The HCCN Trustees
Jan Davis
Chair of Trustees
Jan’s career was spent as a senior Human Resources leader, specialising in developing managers in in complex, global environments. She has worked both in the UK and Internationally, mostly in oil, gas and mining companies. Taking early retirement, Jan set out to find worthwhile ways of giving back – as a park ranger on the South Downs, developing people policies at Gilbert White’s house in Hampshire, and facilitating leadership development courses for a charitable trust in Windsor.
Jan moved to East Northants in 2015 and reconnected with Susan – a lifelong friend and colleague from shared time in British Telecom. Jan was keen to get involved with HCCN as she could see that the charity made a real difference to people’s lives. Jan brings to HCCN her experience of leading and implementing projects and programmes, and currently acts as a trustee of HCCN.
Gill Monsell
Trustee and Conference coordinator
Gill has lived in the area since 1982 whilst bringing up her three daughters.
After graduating as a veterinary surgeon from Cambridge she worked in general practice before returning to Cambridge to do a PhD in immunoparasitology. She decided, however, that the world of pure research was not for her and for twenty years she was a partner in a Bedford practice where working with people and treating their animals was what really motivated her.
Besides clinical work she organised nurse training, client relations and overseeing the quadrupling in size of the practice.
Gill loved the close relationship with her clients and patients, caring for many pets from birth to the end of their lives and helping owners make the difficult final decisions.
Early in 2016, just before retirement, she met Susan Moore and Gini Melesi at a talk about HCCN, then in its infancy. They were inspiring speakers and Gill said to Susan that she would like to be a volunteer when she retired and had time to give.
Susan quickly realised that Gill’s academic scientific background made her ideally suited to organising the twice yearly HCCN conference and she gradually took over this role from Susan. She was honoured to be asked to join the Trustee team in 2021 and be able to help this wonderful organisation fulfil its aims. Having lost her parents and several friends to cancer in recent years she realises how very important it is to support people in this way.
Gill was a Breast Feeding Counsellor for NCT (National Childbirth Trust) for 10 years. She has been active in many village groups and helped to organise many events in the local community.
As an experienced veterinary surgeon she sits on the Veterinary Fitness to Practise Committee at Cambridge University Veterinary School.
She is an active member of Bedford de Parys Rotary and sings (enthusiastically but not very well!) with St Neots choral society. She is currently Chairman of the Friends of Cambridge Early Music which involves organising concerts, stewards and newsletters for the members of the group.
She has two grandchildren, a scruffy dog and a “psycho” cat and enjoys cooking, travel, skiing and country walks.
Dominic Weaver
Trustee
Dominic Weaver has three decades of experience in journalism and communications, specialising in fresh food, logistics, packaging, and other industries.
A skilled PR, editor, and writer, Dominic has been at the forefront of a range of successful communication campaigns, getting coverage in trade publications, consumer magazines, and the national press, online and on social media. He’s conceived, organised and attended countless media briefings, international press trips, educational initiatives, and many other PR initiatives.
Dominic has worked with a diverse range of clients ranging from government commercial offices and trade associations to manufacturers and suppliers. He has built strong and long-lasting relationships – with the media, influencers, chefs, retailers, suppliers, government departments, charities, and academia all in his network.
Dominic has sat on, and chaired, judging panels for the UK-wide Quality Food Awards since 2003.
Gini Melesi
Trustee
I am an experienced nurse and healthcare leader with over 35 years in cancer care, working across all aspects of the service. ‘Creating’ the Hunts Community Cancer Network model of care is one of my proudest lifetime achievements.
As Head of Transformation and Lead for Clinical Networks at the East of England Cancer Alliance, I support six Integrated Care Boards and 13 Hospital Trusts. I’m passionate about improving outcomes for patients and families, driving innovation, and empowering clinicians to lead change. I’m committed to fostering collaboration, addressing the increasing complexity of how we deliver quality cancer services, and ensuring equitable access to care for everyone.
Diane Smith
Trustee
Diane is a Chartered Accountant. She spent over 20 years working in the insurance industry, predominantly for RSA Insurance plc, where she held senior management positions in both Finance and Risk. In more recent times, she worked as a finance manager for Papworth Trust, the East Anglian disability charity, and then as a senior finance business partner for Defra.
After taking early retirement, she joined HCCN in 2025 as the Trustee specialising in Finance matters, recognising the important work the charity performs to help local people and as a way of giving back to the community.
Kiran Kaur-Sohi
Trustee
Kiran is a health-tech operations professional with experience in healthcare, service improvement and organisational development. She is passionate about improving access to support and ensuring services remain responsive to the needs of local communities.
Kiran believes that collaboration and strong partnerships are key to creating positive change. She joined HCCN to help further its important work supporting adults living with or beyond a cancer diagnosis in Huntingdonshire and brings her experience of service improvement and organisational development to the Trustee team.
Susan Moore
Founder (1948 to 2020)
Susan had a varied career. She worked as a progress chaser in a factory setting and then for the Birmingham Coroner before finally realising that her passion was people and her skill supporting their development.
After completing an MBA she joined British Telecom, initially to act as a management trainer but ultimately to work as a talent spotter and management development specialist identifying people with senior management capability and supporting their growth within the company.
She retired from full time working in 1999 and planned for a long and full retirement. However, in November 2010 she was diagnosed with an incurable rare blood cancer.
As a result of her diagnosis she met Gini Melesi, a haematology specialist nurse, who was to go on to found Hunts Community Cancer Network. Liking the plan to support people long after treatment had ended and believing that her workplace experience could be valuable to the development of the project, they joined forces to create the charity.
Two such different personalities joined by a common aim they started to raise money to offer free support.
Susan acted as a Trustee of the charity and carried out the day to day management roles that are necessary to keep things running smoothly. Her development background allowed her to work on the design of new activities and to plan events like conference. She often acted as spokesperson, along with colleagues.
Both Susan and the Charity were recognised by the Third Sector Care Awards 2017 for their work in developing the charity from a standing start.
The skills she used most in support of the charity were her “can do” attitude; her ability to spot and nurture the good ideas that others bring and her determination that people know what’s best for themselves but they just need a little help sometimes.