Meet the Team

Angela is a charted physiotherapist, but has held several executive director position in the NHS in acute hospitals. She then worked at the Department of Health before her retirement. She was co-opted onto the Board in 2014 and then became a Trustee in 2015, Angela serves on our HR, Strategy, Finance and Search Sub Committees.

Lorraine is the Director of Transformation and Partnerships at Durham County Council and has been a senior local government manager in a number of councils for over 20 years.

Naomi Hutchinson is Head of Innovation at Sunderland Software City and Lead for The Digital Catapult North East and Tees Valley which is a local centre for the national Digital Catapult. Naomi is honoured to be have been given the opportunity to be a Trustee of St Cuthbert’s Hospice, as she believes it is such a special and unique place and she is looking forward to learning from the team and providing guidance on how to future proof the Hospice through technology. Naomi joined the Board in 2018 and is a member of the Clinical Governance Working Group.

Gillian has 30 years’ experience within the NHS, holding both senior clinical and managerial posts. She has recently retired as Director of Nursing Midwifery and Quality at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust. Gillian is the Chair of our Clinical Governance Sub Committee.

Patricia is a GP in Durham with over 30 years of experience in a variety of clinical settings. She joined the Board in 2016 and serves on our Clinical Governance Sub Committee.

Linda has around 25 years experience with the public sector working in a range of roles in the Prison Service, and the Ministry of Justice in both operational and non operation roles.

Since retiring she has been involved with, and worked for voluntary sector and social enterprise organisations.

Linda joined the Hospice as a Trustee in December 2022, and is also a member of our HR and Governance Review subcommittee.

Karen retired from the NHS in January 2023 following nearly 40 years in nursing roles. Latterly, as a Deputy Chief Nurse in an Acute Trust but also serving as the first Chief Nursing Officer for Macmillan Cancer Support in a national role.

Peter has worked in the NHS for over 40 years, 30 years at director level. He was deputy chief executive at Gateshead Health NHS foundation trust.

Karen is an experienced HR Practitioner, now retired, with over 30 years’ experience in local NHS organisations, including over twenty years practice at senior management level.

Richard is a retired Chartered Accountant with over 40 years’ experience in industry working in a wide range of companies including over 20 years as finance director of J T Dove Limited a large regional builders merchant. Also spent many years as a pension trustee. He serves on the Finance Sub Committee.

Victoria has over 20 years of experience in commercial property matters, after joining Swinburne Maddison LLP in 1999 as a trainee solicitor, qualifying in 2001 and being promoted to Partner in 2006. Throughout her time at the firm, Victoria has worked in the property department, initially gaining residential property experience alongside her commercial property workload which has proved valuable when dealing with residential development matters.