Introducing our latest Trustees
Dan Beever
I’ve worked in the healthcare sector for many years and I’m the Senior Community and Patient Engagement Coordinator at the European Lung Foundation. I have CF myself and the biggest motivation for becoming a trustee is having an opportunity to give back to the Trust and the community.
I was previously a PhD student on the CF Trust-funded MAGNIFY Strategic Research Centre. It was such a privilege to have the opportunity and I’m grateful that the progression in treatment we’ve had meant that my health was stable enough to do the PhD in the first place.
I’ve been a school governor for a number of years and enjoyed the opportunity to give up my time. As that chapter ended, this role came at the perfect time.
I’m hoping to make a positive difference to the community, bringing specific expertise around involvement and research, as well as lived experience. I’m passionate about ensuring what we do continues to be grounded in the needs of the community, and in reaching people whose voices are seldom heard.
Peter Boxer
I have been a career diplomat for the last 30 years. I’ve been lucky enough that my work has taken me around the world. Beyond work, I’m also the Chair of the Amateur Football Alliance and a Governor at Plumpton College in Sussex.
I have two sons and my youngest, has cystic fibrosis. We’re lucky that he was able to benefit from modulators from an early age and he has been really well since then. He is sports mad, playing for two different football teams at the weekend.
Recently I had the pleasure of doing a talk at the UK CF Conference and moderated a panel there as well. I really enjoyed that experience, helping our community to understand someone of the amazing science that is happening. I have also taken part in a number of CF Lives, one on secondary school, and another on phages.
I was delighted the Trust wanted me to be a Trustee as I embark on the next chapter of my life, and step back a bit from work. I want to give my time to support those who have done so much for my family and the CF community and play my part in helping the Trust be the best it can possibly be. I also want to continue to learn, so I‘m enjoying learning about governance of a charity.
Kerry Dinsmore
I’m a Principal Science Adviser in the Scottish Government, with a background in environmental research. I’m also the Vice Chair for the Institution of Environmental Sciences Council. I love getting to work across all sorts of science, but what I enjoy most is helping people untangle complexity and use what they learn to make positive change and improve lives.
The Trust does amazing work, it changes lives, and I want to help. I have an interest in how our environment affects our health and I’m really keen to help ensure the CF community has a voice in those conversations. I’m also here to provide a Scottish perspective, recognising the unique challenges people with CF face here, as well as the things that make Scotland special.
My son, Finn, died at three months old from complications linked to his CF. His brother and sister now carry his memory with them as proud CF champions. As a family, we’ve also done a bit of fundraising, and my husband is a Trustee for the Butterfly Trust.
In my spare time (when I have it!) I can usually be found running up a hill or swimming in the sea.
Nick Elliott
I wanted to work in medicine growing up. I started off volunteering and doing hospital radio, but found that the realities of being a doctor weren’t for me. So, I did a degree in pharmacology and physiology and ended up working for a medicines company.
I wasn’t sure I wanted to do research forever, so I decided to get a business qualification and a chartered accounting qualification where I worked with other charities and health companies.
I retired at Christmas to spend more time with my wife and lend my time to organisations I identify with. Though my wife doesn’t have CF, she has a condition that shares a lot of the common symptoms and is prone to infection, so I have some understanding of some of the issues people with CF face.
I’m also a non-executive director at Penrith Building Society, serving the local community in the Lake District. I hope I enjoy both my roles, there and at the Trust, and am keen to make a difference to the lives of people with CF.
Tony Hunter
I’ve done a lot of work in caring professions, at Barnardo’s and Price Waterhouse Health and Care Consultants, and also as a director of children’s and adults’ social services in two councils.
Since I no longer work full-time, I have space to offer my time to a number of charities, and am on the board at Action for Children, St Christopher’s and the Health and Care Jersey Advisory Board. So I’m keeping myself busy!
I originally applied to be a trustee at Cystic Fibrosis Trust five years ago. I didn’t get in then, but I’m pleased to join now. I enjoy board work and it’s a cause I care about.
My nephew Robert had cystic fibrosis and died age 15. My other nephew, Richard, also has CF, and is a renowned cyclist and has been lucky enough to benefit from Kaftrio. I think what he does gives hope to some people with CF, but he’s humble enough to know it’s not possible for everyone, but he makes us proud.
Outside of work, I sang in pub function wedding bands for a number of years and perform stand-up comedy about what it’s like being an old person in Walthamstow.
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