Meet our trustees

Anita Rolfe

Chair of the Board of Trustees

Anita is employed as the Deputy Chief Nurse for NHS Greater Manchester ICB. She has worked in the NHS as a registered nurse for 39 years having started her nursing career in 1985.

Anita has worked in a variety of clinical roles across Greater Manchester including community, acute, mental health and primary care provision. Anita has significant senior clinical leadership experience across commissioning and provider organisations, with a particular focus on governance, quality assurance and improvement, patient safety and care experience.

Anita has a close connection with the hospice, as her daughter received end of life care from the care team in 2019, and therefore brings a deep understanding to the feelings that families experience when engaging with the hospice.

Anita enjoys spending time with her husband and family and they all enjoy walking at the coast and in the countryside with their border collie dog Tess.

Paula Tanner

Honorary Treasurer and Trustee

Paula has been a chartered accountant for more than 25 years. She began her career with Deloitte where she remained for 10 years, specialising in risk and quality control. More recently she was Head of Finance for a local firm of solicitors for 16 years before deciding to move to a part time role in 2023. She is currently the Head of Finance for recruitment company, Realm Recruit Limited, based in Altrincham.

Paula is originally from Northern Ireland, but moved to Manchester after graduating from Queens University, Belfast. She has three adult children and enjoys spending time with family and in her camper van with her husband, Alistair, and Harry the dog.

Andrea Benson

Trustee

Andrea is a senior HR (FCIPD), Transformation and Portfolio leader with over 20 years' experience delivering organisational, people and technology change across complex, multi-site and regulated environments. She has held Director level roles leading enterprise wide programmes, operating model redesign and large scale technology portfolios, and is known for bringing strategic clarity and delivery confidence to senior leadership teams.

Andrea is passionate about building capability, culture and inclusion, values she channels through active mentoring and her commitment to the voluntary sector. She lives with her husband and 2 grown up children in Warrington and values spending her time with family and friends.

Louise Furness FCIPD

Trustee

Louise most recently served as Chief People Officer of Marshalls plc and as a member of the Executive team. With over 20 years executive experience, Louise has served in a variety of HR roles across a number of disciplines and sectors including pharmaceuticals, financial services, distribution, manufacturing and technology. She has also lived and worked in America.

Louise has led several large scale transformations and change programmes, as well as having experience in M&A and restructuring. She is also passionate about changing culture and increasing diversity and unlocking untapped potential. Louise is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development.

Outside of work she is passionate about the outdoors and nature. She has a German Shepherd Dog: Hetty, is an active gym member and loves to travel with her partner. She is also reportedly a good cook and loves entertaining friends and family!

Stephanie Gomm, MD; FRCP.

Trustee

Stephanie has a long association with the hospice and development of clinical services in her previous role of Medical Director and Consultant in Palliative Medicine St Ann’s from 1994-2002. She left St Ann’s to become Consultant in Palliative Medicine for Salford and Trafford until 2009, and was subsequently appointed as Consultant for Salford Royal Foundation NHS Trust until May 2015. From 2002 to 2012 she continued to undertake a weekly clinical session at St Ann’s Little Hulton and provided on call for both hospices. She has held a number of local, regional and national strategic and educational roles and is currently on the Clinical Quality and Performance Committee.

Darren Holt, BA, ACA

Trustee

Darren has been a chartered accountant for more than 25 years, having held a range of Finance Director roles in the property and construction sector for almost two decades. He currently works as finance director at housebuilder Westchurch Homes Ltd.
Born in Blackpool, Darren has lived in Manchester since leaving university, and enjoys spending time with his family and golden retriever dog in their home near Altrincham.

Russell Kaminski

Trustee

Russell is a qualified Solicitor specialising in Wills, Trusts, Probate and succession planning. This often includes giving advice surrounding asset protection as well as Inheritance Tax. Russell is a Partner at JMW Solicitors LLP based in Manchester City Centre. His awareness of the hospice started whilst he was attending Cheadle Hulme School (based in the neighbouring town to the Heald Green site). He was often involved in fundraising for St Ann's during his time at school and was very much aware of the fantastic services the hospice offered. The opportunity to join the board appealed as a way for him to use his professional skills to give back and contribute to the hospice’s future.

Russell lives locally (in Gatley) and spends lots of time out and about with friends and family, as well as his golden retriever dog. He always aims to travel as much as he can (when time permits).

Craig McGregor

Trustee

Craig has over 30 years experience in retail with over 20 years at executive level. He is currently International Sales Director for Group Dynamite Inc leading their expansion outside North America. Prior to this he was Chief Commercial Officer at Superdry and was also Global Retail Director at Topshop. Craig lives in Altrincham, married to Michelle and two children Edie and Nat.

Melanie Ogden, BPharm, FRPharmS

Trustee

Melanie is a highly experienced and innovative senior clinical manager, with a track record of achievement in management at strategic, primary and secondary care levels. Her roles include, most recently, Deputy Director of Innovation for NHS England, a role she held until 2016. Melanie also led the North West approach to the use of the Regional Innovation Fund, enabling front line clinicians to implement and adopt innovative ideas and approaches, and she has also worked for the Northwest Strategic Health Authority, leading a range of innovation and QIPP programmes.

Currently, Melanie is the Trustee for the Clinical Quality and Performance Committee.

Sara Prowse

Trustee

Sara is Chief Executive of University Academy 92 (UA92) and has over 30 years’ experience spanning consumer brands: private and family owned businesses, private equity environments and startup ventures. Sara has implemented a raft of successes at UA92, and has helped develop partnerships with the likes of Microsoft, TalkTalk, EY, KPMG, Trafford Council, NatWest, Lancashire Cricket Club and Manchester United.

Sara is a refreshing voice for the UK education sector and regularly discussing the need for greater accessibility and inclusivity within higher education, especially in disadvantaged areas of the North West where admissions to higher education fall below the national average. Sara’s strengths are as a connector and relationship builder to drive impact, valuing integrity and equity in her approach to leadership.

Away from the boardroom, Sara lives in West Yorkshire with her partner, and enjoys walking in the hills, cycling, travelling, yoga, and shoes!

Fiona Taylor, RGN, RM, RHV, Dip HE, Bsc(Hons), MA.

Trustee

Fiona had over 40 years of service in the NHS before her retirement. Latterly, she was chief officer at NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG. Her career started as a registered general nurse in Salford, followed by her work as a midwife and health visitor that included a period as a paediatric liaison health visitor, leading service redesign. Fiona has also worked as deputy director of nursing, and then acting director of nursing at Mancunian Community Health Trust, later joining Bradford City Teaching Primary Care Trust (PCT). Since 2001 she has worked at director level in a variety of roles including acting chief executive of Bradford City Teaching PCT in 2006 before she moved to Sefton in 2007.

Fiona is married to Steven, has a son Cameron, three stepchildren and four grandchildren. She is also a chair of governors at a primary school and is a board member of Advancing Quality Alliance (AQUA). Currently, Fiona is the Trustee chair of the Audit Committee for Moya Cole Hospice.

Steve Wilson BA (hons), CPFA, Dip MHC.

Trustee

Steve is the Executive Lead – Finance & Investment for Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership, the devolved body for health and care in Greater Manchester. He has worked in NHS finance for 21 years having started his career on the North West Graduate Financial Management Training Scheme in 1996.

He has worked in a variety of roles across the North West including provider experience in community, acute, mental health and specialist NHS Trusts and has gained commissioning experience across several PCTs, culminating in a period as acting Director of Finance for NHS Manchester and Director of Finance and Development for Wirral Community NHS Trust. Immediately prior to moving back to Greater Manchester Steve was the Director of Financial Control for NHS England, a post he took up at the beginning of August 2014.

Steve lives in Manchester with his wife Claire, who is also an NHS Director of Finance, and two teenage children. He is an avid Derby County fan.