From Wedding Planner To Head of Search and Donor Liaison

Charlotte’s the Connection

Connecting with our people

Our people connect patients with lifesaving treatments and transplants in so many ways. Their backgrounds are equally varied. They come to us from a range of different sectors, with a wealth of different backgrounds, experiences, talents and skills – and they are all unique. Here are some of their stories.

My route into Anthony Nolan

After I finished my MSc in Cancer Biology and Therapy in 2020, I wasn’t sure what route I wanted to go down. I wanted to help patients but wasn’t sure if lab work was for me. I worked at a Life Sciences Recruitment firm, and a year later I got my first role with Anthony Nolan – as a Strategy and Planning Officer.

Lucy Walls

Strategy and Planning Officer

Has your career progressed since joining?

Yes. Since joining in April 2023, I’ve stayed in the same team, progressing from Senior Officer to Manager level.
Have you studied for any qualifications?

I’ve had the opportunity to complete a Project Management course and receive a formal qualification – supporting Anthony Nolan’s work and my development.
Is Anthony Nolan a place where people want to stay?

I know so many colleagues who have been here for ten or even twenty years – it’s such an inspiring place to work.

I joined from another sector

Before coming to Anthony Nolan, I had a career in TV, working my way up from being a runner, to becoming a Senior Production Coordinator. This meant working behind the scenes of telly, organising everything from booking crew and catering to organising travel visas and shipments across Europe.

Natalie Murray

Donor Provision Supervisor

In what role did you join Anthony Nolan?

I joined as a Donor Coordinator, helping to make sure donations and transplants can go ahead without delay. Our teams are responsible for organising UK donations for patients here and overseas, as well as importing cells from around the world.
What skills did you bring from another sector?

In my Coordinator role in both sectors, there were many similar tasks, from booking international travel, to scheduling. I have developed new skills here too, with lots of training to help me grow in confidence when I was promoted to a supervisor role.
How does working at Anthony Nolan make you feel?

It makes me feel valuable. The work we do in Donor Provision has an almost immediate positive impact on patients. There are so many proud moments – including pulling out all the stops to help a donation go ahead, even though the donor was on holiday at the time.

My role is constantly changing

The scope of what I do as a Cell Therapy Scientist here has really evolved. I started with processing and testing cord blood from umbilical cords and then freezing the stem cells for transplant, mainly to children. I then gained a further responsibility, processing adult cells and now, excitingly, we’re becoming involved in the freezing of material for CAR T-cell production.

Giuseppe Miola

Cell Therapy Scientist

How do you see your future at Anthony Nolan?

I see myself being involved in working out how we can produce and supply cell therapy products for the life-saving new treatments of the future.
Do you get involved with activities beyond your role and team?

Yes! I am a staff representative, where I have time protected to meet with colleagues from across the charity to talk about ideas on how to make working here even better.
What inspires you in your work?

Saving lives. And the eight-year-old girl I met on a tour of our Cell Therapy Centre, who had received life-changing cord blood cells collected by my colleagues years before I joined.

Everyone is Welcomed & Supported

Our Affinity Networks AND (accessibility, neurodiversity and disability) OUT (LGBTQ+) and REACH (race, ethnicity and cultural heritage) are fostering inclusion and building connection.

Building Community

I’ve felt so proud to be part of the OUT network, especially after holding a panel discussion on experiences of coming out and organising a queer quiz. My heart was full when I saw how many people turned up. It feels like a true celebration of our colleagues.

Sacha Dhabalia

Register Support Supervisor
My personal background is not something I’ve ever really brought to the workplace so being able to be a co-convener for the Race, Ethnicity and Cultural Heritage (REACH) Network has been a huge privilege. I think it helps build stronger relationships with colleagues, and results in people thinking about equity for our patients, too.

Tara Steeds

Policy and Public Affairs Manager

Our People FAQs

What are our Affinity Networks?

Our Affinity Networks are initiatives aimed at fostering connection and cultivating a sense of belonging for colleagues who identify with a particular lived experience or identity. They’re colleague-led groups that provide a safe space for people to share experiences and discuss ways to improve our workplace. We have Affinity Networks for AND (accessibility, neurodiversity and disability) OUT (LGBTQ+) and REACH (race, ethnicity and cultural heritage).
What support is there for wellbeing?

Wellbeing matters at Anthony Nolan. We offer a range of support, including confidential wellbeing and counselling services, Mental Health First Aiders, and access to wellbeing resources and learning. Managers are expected to check in regularly and support healthy ways of working.
How can I get more involved with Anthony Nolan’s work?

We have an initiative called closer to the cause where colleagues can take part in opportunities beyond their day-to-day role. This might include supporting events such as recruiting donors to our register or cheering at the marathon, visiting our services in Nottingham or marching in Pride. These experiences help people connect more deeply with our mission, our supporters and each other and are often described as one of the highlights of working at Anthony Nolan.
How are people celebrated at Anthony Nolan?
We celebrate people in meaningful, visible ways by recognising the impact they make and the behaviours they demonstrate, not just job titles or length of service.
Colleagues are regularly recognised through:
- Everyday appreciation, where teams and leaders call out great work and contribution. These are shared on our Hive Fives wall on the intranet.
- Storytelling, sharing colleague achievements and journeys across the organisation.
Recognition at Anthony Nolan is about saying thank you, sharing pride in each other’s work, and making sure people feel seen for the part they play in saving and improving lives.