Dame Mary started her career as a physical chemist and taught Chemistry in Oxford, Cambridge and London.

She has had a long association with the NHS, serving as chairman of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust until 2012, and is President of Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust and Patron of Cambridge Global Health Partnerships.

In 2012, Dame Mary was appointed DBE for services to the NHS.

Dame Mary is Chair of the Science Museum Group, Patron of Cambridge Summer Music, Cam Sight, the Cambridge Museum of Technology, Prostate Cancer UK and RAFT, as well as being a trustee of the Britten Sinfonia and Chair of Cambridge Early Music.