Nick Maskell

Nick Maskell is a Professor of Respiratory Medicine at University of Bristol  (UoB) and Honorary Consultant Chest Physician at North Bristol NHS Trust. He was appointed as a consultant there in 2004. He leads the pleural service at Southmead hospital and is the head of the Academic Respiratory Unit at UoB. 

He has a major interest in mesothelioma, running a tertiary mesothelioma clinic and chairing the weekly regional mesothelioma MDT. He chaired the current BTS mesothelioma guideline group and was on the committee for the ERS mesothelioma guidelines. He is also a co-chair of the forthcoming BTS pleural disease guidelines (2021) and is an advised to the NPSA on pleural safety matters related to pleural interventions. 

He has been the senior author in large published randomised controlled trials in mesothelioma that have led to changes in practice. He also is a co-founder of the Avon Mesothelioma Foundation (AMF), a local charity supporting mesothelioma research and patient care. 

Michael D Peake MB, ChB, FRCP

Professor Peake is Clinical Director of the Centre for Cancer Outcomes, University College London Hospitals, a Clinical Advisor to Cancer Research UK and Chair of the UK branch of the CODE (Collaboration for Oncology Data in Europe) programme. He is also Emeritus Consultant and Hon. Professor of Respiratory Medicine in the University Hospitals of Leicester.

He has had a major interest in lung cancer and mesothelioma for many years, establishing the National Lung Cancer Audit. He was heavily involved in the development of the National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service and was National Clinical Lead for Lung Cancer until the NHS reforms of 2013. He founded the UK Lung Cancer Coalition, chairs the Board of Mesothelioma UK, is a member of the board of the British Thoracic Oncology Group and the National Lung Cancer Forum for Nurses.

He has been involved in the development of national cancer policy since the mid-1990s. He has published widely, his major interests being early cancer diagnosis and improving outcomes for cancer patients by proper service configuration, supported by good clinical outcome data.

Helen Childs

Helen is a partner at the law firm RWK Goodman where she heads up the team of specialist Industrial Disease solicitors. Helen and her team are dedicated to representing individuals affected by asbestos-related illnesses, and Helen is an APIL (Association of Personal Injury Lawyers) accredited specialist in this area.

Helen has represented the claimant in several recently reported decisions which have clarified and advanced the law with regard to those affected by mesothelioma.

Helen is honoured to be able to help support Mesothelioma UK as one of its trustees.

Alida Coates

Alida is a solicitor with Irwin Mitchell LLP, specialising in asbestos related diseases claims. She has over 20 years’ experience helping those diagnosed with mesothelioma (and other asbestos illnesses) gain access to compensation and is considered an expert in this area with a thorough knowledge and understanding of the issues faced by her clients. Alida has been a Trustee of Mesothelioma UK since 2009.

Sharon Hague

Sharon is a Senior Vice President at Pearson plc, a leading global education company, where she has worked for nearly 20 years. She is responsible for the development and delivery of qualifications and assessments together with providing primary and secondary schools both in the UK and internationally, with high quality teaching and learning resources. 

In 2017, Sharon’s father, Douglas Hague was diagnosed with mesothelioma having worked as a telecommunications engineer in London for nearly 40 years. Sharon supported her father throughout his illness until he passed away in August 2018. Having had this experience, Sharon feels passionately about the role Mesothelioma UK has in supporting patients and their families and raising awareness of asbestos-related illnesses. 

Dr David Hetmanski

Dr Hetmanski is the Assistant Director of Research & Innovation at University Hospitals of Leicester. He has over 16 years’ experience in research management and is chair of the East Midlands R&D Leads as well as holding an honorary position with the University of Leicester. Before moving into research management he held a number of posts in the NHS and the university sector.  Dr Hetmanski has been a Trustee of Mesothelioma UK since 2010. 

Dawn Mckinley

Dawn is the Senior Executive Officer for British Thoracic Oncology Group (BTOG) and before becoming a Trustee, provided Mesothelioma UK with operational management services. Her role with BTOG is to provide inspiring and innovative management and play a key role in the development of BTOG in collaboration with the Board of Trustees and Steering Committee and overall management of all BTOG projects and activities.  Her earlier professional background included marketing, PA roles and VAT accountancy. Prior to BTOG, Dawn worked in Australia as a VAT Consultant 

Melanie Waters

Melanie Waters is the Chief Executive of Help for Heroes, a charity that helps wounded veterans and their families recover and get on with their lives. Prior to joining Help for Heroes, Melanie was Chief Executive of The Poppy Factory, an independent employment charity which puts the recovery and employment of disabled veterans and their families at its heart. Both are driven by Melanie’s strong personal interest in disability which comes from lived experience within her family. Melanie was awarded the OBE in 2017 for services to the Armed Forces.

In her earlier career, Melanie held significant roles in the commercial sector, leading the external affairs,business improvement and operations for companies such as the Automobile Association (The AA) and FTSE 250 Unite Students. Having graduated in law from Manchester University, Melanie joined The AA and quickly became one of the first female patrol managers. She attained her MBA in 2005.

In non-executive roles, Melanie is an executive member of Cobseo (Confederation of Service Charities) and is on the governing body of Women in Defence.

Melanie also mentors apprentices of The Guild of Mercer Scholars and has recently become a member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers supporting their philanthropic aims and educational purpose.

Once a keen athlete, Melanie’s interests now are pilates, running and cycling; she completed her first Help for Heroes Big Battlefield Bike Ride in 2017 and has cycled the 350 miles each year since.

Melanie’s father was a carpenter and worked in shipyards and on building sites for all of his working life. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2013 and passed away in 2014. Melanie’s personal experience of supporting her father through his illness with the assistance of a specialist nurse was the driving force behind Melanie’s trusteeship at Mesothelioma UK.

Kevin Blyth

Kevin is Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Glasgow and has a wealth of experience and knowledge of mesothelioma treatment and research and will make a fantastic addition to the board.

Kevin is a group leader at the CRUK Beatson Institute and leads the Glasgow Pleural Disease Unit based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. He founded and is Director of the Macmillan Scottish Mesothelioma Network, which coordinates clinical care and trials for mesothelioma patients in Scotland. He is an NHS Scotland Research (NRS) Senior Research Fellow and leads a translational research programme focused on pleural disease, and in particular, mesothelioma.

He was Chief Investigator of the DIAPHRAGM study, which was the largest prospective biomarker study ever performed in mesothelioma. He is also Chief Investigator of the PREDICT-Meso (Pre-malignant drivers combined with target-drug validation in mesothelioma) International Accelerator Network which brings together expert centres from the UK, Spain, Italy, Belgium, US and Canada to deliver five integrated work-packages, generate new knowledge, new pre-clinical and clinical tools and ultimately new therapies ready for human trials.

Kevin has recently been elected Chair of the European Respiratory Society Pleural Malignancy Group and has excellent clinical and translational research links.

In addition to his years of experience, Kevin already has a well established and productive working relationship with Mesothelioma UK and will be an asset to the board, helping the charity to reach its goals of improving treatment and care for mesothelioma patients.