Meet the Team

Angela is a charted physiotherapist, but has held several executive director position in the NHS in acute hospitals. She then worked at the Department of Health before her retirement. She was co-opted onto the Board in 2014 and then became a Trustee in 2015, Angela serves on our HR, Strategy, Finance and Search Sub Committees.

Sandra was a Bursar at Durham High School for Girls until 2013. She has been a Board Member since 2012 and is also the hospice honorary treasurer. Sandra is a member of the Strategy Sub Committee and chairs our Finance Sub Committee.

Sheila worked as head of corporate affairs for BT for a number of years before setting up her own public relations consultancy. Now retired, Sheila devotes her time to her board memberships. She has been a board member of St Cuthbert’s Hospice since 2012, currently chairs the hospice Strategy Committee and often volunteers to help out on the hospice reception. Sheila is also a board member of the Newcastle Theatre Royal and was Governor of New College, Durham.

John is Head of Estates and Facilities at New College Durham. He has been a Board Member since 2011. John serves on the Governance Review Sub Committee and is also a member of the Estates Advisory Group.

Angela has lived in Durham for over 30 years having moved from Merseyside. She worked as a Hospital Consultant in Merseyside, Durham and Newcastle until retiring. As well as serving on the Board as a trustee, she is a volunteer for the Hospice working as an Ambassador and helping out with events.

Ian has been a director of a number of companies. He became a Board Member in 2013 and serves on our Finance Sub Committee.

Janet has extensive experience in Palliative Care Education. She became a Board Member in 2013, chairs our HR Sub Committee and also serves on the Clinical Governance Sub Committee. Janet is also the Vice Chair of the Board and is a volunteer receptionist at the Hospice.

James is a GP in Chester-le-Street. He was co-opted onto the Board in 2013. He serves on our Clinical Governance Sub Committee.

John is the Managing Partner of Durham law firm, Swinburne Maddison LLP. He lives in Durham City and has represented an extensive number of prominent institutions, companies and individuals in the North East throughout a career which has seen Swinburne Maddison LLP become the practice it is today. John has held positions as a charity trustee and carried out work on significant community projects in Durham City.

Lorraine is the Director of Transformation and Partnerships at Durham County Council and has been a senior local government manager in a number of councils for over 20 years.

Naomi Hutchinson is Head of Innovation at Sunderland Software City and Lead for The Digital Catapult North East and Tees Valley which is a local centre for the national Digital Catapult. Naomi is honoured to be have been given the opportunity to be a Trustee of St Cuthbert’s Hospice, as she believes it is such a special and unique place and she is looking forward to learning from the team and providing guidance on how to future proof the Hospice through technology. Naomi joined the Board in 2018 and is a member of the Clinical Governance Working Group.

Colin has had thirty-five years of experience in senior finance positions in a range of companies across the North East. For the eighteen years until his retirement in April 2017, he was Finance Director for Go North East, the region’s largest bus company employing over 2,200 people. During this time he not only had responsibility for financial matters and corporate governance but was also heavily involved in the commercial and operational activities of the company.

Simon has more than 15 years of experience in commercial roles primarily with the Northumbrian Water Group, focused on business development in competitive markets. He serves on our Strategy Sub Committee.

Gillian has 30 years’ experience within the NHS, holding both senior clinical and managerial posts. She has recently retired as Director of Nursing Midwifery and Quality at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust. Gillian is the Acting Chair of our Clinical Governance Sub Committee.

Patricia is a GP in Durham with over 30 years of experience in a variety of clinical settings. She joined the Board in 2016 and serves on our Clinical Governance Sub Committee.