Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Campaign have appointed Lynne Berry OBE as Chair of Trustees of the new charity that will be formed by their merger on 1 April 2015.
The merger will form the UK’s leading breast cancer charity, with a firm commitment to ending breast cancer once and for all using the combined expertise, knowledge, capacity and contacts of the two charities.
Lynne Berry, currently chair of the Commission to the Voluntary Sector and Ageing, a Professor at the Cass Business School, Non-Executive Director of the Cambridge University Hospital Foundation Trust and Deputy Chair of the Canal and River Trust, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role.
Formerly named as one of Cranfield University’s ‘100 Women to Watch’, Lynne began her career as a social worker. Her first executive appointment was as Chief Executive of the Family Welfare Association in 1991, followed by becoming the Executive Director of the Charity Commission and Chief Executive of the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Royal Voluntary Service.
Lynne Berry succeeds Stephanie Monk CBE, Chair of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, and Isla Smith, Chair of Breast Cancer Campaign and among her first tasks will be the appointment of the Chief Executive.
Lynne Berry OBE said:
“Like so many, I’ve felt the terrible impact of breast cancer. Breakthrough Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Campaign have each in their own right made great progress in putting an end to breast cancer, but there is so much more to do, with 12,000 women a year in the UK still dying from this terrible disease.
“This merger represents a brave and bold move. I feel very privileged to have been appointed Chair and I thank the incumbent chairs for granting me this unique opportunity to create an even more powerful force to end breast cancer once and for all.”
Stephanie Monk CBE and Isla Smith, Chairs of Breakthrough and Campaign, said:
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Lynne as Chair of our new charity. She brings with her a wealth of experience in managing change and a passion to make a difference to all those affected by breast cancer.
“With her unwavering belief in collaboration, in building bridges to thrive and achieve and in the power of leadership to inspire and influence change, Lynne Berry is a fantastic appointment to take forward the achievements of Breakthrough and Campaign, and to lead our new board and our new charity into the future.”