Charity’s new leader rises to challenge

Sep 4 2008 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

THE new chief executive of The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation in Liverpool says she is looking forward to the challenge.

Dr Rosemary Gillespie, 51, originally from a nursing background, and with a PhD in health policy, has held a number of high profile roles, including deputy chief executive and director of policy and research at Breast Cancer Care.

She replaces Mike Unger, 64, who held the chief executive position for six years and will be retiring in December.

Dr Gillespie said: “The Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation is an outstanding and well respected organisation, and I’m looking forward to the challenge of leading the charity both locally and nationally to ensure we offer the best services and support to those affected by lung cancer.

“I’m sure that by continuing and building on the fantastic work of the trustees, staff and volunteers, we will make great strides towards defeating lung cancer.”

Dr Gillespie added: “On a more personal note, I’m very pleased to be moving back to the North. I was born and brought up in Bakewell in Derbyshire, and lived in Sheffield for several years. My mother is from North Wales and I spent many childhood holidays in Wales.” Professor Ray Donnelly, who founded the charity, added: “As a number of outstanding candidates applied for the role and are delighted to have appointed Dr Rosemary Gillespie. She joins the Foundation at a very exciting time as we have just moved into new premises and are working on a new national campaign called De-Feet designed to aid our mission to defeat lung cancer.”