Interview with Angela Style, Chair of Endometriosis UK

I live in Peckham in South East London although I'm originally from Birmingham. I've always worked in the voluntary sector in organisations such as Save the Children, Diabetes UK and the Women's Institute and have been a trustee for the Fawcett Society and YWCA. I have a particular interest in policy, campaigns and volunteering and how organisations connect with the people they exist to serve and represent. I am currently studying for an MSc in Voluntary Sector Management at Cass Business School and am also a trustee of a small charity called Art Against Knives which provides creative opportunities for young people in areas of London affected by violent crime.

I love running - currently training for the British 10k in July for Endometriosis UK;  reading - The Wolf Border by Sarah Hall is the best book I've read recently and good telly - Transparent and House of Cards have been recent favourites.

What does being a 'Chair' involve?

My job is to provide leadership for the governance of the charity.  This means ensuring that the board of trustees works effectively to make sure Endometriosis UK is clear about its future direction, is efficient and effective and operates within the law.  Harnessing all the skills and experience and energy around the board table behind shared goals and values is a key element of this together with making sure we have the right information and ask the right questions so that we can take good decisions in the best interests of the charity. I am helped hugely in this by having  excellent board of trustees - one of the most talented and dedicated boards I have worked with - and a brilliant staff team, led by Chief Executive Jane Hudson-Jones.  I also have a role in being an ambassador for the charity and take very seriously my role to promote what we do, whether to people I meet on trains or at the bus stop or with politicians, decision-makers and media contacts I meet in the course of my work.

So it involves a lot of hard work and commitment but it is also a huge privilege, working as part of a great team united around such an important cause.

What influenced your choice of Endometriosis UK as the charity you wanted to Chair?

I had been looking for a trustee position for a while but was waiting for an issue and an organisation that really grabbed me.  I don't have endometriosis myself and was probably pretty representative of the general population in having a pretty low awareness of the condition and the impact it has on women's lives. But after doing some research into the condition I was shocked - about the low levels of awareness of endometriosis, the delays in diagnosis and the too-often poor support and treatment women receive - and once I felt that passion I knew I could do a good job as a trustee for the charity. I also thought I had some useful and relevant skills to bring to the table, having headed up the campaigns and volunteering function at Diabetes UK.

Being Chair wasn't part of my plan but when our fabulous former Chair, Trevor Dahl stepped down I was approached by other trustees to stand as Chair - and they're a pretty persuasive bunch! 

What are your ambitions for Endometriosis UK?

The board have recently agreed a new and ambitious strategy for the organisation which I am hugely excited about.  The strategy focuses on 3 priority areas - better quality of life for women with endometriosis, better healthcare provision for women with endometriosis and increased public and political awareness of the disease. These are big ambitions and we are putting clear plans in place to achieve them - from making sure our information on endometriosis is top notch, to increasing the number of support groups around the country, increasing helpline opening hours and developing a research strategy. Supporting our brilliant volunteers to help us achieve this will be really important. And underpinning all of this is a targetted fundraising plan to make sure this currently tiny organisation is on a sound financial footing. Ultimately we are all determined to build an organisation that puts this life-devastating disease on the map and brings about the changes women with endometriosis so desperately need - and one that has women with endometriosis at its heart. We'll be publishing the new strategy on the website shortly - watch this space.

One of the things I love about being involved with endometriosis is the lively online endometriosis community. Not having endometriosis makes me doubly committed to engaging with women with endometriosis to help me understand more about what life is like with endo. If you're a tweeter, do follow me and get in touch on twitter - I'm @angelacstyle. I'd love to hear from you.