After 30 years with the charity, Simon Dyson MBE has decided to step down as Chairman of Anthony Nolan.
Although Simon’s departure is sad for all of us at Anthony Nolan, he is leaving behind a strong and successful organisation with a bright future.
Since Simon first became involved in Anthony Nolan’s work in 1986, the organisation has gone from strength to strength, building not only the leading stem cell register in the world but also the UK’s largest blood cancer charity.
Although the Anthony Nolan stem cell register was the first in the world, it inspired dozens of other countries to establish lists of altruistic strangers ready to donate their stem cells.
There are now almost 29 million people across the world on international lists of donors.
We’re now facilitating over 1,300 transplants a year, and Simon has championed not only our patient work but also our education and awareness raising programmes.
Our Chief Executive, Henny Braund, said: 'Simon has dedicated his voluntary life to Anthony Nolan. His impact on the field of stem cell transplantation is unparalleled. He has tirelessly campaigned, invested and led the charity from strength to strength.
'His vision and tenacity have been an inspiration to all of those who have worked with him and he leaves an organisation with a strong history and an amazing future.'
He was pivotal in leading and moulding the scientific direction of Anthony Nolan, spearheading the introduction of the Anthony Nolan Research Institute in 1996, the investment in Third Generation Sequencing and more latterly, the introduction of the IMPACT clinical trials network.
He has done amazing work to raise funds for Anthony Nolan, and in 1994 introduced our popular annual event, the Daisy Ball.
Simon will serve as trustee until the end of 2017.