People

Appointed 2016

Sally has a long career in the NHS and university sector. As a senior partner in a large east London general practice she has experience of medical and palliative care in a multicultural setting. Her academic post at Queen Mary University of London brings experience of postgraduate teaching, service improvement and research to the board. She has family connections in Kenya.

Appointed 2011

Michael has experience of research, education and health development in Africa. After malaria research in The Gambia, he taught in Nairobi University, followed by senior management positions in international research centres in Ethiopia and Kenya. Latterly as Director General of the African Medical & Research Foundation (AMREF) based in Kenya he continued AMREF’s commitment to community-based health care, including palliative care.

Appointed 2019

Yvonne is a CIMA qualified accountant. She worked for a number of years for the NHS and then joined Oxfam as part of their humanitarian teams in projects based in Africa and around the world. More recently she has worked for a small community based charity in Scarborough and is now retired.

Appointed 1997, re-appointed 2010

Mike is a consultant in palliative medicine working at a Sue Ryder Hospice in Yorkshire. His career in hospice care was inspired by the time he spent working at Nairobi Hospice from 1992 to 1996 as the hospice doctor. He initially went for a year, stayed for 4 and has been committed to helping the hospice movement in Kenya ever since.

Appointed 2017

Sarah is the Director, Technical at the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and leads the global technical leadership team. She also coordinates the IPPF International Medical Advisory Panel. She is a medical doctor and has worked in senior roles in global reproductive health and rights. Early in her career she served as a medical officer at the Nairobi Hospice in Kenya.

Appointed 2021

Sharon is a Nutritionist and has worked at Aga Khan hospital and International rescue committee in Nairobi. She also worked as a project lead with Afro-Canadian Evangelical Mission in South Sudan. Sharon recently graduated with a MSc in Global Public Health Nutrition from the University of Westminster.

Appointed 2023

Heather Richardson is Director of Academic Learning and Action at St Christopher’s Hospice. In the past she has worked as JCE/CEO at St Christopher’s, National Clinical Lead for Hospice UK and Clinical Director at St. Joseph’s Hospice, London. She is a general and mental health nurse, and currently serves as honorary professor at Lancaster University and senior research fellow at Harris Manchester College, Oxford.