Meet the team

About Amanda: Amanda has a wealth of experience both in the NHS and charity sector, with a track record of delivering improvements in care, performance and finances. Joining the team in October 2021, she brings with her a strong clinical and business development background – with an MBA from Brighton University.

From Amanda: “I am passionate about safe and compassionate care that is accessible to all and particularly for the most vulnerable in our society.”

Simone has been a Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Martlets since March 2004. She graduated from Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, University of London (now part of Imperial School of Medicine) in 1993. Simone did her post-graduate general medical training in and around London. Her interest in palliative medicine began in 1998 as a junior doctor, and this led to her specialist training from 1999-2003.

Since being at Martlets, Simone was Clinical Director of the community palliative care team from 2010-2016 and has been Medical Director since June 2013. As well as her clinical commitments, she has an active teaching role with links to Brighton and Sussex Medical School, the Institute of Cancer Research and with GPs and primary care teams in the local area. She has a large strategic role in the locality working with other providers and commissioning bodies to ensure that palliative and end of life care is of the highest quality and safety.

Simone has a particular interest in medical ethics and obtained her MA in Ethics of Cancer and Palliative Care in 2005 from Keele University. She is also passionate about clinical leadership, completing the NHS Staff College Senior Leadership Programme in 2012 and going on to be invited to be part of their faculty in 2013.

When she is not working, Simone enjoys being a busy mum, wife, daughter and friend, indulging in foreign travel and singing, rustling up a good home cooked meal and building on her very basic knowledge of the arts.

Michael joined Martlets in June 2022. He is a CIMA qualified accountant with a background covering commercial, public and non-profit sectors.

Michael worked in manufacturing companies while studying in the early part of his career and qualified while working in the NHS in senior financial management roles. He moved to the commercial sector with BT where he held various positions before specialising in communications regulation, which led to him joining a national internet and comms provider as Regulatory Director. Subsequently, Michael has held senior management positions in further education and charities as well as continuing consulting activities in the communications sector. He joins Martlets from Independent Lives, a disability and care charity based in Worthing, where he was Director of Business Planning & Finance.

About John: John is a qualified management accountant and has served as Finance Director or CFO for many years in NHS hospital trusts and universities. John has two grown-up children and lives in Brighton, where he produces cider from apples grown in the garden.

From John: “Having supported local food bank and homelessness charities as a volunteer, I’m enjoying the opportunity to bring my professional skills and experience to the running of this important local charity.”

About Becki: Becki’s worked in the charity sector for over 25 years for a number of well-known brands including Sightsavers, WWF, the Prince’s Trust and the Alzheimer’s Society. She joined St Barnabas and Chestnut Tree House in March 2020 and now oversees the income generation and people services teams, alongside the adult services delivery at both St Barnabas and Martlets. Outside of work Becki spends her time ferrying her teenage son around and supporting her husband’s record label. She lives in Hassocks with her husband, son, dog and cat.

From Becki: ‘Having spent many years working in overseas development, this role at the hospices is the first time in my career that I have had the honour and privilege to support the community that myself and my family live in.

About Jane: Jane is a consultant in palliative medicine and has worked in palliative care for 18 years in community, hospice inpatient and hospital posts in the UK and overseas both as a GP and as a palliative care specialist. She works closely with the Head of Service to provide clinical and strategic leadership for the hospice, clinical insight into discussions at the executive team level and is the organisation’s Caldicott Guardian. Jane continues to be involved in direct patient care, training, education, research and governance alongside this role. She lives in Hove and is a very keen Charleston dancer and sea dipper.

From Jane: “I am passionate about working within multi-professional teams to deliver effective holistic and equitable care in a sustainable way for both patients, their loved ones and our own staff. I believe palliative care is everyone’s business.”

Gill joined Martlets in February 2022, and has a range of experiences in healthcare across Sussex spanning over 20 years. This includes health commissioning and acute hospital deputy director roles, working closely with social care, community services and education. Her responsibilities have encompassed operational management as well as transformational strategic change.

Gill lives with her husband in Brighton and enjoys travel, cycling and has more recently started outdoor swimming.

Information coming soon.

About Kathleen: Kathleen’s role covers the executive lead of our Estates and Facilities and Health and Safety portfolio, with an overview on our capital works programmes, and the lead on all business planning for the charities.  Kathleen has a wealth of knowledge in the health sector, having a career spanning 25 years in the NHS.

From Kathleen: ‘I’m excited to work with such brilliant teams at St Barnabas and Chestnut Tree House, where I can bring my professional experience into an organisation that I’m passionate about’

About Anna: Anna is a registered paediatric nurse and children’s community nurse specialist, with considerable experience working in paediatric palliative care. She’s worked in and around the local area for the past 17 years – working across multiple sectors and organisations. She lives locally with her husband and two teenagers and loves to go on family adventures abroad.

From Anna: “It’s a privilege to take up this role and I’m looking forward to developing Chestnut Tree House services for children and families, now and in the future.”

About Rachel: Having previously worked in retail and financial services marketing, Rachel moved into the charity sector and has been in public fundraising roles for the last 12 years. As Director of Public Fundraising and Retail, Rachel manages the fundraising teams responsible for generating donations from members of the general public, through our retail shops, and also manages our supporter care, donations processing, and database teams. In her spare time Rachel is a reluctant runner and ran her first half marathon to raise money for Chestnut Tree House. At home she is kept company by her orange cat Billy, who enjoys following her around the house demanding treats and making an appearance on virtual meetings when she is working from home.

From Rachel: “We moved to Worthing when I was 10 years old, and I have grown up knowing about the incredible work the hospices do.  I am regularly in awe of the unwavering support of our local community.  Hearing about and seeing for myself the wonderful ways people raise money for us never fails to remind me of what an amazing organisation we are, and I am proud to work somewhere that makes such a difference to those in the area I live in.”

Mandy joined Martlets in April 2023 and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Prior to joining us, she was the director of people and organisational development at St Christopher’s hospice for eight years, having also worked as a human resources director in further and higher education previously.

Mandy considers herself to be true ‘HR lifer’ having worked in human resources and organisational development for over 20 years. What she loves most about her work is when she is able to support people to achieve their career ambitions.

A strong advocate of volunteering, Mandy has spent a great deal of her adult life as a volunteer, starting some years ago when she worked in a Royal National Institute of Blind People day centre. She has also provided school career advice including mock interviews to Years 10-13 and was a NED/Trustee of an Academy Trust for 12 years, until 2022.

Information coming soon.

Joined: 2010
Appointed Chair: 2021

Area of expertise: Healthcare

About Mike: Mike was a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in West Sussex for 24 years, retiring from clinical practice in 2014, where he then went on to be a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Western Sussex Hospitals and Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals and as Deputy Chair for Western Sussex Hospitals.

From Mike: “I am excited to be taking on the role as Chair of Trustees for an organisation that provides the highest quality of care to individuals and their families when it is most needed.”

Mike’s LinkedIn 

Area of expertise: Finance and the charity sector

About Ros: Ros is a previous Finance Director for Chestnut Tree House and St Barnabas House. With a previous career in teaching. She’s retained links with both hospices and recently has assisted in Finance when there have been changes in the management team.

Ros has also been treasurer for the charity Together for Short Lives for over 10 years, and retains a keen interest in the children’s hospice sector.

Outside of charity work, Ros enjoys walking, travelling, yoga, gardening and, of course, watching the grandchildren grow up.

From Ros: “Given my experience of the charity, I want to see St Barnabas continue to succeed and I hope that, as a trustee, I will be able to make a positive contribution to its valuable work in delivering excellent care for the local community. “

Area of expertise: Financial services

About Jill: Now retired, Jill has a wealth of experience in the private sector in senior management roles. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Direct Marketing and a member of the Chartered Insurance Institute.

Jill’s LinkedIn

Areas of expertise: business, finance and HR

About Tony: As a previous Director of ECE Architecture, Tony has experience with all areas of managing a multifaceted organisation as well as large-scale construction projects.

From Tony: “Having, through the architectural practice, worked with and supported both St Barnabas House and Chestnut Tree House, I’m delighted to be able to have the opportunity to be fully involved and help with both these tremendous organisations.”

Tony’s LinkedIn

Areas of expertise: Healthcare

About Tony: Tony, previous Trustee of the Roy Kinnear Trust, was a paediatric plastic and reconstructive surgeon for 28 years, retiring from clinical practice in 2007. He has also made several trips to the Pacific Islands with the Australian Government Interplast Programme.

From Tony:  “I feel that having been an NHS doctor, dealing with children and the terminally ill, I can contribute to the continuing high standards in all aspects of care provided by both St Barnabas House and Chestnut Tree House”.

Areas of expertise: Clinical and strategy

About Stuart: Stuart, Professional Head of Allied Health Professions (AHPs) at NHS Improvement, is a physiotherapist by profession, Stuart has worked in a number of clinical, operational and non-clinical roles across the NHS, private and professional body sectors, at local, regional and national levels.

From Stuart: “I feel that my knowledge and experience of working at a national level within healthcare, will allow me to contribute to the delivery of high quality, safe and effective care provided by St Barnabas House and Chestnut Tree House, to both individuals and populations now and into the future”.

Stuart’s LinkedIn 

Areas of expertise: Law

About David: Prior to his retirement from full-time working in May 2020 David Rennie worked for 24 years as a Criminal Law Barrister, both defending and prosecuting cases in the Crown Court.  In 2001 he was appointed as a Circuit Judge and presided over serious criminal trials in Sussex and at the Old Bailey for the next 19 years.

David’s LinkedIn 

Areas of expertise: Technology and IT

About Ian: Ian is a chartered Electronic Engineer with an MBA from Imperial College London. He has many years’ experience building teams and motivating experts to innovate, using the latest technology and processes to deliver new solutions.

From Ian: “I have learnt the importance of dignity throughout life and leapt at the opportunity to be part of a team that ensures that this continues for the seriously or terminally ill. I believe in the value of ensuring everyone has access to the highest levels of care and respect at their hardest time in life.  I have been lucky to have a long and varied career. I would like to think that along the way I have learnt some valuable lessons that can add value to the team at St Barnabas Hospice and Chestnut Tree House to deliver outcomes that people really need.”

Ian’s LinkedIn 

Areas of expertise: Children’s care and safeguarding

About Ruth: Ruth has worked in the NHS for 45 years as both a Registered General and Children’s Trained Nurse. Recently she has provided nursing advice for capital projects, and also worked as a specialist advisor for the CQC.

Area of expertise: Quality & Governance

Dan has worked across the NHS, private healthcare and charities since 2010, holding senior positions most recently as the Director of integrated governance, quality and patient safety for an acute hospital.

Dan is looking forward to joining St Barnabas and Chestnut Tree House to help deliver high quality and effective services which meet the needs of the local population. Dan is passionate about continuous quality improvement, safety and patient experience.