Rachel Billsberry-Grass

Chief Executive

As Chief Executive, Rachel is responsible for running Wessex Cancer Support effectively to ensure we continue to support the thousands of people across the region who need us, in the best possible way. She reports to the Board of Trustees and together they develop our strategy, which she delivers with the Senior Leadership Team.

For more than 30 years, Rachel has worked in leadership roles in the voluntary sector. She has a particular interest in supporting people to achieve good mental health and joined Wessex Cancer Support as she could see how valuable the charity’s wellbeing services are for people affected by cancer.

In her spare time, Rachel volunteers as a Trustee of The Change Foundation, plays netball and sings whenever she gets the chance.

Suzanne Bannister

Director of Support Services

Suzanne has experience of working in the NHS as Lead Cancer Support Worker managing a team of Cancer Support Workers delivering Personalised Care for cancer patients. Prior to that she was the Executive Director for an HIV and Sexual Health Charity delivering support services for people living with HIV and their families. Suzanne understands both Clinical Secondary Care services as well as the Charitable sector and this combined experience enables her to oversee the delivery of our client support services. Suzanne joined Wessex Cancer Support as she has a passion for ensuring people living with cancer as well as their families and loved ones have access to personalised support services.

In her spare time, Suzanne likes to swim, travel and spend time with her family and friends.

Colette Cowan

Director of Organisational Effectiveness

As Director of Organisational Effectiveness, Colette is responsible for overseeing the delivery of our strategy and ensuring the smooth and effective operation of the charity. Colette is passionate about enabling our staff and volunteers to provide the best possible support for people affected by cancer in Wessex, and she strives to encourage them to feel proud to be part of the organisation. Additionally, she spends plenty of time implementing and supporting projects across departments. Having worked within Wessex Cancer Support for more than five years, and with a prior ten years’ experience in delivering and managing services for vulnerable community groups, Colette ensures that our decisions always keep our clients in full focus.

Away from work, Colette loves making memories with her young children, family, and friends. She hopes that as her children grow, she will be able to find more time for reading, relaxing and travelling once again.

Mark Ellis

Director of Retail

Marks heads up a small yet dedicated team of Retail Managers, Assistant Managers and volunteers from our fantastic shops. Mark hails from a hospitality background, but 15 years ago joined the world of coffee as Manager for two big coffee chains opening multiple new stores. However, after suffering a stroke in 2008, Mark rethought his career path which led him to charity retail and eventually to Wessex Cancer Support. Mark chose this charity mainly because he lost both of his parents to cancer when they were relatively young. In his role, Mark finds that no two days are rarely the same and he’s constantly amazed by the variety and quality of the donations and generosity of our supporters.

When not working, he enjoys spending time with friends and his two rescue dogs.

Dave Robertson

Director of Finance

Dave’s role is to ensure that Wessex Cancer Support’s finances are sound and protected, and that relevant information is provided to Trustees and staff to enable the team to make sound decisions about how the charity operates. Dave brings many years of experience in managing the finances of charities and joined Wessex Cancer Support because he wanted to work with a charity that gives so much support to local people affected by cancer.

In his spare time, Dave is a keen walker, enjoys watching many sports, listening to music and spending time with his grandchildren.