Our Executive Team

Prior to being appointed as CEO in 2023, James has had a long career within the Health Care industry.

James brings a remarkable background in healthcare leadership, having recently led the Somerset Integrated Care System (ICS) and served as Chief Executive of the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). His extensive executive roles in institutions such as Weston Area Health NHS Trust, University Hospitals Bristol, Royal United Hospital Bath, and Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust have seen him drive forward strategy, transformation, and performance in those organisations.

Commenting on his appointment, James has said, “I am delighted to be joining St Margaret’s Hospice and am looking forward to meeting all my colleagues and volunteers, learning more about all the incredible work and contributions that they make this makes St Margaret's Hospice the incredible place it is." 

David has spent the last 20+ years working in senior finance and commissioning roles in the health and social care sector, mostly in Somerset. An experienced finance director and health care commissioner he has developed and delivered a range of strategies to improve services, premises, use of IT systems and organisational finances.

Most recently David has worked as the Finance Director of Freeways and Freeways Trust- Bristol based charities supporting adults with a learning disability. He developed a financial strategy to strengthen their reserves, provided financial modelling for the development of a strategic estate plan, led the development of a digital strategy and the procurement of a digital care records and staff rostering system.

He was the Managing Director leading the Somerset Clinical Commissioning Group from 2012 to 2017. The CCG was an early advocate of integrated care systems working with local GPs, the County Council, and providers to better join up services.  

As Director of Primary Care Development at Somerset Primary Care Trust he developed the primary care premises programme to fund many new and improved GP surgeries across the county. He also worked closely with WyvernHealth.com, the countywide practice based commissioning group, to reduce the growth in emergency hospital admissions through developing alternative community based services. While Director of Finance at Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust he oversaw the initial business cases for new community hospitals at Minehead and Bridgwater. He trained as a Chartered Accountant with Deloitte, Haskins and Sells in Nottingham moving to Taunton in 1992 to work as Assistant Director of Finance at Musgrove Park Hospital.

David joined St Margaret’s in March 2022. He lives in Taunton and enjoys spending his leisure time with his family, walking, being part of a local church and watching sport.

Jo has spent the last 20+ years helping a wide range of charities raise funds and deliver impact. From setting up lucrative corporate partnerships for national causes such as Help the Aged (now Age UK) and Action for Blind People, to developing and launching a local membership scheme for the Bishop’s Palace in Wells, Jo has conceived and delivered numerous fundraising successes for the organisations that she has worked for.

An experienced leader, and senior management team player, Jo is an all-round fundraising professional, having worked across a variety of income streams. Most recently Jo led the strategic growth of an international development NGO, called Motivation. Here she worked alongside the UK government’s Department for International Development to initiate and oversee the charity’s three UK Aid Match public appeals, scaled up corporate engagement resulting in a grant of £500K from Google, and developed a new voice and identity for the charity.          

In addition Jo is an experienced communicator having worked in consumer public relations prior to moving into the not-for profit sector. She has therefore also led integrated fundraising and communications teams, and been responsible for growing brand awareness, creating publications and collateral, as well as managing media relations and website development.

A mum of two, Jo lives locally to St Margaret’s site in Taunton, and joined the team in September 2019. Away from work, she is a keen but reluctant runner, football fanatic and loves spending time at the coast pretending to be a surfer! 

Katie brings with her over 17 years working in the HR profession, across the public, private and not for profit sectors building on her career from HR generalist to strategic HR and people leader.  Over her career, Katie has designed, influenced and led cultural and organisation change, driven by organisation values and impact.  As a strategic leader joining St Margaret’s, Katie is enthused to bring her knowledge, experience and passion for people and learning into the Executive team and wider organisation, including our volunteer communities.

Katie achieved the accolade of Fellow of the CIPD in 2017, recognising her significant contribution and commitment to the HR profession, and continues to retain membership as well as give back as a volunteer as a mentor to those building and developing their HR careers.  Katie has been volunteering for over 6 years, mainly in the education sector.

Katie joined St Margaret’s in April 2022. She lives in Weston-Super-Mare, currently volunteers as a Trustee for a local multi-academy Trust across North Somerset and Somerset and has settled into the community with her husband.  She has a love for cats, having adopted the newest addition to the family during the pandemic, and has a keen interest in music, enjoys both rural scenic holidays and city breaks to experience the best of cultures, food and drink!

After joining St Margaret's Hospice Care in 2005 as the IT Manager, he then went on to oversee the delivery of several key projects including the organisation’s change to a full multi-disciplinary electronic patient record. During this time Nick has also delivered IT consultancy services to several hospices within the South West including Hospiscare, Weldmar, Weston and The Children’s Hospice SouthWest.

In May 2015, Nick was appointed as the Director of IT Services to ensure St Margaret’s can continue to find innovative ways to reach more people, whilst identifying new ways that technology can be used to improve income generation, and deliver better integrated care.