|
Meet the Iris Board |
|
Dr Alexander D. Lewis B.Sc, Ph.D (Chair) 
|
Biography I am an experienced consultant to the pharmaceutical and biotech industry with a background in oncology medical research and drug development (25 years). I have worked with oncology companies such as Sanofi-Aventis, Roche and AstraZeneca on developing new anti-cancer agents and have published 36 peer reviewed research papers, two book chapters in an Oncology handbook and filed a drug patent in oncology. I worked at Cancer Research UK, Edinburgh, Stanford Medical Center Department of Oncology, Stanford, USA the Beatson Oncology Centre, Glasgow and Quintiles Oncology, Edinburgh before moving to a global consultancy firm, Wood Mackenzie. I am a member of American Society of Clinical Oncologists (ASCO); British Association for Cancer Research (BACR) and American Association for Cancer Research (AACR). I was a managing consultant with Wood Mackenzie for over nine years and was head of the company’s Partnering and Due Diligence Practice located in Boston, USA. I currently provide corporate, business development and strategic advice to pharmaceutical and biotech companies. I sit on the board as a Non-Executive Director of Oxford Biomedica plc, an oncology focused gene therapy and a UK public listed biotech company. I am Chair of the Remuneration committee and sit on the Audit committee for Oxford Biomedica and am also a Non-Executive Director and board member of the privately held Scottish biotech company, EctoPharma Limited. |
|
Anne Williams 
|
Biography I have a background as a nurse, working mainly in cancer nursing, community nursing, palliative care, and lymphoedema treatment and care. I have enjoyed many different roles in clinical practice, education and research, and I have worked in various NHS settings in London and Edinburgh, and in the voluntary sector. In 1995 I set up a community and hospice-based lymphoedema service in west London. Later, I ran an NHS-based randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effect of manual lymphatic drainage massage in women with lymphoedema associated with breast cancer at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London. I have been involved in the development and implementation of a range of university-based courses mostly focussed in cancer nursing, palliative care and lymphoedema. I qualified as a massage therapist in 1995 and am also qualified in the Vodder method and Casley-Smith method of manual lymphatic drainage. I have a particular interested in supportive care for people living with the late effects of cancer treatment. I have recently completed my PhD thesis focussing on supported self-care in women who have lymphoedema after breast cancer treatment. I believe that exciting opportunities exist for developing current, new and innovative ways to extend the reach of massage to all people affected by cancer, through a wide variety of settings. |
|
Dr Frances Yuille 
|
Biography I am a Clinical Oncologist at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. I specialise in chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments for patients with breast cancer as well as radiotherapy treatment for patients with lymphoma and I work both at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre and St John's Hospital Livingston. I trained at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London and did junior medical jobs in Kent, London, Southampton, Swindon, Edinburgh, Newcastle and Glasgow. I have now been a consultant in Edinburgh since 2001. My interests outside the treatment of breast cancer and lymphoma's are teaching and training of junior doctors. I am also trained as a senior facilitator for communications skills with Effective Communication for Health (EC4H). Why IRIS? Working with women with breast cancer in particular I am very aware of the need for holistic care and in particular touch and massage. Many women ask about the myths of massage and many are currently disappointed when well meaning family and friends offer this gift and it has to be turned down due to misunderstanding. I hope that this charity can enhance learning and understanding across the population and ease the strife that cancer brings. |
|
Grace McGill 
|
Biography Throughout my career I have applied my knowledge and skills in accounting and IT, and my current role is Director of IT at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. I have had an interest in complementary therapies for some time and I have completed a number of courses in this area, including Swedish Massage. I’m privileged to be part of a team with such talented and skilled individuals from a range of disciplines, working to ensure that the benefits of specialist massage therapy are available to those living with cancer. |
|
Lorna Forrester 
|
Biography I spent 15 years in the Investment Industry, mainly analysing UK companies, some Government Bonds, international asset allocation, and currencies, until having a young family life encouraged me to retrain in Massage, Aromatherapy and Reflexology and become a self-employed therapist. Having come from a business background, that was the area I knew most about, and so I targeted the many companies and organisations within Edinburgh and centre belt of Scotland offering ‘Corporate Massage’ – massage in the workplace. At a time when Stress Management was the buzz phrase and employment law was changing to put a larger emphasis on the employer’s shoulders to show that they were trying to help their staff deal with stress, whether at work or at home, I set up On-site Relaxation Ltd to offer massage services and health seminars to Companies and their staff. Those services have now been gratefully received by many companies across Scotland and England, including banks, insurance companies, government agencies, supermarkets, TV companies, and 2 off-shore oil rigs, to name just a few. Then in 2009 I bought Scottish Massage Schools, the school I had trained with, and had tutored and lectured for, for 7 years. Offering a wide range of diploma courses and CPD workshops has put me in contact with a very large number of therapists, including Joyce Gillespie, the founding Trustee of the Iris Cancer Partnership. Through Scottish Massage Schools course offerings, Joyce now regularly talks to newly qualified Swedish Massage therapists about the importance of knowing how to work safely and effectively with people living with cancer. |
|
Meet the Iris Management Team (all are volunteers) |
|
Bill Stewart 
|
Biography I have spent the majority of my career working in the computer industry. Over a period of 25 years I was able to develop my management experience and skills in a variety of management positions mainly within the materials, manufacturing, supply chain, and fulfilment disciplines. On leaving the private sector in 2005, I joined a cancer support Charity in Glasgow where I became the Chief Executive. My role was to lead, manage and organise all aspects of the work of the Charity. I really enjoyed my time with the charity where the main aim was to support anyone whose life was affected by cancer. My role took me into new areas where I gained experience in working with complementary therapists, counsellors, fundraising, Charity Law and the financial requirements of running a Charity. During my time with the Charity I became very interested in complementary therapies. I took a course with the Western School where I trained as a therapist and qualified in Swedish Massage. I have since taken various other courses to help develop my massage skills. I do not yet have a therapy practice and currently provide therapies only to family and friends, and for fundraising activities. I also became a volunteer committee member of the Scottish Conference of Cancer Support Groups and continue in this role today. In January 2011, I left the Charity to join Argyll & Bute Social Enterprise Network as Development Manager, where my responsibilities include supporting social enterprises through the provision of guidance on funding, business planning and, governance requirements, supporting training & development needs, providing opportunities for networking and collaboration, and providing a communication network through newsletters, bulletins, the web site and regional meetings. |
|
Sue Jenkins 
|
Biography Originally a modern languages specialist, I trained as a massage therapist and aromatherapist in the late 80s. Practising extensively in Fife, then in Aberdeen and now in Fife again, I am also a trained teacher, having taught in secondary schools, further and higher education. I have been principal of the Edinburgh and Aberdeen Schools of Holistic Aromatherapy since 1995. I taught on the BSc Complementary Therapies Programme at Edinburgh Napier University for seven years, after completing the degree myself. I am committed to providing sound education in complementary therapies and to developing the evidence base for massage and aromatherapy. I have been a member of various professional bodies and network groups for 14 years, including Chair of the International Federation of Professional Aromatherapist and currently sit on the Aromatherapy Profession Specific Board of the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council. I have written regularly for professional journals and am currently researching a book on aromatherapy. Through the years I have treated a number of clients living with cancer and am delighted to be involved with the Iris Cancer Partnership to bring the benefits of safe and gentle treatment to more clients. |
|
Zana Lamont 
|
Biography I have been a therapist for more than twenty years and a teacher for even longer! I started my training in Swedish Massage and progressed to Aromatherapy, Advanced Remedial Massage, Osteopathy, Cranio-Sacral Therapy and Counselling. I hold a Diploma in teaching and have been involved in training of one sort or another for 30 years. In addition to being the Principal of the Western School, which trains massage therapists, I run a practice in Ayr and am also involved in promoting and delivering a range of programmes in the community, including self development, stress management and psychoneuroimmunology (body-mind connection). I work with a wide variety of groups, both within and outwith the NHS. For a number of years I was a volunteer massage therapist at Ayr Hospice and for the last twelve years I have worked in a Cancer Drop-In Centre as a relaxation therapist and counsellor. I am passionate about the benefits of massage and about the importance of looking after the person as a whole, not just treating the symptom. |