Cancer Focus NI Welcomes New APG Executive Office Holders

During June’s APG meeting, the All-Party Group on Cancer welcomed new Executive Office Holders for the 2024-2025 Assembly year. The Office Holders were elected unanimously during the APG’s Annual General Meeting.

With heartfelt gratitude, Cancer Focus Northern Ireland welcomes the new Office Holders:

• Chair Stewart Dickson MLA
• Vice Chair Ciara Ferguson MLA
• Secretary Diane Dodds MLA
• Treasurer Mark H Durkan MLA

Speaking about the Office Holders, Richard Spratt, Chief Executive of Cancer Focus NI, commented: “We are very appreciative for their interest in the APG and in cancer issues, and for their willingness to take on a leadership position for the APG. We look forward to working with the MLAs and the entire APG in the year ahead.”

Cancer Focus NI also extends its gratitude to the outgoing office holders: Paula Bradshaw MLA (Outgoing Chair), Deborah Erskine MLA (Secretary), and Colin McGrath MLA (Treasurer). Ciara Ferguson MLA will be continuing on as Vice Chair.

Richard continued: “Since last year’s AGM, we have had six really important discussions on some of the most pressing cancer issues in Northern Ireland today. Each conversation highlighted the problem and, critically, what we can do about it. During most of last year, Stormont was suspended, so the APG took on extra importance as there was not a Health Committee discussing and advancing on cancer.

“We are especially grateful for the support of our outgoing Chair, Paula Bradshaw MLA. Paula has been the APG Chair since before I joined Cancer Focus NI, 4 years ago. She has been a steadfast partner not only in the APG, but also in our work toward a Smokefree NI, on waiting times, and on so much more. Even just over this past year, she has written to the Health Department with concerns about facilities and capital hold-ups, elevated patient concerns of discriminatory treatment, and championed cancer issues in the Assembly and with Ministers. We remain thankful for all of her work on cancer over the years.”

In addition to the AGM, the APG also featured an update on the NI Cancer Charities Coalition (provided by Richard, in his capacity of Coalition Interim Chair) and key findings from cancer journey research from Action Cancer and Queen’s University Belfast.

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland serves as the Secretariat of the All-Party Group on Cancer. Learn more about the APG here.

Presentation on Cancer Journey Research at the APG on Cancer