Meet the team
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Sheena Dewan, Executive Director, Founder
My father was diagnosed with stage 4 stomach cancer in 2017, with lymph node spread to his chest and neck, and was given 12–18 months to live. He had a complete response to chemotherapy and, with research and advocacy, was able to have curative surgery. He is alive today, fit, and cancer-free.
Since 2019, I have attended around 20 national and international GI cancer conferences, established connections with global leaders in gastric cancer research and treatment, and remained active in patient communities, including providing direct one-to-one support to patients and families.
I founded Stomach Cancer UK to share the latest information, provide clear and reliable support, and help people take part in shared decision-making about their care if they wish.
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Amy Osborn, Director of Community Engagement
I am a qualified social worker and have worked in the NHS for 15 years. I specialise in working with older adults and adults with mental health difficulties. I have worked in many settings, including hospitals, care homes, residential services, prisons and in the community.
I have always challenged inequality and injustice and have worked with some of the most marginalised groups in society. I believe that at times of real vulnerability, it is crucial to be met with kindness and have as much control over your life and health as possible.
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Shailesh Naik, Trustee, Finance Officer
I qualified as a chartered accountant in 1990 and have worked within the property, publishing, and hotel industries. As a trustee of Brighter Future International, I have been involved in setting up microfinance loans to help women in poverty.
I have a personal understanding of stomach cancer's impact, having lost a family member to the disease.
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Andrew (Andy) Chequer, trustee
I lost my beloved dad to stomach cancer in 2017. Being involved in Stomach Cancer UK is a way I can acknowledge the medical treatment and care dad received, while advocating for better treatments in the hope that other people's dads might be luckier than mine was. I am an aerospace engineer by trade and live near Newbury, Berkshire.
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Sachyn Wagjiani, Trustee
I work as a Workforce Data Analyst at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, but what matters most to me is not the data itself, but the people behind it.
My connection to gastric cancer is deeply personal. I lost my grandmother to the disease. Seeing the impact it had on her, and on our family, shaped my understanding of how overwhelming and isolating this cancer can be. It’s why I care so strongly about early detection, awareness, and making sure families feel supported during some of the hardest moments they will ever face.
My involvement with SCUK is a way to honour my grandmother’s memory and turn the loss into something meaningful.
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Fiona Whittaker, Trustee
I have worked in primary education for 30 years and am currently Assistant Head Teacher at a Church of England Primary School in West Sussex. As a teacher and keen cook, my involvement with the charity stemmed from a desire to help others better understand the gut microbiome and how nutrition can play a preventive role in cancer.