Become a trustee.

There are no vacancies on the Board at present but expressions of interest are most welcome with successful applicants being held on the Register of Potential Trustees until a suitable vacancy arises.

The Board of Trustees
The Board of Trustees provides the Hospice with strategic leadership in line with our aims and values. The Board is responsible for ensuring good governance and the ongoing performance of the Hospice in providing care to its beneficiaries, stakeholders and wider community. All trustees give their time and expertise on a voluntary basis.

Recruitment to the Board of Trustees
The Hospice has a robust and transparent process for the recruitment of trustees that plays a crucial role in ensuring the Board can draw on a diverse range of skills, expertise, experience and backgrounds and that the Board is as representative of the community we serve as possible.

Recruitment to the Board is a two-stage process. Firstly, we invite members of the public who are prepared to act as a voluntary trustee to express their interest and undertake our selection process. Successful applicants are recorded on our Register of Potential Future Trustees. Secondly, the Board identifies a vacancy and invites an individual on the Register of Potential Future Trustees to fill the vacancy. It is usual for potential future trustees to serve as a co-opted member of one of the sub-committees of the Board before becoming a trustee.

David Dickson.

Position on the Board

Chair of Trustees, Chair of the Membership Committee and a member of the Finance and Investment, Governance and Income Generation committees.

Background information

I joined the Hospice Board in November 2015 following a career as a Chartered Accountant, culminating as the Chair of a regional firm of accountants and business advisors. I now advise family businesses on succession and governance strategies and I’m a non-executive director in a number of private companies. I am a member of the Hospice UK forum of Chairs and chair the Yorkshire and Humber Hospice Chairs Group.

I am Deputy Chair of the York and North Yorkshire LEP, chair its Infrastructure and Joint Assets Board and a member of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund Advisory Board. I have advisory roles with both the University of York and Coventry University, Scarborough.

I am a Trustee of several regional and national Charities.

Best thing about being a Trustee
Working with an extremely talented and dedicated team who are committed to providing outstanding care with a smile.

Lorna Allan.

Position on the board

Trustee and member of the Governance and Digital Transformation committees.

Background Information

I became a member of the Board in September 2023, bringing with me extensive executive and board-level leadership skills. With a strong connection to York and a desire to contribute to society, my diverse career has encompassed roles in organisations dedicated to providing social value to communities. Presently serving as the Chief Digital and Information Officer for the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust in Salford, I possess valuable expertise in shaping and executing digital strategies within the healthcare sector. In a previous role as Chief Information Officer for a charity, I played a pivotal role in transitioning the organisation into a new digital era, collaborating with key partners to establish innovative services.

Best thing about being a trustee.

Being able to support and participate in such a worthy charity for the local communities we serve and being able to bring and share my experiences from the diverse sectors and roles I have undertaken in my career with the Board and colleagues.

Sandra Falcus.

Position on the Board
Trustee, Vice Chair of the People and Culture Committee and member of the Membership Committee.

Background information
I became a Trustee/Co-opted Member of the Board in September 2018 and was then elected as a full Board member in September 2019. I am currently Head of HR at Portakabin, a very successful family owned business of which I am really proud to work for. In my role I have a responsibility for everything people and culture. I have significant experience in business partnering at Group Board, Director/Senior management levels and I am also an Executive Coach and Mentor.

Best thing about being a Trustee
I am truly honoured to be a Trustee of St Leonard’s as I get to work with a team of extraordinary, committed and empathic professionals who care deeply about patients, their families and each other.

Kate Flemming.

Position on the Board

Trustee, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Chair of the Service Development Committee and member of both the Governance and Membership committees.

Background information

I have worked both clinically and academically in palliative care for most of my career. I am currently Professor of Hospice Practice and Evidence Synthesis in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York. I have a nursing background and worked for a number of years at a Hospice on Oxford prior to moving to York. My programme of research focuses on patient and carer experience of palliative care across disease types and morbidities, with a focus on inequalities of provision.

Best thing about being a Trustee

Meeting people across the entirety of the organisation, all of whom contribute to making St Leonard’s the excellent Hospice it is.

Khushbu Goulden.

Position on the Board
Trustee, and member of the Service Development Committee.

Background information

My inspiration to join the Board of Trustees came after my sister in law, Natalie, was cared for by the Hospice. She was only 30 years old when she died of cervical cancer in 2018. I’d never had first-hand experience of a hospice and was struck by how amazing the care was. So when my job brought me to York in 2020, I really wanted to give back to the Hospice.

Originally Indian and born and raised in Spain, I have lived in the UK for the past 16 years. I graduated from Kings College, London, with a BSc (hons) in Medical Biochemistry and then went on to get my Masters in International Health Management at Imperial College, London. I also took a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Economics at York University.

I have gone on to gain a wealth of experience in both the public and private healthcare sectors, working at organisations including the World Health Organisation, NHS, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and KPMG, where I was a management consultant. I currently work in a commercial role at the pharmaceutical company GSK.

Best thing about being a trustee

It’s really important for me to do what fulfils me. We’re often too focused on the day to day, rather than focused on what is our role in society and how do we give back. I find being a trustee is a privilege. It brings so much reward and I feel it can fit well together with other roles in the workplace.

Juliette Healey.

Position on the Board
Trustee, Chair of the Finance and Investment Committee and member of the Income Generation Committee.

Background information
I became a trustee in February 2017. I am currently the Bank of England’s Agent for Yorkshire & Humber. Often described as the ears, eyes and voice of the Bank in the region I assess the UK’s economic prospects by talking with businesses from across Yorkshire covering all sectors of activity. I’ve had a varied career spanning economic policy, financial markets, change and project management, communications strategy and governance for central banks; including stints at HM Treasury and the International Monetary Fund in the USA.

Best thing about being a Trustee
It’s an honour to support St Leonard’s Hospice given the vital and caring role they play in the community – the Hospice can change people’s lives. Hospices are likely to be increasingly important as our population ages over the next 50 years.

Mike Holmes.

Position on the Board
Trustee and member of the Service Development Committee.

Background information
I joined the board in July 2019. I am a GP partner at Haxby Group in York and have been since 2002. Haxby Group cares for over 60,000 patients, half of which are in York and half in Hull. I also chair an organisation called Nimbus Care which is a community provider in York responsible for delivering one of the new Primary Care Networks, and providing extended hours GP services. I am the Vice Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners – The College is the professional body for General Practitioners. My responsibility there is to oversee services for our 53,000 members globally and I also lead on the international work of the College. We are currently involved in projects in almost 40 different countries. My interests include at scale collaborative working across the health and social care system, the development of multiprofessional teams and the pursuit of wellbeing for all those working in healthcare. I feel privileged to be an Honorary Professor in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York.

Best thing about being a Trustee
Working with a fantastic team dedicated to the provision of high quality care.

Melanie Kay.

Position on the Board
Trustee, Chair of the Digital Transformation Subcommittee and member of the Finance and Investment Committee.

Background information
I have spent most of my career in healthcare, working in finance or commercial roles for public and independent sector. I have a particular interest in service development and improvement in cancer services, and was proud to lead the NHS England team that introduced Proton Beam Therapy into the UK for the NHS. I enjoy working across conventional boundaries to achieve the best outcomes for patients.

Best thing about being a Trustee

Knowing that patients, their families and friends have access to exceptional services and support from the staff and volunteers at St Leonards Hospice.

Eamonn Keogh.

Position on the Board
Trustee and member of the Finance and Investment and Income Generation committees.

Background information

I was privileged to be asked to join the Board in 2018 after my wife Joanna had been cared for in her final days by the amazing team at the Hospice. The caring and compassionate support provided to me, my young children and wider family made a lasting impression. I am a director of a local planning business with a national client base, specialising in planning, development, and infrastructure issues. I am also a member of the leadership group of the local Chamber of Commerce. As a dual qualified chartered town planner and chartered surveyor, I have extensive experience in property management, urban development and community wellbeing.

In my role as a Trustee at the Hospice, I apply my expertise to support the organisation’s mission of providing compassionate care to individuals and families facing life-limiting illnesses. In particular, I enjoy the opportunity to assist the retail and fundraising team in their important task of growing the vital income generated by the Hospice’s expanding retail operations.

Best thing about being a Trustee

Being part of a dedicated team that ensures the Hospice can continue to provide its unique support and care to the wider community that my family was fortunate to have received when most needed.

Jacqueline Myers.

Position on the Board
Trustee, Chair of the Governance committee and member of the People and Culture and Service Development committees.

Background information
I commenced as a Trustee in June 2017. I am currently the Director of Strategy and Planning at Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals Trust. I started working in the NHS in 1993 and have held a variety of strategy, planning and operational management roles, including 5 years as the Divisional General Manager for Oncology and Surgery at Leeds Teaching Hospitals during which time I was the Trust Lead for Cancer and End of Life Care.

Best thing about being a Trustee
The opportunity to be part of an organisation and a team that is caring, compassionate and ambitious, constantly seeking to improve and expand what it can offer to patients and their families and loved ones.

Lavinia Norton.

Position on the Board
Trustee, Chair of the People and Culture Committee and member of the Service Development and Income Generation committees.

Background information
I started as a Trustee in June 2017. I worked at Leeds Beckett University within the Faculty of Health for over twenty years, moving from teaching to management, where my final role was an Associate Dean. I have recently retired. My academic interests include health care ethics and I completed a Doctorate focusing on the allocation of health care resources. I am a trained nurse and was a Charge Nurse on a renal unit.

Best thing about being a Trustee
The best thing about being a Trustee at St Leonard’s Hospice is working with committed and expert teams of people, within a caring and positive environment.

Kate O'Connell.

Position on the Board

Trustee and member of the People and Culture and Governance committees.

Background information

In 2022, I assumed my role as a member of the Board, contributing a rich background in workforce management, organisational development, and strategic leadership acquired across various industries. My status as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) serves as a testament to my unwavering dedication to professional excellence.

Having previously served on a number of boards in roles encompassing quality, finance, remuneration, workforce, and education, I bring a depth of experience that enriches my perspective. My engagement in education and healthcare sectors has provided me with valuable insights that I now bring to the organisation.

In addition to my professional pursuits, I have a deep personal connection with the Hospice, rooted in the care provided to a family member. This firsthand experience has motivated me to actively engage in fundraising, volunteer activities, and community events. Now, I channel my professional skills and expertise towards advancing the Hospice’s crucial mission in my role as a Trustee.

Best thing about being a Trustee

I love being part of the St Leonard’s team. It’s a real pleasure to work with such talented, compassionate staff and volunteers to make a real difference to our community.

Shaun Parker.

Position on the Board

Trustee and member of the Finance and Investment Committee.

Background information

I became a Trustee in June 2024 at about the same time as I retired after 40+ years working in business. I started out as an engineer, however most of my career was in Finance Director and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) roles. I have been fortunate to work for great companies including ICI, Mars, Guinness and Diageo, across diverse sectors, and internationally, having lived and worked in Germany and the USA as well as all over the UK.

My most recent executive role was CFO of Voyage Care, a company which provides support for 3,500 people with learning disabilities, autism, brain injuries and complex needs.

Although retired from full time work, I am currently a Non-Executive Director of Spaghetti Bridge, a group of schools for children with special educational needs, and also a trustee of The Hepworth, Wakefield.

I have lived in York for over twenty years and during that time a number of friends have needed St Leonard’s Hospice’s care and support which made a huge difference to them and their families at a very difficult time. I feel privileged to be a trustee and be in a position to give something back to such a vital organisation in our local community.

Best thing about being a Trustee

Working with an extremely talented and dedicated team who are committed to providing outstanding care with a smile.

David Smith.

Position on the board

Trustee and member of the Income Generation Committee and Service Development Committee.

Background Information

I joined the Board in January 2024 after a successful career as a Chief Executive in the charitable sector and extensive experience as a trustee, including two terms with ACEVO. I am currently a trustee at Hospice UK.

My professional journey began in retail at the age of 14, transitioning into finance after leaving school. My charitable endeavours commenced with volunteering at Shelter, paving the way for my first board role as a trustee just two years later.

Throughout my career, I have held various leadership positions, uniquely blending commercial and healthcare expertise. This background equips me with a profound understanding of the strategic and regulatory frameworks governing healthcare charities. My operational insights into hospices are particularly noteworthy, reflecting my close collaboration with system colleagues on local, regional, and national levels.

Best thing about being a trustee.

Sharing my skills, time, energy and knowledge to help a cause I care about succeed and help the people it is there for.

Tony Taylor.

Position on the Board

Trustee and Chair of the Income Generation Committee.

Background information

With extensive commercial experience, myself and my family have made significant contributions to the Hospice over the years. Initially serving as a co-opted Trustee, I utilised my expertise to benefit the organisation before transitioning to a full Hospice Trustee role in 2021.

With extensive expertise in business strategy and development, I tap into my background as a seasoned professional and former business owner to offer invaluable insights to the organisation. With more than three decades of experience as a Chief Executive Officer, I demonstrate excellence in shaping strategic vision and planning, rendering me an ideal candidate to chair the Income Generation Committee.

Best thing about being a Trustee

The most rewarding aspects of being a Trustee are the great satisfaction from helping others, and ensuring the optimal utilisation of every generous donation received from our wonderful donors. It also encompasses the privilege of collaborating with a brilliant and dedicated team of like-minded individuals.