Our Board of Trustees

As a behavioural psychologist by discipline, I have held multiple senior roles in multinational organisations across several industries. My primary focus is always on understanding what makes us behave the way we do, and I am passionate about helping people unlock their potential. 

Today, I am focussed on giving back to the communities that nurtured me, namely Sheffield as child and Derbyshire as an adult.  To that end, I hold four Non-Executive Director/Trustee Positions in the area alongside my role here. Additionally, I am the CEO of a small charity, High Green Development Trust, which serves as a home for community groups and social enterprises supporting people in need. 

I am hugely proud to be support the team here at Ashgate Hospice as chair of trustees and am really looking forward to the next few years together as the organisation continues to adapt and grow. 

I am a strategic marketing and business development leader with over 20 years’ experience across housing, education, hospitality, construction, and the charity sector. I currently lead growth strategy, customer engagement, and brand development at a national consultancy working across public and private markets.

Throughout my career I have built high-performing teams, introduced innovative services, and delivered measurable outcomes through targeted, data-driven strategies. I’m passionate about uniting business expertise with purpose-driven work.

My decision to join Ashgate Hospice as Trustee is rooted in personal experience of its extraordinary care and support. That experience had a profound effect on me, and I am proud to give something back to an organisation that plays such a vital role locally.

The hospice has always held a special place in my life. My grandfather was its founder, and through him, I grew up with a deep awareness of its importance to our community. His dedication to compassionate care left a lasting impression on me, and I feel incredibly honoured to now be involved myself as an Associate Trustee.

I’m currently in my second year of university, studying physiotherapy. My degree has deepened my understanding of the importance of holistic, person-centered care – something the hospice embodies every day.

It means a lot to be part of an organisation that has long been close to my family’s heart, and I’m proud to contribute to its ongoing work and future.

I have a rich background in nursing, spanning 20 years as a Registered Adult Nurse, with significant involvement in senior management within the NHS, focusing on service and quality improvement. Additionally, I have contributed to clinical education and currently serve as the Assistant Head of Adult Nursing at the University of Derby, Chesterfield campus.

In my role, I am also actively engaged in promoting LGBT+ equality as a college network link and serve as a Change Champion, advocating for continuous improvements in staff and student experiences.

Since August 2023, I have had the privilege of serving as a Trustee at Ashgate Hospice. This connection holds personal significance for me, as my father received end of life care at the hospice in 1994. I am committed to leveraging both my personal and professional experiences to support Ashgate in achieving its aspirations for our community.

I have worked in talent and recruitment for more than 20 years and am currently Talent Acquisition Partner at Sheffield Forgemasters.

In my role, I lead recruitment across the business, deliver talent acquisition initiatives, and develop retention strategies. I look forward to bringing a people and culture perspective to the Board to help Ashgate meet its objectives and continue to thrive for the future.

Ashgate cared for my father at the hospice and at home in 2007, when he was diagnosed with cancer. The exceptional compassion shown inspired me to become involved. Since then, I have volunteered and fundraised regularly, and I feel proud and privileged to now serve as Associate Trustee.

I joined the Board of Trustees in June 2022 after working as a GP in North Derbyshire for almost 30 years until the end of 2020, where I was most recently a partner at Staffa Health in Tibshelf. 

I have also worked as a clinical leader on Hardwick CCG and more recently for three years as a Governing Body GP for Derby and Derbyshire CCG. 

Over the years I have witnessed first-hand the excellent and invaluable care Ashgate’s staff provide to patients and seen the services expand and respond to the needs of the population. I am passionate about providing good end of life care for both the patient and their loved ones and feel privileged to be a part of the team.

I am a Chartered Surveyor with more than 35 years’ experience in senior roles across the built and commercial environments, in both public and private sectors. I am now semi-retired and want to use my time, energy, and skills to give back to causes that matter to me and where I can add real value.

Having lived in Chesterfield for over 20 years, I have supported Ashgate through fundraising and seen first-hand the incredible care it provides to patients and the people important to them.

These experiences inspired me to join the Board of Trustees from April 2025. I am proud and honoured to be involved, and excited to support Ashgate’s future journey of care in our community.

I have been a registered nurse for over 30 years, with extensive experience in hospital, community, and primary care. I was awarded the Queen’s Nurse title for my dedication to patient care and currently work as a Practice and Professional Development Manager in urgent and emergency care across the Midlands.

One of my interests is clinical education and I have experience of working as lecturer at the University of Derby at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

I have worked alongside Ashgate professionally and have personal experience of their care when my Mum attended Day Services in 2017.

As a Trustee, I want to use both my clinical and personal insight to support the hospice and ensure it remains a vital service for the community.

I recently retired after more than 40 years in executive and general management, mainly in the metals and engineering sectors, including senior roles at Sheffield Forgemasters, Firth Rixson and Rolls-Royce. For the past 12 years, I was CEO of a publicly quoted engineering company based in Oxfordshire.

Since retiring, I wanted to give something back to my community, and I have been volunteering with Ashgate’s fundraising team for several months. I am now delighted to be taking on the role of Associate Trustee.

I look forward to using my international, general, and commercial management experience to support Ashgate Hospice and ensure its vital services continue for those who need them most.

I’m a finance and leadership professional with 25 years’ experience as a director in the NHS. As a qualified accountant, I’ve led a wide range of strategic programmes throughout my career – from developing business cases for major hospital developments to supporting organisations through financial challenge and building effective partnerships across the health and care system.

Until my retirement in February 2025, I was the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Doncaster and Bassetlaw University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Outside of work, I’m married with two children and enjoy walking, swimming and playing the guitar.

I am a retired consultant surgeon having worked at the Chesterfield Royal Hospital for 30 years. I have been involved in NHS management both in hospital settings and as an advisor to primary care.

I was originally involved with Ashgate Hospice in the early days of its operation when I helped to provide medical cover. Since then, I have seen the hospice’s services develop significantly.

I joined Ashgate’s Board of Trustees in July 2025 and hope my experiences of working in various aspects of healthcare during my career can benefit the hospice moving forward. I believe high quality palliative care service is absolutely essential and my aim is to help this to continue in the long term.

I have been a lawyer for nearly 30 years, working across both public and private sectors. Initially specialising in property and regeneration law, my career now covers a wide variety of legal areas. I am currently Head of Legal and Records and the Data Protection Officer at the Mining Remediation Authority, previously known as the Coal Authority.

Alongside my legal career, I have been a magistrate, local council member, non-executive director at the Met Office, and trustee for a homeless charity. These diverse roles have given me a broad perspective that I bring to Ashgate.

I believe passionately in the value of hospice care and am proud to support Ashgate Hospice as a Trustee.