As an independent charity, Wigan & Leigh Hospice is governed by a committed Board of Trustees who hold ultimate responsibility for the organisation’s strategic direction and legal compliance.
Our trustees come from a diverse range of professional backgrounds, bringing valuable skills and perspectives to support our leadership team and staff. Together, they ensure that the hospice remains true to its founding purpose – providing exceptional care and support to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families across Wigan and Leigh.
Their dedication helps us maintain the highest standards of service, uphold our values, and navigate the evolving challenges of healthcare and charitable work.
Sheila began her medical career in 1985 as a maxillofacial surgeon, specialising in cancer and trauma. Her clinical work sparked a lasting commitment to end-of-life care, later deepened through research and governance, including a PhD on head and neck cancer patients.
Since moving to Wigan in 2019, Sheila has become a Licensed Lay Minister at St Wilfrid’s Church and volunteered as a COVID-19 vaccinator. She joined the hospice board that same year and became Chair of Trustees in early 2023.
Paul began his NHS career in 1976 and held various management roles until retiring in 2013. He moved to Wigan in 1986 as Assistant Hospital Services Manager at Wigan Infirmary, later serving as a commissioner for NHS Ashton Leigh and Wigan, and the Wigan Clinical Commissioning Group.
Passionate about patient-focused care, Paul became a trustee of Wigan Healthwatch after retirement, serving as Chair until 2016. He joined the hospice board in 2017.
June qualified as a physiotherapist in 1979 and began her career in Leicester before returning to Lancashire in 1987, balancing private practice with family life.
She rejoined the NHS in 1990, working across Wigan Health Authority sites. Her role progressed from Superintendent Physiotherapist to Macmillan AHP Team Lead, before retiring in 2015. June became a hospice trustee in 2017.
Sharon is Chief Executive of a Schools Trust delivering education across the North West. With over 30 years in the sector, she has led national partnerships, served as a National Leader of Education and Ofsted Inspector, and worked internationally on transformational development.
Named Pearson’s Digital Innovator of the Year in 2019, Sharon is passionate about unlocking potential and driving sustainable change. She volunteers with her GP’s Patient Participation Group and has supported the charity sector for over a decade. Sharon became a hospice trustee in December 2021.
Stephen joined the hospice board in December 2021. He was Chief Executive of St Catherine’s Hospice from 2005 to 2020 and served on the board of Hospice UK, representing North West hospices nationally.
His PhD from the University of Glasgow explores the role of hospices in England. Earlier in his career, Stephen served in the military – first as a troop commander with the Harrier Force, then as an RAF chaplain – and held community development roles in the NHS and local government.
He’s also volunteered as a school governor, charity trustee, and church member, and holds degrees in Theology and Integrative Counselling. Stephen is a qualified commercial mediator.
Donna is a lifelong Wigan resident, now living near the hospice in Hindley. She is Head of HR and Payroll for EG Group, supporting 20,000 employees across the UK and Ireland, and advising the Board.
Her connection to the hospice began in 1999, when her mum received care and her family accessed counselling support. In 2019, her best friend was cared for by the Hospice in your Home team – an experience that inspired Donna to get more involved.
Chris has held several senior management roles during his career, most notably as CEO and co-owner of Eldercare UK, a leading provider of assistive technology for health and social care.
Following his retirement, Chris joined the hospice board, inspired by his family’s long-standing connection to the organisation. He brings a broad skill set in strategic planning, team leadership, technology, quality standards, and business development.
Marie is a qualified nurse with extensive NHS experience and currently serves as Executive Director of Nursing and Quality at Primary Care 24, delivering services across Cheshire and Merseyside.
Her personal connection to palliative care drives her passion for high-quality, patient-centred services. Marie brings expertise in clinical governance, patient experience, and safeguarding to the hospice board, which she joined in December 2021.
Deirdre has spent her career in a range of NHS roles, most recently as Assistant Director of Commissioning for Scheduled Care. She led the development of an end-of-life strategy as part of the Clinical Commissioning Group.
Her extensive experience in the healthcare sector brings valuable insight and expertise to the board of Wigan & Leigh Hospice.
Kerrie is a Senior Associate at Stephensons Solicitors LLP, where she manages office, facilities, and central admin teams, and chairs the firm’s CSR Committee. She joined the hospice board in 2024, inspired by the care her Grandad received, which her family deeply valued and continues to support.
Outside of work, Kerrie enjoys walking, reading, attending Lionel Richie concerts, and taking part in charity events.
Geoff retired in 2018 following a varied career in local authorities, at United Utilities, and a local building company. His final role was as Facilities Manager at the hospice, and he has personal experience of close friends receiving hospice care.
Since retiring, Geoff has been keen to give back and support the hospice in a meaningful way – leading him to apply to become a trustee.
Zoe is a marketing and communications professional, currently working in a strategic role for a national charity.
She applied to become a trustee after seeing her grandfather and other family members fundraise for the hospice – a cause she knows plays a vital role in the community. As a Wigan resident with a strong ethos of service, Zoe was keen to give back by applying her skills, expertise, and passion to help steer the hospice towards continued success.
