Our leadership team

I’ve been Chief Executive of Ashgate Hospice since December 2017. I am responsible for everything that we do and for making sure that we achieve our strategic ambitions. It’s inspiring to see the passion and dedication our staff and volunteers bring to playing their part in making our care possible. I love working for Ashgate, it’s a real privilege.

I have worked in the voluntary sector for over 30 years and have had an interest in palliative and end of life care since my early career when I worked with people affected by HIV. I have managed services providing support for people with long-term conditions, including leading the national social care programme for Macmillan Cancer Support and as an Operations Director with the British Red Cross. I was a Non-Executive Director of Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust for eight years. I’m Scottish, and Derbyshire has been my home for over 20 years.

I am responsible for Ashgate’s people, our internal and external engagement and organisational performance. I support our HR, volunteering and learning and organisational development functions, as well as Marketing and Communication and Information Governance and Technology teams. My aim is to ensure Ashgate is a workplace where all our staff and volunteers feel safe and supported to be their authentic selves and  are supported to fulfil their potential in developing and delivering outstanding care.

Before joining Ashgate, I worked as an independent HR consultant, working with further education and the third sector. I also held a variety of specialist and generalist HR roles in logistics, the NHS, the police and higher education. I am a Chartered Member of the CIPD and studied as a post-graduate in Sheffield.

I first joined the hospice in 2015 as Clinical Administrator and through internal development I was successful in securing a role as an Executive Secretary within the clinical team working for the Director of Quality and Patient Care.  Since 2021, I have been working as Head of Corporate Governance and I am also the Company Secretary at Ashgate.

My role sees me work alongside the Board of Trustees and I am responsible for ensuring that the charity fulfils all legal and regulatory requirements. I oversee the Ashgate Governance Framework to ensure that the practice of governance supports our culture and performance, and that the hospice can achieve its vision and purpose.

Before joining the hospice, I worked as a Secretary to A&E Consultants at Chesterfield Royal Hospital and as a Training Administrator at AMEC National Grid. I live in Chesterfield with my husband and young son, who are always keeping me on my toes!