Our team

Lynn Kelly, Chief Executive

Lynn Kelly has a strong professional background in media, education and training, and has volunteered her time for a number of worthwhile causes throughout her career.

She was appointed as chief executive of St Catherine’s in September 2020, having worked at the hospice for nine years prior managing a number of essential areas of the charity’s work, including education, training, volunteering, information systems, facilities and clinical administration.

She has always been a keen volunteer and has supported a number of causes over the years including Oxfam, Farm Africa, Macmillan, London Wildlife Trust, and the Lancashire National Garden Scheme.

Originally from Southport, Lynn achieved a BA Hons at the University of Bristol before working at Radio Bristol as a researcher. She then gained a Post Graduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from Falmouth College of Arts and became a local radio reporter.

Her career progressed when she moved to London and spent eight years working at BBC Radio 1. Highlights from the time include working with John Peel, Annie Nightingale, and Scott Mills; on the Official UK Top 40; and launching Sara Cox At The Weekend as a brand new show.

Returning to her roots in 2006, Lynn joined North West Vision and Media as a training manager and later became Head of Skills, working with new entrants, freelancers and businesses in the digital and media sector in preparation for the BBC moving to Media City in Manchester.

Lynn completed a Master’s Degree in Voluntary Sector Management in 2019, and continues to play a key role in new research and Compassionate Communities programmes at St Catherine’s, as well as patient and family involvement, partnerships with other hospices and academic institutions, and many other areas of the organisation. She is also Chair of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Education Strategy Group.

In her spare time, Lynn enjoys gardening and growing her own fruit and vegetables, and has completed the Royal Horticultural Society Certificate in Horticulture. She is a keen walker and along with her husband, trekked the length of Hadrian’s Wall in aid of St Catherine’s a few years ago.

John Chesworth

John is Executive Chairman at Harrison Drury and is dedicated to helping owners and managers of Lancashire SMEs make it possible to achieve their objectives, by navigating them through the ever more complex legal and regulatory landscape in which businesses have to operate.

He joined Harrison Drury in 2006 and became managing partner in 2007; since then he has spearheaded the firm’s growth and development.

He is a founder member of the Winckley Square Community Interest Company which oversaw the restoration and refurbishment of the Winckley Square gardens in the heart of Preston, and Harrison Drury is a patron of the Youth Zone movement.

John plays an active part in the running of Preston Grasshoppers Rugby Football Club following his retirement from rugby after 13 seasons playing for the First XV. He has also completed a number of triathlons including the Ironman UK.

He is the hospice’s President of the Board of Trustees, and also sits on the Income & Business, and People, EDI & Governance committees.

David Winstanley, Director of Finance and Business

Since qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, David has gained over 20 years’ experience working in senior finance roles, primarily in the Energy, Engineering and Manufacturing sectors, the last 10 years of which have been as either a Finance Director or Group Finance Director.

David is focused on the delivery of the hospice’s financial and operational strategy through the sustainable growth in the trading subsidiaries of St Catherine’s, whilst carefully managing the regulatory, financial, operational, and reputational risks of the organisation. With a passion for the environment, he is keen to promote sustainability at the heart of the charity’s operations.

In addition to the finance team, he also oversees the IT, health and safety, maintenance, and housekeeping functions of the hospice.

Outside of work, Croston resident David enjoys fell walking in the Lake District with his wife and young son, cycling, watching most sports, and is a long-time season ticket holder at Wigan Warriors Rugby League club.

Tracy Earley, Director of Nursing, Governance & AHPs

Working with the Chief Executive and Medical Director, Tracy manages care services provided by St Catherine’s. These include: a 19 bed in-patient unit, the community team of Clinical Nurse Specialists and Hospice Support Assistants; lymphoedema, the support team (social work team) and rehabilitation.

Tracy Earley began her nursing career in the mid-80s, qualifying as both an adult and children’s nurse. She’s worked in Northampton, Edinburgh, Leicester, Nottingham, and for the past two decades, Central Lancashire.

In Nottingham, she helped establish a retrieval service for critically ill children by partnering with the ambulance service and RAF. In Sea King helicopters, she was part of a team who would transport children from as far as Scotland and London to receive paediatric intensive care, and later, helped set up a similar service in Leicester.

Later, Tracy’s focus shifted to adult care, and she became a consultant nurse for Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust (LTHFT) across Chorley and Preston hospitals; one of only three consultant nurses in the country specialising in nutrition and intestinal failure. Even now in her role at St Catherine’s, Tracy continues to provide specialist care one afternoon a week for LTHTR.

In addition to her care services responsibilities, Tracy also has several administrative and compliance roles at the hospice, and brings in her friendly therapy and wellbeing dog Molly, for the enjoyment of patients, families, staff and volunteers.

Dr Andrew Fletcher, Medical Director

Andrew joined St Catherine’s in February 2014 as Consultant in Palliative Medicine, and became the hospice’s Medical Director in May that year. He manages the medical workforce and supervises doctors in training, and has overall medical responsibility for the clinical care and support of patients.

He works closely with our Chief Executive; Director of Nursing, Governance and AHPs; and Community Consultant in Palliative Medicine, in the design and direction of clinical services to support local people. Andrew also has roles within the Knowledge Exchange directorate, leading the hospice research programme, development and strategy, and has a focus on external education. He also represents the hospice on a range of operational and strategic groups in Central Lancashire.

Andrew completed his undergraduate medical degree from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in 2004 and became a member of the Royal College of Physicians of London in 2008. He trained in Palliative Medicine in the North West Deanery, achieved the Specialty Certificate Examination in Palliative Medicine in 2011 and was added to the specialist register in 2013. Andrew achieved a distinction in Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Consultant Leadership Development programme in 2017.

Andrew has a keen interest in education and training. He has received a postgraduate certificate in workplace-based postgraduate medical education from Edge Hill University and has completed a further module focused on Mentorship and Coaching. Andrew is an Honorary Clinical Reader with the University of Central Lancashire. Andrew is a recognised trainer by the General Medical Council and is the Directorate Training Lead for Palliative Medicine at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Kate Overend, Director of People and Organisational Development

Kate has worked in Human Resources for 19 years, including 16 years as HR Manager at the University of Central Lancashire, and positions with Lancaster City Council and Lancashire Constabulary.

She joined St Catherine’s in 2021 in a new role which focuses on people, culture, values, wellbeing, and personal and professional development of employees and volunteers.
She also oversees recruitment, the Knowledge Exchange team, people (HR), and volunteering.

Kate, who lives in Chorley, said: “St Catherine’s has always meant a lot to me; I have experienced the hospice’s care in my own family and we have fundraised for the charity over the years.

“People are at the centre of everything we do here – from our patients and their loved ones, to staff, volunteers, supporters and more. It’s an exciting time for St Catherine’s as an organisation. Our 5 Year Plan running to 2026 has culture and workforce at its heart – with plans to further shape, develop and embed our hospice values, and enhance a culture we can continue to be proud of as we work towards our organisational goals.”

In her spare time, Kate enjoys watching her two children play grassroots football, and loves holidays and weekends away with her extended family and friends.

Rachel Adamson

Rachel Adamson is a solicitor and Director and Head of Fraud & Regulatory for Adkirk Law.

She sits on the hospice’s Patient Care; and People, EDI and Governance committees.

Sarah Cullen

Sarah Cullen is Chief Nursing Officer at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals. She is proud to be a nurse and has worked clinically since 2001.

Sarah spent her early career working in elderly and emergency medicine. She moved into a corporate nursing post leading initiatives such as the introduction of nursing metrics and The Productive Ward series then moved into a service management role managing emergency care and stroke pathways.

Sarah moved from this role to the Chief Nurse for Surgery and Critical Care at University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay Hospitals with a corporate portfolio including preceptorship, acute care, quality ambassadors and education. Sarah became the Deputy Director of Nursing, Midwifery and AHP at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals in February 2017 and the Chief Nursing Officer in 2019 with responsibility for clinical governance, safeguarding and the safety, quality and experience portfolio.

Sarah believes passionately in the importance of leaders modelling positive behaviours and how closely linked these are to the quality of care for patients’ experience.

She sits on the St Catherine’s Patient Care Committee and Knowledge Exchange Committee.

Kate Burgess

Kate Burgess is a Social Care and PIVO (private, independent and voluntary organisations) Workforce Development Manager for  Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.

She has been a commissioner with Lancashire County Council and Clinical Commissioning Groups, and has been involved in end-of-life care for 15 years.

Kate, who hails from Adlington, said: “I’m very interested in both a personal and professional capacity in the work which is being done to widen access of palliative and end-of-life care in our area.

“My dad was cared for by St Catherine’s; it’s our community’s hospice and I really believe in the charity’s values and the difference it makes to local families.

“I’m particularly passionate about helping older people and those with dementia to access palliative care, and I’m very interested in the Compassionate Communities project which St Catherine’s is developing.”

Kate sits on the St Catherine’s Patient Care, and Knowledge Exchange committees, and the Patients & Families sub-committee.

Amanda Van Duyvenvoorde

Yaseer Ahmed

Yaseer is the Director of Strategy, HR, Organisational Development and Marketing at Roccia tiles, bathrooms and kitchens, and also sits on the Board of Trustees for the British Red Cross.

With expertise in entrepreneurship, marketing and brand development, promoting equality, diversity & inclusion, Yaseer is passionate about emotional, cultural and social intelligence, people development, spirituality and in particular well-being.

With 30 years’ worth of professional experience, spanning the private, public and social sectors together with volunteer work in the charity sector, Yaseer believes through inclusive and effective collaboration, there is absolutely no challenge too difficult to overcome.

Yaseer’s values include love, trust, integrity, well-being, making a difference, meaningful engagement, diversity and inclusion, resilience, continuous learning, and leadership.

Yaseer is married with six amazing children which keep him healthy and active.

At St Catherine’s, he sits on the People, EDI and Governance Committee, and the Communications and Engagement Committee.

Bonnie Hodson

Bonnie is Chief Financial Officer of UAP Ltd and has over 20 years’ experience in strategy, leadership, and financial control.

During her five years at UAP she has been instrumental in doubling the company’s turnover and presiding over four acquisitions and establishing two overseas entities. Bonnie is an expert in refinancing and restructuring, and has been nominated, on more than one occasion, as Finance Director of the year.

Bonnie sits on the hospice’s Finance and Audit, and Income and Business committees. Bonnie says: “It is such an honour to be appointed as trustee and I hope I can utilise my business and finance experience to add value to St Catherine’s Hospice.”

In her spare time, Bonnie enjoys walking Lola the Cavapoo and watching live music.