Meet the team

Sam was previously Policy Director at The Children's Society, and is also a former chair of the End Child Poverty coalition. Prior to that, Sam completed his PhD in the Social Policy department at the University of York, at which point he was also an adviser at a Citizens Advice Bureau. He is also author of the book "Broken Benefits: What's gone wrong with welfare reform".

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Ruth was previously Director of Link Age Southwark and Head of Policy, Public Services and Research at the National Council for Voluntary Organisations. Prior to this, Ruth worked in various policy and research roles inside and outside government on overseas development issues, including for UNICEF UK, the Overseas Development Institute and the Department for International Development.

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Mark leads the charity's work on financial security for people at the end of life. He led Marie Curie's successful #Scrap6Months campaign to improve access to fast-tracked benefits for terminally ill people and currently leads its Dying in Poverty programme of research and campaigns into poverty and financial insecurity among people at the end of life.

He has represented the charity at Parliamentary select committees and appeared as a spokesperson for Marie Curie on Sky News and BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme. Before joining Marie Curie, he worked in government affairs in the public sector and at a professional membership organisation. He is a graduate of the University of Sussex.

Ellie is Policy and Public Affairs Manager for Scotland. She joined Marie Curie in 2019, and is responsible for supporting our work in Scotland particularly around social care, health inequalities and deprivation.

Outside of Marie Curie, Ellie is a member of Women in Public Affairs Scotland, and has an MSc in Strategic Public Relations and Communications Management from University of Stirling.

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Joan is responsible for leading the charity’s policy and public affairs work in Northern Ireland.

Joan joined Marie Curie having worked in a range of senior management roles in UK and Irish banks.

She is also a Non-Executive Director of the Patient and Client Council.

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Bethan is our Policy and Public Affairs Manager in Wales.

Before joining the charity in November 2020, Bethan worked for British Heart Foundation Cymru in a similar role. She currently works on health policy, including the Wales End of Life Care Programme, health inequalities, and bereavement.

Outside of work, Bethan is also an Events Coordinator for Public Affairs Cymru. She studied at the University of Bath and holds a first-class BSC in Politics and International Relations.

Follow @bethanedwards_