Our Team

The team behind Cancer Focus NI are passionate about what they do and the difference they make to the lives of local people.  Find out more about our team here:

  • Board of Trustees
    Mr Boyd Carson FCA
    Honorary Treasurer

    Boyd has over thirty years of experience in the finance sector. He has overseen the development of Sapphire into a multi-award-winning investment firm that manages over £400 million in 40+ venture capital funds, investing in a broad range of sectors, including technology, robotics, design, health, and renewables.

    Before Sapphire, Boyd was a director of mergers and acquisitions at PwC in New York and has exited numerous start-ups in e-commerce, property and renewable sectors. He is a Harvard University alumnus and a Harvard University teaching faculty member, specialising in venture capital. Boyd is also an Honorary Professor of Practice in Venture Capital at Queen’s University Belfast. Boyd is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants.

    Mark Lawler profile pic
    Professor Mark Lawler

    Mark is a member of the Steering Committee of the European Cancer Concord and holds an Associate Director position at the Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology at Queen’s University Belfast. Mark has a keen interest in both research and cancer policy, and has been at the forefront of a number of patient focused cancer healthcare initiatives aiming to remove inequalities and improve cancer care for the citizens of Europe.

    Violet Spence

    Violet has had a long career in financial management, having worked in the Northern Ireland Civil Service and Danske Bank.  She has a strong background in corporate governance, financial reporting, collation and analysis of management information and systems implementation.  Violet has been a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants since 1998 and a member of the Cancer Focus NI Finance and Policy Committee since 2009.  She retired from her post as Senior Audit Manager with Danske Bank in 2014. Since then she has developed a strong interest in the social enterprise and small business sector, and advises on set up and operational issues.

     

    Dr Bernadette Cullen

    Bernadette is Chair of the Action on Smoking NI committee, which and works in liaison with the other ASH committees in England, Scotland and Wales to control tobacco and reduce smoking prevalence. (ASH NI is a sub-committee of Cancer Focus NI.

    Dr Cullen has 24 years’ experience as a consultant in public health with the Eastern Health and Social Services Board and then the Public Health Agency. Now retired, she had particular interest in health improvement, population screening, skin cancer and melanoma strategy implementation. She has been engaged in a broad range of community health initiatives, including Chair of Belfast Healthy Cities from 2007 – 2013 and has extensive experience of working in partnership with the voluntary sector.

    Dooley Harte Donald Harte
    Mr Dooley Harte

    Dooley has been a full-time Trade Union Official with NIPSA for the past 18 years, working in particular supporting NIPSA members in the Civil Service.

    Dooley became involved with us in 2010 when his wife, Ann, was seriously ill with breast cancer.  Dooley and his five children used our Family Support Service through their bereavement. Dooley has been a tremendous support to the service and to other parents. He also worked with us in our successful application for Big Lottery funding for the service.

  • Chief Executive and Senior Management team
    Profile pic of Richard Spratt
    Richard Spratt
    Chief Executive

    richardspratt@cancerfocusni.org

    Richard took up the position as Chief Executive in September 2020. His career has spanned both the private and voluntary sectors. Having previously worked in the banking sector, he has held posts in the voluntary sector since 2009 within international development. He has served on other charity Boards as a Trustee and completed his Masters in Business Administration in 2015.

    Mrs Pat McClelland 
    Director of Services

    patmcclelland@cancerfocusni.org

    Pat has been a registered General Nurse since October 1982 held the position of General Manager of Cancer Services in the Northern Trust. She has led on several nursing initiatives and nurse development programmes within the acute hospital setting and managed a team of health professionals, nurses and admin staff.  Pat secured funding for a further 6 cancer nurse specialists to improve provision of support within the Trust.

    Maeve Colgan
    Director of Fundraising & Communications

    maevecolgan@cancerfocusni.org

    Maeve was appointed as Head of Income Generation in 2014 and has worked in the voluntary sector since 2004.  Maeve is responsible for fundraising and building relationships with corporate and community groups throughout Northern Ireland.

    Angela McGrath
    Director of Retail

    angelamcgrath@cancerfocusni.org

    Angela was previously Retail Manager for Cancer Focus NI and in 2017 was appointed Head of Retail. She has extensive management experience in high street retailing, including Waterstone’s and Marks & Spencer.

    Helen Byers
    Director of Finance and Corporate Affairs

    helenbyers@cancerfocusni.org

    Helen, a Chartered Accountant with almost 20 years post qualified experience, has a background in not for profit and previous managerial finance positions in the Social Housing sector, Visit Belfast and Queen’s University.  Helen joined in October 2022 and is responsible for leading the Finance, HR and IT teams within CFNI.

  • Services team

    Our Services team is made up of three areas: Health Improvement, Therapeutic Services and Community Services.

    Health Improvement

    Our Health Improvement team help people reduce their risk of cancer and raise awareness of early signs and symptoms. Team members are all highly qualified experts in health promotion. This area covers our Stop Smoking Support service, Care in the Sun work and general cancer awareness.

    Health Improvement Manager:

    Naomi Thompson

    naomithompson@cancerfocusni.org

    T: 028 9066 3281

    Our Services team is made up of three areas: Health Improvement, Therapeutic Services and Community Services.

    Community Services

    Our Community Service department delivers services like our Keeping Well and Volunteer Driving services directly to people in our communities.

    Community Wellbeing Manager:

    Anthony Stuart

    anthonystuart@cancerfocusni.org

    T: 028 9066 3281

  • Fundraising & Communications team

    Every year we depend on the generosity and goodwill of our supporters to raise 90% of the money we invest in our services, programmes and research.  Our fundraising team is enthusiastic, dedicated and always ready to go the extra mile!  Contact us to see how you can get involved or find out how to give a cash gift, either regular, one-off.

    Community & Corporate Events

    Rosie Forsythe, Community & Corporate Fundraising Manager

    rosieforsythe@cancerfocusni.org

    028 9066 3281

    Outdoor Events

    James Barbour, Outdoor Events Manager

    jamesbarbour@cancerfocusni.org

    028 9068 0771

    Direct Marketing

    Ollie Govett, Direct Marketing Manager

    olliegovett@cancerfocusni.org

    028 9068 0740

    Communications & Marketing

    Ciaran Corr, Communications & Marketing Manager

    ciarancorr@cancerfocusni.org

    028 9066 3281

  • Retail team

    There are 13 of our shops in towns located across Northern Ireland, so wherever you live there’ll be one close by. Why not pay us a visit or donate some items.

    Angela McGrath,  Head of Retail

    angelamcgrath@cancerfocusni.org

    T: 028 906603281

    Michelle Fordyce, Greater Belfast Retail Support Manager

    michellefordyce@cancerfocusni.org

    T: 028 9042 4364

    Stephen Roddy, North/West Retail Support Manager

    stephenroddy@cancerfocusni.org

    T: 028 9042 4364

     

    You can find contact details for each of our stores here.

  • Administration and Finance team

    If you have any queries in regards to jobs or invoices our Administration and Finance team are always ready to help.

    Julie McConville, Executive Assistant

    juliemcconville@cancerfocusni.org

    028 9066 3281

    Laura Wright, Senior Finance Officer

    laurawright@cancerfocusni.org

    028 9066 3281

  • Volunteer team

    We have 350 amazing volunteers who give us  20,000 hours of their time  every year to help in all sorts of ways.  Our volunteer team looks after our volunteers and co-ordinates all of their work with us. If you’re interested in getting involved please get in contact.

    Grainne Maginnis,  Volunteer Service Coordinator

    grainnemaginnis@cancerfocusni.org

    T: 028 9068 0755

    Sam Brush, Volunteer Service Coordinator

    sambrush@cancerfocusni.org

    T: 028 9066 3281