Patrons and Trustees

Our Patrons

Baroness Morgan of Drefelin:

Prior to joining the House of Lords in 2004, Baroness Morgan was Chief Executive at Breakthrough Breast Cancer. She continues to make a significant contribution to raising the profile of breast cancer and campaigning for improvements in services and investment in research. "I have seen first hand how devastating a diagnosis can be and I am convinced there must be more that can be done to improve survival and quality of life for people with pancreatic cancer. I am particularly interested in Pancreatic Cancer UK's Study for Survival, which aims to answer some of the challenging questions posed by the disease." 

Lady Andrea Kennedy:

"I lost my father and a close friend to pancreatic cancer. The warmth of shared experience helps families and friends to cope. Knowing whether others are experiencing similar symptoms or side-effects or what helped them makes the journey easier. It is vital that more people become aware of pancreatic cancer - of the symptoms and the vital need for more research and investment in clinical services."

Our Trustees

Trace Allen (Chair):

Trace has more than thirty five years experience in business including over 25 years in management consultancy advising major enterprises, Government and institutions in sales and marketing. He is a survivor of pancreatic cancer of over seven years. "Having been diagnosed at the age of 60 with inoperable adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas which was rendered operable by chemotherapy and chemo-radiotherapy, one thing that I have learnt along the way is to stay positive, and never give up hope. Hope can overcome fear and helps us to fight and attack back!"

Simon Collins:

Simon is a chartered accountant and Chairman and Senior Partner elect of KPMG. "My father died from pancreatic cancer in 1972, when I was 12. I was horrified to learn recently that the mortality rate from this terrible disease has hardly improved during the 40 years since his death. I am passionate about changing that - I can't do anything of medical relevance, but I feel I can contribute financial and commercial experience and personal energy to helping PCUK make a real difference."

David Probert:

David is Chief Operating Officer at The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust and an Executive Director on the Board of the Trust. "The opportunity to be involved, in some small way, in supporting the work of Pancreatic Cancer UK is a great honour. It was a position that appealed to me for a number of reasons, including my desire to see pancreatic cancer much more greatly supported on a national scale."

Daniel Blake:

Co-opted Trustee until Dec 2013. "After my late wife, Nicki, passed away from neuroendocrine pancreatic cancer in November 2010, I was determined to make a difference to the awful survival statistics so others wouldn't have to go through the pain and anguish that I feel every day. I set up Nicki's smile as a fund of Pancreatic Cancer UK in early 2011; our fund is focused on early diagnosis initiatives. Pancreatic Cancer UK ring-fence all monies that we raise to meet Nicki's Smile's core objectives."

Claire Hickson:

Claire Hickson runs Trio Policy Ltd, a policy and public affairs agency. "I knew very little about pancreatic cancer until my father was diagnosed in 2009. I was shocked by the survival rates and by the fact that they had not changed for decades. When my father died from the disease, I wanted to help in the battle to improve survival rates. I got in touch with Pancreatic Cancer UK and after a while they asked me to become a trustee. I hope to be able to contribute my knowledge of politics and campaigning to push for change."

Sarah Roberts:

"After a varied career within the healthcare and charity sectors, I have now retired to the countryside! Like many involved with Pancreatic Cancer UK I feel strongly there is so much more we need to do to fight this terrible disease. I hope that my work experiences and knowledge will contribute to the overall team effort that we all passionately support - striving for long and good lives for all diagnosed with pancreatic cancer."
 

Simon Gibbins (Treasurer)

"In the last five years, I have lost a close colleague of mine to pancreatic cancer and two good friends have lost their fathers to the same dreadful disease. In each case, they lasted much less than a year after diagnosis. Through Pancreatic Cancer UK and its wonderful fundraisers, I know we can give much needed support and advice to patients and families faced with the unknown, and strive to improve the speed of diagnosis and long term survival rates, both of which remain shockingly poor. Its a privilege to be associated with such a dedicated, focused and caring team."
 

Lesley Sixsmith 

"Lesley has worked as an online and radio journalist in a long career with the BBC since joining as a Russian linguist in the early 1980s. She has been a trustee of Pancreatic Cancer UK since 2009. "Before my involvement with the charity, I'd personally not come across pancreatic cancer. So I was astonished to learn that the statistics for this dreadful disease haven't changed much in the last 40 years - while huge advances had been made in fighting other cancers. I believe that the time will come for pancreatic cancer,too - and that Pancreatic Cancer UK can play a leading role in making this happen sooner rather than later."

Peter O'Hare 

Co-opted Trustee until July 2014. Peter is a research scientist, working firstly at the National Institute for Medical Research, London,  then at Johns Hopkins, USA, and then at the Marie Curie Research Institute, where he was Director of Research until 2010. He us now at Imperial College, London. "I am delighted to be associated with Pancreatic Cancer UK and help make a contribution to its aims. There are major hurdles to be overcome in tackling pancreatic cancer, but this is a charity which, through its services and research activities, combines support for today with hope for tomorrow".