We welcome our new board members
York Against Cancer has gained a wealth of expertise with the appointment of three new directors to its governing board.
They are headteacher and former medical researcher Lynn Bartram, lawyer and MD Robert Onyett and former logistician Mike Sweet, who also brings experience of board-level roles within health and social care.
PICTURE: Lynn Bartram
Lynn, Headteacher at Pocklington C of E Infants School, has a long-standing family link with York Against Cancer. Her parents were involved from our inception in 1987 and Noreen, Lynn’s mother, was a member of our board and our fundraising committee.
Lynn was an intern at the Jack Birch Unit, the University of York laboratory founded by our charity to conduct cancer research, and went on to investigate lung and liver cancer at Addenbrookes, Cambridge. She did further work with a research consultancy before going into education.
Three years ago she became involved with our Education and Awareness Committee before being invited to join our charity’s board in 2020.
“I hope my skill-sets within education and medical research are assets that I can bring to the table,” said Lynn. “This is a cause close to my heart and a way for me to give back to the area where I live and where I grew up.”
PICTURE: Robert Onyett
Robert Onyett, Managing Director of Harrowells solicitors, joined us through his connection with our recently retired director, John Yeomans, one of his former colleagues. As MD at Harrowells, Robert is responsible for the day-to-day operational management of the firm and he has great experience as a litigator helping clients through difficult and complex issues.
York Against Cancer has been among his clients, giving him an insight into our work, which has been strengthened by the bequests he has managed for people leaving gifts for us.
“Hopefully my legal and commercial expertise will be useful to the charity,” said Robert. “I’m now getting more involved with the detail of the work, and it is incredibly worthwhile.”
PICTURE: Mike Sweet
Mike Sweet has held a number of directorships and senior positions within the UK and European logistics industry which he joined after a time with the UK Personal Products division of Unilever.
Currently he is an independent investigator for complaints involving children for the Social Services department of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.
He was a non-executive director of the former York & North Yorkshire Primary Care Trust before joining the board of York Hospital NHS Foundation Trust where he played a role in the merger with Scarborough Hospital. Among his roles at York Hospital Mike chaired the Finance & Performance committee and the Environment & Estates committee.
Mike has himself been treated for cancer and sadly lost his wife to the condition earlier this year. The experience has given him a powerful insight into the disease and he is hoping to use that insight for the benefit of others through his new York Against Cancer role.
“It was such a shock when I was first diagnosed – sort of ‘end of the world’ feeling,” he said. “My first grandchild had just been born and I didn’t know if I would live long enough to see her grow up.
“During her brief illness my wife was brilliantly looked after and I was thinking of how I could help people in a similar position. York Against Cancer has a very hands-on and practical approach and that is its great strength.”