BARONESS Bloomfield and designer Anya Hindmarch have been appointed as trustees for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which raises money solely for The Royal Marsden, a world-leading cancer centre. 

The charity supports the hospital by funding life-saving research, enhancing treatment and care, building new modern patient environments and investing in state-of-the-art equipment.

Educated at Oxford University, Olivia Bloomfield’s career has encompassed executive search, private equity and energy infrastructure projects. She has been active in the voluntary sector as a magistrate and a founding trustee of three small Oxfordshire based charities. In 2006, she was asked to head up the Conservative Party’s fundraising team on behalf of David Cameron and was appointed to the House of Lords in 2016. She joined the front bench in 2019 and is the Lords’ Spokesman for Wales and a Government whip for three other Ministries.

Olivia was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and her treatment included a mastectomy at The Royal Marsden. She became involved with The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity after joining the Oak Cancer Centre Appeal Board, which is supporting the charity in raising £70m to build a new, state-of-the-art cancer facility in Sutton.

Olivia said:

“Having been a patient at The Royal Marsden, I’m very proud to join The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity as a trustee. During my treatment, I knew I was in the best possible hands, which provided confidence at a really frightening time for me and my family. I’m now keen to use my connections to fundraise for the charity, raise awareness of how charitable money is spent on supporting vital research and the hospital and work with an interesting and diverse board.”

Anya Hindmarch founded her eponymous business in London in 1987 and has since grown it into a global brand. An advocate of British design and arts, Anya is also a Non-Executive Director of the British Fashion Council and an Emeritus trustee of both the Royal Academy of Arts and the Design Museum. In 2017, Anya was awarded a CBE in recognition for her contribution to the British fashion industry and has received several notable industry awards, including a British Fashion Award.

Anya has been a supporter of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity since a family member was treated at the hospital in 2009.

Anya said:

“The Royal Marsden has long been dear to my heart, so it is a great honour to be given the opportunity to support the Charity as a trustee. When visiting with a family member at a low point in our lives, I will never forget the wonderful Professor Gore who said, “from now on, your problems are my problems’’. That pretty much sums up the ‘Marsden Magic’ to me. I look forward to helping as many people benefit from its treatment and care as possible as well as supporting its incredible world-leading research.”

Anya and Olivia take over from Richard Turnor and Richard Oldfield who are leaving the board after nine years.

Commenting on the appointments, Antonia Dalmahoy, Managing Director of the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, said:

“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome Olivia and Anya as trustees and very much look forward to learning from their expertise. I also want to thank our outgoing trustees, Richard Turnor and Richard Oldfield, for their dedication and hard work over many years.

“Our new trustees join at a challenging yet exciting time for the charity, as we make plans to drive the final phase of fundraising for The Oak Cancer Centre while also negotiating the significant ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Their combined experience, passion and commitment to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity is going to be invaluable in helping The Royal Marsden to continue to save and improve the lives of people affected by cancer and their families.”