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.

My teams are responsible for raising the income that we need over and above what we receive from the NHS. This includes money raised through our shops and coffee shops, fundraising and donations. We are continuously looking for new ways to raise money too. I am delighted to be able to play a role in helping the hospice continue its invaluable work. I want to ensure that Ashgate has the funds it needs to continue to support as many people as possible.

Before joining the hospice, I ran my own consultancy practice for over 15 years. This involved working with many voluntary and public sector organisations. I have also worked for charities, including the Royal Society of Nature Conservation, the Woodland Trust and the Holocaust Museum.

I am responsible for Ashgate’s finances as well as our estates and facilities. My aim is to ensure that we maximise the hospice’s income and focus expenditure on the effective provision of our services.

I’m motivated by working for an organisation that makes a difference to people’s lives. My previous role was in the charity sector, heading up the finance function for the Diocese of York. I am also a Trustee of my local church in Sheffield.

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 see patients in the hospice, in clinic and in their own homes. I enjoy the challenge of managing complex symptoms and situations. I also educate other health and social care professionals about palliative care.

My qualifications include a BMedSci in anaesthetics and MBChB. I am a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians. I am also a Facilitator in Advanced Communication Skills Training and SAGE & THYME communication training.

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!