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About Us

Team

Executive Team 

Martin Powell

Dr Martin Powell

Chief Executive

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Martin has worked in healthcare for thirty years, trained as a paramedic and a counsellor and pursued a passion for Specialist Palliative Care in 2008. He has held senior management positions in three other charitable hospices and is a Trustee at The Tavistock Institute of Human Relations. He has a PhD in Palliative Care and is committed to ensuring those affected by life-limiting illness get the best possible care and support when they need it.

Martin lives in the local area with his husband, son, grandmother and two greek rescue dogs. He enjoys film, theatre, reading and walking.

Melissa Le Palud

Melissa Le Palud

People Director

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Melissa comes to the charity sector from a varied corporate background including aviation, finance and hospitality, where she rapidly progressed as an enthusiastic HR professional whilst studying her CIPD Diploma. She is passionate about mental health and wellbeing and her personal mission is to help make St Peter & St James Hospice a diverse, safe, stimulating, empowering and fair place for all employees and volunteers. 

In her spare time, Melissa enjoys running, cooking, travelling, cat and dog sitting for her friends and staying in quirky Airbnbs off the beaten track with her partner. 

Cathy Heard

Cathy Heard

Finance Director

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Cathy Heard joins us as part of a collaboration with St Catherine’s Hospice. Cathy has been with St Catherine’s for three and a half years as Finance Director, having spent 20 years in private health care and 10 years in pharmaceutical manufacturing. She is married with four grown up children and two grandchildren who keep them very busy. Loving the outdoors, Cathy is a keen walker, swimmer and gardener. 

Eirian Levell

Care Director

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Eirian qualified as a registered nurse in 1994 following her training at Addenbrookes Hospital, in Cambridge, and then went on to work in London on a HIV/AIDS unit. Following her move to Sussex in the late 90’s, she  worked in a variety of community and inpatient settings. At the same time she completed her undergraduate degree in Professional Practice at Brighton University and a Masters in Leadership and Management in Health at Kingston University. 

For the last 16 years, she has focused on specialist palliative care and service development to support patient and carer choice for those facing life limiting illnesses. 

As Care Director,  she is focused on enhancing outcomes for our patients and those close to them as well as extending our hospice reach. 

She is married, with two grown up sons, a mischievous dog and three very vocal chickens! 

Senior Leadership Team

Louise Wardle

Head of Fundraising & Marketing

Milton Watts

Head of Facilities & Estates
Avril Roberts

Avril Roberts

Volunteer Development Manager
Dr Charles Skinner

Dr Charles Skinner

Lead Consultant

Sally Crutchley

Head of Finance

Robert Parker

Head of Retail

Pippa Jones

Head of Supportive Care

Trustees

Our trustees ensure St Peter & St James Charitable Trust is carrying out the purposes for which it was established and have overall legal responsibility for the management and administration of the charity.  

Harriet Creamer

Harriet Creamer

Chair

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Harriet is a lawyer by profession: she has a law degree from Cambridge University and worked in management at a large firm for many years. She has since worked as an independent consultant. Harriet has lived in Sussex for over 20 years and is passionate about supporting her local community. She is married with three grown up sons and loves singing; Harriet is part of the highly acclaimed Bach Choir. 

Robin Knight

Robin Knight

Vice Chair

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Robin runs a commercial property investment and development company advising financial institutions & private investors. His first wife, Lisa, spent her last weeks at St Peter & St James Hospice and his father Bill died at St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth. Robin is a passionate supporter of the hospice system and long term volunteer. A published writer and poet, Robin practises Zen Buddhism in the Rinzai tradition and lives near Brighton. 

Dr Nick Barrie

Dr Nick Barrie

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Nick worked as a GP in Cuckfield before retiring. As a GP, Nick has referred many patients to the hospice and has a strong understanding of hospice care and the benefits it brings to patients and their families. In his spare time, Nick is learning to play golf and has also recently qualified as a commercial drone pilot. Nick is married with two adult children. 

Andrew Cook

Andrew Cook

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Andrew was a Chartered Accountant and Tax Advisor for more than 30 years, working in senior finance roles. Since taking early retirement at the end of 2013, Andrew has supported his local community as treasurer of both the local village hall and the scout group. Andrew lives in Lindfield and is married with two grown-up sons. 

John Hills

John Hills 

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John is a former partner of KPMG, one of the “Big Four” global accounting firms. His late wife Ros was cared for by the hospice in 2016. John lives in Lindfield, has three adult children and two grandchildren. He enjoys country walking and watching football. 

Tricia Robinson 

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Tricia has a wealth of clinical experience as a nurse and Senior Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at Brighton University. She  is passionate about excellence in nursing and person centred care. Tricia is also a trustee at Age UK Croydon. 

Tricia moved to Sussex in 2020 with her husband Alan and dog Ralph. She enjoys cinema, theatre, gardening, reading, walking Ralph and spending time with her three adult children. 

Lesley Strong

Lesley Strong

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Lesley has a clinical nursing background and had a long NHS career, mainly in community services as a clinician and board member. Before her retirement, she held an executive role at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Lesley lives in Haywards Heath and has long been aware of St Peter and St James Hospice and the value of the services it offers to the local community.

Caroline Cauvin

Caroline Cauvin

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Caroline has over 20 years of experience in commercial and supply-chain management roles across various industry sectors and currently works at Air Navigation Solutions Ltd as Commercial Director. Caroline previously held senior positions with the AJW Group and Virgin Atlantic. Before working in the aviation sector, Caroline worked in supply-chain roles for Kimberly-Clark and Nike. 

Caroline lives in Hurstpierpoint and enjoys spending time with her two children, running, baking, and reading. 

Isabelle Otway

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Isabelle started her career at PwC in London, qualified as a chartered accountant and specialising in commercial finance in the media and creative industry. She is VP of finance for a global marketing business with responsibility for  financial planning and analysis, operational improvement, mergers and acquisitions, legal and compliance and organisational strategy.  

Isabelle moved to the area in 2017, and one of her favourite pastimes is discovering the Sussex countryside on trail runs with her husband, a GP and hospice doctor. 

Michael Carey

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Michael is an experienced income generation professional with expertise in marketing, corporate partnerships, trading, fundraising, and retail across commercial and charity sectors. He has a proven track record in developing and implementing successful commercial strategies for charities, including hospices.

Michael has also held senior positions in leading organisations such as Penguin Random House and Mountain Warehouse and co-founded a successful start-up in the holiday industry.

Originally from London Michael lives in East Sussex with his partner and is a keen swimmer, runner and cook

Charlotte Almond

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Charlotte is the Psychological Therapy Service Manager at the Macmillan Horizon Centre where she leads and works alongside a team of volunteer psychological therapists who support cancer patients after they have finished treatment. She has extensive experience of developing and managing therapy services in the women’s sector and in bereavement care having worked at Brighton Women’s Centre and Cruse Bereavement Support.

Charlotte lives in East Sussex with her partner and their dog, and enjoys long walks, drawing Mandalas and baking.

Anita Chown

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Anita has a wealth of HR experience gained in senior roles in the education sector, as well as in the charity sector and adult social care. Holding a Masters in HR Management and HR Development, Anita is passionate about supporting staff health and wellbeing.

She lives in Maresfield with her husband and dog, Evie, and has two adult children who live in the local area. She likes to be outdoors, enjoying gardening and walking, as well as skiing in the winter.

Patrick Henshaw

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Patrick is a Chartered Building Surveyor with over 30 years experience in the property industry. Having worked at a number of practices since qualifying and been a Partner at a global surveying firm in London, Patrick has been running his own property consultancy in Lewes since 2011, dealing with a both commercial and residential property throughout Sussex and the South East.

Patrick is based in Lewes, where he has lived with his wife and son since moving down from Hertfordshire some 21 years ago. In his spare time Patrick enjoys rugby, both playing and supporting, and is currently Chairman at Lewes Rugby Club, as well as cycling, fitness, wood turning and walking his dog, Porridge.