Miles Briggs MSP for Lothian, was born in 1983 and elected to the Scottish Parliament as a Member for Lothian Region in May 2016. Miles is the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party Spokesperson for Education and Skills. He has previously been the Local Government, Housing & Social Justice Spokesperson. He was previously the party Chief Whip and before then the Shadow Minister for Health. Miles is Co-Convenor of the Parliament’s Cross-Party Group on Cancer.
Ally Boyle MBE has been living with blood cancer since 2008 and uses that experience to make positive change. While still serving in fire and rescue, he founded the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service partnership with Anthony Nolan, recruiting thousands to the stem cell register. Years later, Cancer Research UK involvement helped him rebuild confidence, find new purpose, and help form and co-chair Cancer Research UK’s Patient Involvement for early detection and prevention research.
Jackie Baillie was elected to represent Dumbarton constituency in 1999 and is the only Scottish Labour MSP to have won her seat continuously in every election. Jackie served as the Deputy Minister for Communities, Minister for Social Justice, as well as Economy Spokesperson and Finance Spokesperson. Jackie was elected as Deputy Leader of Scottish Labour in April 2020 and is active within both the GMB and USDAW and is a member of the Cooperative Party.
Thank you to our Scottish Cancer Conference Lived Experience Working Group.
At the heart of this year’s conference is the invaluable contribution of our Lived Experience Working Group, made up of Cancer Research UK Ambassadors and members of the Cancer Research UK Patient Involvement Network. We’re deeply grateful to everyone who generously shared their personal experiences, insights and expertise throughout the planning process. Their openness, honesty and commitment have helped create a conference that puts the voices of people affected by cancer at its centre.
Angela is a wife and mum. She trained as a nurse and worked as an accountant until a dual diagnosis of lung and thyroid cancer in 2024 led to her retirement. Drawing on her professional and lived experience, she has built a third career in patient advocacy and as a trustee of Oncogene Cancer Research. Angela is committed to reducing stigma, raising awareness and supporting research to improve treatment options, with the ambition of making lung cancer a manageable long-term condition.
Freya is a fourth-year International Relations student at the University of Edinburgh and a Campaigns Ambassador for Cancer Research UK. She joined because cancer has profoundly affected her family, including both her father’s survival from childhood leukaemia and her mother’s recent cancer diagnosis and treatment. She is passionate about advocating for sustained political and institutional support for Cancer Research UK.
Iain spent 35 years in policing finishing as a Deputy Chief Constable. In 2018, Iain was diagnosed with Stage 4 Colorectal Cancer with metastasis to the liver and bladder. The cancer spread was inoperable, and he initially commenced palliative chemotherapy. He then was offered targeted therapy and the combination got him to surgery, with no recurrence since. He has been a Cancer Research UK Policy and Communications Cancer Insights Panel member and now is a Campaigns Ambassador.
Jenni found out she carried a BRCA2 gene mutation, meaning she was at a much higher risk of developing cancer. In 2021, she was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer. Five years later, after treatment and a double mastectomy, Jenni is able to use her experience to support, inform and shape the way for others. Jenni works for two charities: Candu (Dundee Cancer Support Network) and Home-Start Angus and gets real satisfaction working in the third sector.
After being diagnosed with breast cancer at 25, Jenni joined Cancer Research UK’s Policy and Communications Patient Insight Panel for two years, contributing her lived experience to cancer policy and communications. She’s now five years cancer free and remains on maintenance treatment. Having attended last year’s Scottish Cancer Conference, she’s delighted to contribute to this year’s conference through the Lived Experience Working Group.
Jenni was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer in 2022 and had six cycles of chemotherapy followed by complex 12-hour surgery including a hysterectomy, distal pancreatectomy, splenectomy, gallbladder removal and permanent stoma. Complications following surgery meant she lived with an abdominal wall drain for two and half years. Since this, Jenni completed a Race for Life and has embraced HIIT and strength training, including an 80kg deadlift and 65kg back squat.
Jo’s wife, Sue, was diagnosed with a rare hereditary cancer in 1993 and received pioneering treatment at the Beatson, extending her life by 10 years. After her death in 2003, genetic testing revealed that two of their children and a grandchild had inherited the faulty gene. To improve outcomes, Jo founded The Phaeo and Para Cancer Charity to advance research and develop treatments. A Cancer Research UK Campaigns Ambassador since 2013, he was awarded an MBE for services to charity and cancer research advocacy.
Lesley has lived with secondary, de novo, breast cancer since 2005. She received chemotherapy, targeted therapy and a mastectomy, and remains on Herceptin treatment. She is medically retired after working as a MRI radiographer. In 2025, Lesley became a Cancer Research UK Campaigns Ambassador to share her experience and offer hope to others living with cancer. She advocates for the role of research and clinical trials to help improve outcomes for people with cancer.
Shaumya is a medical student currently undertaking her MB-PhD in Cancer Sciences at the University of Glasgow. She was diagnosed with lymphoma as a teenager in 2020. Shaumya has been part of several Cancer Research UK patient involvement projects, including the Children and Young People’s Insights Panel. In 2024, she became a Cancer Research UK Campaigns Ambassador, and has enjoyed speaking to MPs and MSPs to make cancer a priority on the political agenda.
We also have a limited number of free tickets available for people with lived experience of cancer. If you would like to attend using one of these places, please email scotcancerconf@cancer.org.uk for the discount code and instructions on how to book.
Find out more and join Scotland’s flagship cancer event, bringing together voices from research, care and advocacy.
Read about the individual breakout sessions that will focus on the core stages of the cancer pathway.
Meet the organisations exhibiting at the conference and find out about the support, resources and opportunities they offer.
View the full programme and session timings.(PDF, 635 KB)
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