Niamh O'Sullivan: Good Governance Is A Virtuous Circle

Niamh O'Sullivan, company secretary at Cancer Research UK discusses how good governance is the lynchpin of an effective organization

What drew you to the role of the company secretary?

I studied French and history at university. History is about telling a story of complex events, but making it understandable and forming a view.

I was drawn to a world in which I could use that skill. I also undertook a teaching qualification, which gave me other skills, such as managing relationships, communication skills and mentoring - which is something I particularly enjoy.

I had a range of skills and I wanted to use them in a professional context. When I came to London from Ireland, I started looking around for a professional qualification that would then underpin my career and, given the above, the ICSA qualification was really the obvious one.

Although undertaking a professional qualification while working is certainly a challenge.

What attracted you to the charity sector?

I was working at the Wellcome Trust, a large biomedical research charity, while qualifying as a chartered secretary, so even early in my career I was involved with the charity sector. It was really satisfying to see the impact of charitable funding on research.

It also gave me a window into a world I would never have known about - of the medical developments and research taking place and how that is funded.

"From the first moment I walked in the door, I could feel the energy in the building"

The company secretary qualification and experience gave me valuable transferable skills, knowledge and experience and enabled me to move to health regulation - which again gave me an insight into a whole other world: how clinicians and medical professionals are regulated and the governance underpinning processes, ensuring that patients get the best care they can.

I then went to Crossrail, which as a huge, fast-moving project building a railway was also absolutely fascinating.

Then the opportunity came to work for Cancer Research UK and it was just one I could not turn down. The level of the fundraising undertaken by Cancer Research UK, the funding being invested back into research, policy and information, and the success of the charity's activities is hugely motivating.

From the first moment I walked in the door, I could feel the energy in the building, from our fundraisers, from our policy and information teams, and from our research grant teams, working with the scientific world.

What are the core aspects you are responsible for as the company secretary?

I work mainly with the chair and trustees. I have a very one-on-one relationship with the chair, supporting him at board meetings.

The Cancer Research UK council meets at least six times a year and we have the usual committee structure which the company secretariat plans for and supports.

I also support the trustees and executive team; for example, advising what a good board paper looks like, whether it is for a decision or whether it is for information. There has to be a coherent and concise message in there, relevant information on which to base a decision.

And then reaching out into the organisation to act as that link between...