Lesley Mort – Chair of the Board of Trustees

It's so nice to be able to introduce myself as your Chair, and I'm looking forward to meeting more of you now that we can get out and about a bit more.

I live locally, and worked in the NHS for 40 years prior to retirement when I joined the Hospice Board as a Trustee. I was very impressed by the work done at Springhill, and so wanted to support this as a Trustee. 

There are a lot of positive changes happening here at Springhill, but we are all committed to pushing forward to develop the services we offer, and to be the best employer we can be. We can't do this without you all and I am keen to hear from you with any ideas you might have to push us further, so please get in touch.

Kitsa Efthymiadis – Trustee

Having been born, educated and trained in Manchester, I moved to Rochdale in the 1980s to join Molesworths as a newly qualified Solicitor. I am still there, and now a Partner, but there is more to life than property work. 

By the 1990s I had broadened my horizons by becoming a Non-Executive Director, at Rochdale Healthcare NHS Trust (working with Robert Clegg) and subsequently at Pennine Care NHS Trust, Then In 2010 I changed direction and became a Governor at Rochdale Sixth Form College, which I still very much enjoy. 

I applied to become a Trustee at Springhill purely because I had heard so many wonderful things about the Hospice from Robert and others, and wanted to be part of it. I was delighted to be appointed in 2015, and have loved every minute since, thanks mainly to the staff and volunteers who make the Hospice such a phenomenal place. I only hope that I can continue to be of use as Springhill continues to move onwards and upwards.

Martin O’Donnell – Trustee

My name is Martin O’Donnell and although I don’t live in Rochdale, I have worked here for the last 10 years as Managing Director of the business division of Zen Internet. 

Zen supports a local charity each year and a few years ago this was the Hospice. I was really impressed with the people and the work you do and when there was an opportunity to help as a trustee I was happy to volunteer. 

I have a Degree in Marketing and have worked for most of my career in IT, I hope my expertise in these areas might be of some benefit to the Hospice. 

Rt Rev’d Mark Davies – Trustee

I have been serving as the Bishop of Middleton since 2008. Growing up in Stoke, I was raised in a Christian household and first found my call to ministry at a young age. 

I can recall being in church at around ten or eleven years old, looking at the priest and the altar and knowing that this was who I was meant to be. It is this moment and this calling which has stayed with me throughout the years.

I credit my vicar, headteacher and two teachers for opening doors for me to pursue my vocation and eventually be ordained; something which has shaped my passion and commitment to both parochial ministry, and education and schools ministry.

I worked with parishes in Yorkshire before becoming Archdeacon of Rochdale in 2006. I then got a call to be Bishop of Middleton and was consecrated in York Minster in April 2008. One area of my ministry in Manchester is as chair of Greater Manchester Churches Together, and I am also the chair of the Diocesan Board of Education which covers 192 Church of England schools.

I always stress the importance of young people, firmly believe that our children and young people are amongst my best teachers.  I am regularly found visiting schools to support and encourage staff, both teaching and non-teaching, and to thank them for the ways in which they open doors for children.

From my years of working with other Christians, those of other faith communities, and those of no faith, I believe that when we stand together we are so much stronger. 

Joanne Bentley – Trustee and Chair of the Finance and Employment Committee

I am Executive Director of Finance, Estates & Risk Management at Hopwood Hall College & University Centre managing the college's finances, capital building works and risk management champion.  

I started my career as a graduate trainee accountant with Rochdale Council gaining experience both in internal audit and accounting departments. With over 30 years’ experience managing the finances within the public and private sectors, working at a senior level in further education colleges and Greater Manchester Learning & Skills Council as Head of Finance, providing oversight on college financial health and managing funding agency area budgets. 

As a Finance Consultant, I successfully secured high levels of capital grant support on behalf of colleges during periods of high capital investment within the sector. A Fellow member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance Accountants, I bring my financial expertise, knowledge and experience to the role of Trustee and Chair of the Finance & Employment Committee. 

Having personally recovered from cancer and recently lost 2 close family members to cancer, with one member who directly benefited from end of life care by another local hospice, being part of such an amazing team at Springhill Hospice, is very important to me.

I am extremely proud and privileged to give back to Springhill Hospice and the Rochdale Community that I both live and work. I know first-hand how important and what a significant difference all the staff and volunteers at Springhill Hospice make to the families and the individuals who access all these invaluable services.

Kieren McDonnell – Trustee

I am the Managing Director of Rochdale based construction company, Jackson and Jackson. I have been involved with Springhill Hospice over many years, both personally and professionally. 

I have worked with the fundraising department and been involved with The Man of the Rochdale Committee for several events.

As a business we have worked extensively in the hospice sector and have indeed completed several extensions to Springhill, enhancing the facilities available

During my involvement with the Hospice I have seen at first-hand how the Hospice works, the dedication of the staff and the absolute importance It plays in the community. So, when the opportunity came to become a Trustee I had no hesitation in applying.

In joining the Board, I will use the skills I have developed in business working with people and my network of colleagues to add value to the fantastic work the Hospice does.

Dr Shona McCallum – Trustee

I am the Medical Director at Rochdale Care organisation, part of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Trust and based at Rochdale Infirmary. 

I trained at St Thomas Hospital in London and qualified in 1993. I then worked as a junior doctor in Blackburn and trained in respiratory and general medicine around the Liverpool area. I undertook an MD at the University of Liverpool in cystic fibrosis and my first consultant post was in Warrington District General Hospital in 2002. 

I  joined The Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust in 2004 as a respiratory consultant at Rochdale Infirmary and, prior to my current role as Medical Director, I was the Clinical Lead for Rochdale. 

I have undertaken a Diploma in Palliative Care at Cardiff University and am interested in the management of non-malignant chronic disease. With an interest in the interface between community and hospital services, I’ve very much enjoyed working with community providers to develop innovative services for the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale (HMR) borough. In this role, I’m looking forward to being able to develop further the community services offered to HMR residents.

Yvonne Rogers – Trustee

I was really pleased to have been appointed as a trustee at the Hospice.  It is great to be part of something so special and I am really looking forward to working with you in the future.

All my career (35 years+) has been in the NHS and all of it has been in Greater Manchester.  Although I live in Bolton, I did work for 13 years at Birch Hill Hospital in HR & Workforce and developed a strong fondness for the both Rochdale and the people who live in the area and who worked at the hospital.  I was privileged to work with Robert Clegg too and he introduced me to the Hospice many years ago where I learned about the value of the work and support given to those in need.  

Having now retired from full time work, I felt it was time to do something valuable with my time and when this opportunity arose, I was so excited! I enjoy working with people from all walks of life and hope that I can bring some of my experiences to support you with your work.