The executive leadership team is responsible for the day-to-day management of the organisation. Dragonfly Cancer Trust is governed by a board of Trustees. They ensure that as an organisation we are effective in working towards achieving our vision, using our resources to maximum effect and upholding our core ethos and values.
Neil was born and bred in Newcastle upon Tyne, he’s married to Jill, has two daughters and a wonderful granddaughter. He has been a Trustee for Dragonfly Cancer Trust for five years, having been involved with the charity for a couple of years prior to this. Neil has enjoyed seeing our growth from a small, local charity to where we are now, supporting a UK network of hospices and hospitals.
For Neil, being a Trustee has allowed him to be a part of creating those special moments with families who are going through one of their toughest moments anyone is ever likely to face. Neil enjoys meeting with hospices and groups to promote our Dragonfly strategy, raising the profile of the Trust and the great work it does to help young people.
David is an accountant and former partner with Deloitte having worked with clients across government and public services in the UK and internationally.
David now runs his own management consulting business and is a non-executive director at several companies in the UK and abroad.
Ian is our very own Action Man, earning himself a place in the Guinness World Book of Records in 2021 for completing a non-stop 220 mile triathlon in aid of Dragonfly Cancer Trust.
With his next epic challenge in the pipeline and his unwavering passion for the cause, becoming a Trustee was the natural next step in Ian’s journey.
David was born in Wallsend and apart from a 3 year degree course in Huddersfield, he has lived in the North East all of his life. He is the father of 3 amazing children, Shania, Kelsey and Harley, and has a huge passion for helping people, making a difference, and personal development.
He has worked in urgent airfreight for 12 years as Sales & Operations Director, followed by 20 years in the Pharmaceutical Industry in various corporate roles.
David now has his own Mental Performance and Mindset Company, working in business, sport, and helping people in their personal life overcome obstacles and achieve their ambitions.
He also likes to keep fit and regularly takes on challenges, the last being ‘The Wall’, a 70 mile Ultramarathon from Carlisle to Newcastle.
David is looking forward to making a difference in a huge new way, meeting new people, and learning lots representing the amazing Dragonfly Cancer Trust.
Paul grew up on Tyneside and since then has spread his wings to live and work in eight countries across four continents, during a 25 year career in Supply Chain for Fast Moving Consumer Goods. He is also an experienced Non-Executve Director and Charity Trustee, with a particular focus on supporting children and animal welfare.
Paul joined Dragonfly Cancer Trust in 2024 and is excited to help continue the excellent work already being done and help lead the Trust into the future, building a sustainable model which can scale to reach all young cancer sufferers who need our support.
Ben is currently First Team Development Coach at Newcastle United Football Club where he has been a coach for over 15 years spanned over two periods at the club. In between his two stints at NUFC he worked for The Football Association as a coach developer in the professional game.
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He originally began his coaching career with Newcastle City Council’s Football Development Scheme and moved across to Newcastle United Foundation when the club’s charity was created.
His involvement with Dragonfly Cancer Trust began when the charity made Newcastle its central base at the same time as the loss of his mother to cancer. He has since utilised his sporting connections to help a number of young cancer patients fulfil some of their sporting-related dreams and create memories for those young people and their families.
Charis is the creator of @thegriefspace_ on instagram. The Grief Space is a supportive platform that discusses grief, from the perspective of a young adult.
Charis created this page after losing her brother Cameron in May 2020, after a long journey with Leukemia.
Charis has experienced first hand the amazing work that Dragonfly Cancer Trust do, receiving support in the last few days of Cameron’s life. We enabled Charis to create some cherished and lasting memories and keepsake jewellery from her brothers fingerprint.
Charis said, “I am honoured to be an Ambassador for the charity and use my platform on instagram to tell more people about the incredible and supportive work that Dragonfly Cancer Trust do. This Charity holds a very dear place in my heart not only for what they’ve done for my family and I but what they do to support young people and their families through extremely difficult and emotional times.”
Lamin is a remarkable documentary filmmaker currently studying for a degree in Fashion Marketing Communication at Newcastle College.
Lamin has been a true champion for Dragonfly Cancer Trust, lending his support at our events by captivating some beautiful photography and sharing impactful social media posts.
Joyce is our incredible volunteer who turns her hand to anything. On a typical day, Joyce can be found counting and merging money for the bank from our collection tins and helping with our admin and our annual ball preparation.
Manny is a specialist in software and technology. He has a strong passion to share his knowledge with others and have a lasting impact in this world. He is excited to work with Dragonfly Cancer Trust to define a digital strategy and support our technology needs. He is hoping to help the charity navigate through uncertain times and utilise technology to stay ahead of the curve and reach more patients and families around the country.
Meet Ray Yang, a dedicated volunteer at Dragonfly Cancer Trust with a passion for making a difference in the lives of patients and their families.
With over five years of experience in retail management, Ray brings a wealth of knowledge in process optimisation and stakeholder relationship management to his role.
After completing his MBA degree at Newcastle University, Ray discovered his love for business analysis and management consulting. He has honed his skills through various projects, using data-driven insights to identify opportunities for improvement and implementing effective solutions to drive growth. With a heart for giving back to the community, Ray decided to join Dragonfly Cancer Trust as a volunteer. In this role, he works closely with the team to support various initiatives such as data analysis and campaign support to improve efficiencies and maximise resources.
Through his volunteer work, Ray has gained a deeper understanding of the challenges that cancer patients and their families face. He is committed to making a positive impact on their lives and supporting them every step of the way. His initiative and passion for helping this make him an invaluable member of the Dragonfly Cancer Trust team.
Amit is our incredible volunteer who helps with our 2023 Dragonfly Ball. Amit has a wealth of event experience and has supported many of our previous events. Amit is a huge supporter of Dragonfly Cancer Trust.
Lisa is a passionate individual who takes pleasure in assisting with our activity boxes. Her love for all things crafts is evident in the enthusiasm she brings. When she’s not lending a hand, Lisa works as a radiographer, utilizing her skills in a different but equally important field.
Ekaterina is a Russian-born anthropologist turned UX Researcher and Designer. Currently based in Heidelberg, she works in health tech and develops software for German doctors.
Passionate about volunteering, she started her first charity project at the age of 12 by donating most of her plush toys to the local orphanage. Since then she never stopped, and worked as a Hospice fund coordinator in Moscow, created websites for Indian schools, taught English in a Buddhist monastery in Ladakg, volunteered full-time in a Buddhist center in France for over five years, and taught yoga to Ukranian refugees in Germany.
Nowadays, she supports Dragonfly Cancer trust in website re-design.
Danika Stochosky
Danika Stochosky serves on the Ball Committee for Dragonfly Cancer Trust, bringing her expertise as a data-driven copywriter to help advance the Trust’s mission. After recognising the need for additional support with the annual Dragonfly Ball, Danika stepped forward to contribute her professional skills by revitalizing sponsorship materials and developing comprehensive packages that connect generous sponsors with the Trust’s life-changing work.
Having experienced first-hand the precious nature of time while supporting family members through chronic illness, Danika deeply resonates with Dragonfly Cancer Trust’s commitment to empowering young cancer patients. She is particularly moved by the Trust’s focus on giving children and young adults control over how they’ll be remembered, believing that these meaningful moments and keepsakes provide profound comfort during life’s most challenging journeys.
Married to Kevin Spowart (Your North East Magazine, big supporter of Dragonfly Cancer Trust), lives in the North East. Day Job is working for the NHS, re-joined the NHS 4 weeks before Covid Shut down and worked through it. Proud to be asked to help with the Ball and to support the charity and Jane in any way I can. I can’t do the running/jumping stuff but I’m happy to sponsor those of my friends that do. My main goal for this years Ball is to get as many people involved as I can.
Hi there! I’m Amber, a 22-year-old accounting student with a passion for numbers and a love for the great outdoors. I grew up on a farm with my brother and gran, surrounded by horses, chickens, goats and pigs- —always as pets, of course! ] I’ve recently made the exciting move to Newcastle, where I bought my first home (yay!). When I’m not studying, you’ll find me hiking the weekends away, staying fit, and experimenting with healthy recipes in the kitchen. I’m also a huge fan of baking sweet treats—because life’s too short not to enjoy a little sweetness! I’m thrilled to be part of your team and can’t wait to contribute to such a wonderful cause.
I am a second year law student at the University of Nottingham who has a drive for helping others. I am excited to be volunteering with the Dragonfly Cancer Trust to help enhance their social media platforms and spread awareness as much as we can.
I’m a Biomedical Science student at the University of Sheffield with a passion for oncology, and applying my knowledge to make meaningful contributions to the healthcare industry. Outside of my studies, I’m an active, sporty individual who loves running and spending time outdoors. I’m driven by the opportunity to blend my academic interests with real-world applications to contribute to Dragonfly Cancer Trust’s mission through my role as a Research volunteer.
Hi! I am currently a first-year biochemistry student at the University of Sheffield. I am joining as a volunteer researcher and am passionate about contributing to the broader community through my research. I have experience doing formal scientific research as part of my EPQ project during A-levels and aim to pursue a career as a researcher in the industrial sector after graduation. I hope to gain more experience researching while hopefully being able to benefit others at the same time.