We're delighted to announce the appointment of Dame Clare Barclay DBE as Chair of our new Corporate Partnerships Board, which will help us unlock transformational partnerships and power more lifesaving cardiovascular research.
The Board will bring together influential business leaders to help unlock major long-term collaborations that support our mission to beat heart and circulatory diseases.
Dame Clare is one of the UK's most respected business and technology leaders. After nearly three decades at Microsoft, including as President of Enterprise and Industry EMEA, she is recognised for building high-value partnerships and helping organisations drive large-scale transformation.
In 2025, she was awarded a Damehood for services to business, technology and leadership, and now also chairs the UK Government's Industrial Strategy Advisory Council.
Building transformational partnerships
As Chair of our Corporate Partnerships Board, Dame Clare will use her extensive experience and network to help open doors to senior decision-makers and create new opportunities for large-scale partnerships that can accelerate our mission.
Our Chief Executive, Dr Charmaine Griffiths, said: "I'm thrilled to welcome Dame Clare Barclay as the new Chair of our BHF Corporate Partnerships Board. As a longstanding supporter of BHF, she brings exceptional leadership and expertise alongside a deep commitment to our work to save and improve more lives.
"At a time when the need has never been greater, I can think of no-one better to drive the growth of transformational partnerships that power our lifesaving work."
Bringing business leaders together for change
Dame Clare Barclay said: "My involvement with BHF over many years has shown me just how powerful it can be when commercial experience, strategic insight and personal networks are brought to bear on a mission like this.
"It's a privilege to accept this rare and exciting opportunity to help shape a new approach to corporate fundraising and I look forward to bringing together a group of like-minded leaders who care deeply about using their experience, insight and networks in service of something bigger."
Long-standing support
Dame Clare's appointment builds on many years of support for our work. She played a leading role in the development of The Circuit, the national defibrillator network we launched with the NHS and emergency services, and spent six years on our Audit and Risk Committee helping oversee key financial and governance decisions, including through the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Corporate Partnerships Board will launch this autumn, with further members to be announced in due course. Together, these partnerships will help fund the lifesaving research needed to save and improve more lives.
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