Meet the team

Rachel has been Chair of the Board since 2020. She is an accredited Professional Coach and Chartered Manager with the Chartered Management Institute, and she holds an MBA from the University of Hull. Rachel is experienced in risk management and organisational change, and currently works as an executive leader in a multi-academy trust. She has lived in Grimsby over 18 years and provides St Andrew’s Hospice with strategic and operational planning advice.

Ian has spent most of his career within the digital media and communications industry, later going on to set up his own successful software development company that specialises in healthcare. Ian is a long-term supporter of the hospice and was delighted to join the board in 2016. He said: “I am thrilled to help an organisation that I am passionate about, and one that can put my skills and experience to good use.”

Born in Lincolnshire, Jane started her career by training as a nurse at the University of Hull. She later worked for the Royal Air Force in Germany, before gaining qualifications in cancer nursing and palliative care and embarking on a new journey as a Clinical Tutor. Returning to her home county in 2001, Jane excelled in her role as a hospice Nursing Services Manager until retiring in 2018. Jane provides governance, quality, and regulatory expertise.

Anne is a recently retired Chartered Physiotherapist who dedicated 37 years to helping NHS patients and supporting a healthcare charity. For 14 years, she led the clinical governance, audit, and research team for one of the ambulance services, during a time when investigations into pre-hospital care were limited. Anne played an important role in the development of this type of research, which is now a major contributor to the NHS and wider academia.

Originally from Wales, Nigel studied chemical engineering at the University of Nottingham, before moving to Hull to complete his MBA. He spent 34 years working in the oil industry for the major multi-national organisation Total, working in England, Wales, France, the Netherlands and Texas. Nigel retired in 2016, and now offers his invaluable advice to the St Andrew’s Hospice board.

After gaining his Doctorate in Human Factors from the University of Wales, David held a number of senior procurement, supply chain and IT roles at large multinational FMCG and pharmaceutical companies. On retirement, he set up his own consultancy business advising SMEs on improving operating efficiency. He has been treasurer at Grimsby Golf Club since 2011 and has taught on business management degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

Michelle has been involved with the hospice since 1980. A qualified children’s nurse, she spent the first five years of her career at Hull Maternity Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, before helping St Andrew’s to open Andy’s Children’s Unit in 2001. Ten years later, Michelle took on a new position as Head of Care for the hospice, before becoming Chief Executive in 2017.

Lesley joined the hospice in 2017, having held senior management roles in banking and education for 40 years. She has a broad management background that spans law, strategy, business development, HR, bid writing and finance. Lesley oversees multiple teams in the hospice and leads the vital income generation function, which encompasses our retail outlets, lottery, fundraising, and grants.

Director of Clinical Services, Karen began working at St Andrew’s Hospice more than 20 years ago as a nurse in the children’s unit. Prior to this, she worked across a variety of children’s specialisms, first getting involved with palliative nursing at St Oswald’s Children’s Hospice. Karen has held several roles at St Andrew’s and, prior to assuming her current position in 2021, she spent six years as Head of Support and Wellbeing Services.

Before starting at the hospice in 2014, Shelley worked across the country in specialist renal units, progressing to the role of Renal Research Nurse at Hull Royal Infirmary. She first joined St Andrew’s as a Senior Nurse before progressing from Adult Unit Lead Nurse in 2016 to Governance and Quality Lead in 2018, and into her current role as Director of Governance and Quality in 2020.

Jacqueline has more than three decades of experience as a chartered HR professional, working in secondary education and the NHS. She has a wealth of knowledge in strategic HR, business management and health and safety. Jacqueline leads the HR team in creating a strong organisational culture, designing employee engagement and development programmes and implementing systems to support St Andrew’s Hospice’s business objectives.

Soraya joined the hospice in January 2023, having worked in a variety of roles in healthcare organisations both in the UK and Canada for the last 20 years. Her career started in emergency care then moved to genetics, maternal fetal medicine, primary and community care. This experience has provided a wealth of knowledge and highlighted some of the gaps where technological improvements could enhance both patient and workforce experiences. 

Marcus joined the hospice in September 2023, and was appointed Director of Finance in December. Marcus previously worked in the NHS in a variety of finance and management roles, including performance management, contracting, service costing and management information, eventually at Director level. Marcus is looking forward to utilising this experience to help the hospice to continue to improve services for all its users.