MA in Professional Practice in the Context of Healthcare Delivery. She is an active member of the British Association of Urological Nurses which gives her opportunities to network with her colleagues nationally. Out of work Pauline is owned by two cats, she is a follower of F1 and tries to learn German.
Peter is the perfect Trust and Foundations Manager. Not only does he have great attention to detail, he is adept at research and always puts himself in the shoes of a grant giver. He's equally happy with the wind blowing over his riding helmet on a long Surrey bike ride as he is down at Selhurst Park praying for a win!
Rachel takes all the creativity and energy in the fundraising team and manages to point it all in the same direction. She is lovely to work with and is always calm apart from when she plays table tennis. She loves to get off at the wrong train station so that she can run to the next one as it keeps everyone fit and healthy.
Job Titles:
- Head of Business Development
Sonja has worked within the charity sector since 2001, creating new ways for high net-worth individuals and corporates to engage with charities and provide support. She believes in building relationships, friend-raising more than fund-raising, so that the partnerships between the charity and supporter can create amazing results. Both her inspired collection of trainers, and her refusal to accept anything is impossible brighten up the office.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partnerships Executive
Sophie has a BSc in Psychology and has joined PCR with a strong Trusts Fundraising background, having previously worked for Age UK. When she's not speaking with funders about the work we do or writing proposals for new vital funds, Sophie enjoys letting her artistic side out with a love of drawing and painting, as well as the odd day out at a music festival.
Susannah's background is in shaping policy, gaining access and funding for new medicines and vaccines. She is passionate about improving access to patient information and improving treatment outcomes. Susannah works with and supports HCPs and other stakeholders with patient educational information programmes. When she is not working you find her enjoying yoga, spin classes and the odd slice of cake.
Uloo is a Fellow Member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. She is responsible for the financial health of the Organisation, making sure the money that all our donors give get to the scientists at the right time. She is bright, energetic and very competitive when it comes to making Christmas jumpers. She makes beautiful hats when she's not looking at Excel charts. Her charisma is real.