Tom joined the Board of Mary Ann as a Trustee in 2022 and was elected Chair of the Board at the 2023 AGM. He has also chaired Mary Ann’s Business Committee since late 2022.

Much of Tom’s experience is in health services management, with his last NHS role being Chair of Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Trust from late 2011 to 2019. BCHC Trust was the largest NHS community provider in England, with an annual turnover in 2018/19 of around £270m and over 4000 staff. The trust was licensed in 2016 as an NHS Foundation Trust (FT), making it England’s third Community FT. Tom’s key priorities from appointment had been changing and developing the Board to make it fit to lead a potential FT, building and commissioning the new Birmingham Dental Hospital, and ensuring that the Trust became a major player in the Birmingham and wider NHS economies.

Prior to this, Tom had joined ATM Consulting (a specialist NHS Management Consultancy) in 1997. He was a Director from 2001, Managing Partner from 2003 to 2007, and Senior Partner from 2007 to January 2012. He played a major role in securing, managing and delivering some of ATM’s most substantial and important projects: turning around challenged Executive Teams and Boards; supporting or advising on major reorganisations; and handling significant strategic service and organisational change and acquisitions.

These experiences were based upon the foundation of twenty years of mainstream NHS management experience – going from being a Graduate Trainee, through early posts at East Birmingham Hospital and then making the transition from Administrator to General Manager to Chief Executive in the Mid Staffordshire Hospitals. By the time he took the mid-career move into the world of consultancy in 1997, his trust had secured financial balance for every year of his tenure, had completed a major site rationalisation and had an excellent reputation for hitting access and quality targets.

In addition to this career with ATM and in the NHS, Tom also took on a range of additional responsibilities and experiences. These include being Chair of the Institute of Healthcare Management in West Midlands for three years, West Midlands’ representative on the NAHAT National Council, and being a Visiting Senior Fellow of Birmingham University’s Health Services Management Centre. He completed a period as a Governor of Staffordshire University in 1999, and also had a three-year period as a Trustee of a national charity.

Whilst working in Birmingham, from 2012 to 2022, Tom was a Trustee and, for two years, Chair of Lench’s Trust, a housing charity; he is also a Trustee of the West Midlands Institute of Ageing and Health.

Tom continues to work with the Leadership Trust, based in Herefordshire, having been a Visiting Facilitator for over twenty years and, since 2012, an Associate Course Director, running many open courses and personally designing and delivering courses for a children’s charity.

Sally is Vice Chair of the Marketing and Income Generation Committee and was keen to join the Board to help support the hospices’ marketing, knowing resources for charities are very tight.

Sally currently works as Professor of Marketing & Society at Coventry University and is also mum to six children (including those whose are now adults!).

Sally has experienced the wonderful support personally that hospices’ provide during her mother’s illness so fully appreciates the vital services provided.

Peter Handslip was previously a Consultant Physician at the George Eliot NHS Trust from 1984, practicing in Respiratory and General Medicine.

He has wide experience in NHS Management at Executive level as Medical Director of the GEH NHS Trust until 2009 and subsequently as Medical Director of the Arden Cancer Network until 2013 covering Coventry, Warwickshire and Worcestershire, overseeing and implementing National Guidance for Cancer Services.

Peter also held roles as Executive lead for Governance and Infection Prevention Control.

He has conducted a number of reviews for the Health Service Ombudsmen and the Care Quality Commission at Medical Director level.

He was involved in the establishment of Warwick Medical School and was a member of the Joint WMS Board from 2002-2017.

He decided to join the board of Mary Ann in 2016 having been aware from personal experience of the great work the Hospice had been doing over the years and the countless  patients they had helped;  in particular their drive to care for patients in their own homes, avoiding admission to hospital, and facilitating earlier discharge from hospital to home for end of life and palliative care

Dr PDJ Handslip MB,BCh,FRCP

A registered nurse, with a clinical, managerial, and educational background, Kay brings a wealth of experience from her 48 years in the NHS working as a clinical nurse and more recently in Executive and Non-executive roles.

Her postgraduate career focused in Emergency care both as a clinical practitioner and then working as a post reg educator of the Emergency Care course. 

She moved into Higher Education for a number of years and then made the transition into management and completed Executive Chief Nurse roles in two Foundation Trusts in the Midlands.

Following this, Kay was awarded an OBE for services to Nursing in 2014.

Kay joined Mary Ann’s Board of Trustees in 2021 and helps support both People and nursing functions. Kay is a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian.

Josie has been a valuable volunteer with the hospice for over 16 years and is the Volunteer Voice Representative on the Board of Trustees.  It’s Josie’s job to ensure our volunteers are happy and cared for in the work they’re doing.

Phil retired in 2001, after 11 years as Warwickshire’s Chief Probation Officer. His management consultancy between 2001 and 2008 specialised in criminal justice and social welfare issues.

Appointed as an independent member of Warwickshire Police Authority in April 2003 he took a particular interest in how the force dealt with serious crime.  Elected Chair of the Authority from May 2011 to its demise in November 2012, he negotiated the strategic alliance between Warwickshire and West Mercia Police Authorities.

In March 2013 Phil was appointed the first Chair of Healthwatch Warwickshire stepping down from this role in December 2016. This led to his interest and commitment to Mary Ann, joining the Board in the autumn of 2016. Having acted as Chair during 2018/19, he was elected to the role in 2019. With Liz Hancock, the Chief Executive, he led the Hospice response during the first phase of Covid and our response to the delivery and financial challenges presented to all public services in the care sector. He has continued as an active Trustee since his period as Chair ended in October 2020.

He continues to pursue his interest in establishing effective public service delivery through partnerships and active strategic development. 

Sarah’s day-to-day role see’s her at Alsters Kelly Solicitors where she regularly helps clients administer estates.

She joined the board to offer help and give something back to the local community.

Sarah is also a member of MAGIC and People Subcommittees.

Natalie has been the Chief Nursing Officer at the George Eliot Hospital since 2022 and during that time developed a strong relationship with the Mary Ann Evans Hospice.

She is keen – as part of the Board – to continue to support the work that is done providing community compassionate care at the end of life.

Natalie is passionate about empowering teams to make meaningful change for patients and their families.

Liz has had a varied career, starting as a police officer and moving into various management roles which enabled her to fine tune her leadership skills.

Before joining Mary Ann as Chief Executive in 2004, she worked at the Marie Curie Hospice in Solihull for 11 years.

At Mary Ann, Liz has overseen the growth of both clinical services and income generation.

She served as the West Midlands’ Hospices Representative for Hospice UK’s Advisory Council from 2015 to 2024, gaining insight into national palliative care services. Liz also chaired the Board of Directors at Healthwatch Warwickshire from 2019 to 2025, deepening her understanding of local health and social care services.

Liz believes in empowering staff whilst helping them to recognise the importance of seeking assistance when needed. Liz has used her experiences to mentor other chief executives helping to support their growth and development.

A dedicated healthcare leader and registered nurse since 1997, Esther brings many years of expertise in oncology, palliative and end-of-life care to Mary Ann. With a profound commitment to personalised care, Esther has championed clinical excellence, service innovation, and holistic support for patients and families navigating complex health journeys.

Esther joined the Hospice in December 2021 was appointed Director of Clinical Services in April 2023. As part of her role, she performs the function of CQC registered manager for Mary Ann, lead for infection, prevention and control, lead for controlled drugs, and executive lead for safeguarding.

Driven by a belief in dignified, responsive, and equitable care, Esther continues to shape services that honour the lives and stories of those cared for by Mary Ann’s services.

Esther has a BSc in Clinical Nursing as well as a MSc in Health and Care System Leadership and is a Chartered Manager.

Esther is also a Caldicott Guardian.

Lisa joined the Mary Ann team in 2021 on secondment and secured a permanent role in 2022. She is a Registered Nurse with a degree in Long Term Conditions and a Postgraduate Certificate in Specialist Practice (District Nursing).

With over 20 years of extensive experience in community healthcare across Coventry, Warwickshire, and Staffordshire, Lisa has established herself as a skilled leader and people manager. She has effectively led and supported high-performing Community Nursing teams in diverse clinical settings, cultivating a collaborative and motivated environment that promotes excellence in patient care.

Lisa’s depth of clinical knowledge in palliative and end-of-life care underpins her commitment to delivering compassionate, patient-centred care to individuals and their families within their own homes. Her dedication to mentoring and developing clinical staff has been key to enhancing team performance and maintaining the highest standards of safe and empathetic care.

Combining deep clinical knowledge with strategic leadership, Lisa supports Mary Ann’s mission to provide outstanding community healthcare services. Her strengths are team leadership, resource management, and continuous quality improvement which contribute significantly to the ongoing enhancement of care quality within the organisation.

Mandy Davies serves as the Quality Governance Manager and Lead for Estates and Facilities at Mary Ann Evans Hospice, where she is responsible for overseeing the organisation’s quality assurance frameworks and managing the operational aspects of the hospice environment.

A Registered Nurse with a strong clinical background, Mandy brings extensive experience in healthcare governance, compliance, and service improvement. Her dual responsibilities reflect a deep commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety, dignity, and comfort for patients, families, and staff alike.