Our Trustees

Sharon James

Chair of Trustees

Sharon is currently a Non-Executive Director for Healthcare and Biotechnology companies in Denmark (Novozymes), Sweden (Molnlycke) and Canada (Algae-C) . She is a strong and vocal advocate for women in science and acts as a mentor for many female young professionals. She is committed to opening the doors to science education for young girls through STEM programmes and is an active supporter of Swansea University’s STEM programme. She was recently awarded an Honorary Doctor of Medicine from Swansea University for being ‘a top R&D Innovator’.

Sharon’s career, including her time as Chief Technology Officer/Board level in global, blue-chip companies such as Bayer, Reckitts, PepsiCo, has encouraged her personal mission to empower consumers and patients to make choices that support their personal health - she strongly believes that the ability to control your own health and wellness is a basic human right for all.

“My husband’s own cancer journey has also given me an up close and personal snapshot of the needs of advanced cancer patients - in particular, information on new treatments in trials and how to access data. Knowledge is imperative for cancer sufferers and their families and by joining Jo’s, I feel that I’m part of an organisation that truly helps patients along their own particular cancer journey.”

Amelia Sunkaraneni

Amelia Sunkaraneni became a trustee in March 2021. She is a health policy, public affairs and campaigns expert currently working in consulting. She previously held roles at an NHS membership body and in the cancer charity sector. It was during this time that Amelia was introduced to the work of Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust. Amelia is particularly passionate about the power of influencing to improve treatment, care and support, and is excited to bring her experience to the Board.

Samantha Coggins-Thompson

Samantha became a Trustee in March 2023, and will take over from Hugh Grootenhuis as Treasurer upon his retirement from the role. Samantha is a corporate governance, internal audit and regulatory risk senior executive with over thirty five years experience gained working domestically and internationally in financial services. Samantha sits on the board for Computershare Trust Company National Association as Executive Director where she chairs the Risk Committee and the People & Culture Committee. Samantha has also held the position of group Chief Audit Executive for Computershare and prior to this has held senior compliance and internal audit roles with GE Capital, Lloyds Banking Group and Barclays.

Samantha lives in Northamptonshire with her husband Simon. Samantha enjoys devoting her own time to supporting young people kickstart their futures by being a mentor for Career Ready UK, a national social mobility charity. She also dedicates time to mentor female leaders of the future and aspiring governance, risk and compliance (GRC) leaders.

Louise Newton

Louise became a Trustee in 2017. Louise met Jamie when they were 18 and they became flatmates in Earls Court. Through Jamie she met Jo and became the very best of friends to both. She is Godmother to Thomas – Jo and Jamie’s eldest child! She became a founding friend of Jo’s at the outset and has loved being involved with the charity and the family ever since.

Louise runs a pop up art gallery, British Art Portfolio, with another founding friend Amanda Lowther. The gallery raises money for charity at each of its events. Jo’s has been the beneficiary on several occasions. Louise was very involved in the Constable fundraiser for JCCT at the V & A which raised over £100,000. With Carolyne Robinson, Amanda Lowther and M Bicket she ran the very popular and successful Jo’s Tennis Tournament in Northamptonshire for 10 years.

Adeola Olaitan

Adeola is Honorary Associate Professor at University College London and Honorary Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist at UCLH. She has previously worked as the Lead for robotic surgery and Lead Clinician in Gynaecology Cancer at UCLH. She has over 30 peer reviewed publications, review articles & book chapters as well as award winning presentations, published in abstract. She is also a Visiting Professor for surgery and specialist lectures in China, India, Nigeria, Canada, Ghana.

Morgan Fitzsimons

Morgan is currently the Chief Experience Officer and co-founder of Perci Health, the first virtual care clinic focused on the long-term health of people living with and beyond cancer. With Morgan’s wealth of experience and knowledge, we’re excited to have her join us in working towards our vision of a world without cervical cancer.

Within her career and personal life, she is passionate about health equity with a particular interest in supporting women and underrepresented groups. Her work experience is rooted in digital, previously having worked as a digital consultant and then overseeing digital innovation and commercial growth at consumer brands as the Digital Director of CBS Television and Head of Global Marketing at ASOS, Morgan strongly believes that by taking a digital and consumer-centric approach to healthcare we can achieve better outcomes and an improved patient experience.

Charlotte Rains

Charlotte Rains became a trustee in 2021. Charlotte is Chief Operating Officer at the BGF Foundation following a role as Head of Operations at the Lumos Foundation, an NGO working to end the harm of institutionalisation and help children worldwide be reunited with family. Prior to BGF, Charlotte worked as Director of Operations for the Whole School SEND Consortium and for the London Leadership Strategy, delivering Department for Education funded contracts to support learners with special educational needs. Charlotte holds an MSc in Voluntary Sector Management from Cass Business School and a Diploma in Charity Accounting and Financial Management from the ICAEW. 

Carol Taylor

Carol joined as a trustee in December 2017 and works as a Global Marketing Director for Dyson. She first came across Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust when her younger sister was diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2013. As well as supporting the charity as a trustee Carol continues to fundraise for Jo's with family and friends in her sister's memory. Carol lives in Gloucestershire with her husband and three young children.