Ben Sykes

I lead user experience (UX) activities across the charity, and assess and prioritise the best opportunities to deliver new products. I'm also responsible for ensuring our products put us in the best position to meet the needs of people affected by blood cancer, by involving them throughout all stages of the product lifecycle.

I led the innovation function within Blood Cancer UK. I was also responsible responsible for end to end product development. I was given the opportunity to establish an innovation function at the charity in 2018, after almost 10 years working in the fundraising department, focussing on products and relationship development. In the past 3 years I have changed the charity's approach to product development to an agile and user-centred methodology, based on design thinking.

Responsible for innovation across fundraising. Responsibility for enabling the department to develop insight-led products and strategies to ensure long term growth of fundraising income streams.

Managed individual fundraisers and supported them with their events, gaining the trust of the charity’s supporters by being helpful and honest. Represented the charity at all levels and managed teams of volunteers directly at Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research flagship events.