Public Governor Profiles

Abigail began her relationship with The Christie eight years ago when she worked in the Appeals Office during the £25m five-year Christie's Against Cancer appeal. She moved into a career in publishing and now edits a construction magazine for the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors.

Since leaving Christie's, she retained close links to the hospital through the treatment of her father here for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

She is a ward volunteer at Bolton Hospice and understands at close range the value of good patient care and management.

Since becoming a governor Abigail has been active in making contact with several cancer support and related groups in the Bolton area and with our young patients. She is chair our the membership committee. This committee recently revised the membership strategy and is working on developing membership and community involvement in the catchment area for the new radiotherapy centre in Salford.

John has been the public governor for the Bury constituency since The Christie became a foundation trust in April 2007 and was re-elected for a further three year period in July 2008.

He has attended Governor meetings and training sessions both in the Hospital and other NHS facilities. He was formerly chair of the membership and community engagement committee and is now an elected member of the Foundation Trust Governors Association, a national organisation for foundation trust governors.

John was educated in Bury and at Manchester University where he gained his first degree, an M.Sc and Ph.D in chemical engineering - before working in industry. He ran his own paper mill before retiring.

Rada was a patient at The Christie following her diagnosis in December 2005. She believes she owes her life to The Christie and felt privileged to be treated here. She believes that every patient deserves the same excellent standard of Christie care.  She will bring her positive experience of The Christie to promote better understanding of cancer care from a patient perspective and work hard as an ambassador of the Christie.

Her work as a solicitor has given her experience in governance, accountability, evaluating evidence and reasoned decision making. As a director of her own legal company she understands the need to be both strategic and balance competing demands. She intends to use these skills to be a passionate, committed and informed governor for Manchester members.

Our other governor representing Manchester is Roger Smith. Roger has lived within 10 minutes walk of here for 38 years and, having had friends, neighbours and relatives who have either worked or been treated here, is well aware of the importance and impact of our hospital.

Roger's background is science, technology and industry and he is particularly  interested in our communication, accessibility and environment.

Don has lived in the Oldham area all his life and has been a magistrate at Oldham Courts since 1997. He has also served as a church warden at his local church in Chadderton.

He has enjoyed assisting patients at The Christie since 2008 where he works as a volunteer driver.

Don believes that he is able to promote the care needs of Oldham's residents and develop membership to The Christie empowering the people of Oldham to have their say.

A registered nurse, Christine has 30 years experience in the NHS and social care, from nursing in hospitals and in the community to management experience. Seven of those years have been spent as a lead nurse in cancer and palliative care.

Christine is keen to improve patients' pathways through treatment and care, which is key to a patient's experience.

Ann has over 30 years experience as a nurse in Salford and has a history of championing high standards of patient care and services. She has supported family and friends being treated for cancer at The Christie and understands the massive impact this has on the patient and their loved ones.

As governor, she hopes to use her experience and link with Salford members to ensure they have a voice and are proactively represented on the Governing Council and fully engaged in the local Christie at Salford Royal.

Jackie has been involved at The Christie for several years and was chair of the patient and public involvement forum from 2003 - 2007. She became the governor for Stockport in April 2007 and was re-elected in 2008. She became vice chairman of the council of governors and lead governor in 2009. In this time she has gained huge insight into how we operate our ethos, our staff and the needs of patients and carers.

The patient experience is a subject close to her heart and having been a patient at here herself she understands the impact the environment can have on a patient's experience.

In addition to her role as vice chairman she is also a member of the development  and sustainability committee. She was formerly a member of the patient experience and involvement committee. She is keen to hear from Stockport patients and support groups who want to know more about any issues relating to The Christie.

Chris has been a member of The Christie since it became a foundation trust. He was treated at the Christie in 2003 and has raised funds for by running the London Marathon since 2004.

He spent most of his working life as an Army officer. He and his wife then took over our local family retail business until we both retired. He has served as a magistrate for 23 years.

Carl is a prolific fundraiser for our charity and is chair of the Wigan, Leigh and Chorley fundraising group.

Carl aims to further develop our reputation and keep Wigan people in touch with our latest developments.

Alex returns as governor, having represented Bolton until 2008 when he moved to Holmes Chapel. He has close links with The Christie, through the treatment and care received by his late wife.

Alex remains passionate about making sure patients remain at the centre of what The Christie does.

Alex is chair of the quality committee.

Jane's work in the community and voluntary sector gives her valuable insight into patient experience and she has a special interest in accessibility of healthcare services for patients in rural areas.

Jane works in the Macmillan Information and Support Centre at Blythe House Hospice in Chapel en le Frith in Derbyshire. She is also an experienced bereavement and palliative counsellor. 

She represents patients on the board of North Peak Healthcare, a partnership of local GP surgeries and is the founder and coordinator of a community first responder group, working in partnership with East Midlands Ambulance Service.   

She is keen to learn more about the services the Christie offers and to represent the interests of patients living outside Manchester and the north west.

Peter lives in Cumbria and also represents members in the rest of England and Wales. He held a number of leadership positions within the water industry before retiring and is now a part time mountain leader. He has been a patient here since 2005 and has been very involved in developing our patient and public involvement strategy.

Peter is chair of the development and sustainability committee.

Information to follow