SUE RYDER DIRECT - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Chief Operating Officer
Alan became Chief Operating Officer in April 2021. This role has responsibility for all of our charitable healthcare activities.
Alan returned to Sue Ryder as Chief Financial Officer in March 2020, having previously served as Finance Director from 2016-2019. In September 2020, Alan also took on the role of Interim Director of Hospices, in addition to his role as CFO.
Alan is a Chartered Accountant with a background in commercial and strategic finance. He has spent the latter part of his career in senior finance leadership roles in the healthcare and not-for-profit sectors.
His first period with Sue Ryder covered the cost transformation work which stabilised the charity's finances and the subsequent development of our growth strategy. Alan is committed to delivering Sue Ryder's ambition to provide more care for more people.
Andrew was a number one rated healthcare and smaller companies analyst enjoying a wide-ranging career in London in stockbroking, fund management and private equity.
His non-executive positions have included being Deputy Chair of the Scottish Ambulance Service, sitting on the Board of NHS Tayside, and chairing Hub North Scotland, which is an infrastructure procurement specialist delivering properties for both the NHS and local authorities. He has also chaired the Angus Community Health Partnership (CHP) and sat on the Court of the University of Dundee, where he chaired the Finance and Resources Committee.
He currently chairs Frontier IP Group PLC, which is a London Stock Exchange Alternative Investment Market (AIM) traded Intellectual Property (IP) specialist, is Vice Chair of the Management Board of the Caledonia Housing Association (CHA), is a Trustee of the Church of Scotland Investors Trust and is a Trustee of Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA).
Andrew has an MA in Economics and Accounting from the University of Edinburgh and is an Associate of the Society of Investment Professionals (ASIP).
Bernice Ackah - Chief Legal Officer, Secretary
Job Titles:
- Company Secretary
- General Counsel
Bernice joined Sue Ryder as Company Secretary and General Counsel in September 2023.
Leveraging her extensive background in corporate governance and law, she aspires to elevate Sue Ryder's governance framework, setting unparalleled standards of compliance and ethical conduct.
Beyond the boardroom, her expertise extends to effective risk management, internal governance restructuring, ensuring optimal efficiency and alignment with regulatory requirements. Building on her proven track record of overseeing company secretarial functions, she aims to fortify Sue Ryder's governance processes by embracing innovative digital solutions, providing strategic guidance, and navigating regulatory complexities.
Christine is a senior finance professional with over 20 years' experience spanning several sectors including not-for-profit and social purpose organisations.
She enjoys collaborating with modern, dynamic, forward-thinking organisations that are active on physical and mental health, the environment and climate issues, human rights and social justice.
She currently serves as Chief Financial Officer at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families. Christine also holds governance roles with Global Witness and The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC). In addition, she is a mentor for the University of London's Careers Group Advisory Panel for Colleagues who are Black, Asian and of Diverse Heritage.
Christine is a finance professional who has been involved in the not-for-profit sector for many years.
Job Titles:
- Chief
- Consultant
- Medical Director
Paul has been Chief Medical Director since June 2019. He still works clinically two days a week as a consultant in Palliative Medicine based at Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice.
Paul has been a consultant since 2004, first at Sue Ryder St John's Hospice and then at Leckhampton since 2007. Paul is Sue Ryder's Caldicott Guardian and Responsible Officer.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Trustees
- Scientist
Rima is a trained scientist and has had senior roles in the global pharmaceutical sector. She has a diverse non-executive background in the health and care sector, holding regional and national roles. She has recently held senior positions at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the House of Commons Commission.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of Kent Surrey Sussex Academic Health Science Network
Guy has been Managing Director of Kent Surrey Sussex Academic Health Science Network (KSS AHSN) since 2013 and leads on Digital and Artificial Intelligence (AI) work for the national AHSN Network.
Heidi Travis took on the role of Chief Executive in September 2013. She joined Sue Ryder in March 2010 as Director of Retail.
Previously, Heidi worked as a business consultant developing small businesses and during this time worked with the Sue Ryder New Goods operation. Before that, she spent 25 years at Marks & Spencer, most recently as an executive in group planning and strategy as well as managing a buying group. Heidi also worked as a lay member of the Aylesbury Vale Clinical Commissioning Group until 2013.
She became a non executive director for Bucks PCT (now Bucks NHS) in 2008 and for Milton Keynes University Foundation Trust Hospital in April 2018.
Heidi is committed to steering Sue Ryder in order to achieve our vision to create a society where everyone has access to personalised and compassionate care.
Helen has 20 years' experience as a Chief Nurse and Deputy CEO within the NHS. She is a registered nurse and midwife, and also has a number of years of experience as a coach.
Job Titles:
- Chief Nursing Officer
- Deputy Chief
- Nurse
Jane joined Sue Ryder as Deputy Chief Nurse in 2015 and became Deputy Director of Nursing and Experience in April 2021. In April 2023, she became Interim Director of Patient Services and Nursing.
Jane qualified as a registered general nurse in 1989 and became dual qualified as an Ophthalmic nurse in 1990. Jane has worked in clinical and operational roles across the acute and private sectors specialising in surgery, case management and as a nurse practitioner in ophthalmic emergency care.
Previously, Jane worked at Bupa in varied clinical leadership roles, in Bupa Insurance leading teams to provide 24/7 health information services, shared decision making, policy development and case management. Before joining Sue Ryder, Jane was Head of Nursing for Bupa Home Healthcare which provided specialised nursing care and treatment for patients in their own homes who required chemotherapy, intravenous therapies and complex care.
With a passion for service user engagement and participation to drive service and quality improvement, Jane is committed to enabling the most effective care culture to consistently deliver compassionate, high-quality patient-centred care.
Jane became Sue Ryder's Chief Nursing Officer in August 2023.
Jane joined Sue Ryder as Deputy Chief Nurse in 2015 and became Deputy Director of Nursing and Experience in April 2021. Jane became Sue Ryder's Chief Nursing Officer in August 2023.
Job Titles:
- Executive Strategic Programme Director
Jo took on the role of Executive Strategic Programme Director in April 2022.
With over 20 years of experience in the energy and charity sectors, Jo joined Sue Ryder in December 2017 as the charity's Strategic Change Programme Manager, reporting directly to the Chief Executive. Jo specialises in originating and implementing transformational growth, and has led start-ups, turnarounds and material growth projects whilst running private sector commercial businesses and leading change programmes in not-for-profit organisations.
Since joining Sue Ryder, Jo has implemented and overseen a successful strategic change programme bringing teams together to help deliver the strategic aims set out in our five-year strategy with a focus on impact growth, financial sustainability, brand and culture, and technology and data.
As Strategic Programme Director Jo is committed to ensuring that Sue Ryder's programme of work aligns with organisational strategy and meets objectives so that we can reach more people with our support.
Katherine currently works as a Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Imperial College in London.
Job Titles:
- Chief Operating Officer at the Global Retailer, Mothercare
With over twenty years' experience in retail, Kevin is currently Chief Operating Officer at the global retailer, Mothercare.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Certified Accountant
- Chief Finance Officer
Kirsten joined Sue Ryder in 2018 to Head up the Finance Department and in September 2020 took on the role of Interim Operational Finance Director.
Kirsten then became Sue Ryder's Director of Finance in April 2021. In May 2023, Kirsten was appointed as Sue Ryder's Chief Finance Officer.
Kirsten is a Chartered Certified Accountant with 20 years' post-qualification experience covering internal and external audit of public and private companies, local government, universities and the commercial sector. Kirsten spent ten years working in digital media where she was Finance and Operations Director within a PLC media group, and more recently oversaw the finance function in the Europe & Asia pacific region for a global IT business.
Kirsten is dedicated to ensuring that Sue Ryder has a strategic and forward thinking focus within Finance, ensuring that Sue Ryder is there to support people through the most difficult times of their lives.
Kirsten joined Sue Ryder in 2018 to Head up the Finance Department. In May 2023, Kirsten was appointed as Sue Ryder's Chief Finance Officer.
Linda has worked in property for over 35 years, most of that time has been spent working in national and multinational retailers.
Martin joined Sue Ryder, taking up the Director of Retail and E-commerce role in June 2020, and later took on responsibility for Health & Safety and Estates in April 2021.
Having gained experience across multiple retail functions in national retailers, Martin went on to play a key role in growing British luxury goods brand, Smythson. Martin has spent the last few years working in not-for-profit organisations, leading retail teams in developing and implementing strategy at the National Trust and Help for Heroes.
Martin is committed to working collaboratively across Sue Ryder, creating and delivering a retail offer that delights our customers, integrates with our fundraising and champions the support we give, helping to fund more care for more people.
He was appointed Chief Commerical Officer in July 2023.
Martin joined Sue Ryder, taking up the Director of Retail and E-commerce role in June 2020. He was appointed Chief Commerical Officer in July 2023.
Nicola has had a wide-ranging 25-year career covering everything from pedigree dogs to universities to trade associations, with the vast majority spent in financial services at two firms: Invesco Perpetual and Baring Asset Management.
Polly is a leader in digitally enabled healthcare strategy and transformation, with over 25 years of experience in consulting and healthcare.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Strategy
Stuart Hudson is Senior Director of Strategy, Communications and Advocacy at the Competition and Markets Authority.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director of the Cross Sector Leadership Exchange
With over 30 years' experience gained across NHS organisations and the wider public sector, Sue is currently Managing Director of the Cross Sector Leadership Exchange.
Tabetha Darmon joined University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT) as Chief Nursing Officer on 1 May 2023.
Job Titles:
- Chief People and Culture Officer
Tracey is our Chief People and Culture Officer. She joined Sue Ryder as Director of People at the end of November 2016, took on responsibility for Marketing & Communications in December 2019 and then also IS&T in April 2021.
Tracey has 20 years of human resource management and organisational development experience, gained across NHS organisations and other major UK charities. Tracey has direct experience of working with brand development, charity shop staff and volunteers, healthcare professionals, fundraisers and corporate teams.
Tracey's ambition for Sue Ryder is to ensure it is a great place to work, where staff and volunteers can develop, feel fulfilled and therefore strive to be the best they can be; bringing in funds and delivering care to those who need us.