Charity Team

HNCF is made possible because of the passion and drive of our team members and trustees. Below you can learn more about the people who fuel our work and help HNCF to make a difference. Our small board of trustees is committed to tolerating no wastage of time or funds. We target our resources carefully - so that all money raised can be spent where it is needed most: on improving patient outcomes.

None of our trustees draw a salary or remuneration from their role.

Founders & CEO

Prof. Mark McGurk

Co-Founder & Trustee
Mark is a co-founder, trustee and our surgical lead. He is an oral and maxillofacial head and neck cancer surgeon and consultant. Mark’s clinical practice is experienced in the treatment of all types of head and neck cancer. He is an expert in the non-invasive management of salivary gland disease.
Michelle Vickers

CEO
Michelle is our CEO and has over two decades of expertise from senior management positions within the not-for-profit sector. Michelle believes the key to success is striking a delicate balance between dedication-to-mission, the need for bold entrepreneurial initiatives, and the application of sound business management practices.
Sir Frederick Hervey-Bathurst

Co-Founder & Chairman
Frederick is our co-founding Chairman. His caring initiative and involvement with the foundation stems from his late father having benefitted from the medical skills of Professor Mark McGurk. Following successful yet substantial surgery his father enjoyed a further 19 years of life. It was this experience that inspired Frederick to support the launch of HNCF.

Trustees & Ambassadors

Vinod Patel

Trustee
Vinod currently works as a consultant at Guys & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. He is the service lead for dental services in oncology and leads the Bone & Jaw Necrosis Clinic.
Peter Kennan

Trustee
Peter Kennan is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Advisor. He has acted for many charities in sectors such as the arts, sport, health and education. As a trustee, he is able to apply his business and financial experience to assist us in maximising our efficiency and operations.
Vivek Gupta

GP Ambassador
Vivek is our GP Ambassador, he works towards improving the training and awareness of head and neck cancers among GPs and dentists. He joined our team following his mother's diagnosis of head and neck cancer - which was missed by her dentist.
Suzanne Miller

Fundraising Ambassador
Suzanne works on fundraising events in the North. She has been a patient and passionately shares her story with the press to help drive awareness.

Celebrity Advocates

Ryan Riley

Ryan is a celebrity chef and TV personality. His mother passed away from cancer and he now utilises his culinary skills to help patients overcome nutritional challenges following treatment.
Life Kitchen
Ben Hobday

Ben Hobday is a world-class Jockey. After his own struggle with head and neck cancer, he is on a mission to raise awareness and encourage earlier diagnosis leading to better outcomes.
Mark Radcliffe

You may have heard Mark on his BBC Radio 2 show, but you may not have known that he has had his own struggle with head and neck cancers. He is now supporting us in order to help raise awareness of these cancers.