We're delighted to announce that General Counsel of the Bank of England, Sonya Branch, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Our current Chair – Chief Executive of SEC Newgate UK – Emma Kane has reached the end of her term. Over Emma’s nine years on the Board, Target Ovarian Cancer has spearheaded transformational progress in the diagnosis, treatment and care of women with ovarian cancer.
Since being appointed as Chair in 2019, Emma has helped us significantly scale our impact, leading us to treble our annual income and personally raising over £1 million through innovative fundraising for ground-breaking new projects.
Emma said:
There has been no greater honour than to work with a world-class team, at this leading charity, all focused on transforming the outcomes for the one in 50 women who will receive an ovarian cancer diagnosis. Every minute I have given over the last nine years has been fuelled by the knowledge that we are really making a difference to the lives of so many people - today and in the future - through the support, education and research we deliver and fund. And, of course, I have also always had in my heart the beautiful friends and family that have been taken from us far too young, including Heather, the mother of my stepchildren.
“I am handing over to someone I have the greatest admiration and respect for – Sonya Branch - so I will enjoy watching the charity go from strength to strength. And, whilst I will be stepping down from the Board, I won’t be going too far! I will continue to fundraise and advocate for Target Ovarian Cancer so that we can achieve earlier diagnosis across the length and breadth of the UK – it is so fundamental.”
Our aim is to target what's important to stop ovarian cancer devastating lives – increasing symptoms awareness, improving early diagnosis, providing better access to treatments, and ensuring that there is support for everyone affected by ovarian cancer.
Sonya knows the importance of our work first hand, having lost a close friend to the disease. Sonya started her first term of service as a Trustee thirteen years ago. On Thursday 29 February, Sonya will be formally appointed and Chair and will be driving forward the our new business plan Ovarian Cancer: Fast Forward.
On her appointment, Sonya said:
Over the years, it has been a rewarding experience to be able to contribute to the excellent work that the charity does and to strive to make a meaningful difference to those affected by ovarian cancer. As Chair of Target Ovarian Cancer, I will use my external leadership, governance experience and knowledge of the charity to continue to accelerate progress for everyone affected by ovarian cancer.
“Whilst we have achieved so much and made significant progress through our 2021 - 2023 business plan, Ovarian Cancer: A Blueprint for Change, there is still so much more to do. I look forward to building on the strong momentum from recent successes, harness new digital opportunities, and comprehensively and rigorously achieve the goals in our new business plan, Ovarian Cancer: Fast Forward.
"We must continue to make real progress towards funding ground-breaking new research, ensuring life-changing early diagnosis and fairer and better access to treatment and increasing the provision of much-needed support services."
Currently, 11 women die every day from ovarian cancer. We're determined to change this and to stop this disease from devastating lives. Our Chief Executive, Annwen Jones OBE, said:
Emma’s leadership of Target Ovarian Cancer has been absolutely outstanding in every respect, and she leaves behind a powerful legacy of achievement and impact for women with ovarian cancer and those at risk of the disease. In Sonya, we are extremely fortunate to have another excellent leader step up to the role of Chair. Sonya’s passion and determination will build on the amazing work done so far and take us to that next level.
