Our guests are Helen Rippon, CEO of Worldwide Cancer Research, Mark Walley, Chief Executive of STEP, and Julian Mund, CEO of PLSA. They discuss how they use collaboration to allow their relatively small organisations effectively pursue big ambitions. There are valuable lessons here for leaders of all types and sizes of organisation.
Dr Rippon was appointed CEO of Worldwide Cancer Research in 2016 after four years as Director of Research, overseeing the strategic delivery of the charity’s multi-million-pound global programme of pioneering cancer research.
Awarded a PhD in 2002 for research into prostate cancer, Dr Rippon started her career as a postdoctoral fellow at Imperial College London, working in the new and blossoming field of tissue engineering. There she authored some of the earliest scientific papers on the potential of embryonic stem cells for lung regeneration.
Moving to the third sector in 2008, Dr Rippon ran the medical research programmes of Age UK and Prostate Cancer UK, developing in-depth knowledge of research funding strategy and policy, the evaluation of research impact, science communication and public engagement.
As CEO of Worldwide Cancer Research, Dr Rippon leads a small charity with immense ambition – to end cancer by starting new cures worldwide. Since 1979, Worldwide Cancer Research has invested £200 million in 2,000 research projects across 35 countries. By funding fresh new cancer research ideas with the potential to make breakthrough discoveries - wherever they are to be found - the charity sows the seeds of future cancer cures. This is only possible thanks to the charity’s Curestarter community of supporters who donate so kindly and generously.
STEP is the global professional association for those advising families across generations. Their mission is to inspire confidence in families planning their assets across generations by setting and upholding high professional standards, informing public policy, promoting education, and connecting practitioners globally to share knowledge and best practice.
As Chief Executive at STEP Mark is responsible for the organisation’s, strategy, culture, performance and governance, working closely with the board. Mark’s deep seated belief in the value of professional education, the standards and ethics that sit with them, plus acting in the public interest has guided his career choices. He is dedicated to building working environments where everyone can be their best and is an advocate for social mobility and inclusion in the workplace.
Motivated by later in life academic success Mark was a volunteer director of ‘Professions for Good’. Representing 1.2 million practitioners, P4G worked to uphold fair access, professional ethics & fact based policy amongst the UK professions. He now maintains a role as mentor to a diverse group of young professionals, is a champion of diversity and inclusion and volunteers with ‘Inspiring the Future’.
He holds a BSc (Hons) in Banking and Finance and is a Chartered Director.
The PLSA is the voice of workplace pensions and savings. We represent pension schemes that together provide a retirement income to more than 30 million savers in the UK and invest around £1.5 trillion in the UK and abroad. Our members also include asset managers, consultants, law firms, fintechs, and others who play an influential role in people’s financial futures. We aim to help everyone achieve a better income in retirement.
Julian joined the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association as Commercial Services Director in 2013 and became Chief Executive in 2017.
Prior to this he worked at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) for almost 16 years. He undertook a variety of roles such as the Managing Director of their commercial company and their Director of Operations. He led on business growth and strategic development across CIPFA's commercial business as well as the delivery of their member services. Julian worked on school policy at the Department for Education before joining CIPFA.
Helen Rippon - Worldwide Cancer Research
Mark Walley - STEP
Julian Mund - PLSA