Our Team

Judi Newman

Chief Executive Officer

Summary of your job role & directorate: Leadership and oversight of the hospice and its services. I represent the hospice externally with our integrated care system partners and am responsible for ensuring we have good governance, sustainable resources and a safe, positive working environment.

Previous experience: My background is in charity fundraising and philanthropy advice. I have worked for international, national and local charities, and was the Development Director for the Suffolk Community Foundation for over six years so am very passionate about the local charitable sector in Suffolk.

What is the most rewarding part of working at St Elizabeth Hospice? I find it most rewarding when I hear directly from patients and families on the impact that our care services have made on their lives, listening to their feedback to make sure that we continuously seek to improve the care we offer. So often, our volunteers and supporters are motivated to help us because of the experiences of care that their loved ones received and it is always moving to hear their personal stories.

What do you like to do in your spare time? My husband Andrew and I like exploring new cities and listening to live music. I love to read but I usually have too many books on the go at any one time, as my three dogs keep me busy. Our two children are in their twenties so the school runs have finished but one is a keen horse rider so I am still required for lorry driving to competitions.

Marlini Finney

Chief Operating Officer

Summary of your job role & directorate: I lead the areas that support operational delivery, such as Estates, People, Finance, IT and Business Intelligence.

Previous experience: I have previously worked entirely in the private sector, more recently running a local manufacturing company.

What is the most rewarding part of working at St Elizabeth Hospice? My role involves a lot of transformation, and it’s rewarding to see it start to take shape for the overall benefit of hospice services. The hospice is also a great place to work, with a positive, friendly and welcoming team.

What do you like to do in your spare time? I like spending time with my family – including my 3 grandsons, archery, theatre and I’ve recently discovered camping!

Dr Alison Blaken

Medical Director & Consultant in Palliative Medicine

Summary of your job role & directorate: My job is to provide support and leadership to the hospice’s medical team and to the wider clinical teams, holding overall responsibility for the clinical management of patients within the hospice alongside the Director of Care. The medical team of Doctors, Medical Consultants and Nurse Consultants deliver patient care across all hospice sites. As a consultant, I continue to work clinical sessions with patients, as well as developing and delivering the hospice’s strategic aims and working alongside colleagues in both our integrated care systems.

Previous experience: I have worked at the hospice since 2011, previously working in other palliative care settings around the east of England. Before taking on the medical director role I also worked as part of the palliative care team in Ipswich Hospital alongside my hospice role.

What is the most rewarding part of working at St Elizabeth Hospice? The friendly welcome, fantastic teamwork and seeing the differences we make every day.

What do you like to do in your spare time? Enjoying family life in rural East Suffolk including a growing number of dogs.

Lisa Parrish

Director of Patient Services

Summary of your job role & directorate: As Director of Care, I am responsible for all services delivering care to patients and their families. I am the Registered Manager with the Care Quality Commission and the Controlled Drugs Accountable Officer.

Previous experience: My clinical background is in cancer and end-of-life care. I have held various leadership roles both in hospital and community services as well as commissioning roles. Prior to joining St Elizabeth Hospice, I held a Director of Care role at St Helena Hospice in Colchester.

What is the most rewarding part of working at St Elizabeth Hospice? Empowering teams to be able to deliver outstanding care to patients and their families. I love hearing how our teams have made a difference at really difficult times.

What do you like to do in your spare time? I like spending time with my family and friends, going to the gym and trying to develop my creative side with various craft projects.

Clare Chater

Director of Income Generation & Marketing

Summary of your job role & directorate: I oversee our Fundraising, Retail, and Marketing & Communications activities, with a focus on raising awareness of and engagement with the hospice, building meaningful relationships and inspiring people to support our work and help us to be here for everyone who needs us.

Previous experience: I read Law at university and since pursued a career in charities, gaining over 20 years’ experience in the sector. I started with roles in project management, events and community fundraising and have worked for a range of local and national organisations including Girlguiding UK, Parkinson’s UK and the MS Society. I presented at the Chartered Institute of Fundraising Convention, been a CIoF mentor, served on the NHS Charities Together national campaigns group and chaired the London NHS Charities Fundraising Group. More recently, I held Director roles at Barts Charity and St Nicholas Hospice Care, joining St Elizabeth Hospice in June 2024.

What is the most rewarding part of working at St Elizabeth Hospice? I am motivated by enabling people to make a difference for a cause that they’re passionate about and I am continually amazed by the dedication and generosity of our supporters. It is most rewarding to hear stories of how much the hospice means to patients and families, and the incredible care and support that is offered by our staff and volunteers.

What do you like to do in your spare time? Having relocated to Suffolk in 2022, I am enjoying life in the countryside with my young family. Alongside work and family commitments, I am a Trustee of my local nursery school, using my professional skills in a voluntary capacity.

Ian Turner

Chair of the Board

Joined: March 2012

Ian Turner joined the hospice as a trustee over a decade ago and has been Chair of the Board for over five years.

Using his experience of establishing and running a number of businesses across East Anglia, Ian has been able to assist and provide guidance to St Elizabeth Hospice’s retail team, as the number of hospice shops has grown rapidly in recent years.

He lives in Suffolk with his wife Tonia and his hobbies include sailing as well as choral singing.

John Pickering

Deputy Chair

Joined: December 2021

John Pickering is a Chartered Accountant now largely retired from practice but was previously managing and subsequently Senior Partner of Scrutton Bland based in Suffolk and north Essex.

He has been a trustee since December 2021 and was previously a trustee of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) for ten years latterly as chair of trustees. Until 2019, he was chair of governors at a large Suffolk independent school and is involved as a trustee of other charities. John is currently the Deputy Chair at St Elizabeth Hospice.

John is married with three daughters and currently has six grandchildren which keep him busy. He plays tenor saxophone in Ipswich Hospital Band and the Community Light Orchestra.

Nick Banks

Treasurer

Joined: January 2021

Nick Banks is a Chartered Accountant and a partner in Scrutton Bland, an accountancy and advisory firm providing services throughout Suffolk and the Eastern Counties.

He was appointed a trustee and Hospice Treasurer in January 2021 and prior to that he served as a governor and chair of the finance committee of a leading independent school for a number of years. He is currently the independent chair of the audit and risk committee of the New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership.

Nick is married with three children. He enjoys walking their two dogs, tinkering with his classic sports car and is an increasingly optimistic Ipswich Town FC season ticket holder.

Melanie Craig

Joined: March 2022

Born and bred in Ipswich, Melanie Craig became a St Elizabeth Hospice trustee in March 2022.

A keen supporter of Ipswich Town Football Club, she has over 20 years’ experience in senior roles working for the NHS throughout Suffolk, Great Yarmouth and Waveney, most recently serving as CEO of the Suffolk Community Foundation.

Outside of working life, Melanie enjoys taking part in park runs, walking her dog, tending her allotment and spending time with friends and family, including her two daughters.

Pam Fenner

Joined: 2021

Pam Fenner joined the St Elizabeth Hospice Board of Trustees in 2021 after a career which saw her work in the NHS as a Midwife, Practice Nurse Clinical Nurse Specialist Regional End of Life Lead, and Director of Nursing.

Since moving to Suffolk, she has worked in NHS Commissioning leading on Palliative and End of Life Care and Cancer Services developments as well as Quality and Safety oversite. Her specialist interest has always remained Palliative and End of Life Care.

Outside of her hospice role, Pam is chair of governors at a local primary school and secretary for her local tennis club. While she also enjoys playing bridge with her husband, classic cars and walking the newest member of her family, a black Labrador puppy called Kole.

Andreas Hilger

Joined: 2022

Andreas is an Ear, Nose & Throat Consultant working at Ipswich Hospital. He has been involved in acute cancer care for over 30 years.

In his spare time, Andreas enjoys living near the Suffolk coast which gives him the opportunity to take part in various water sports during his free time.

Ann Hogarth

Joined: 2014

Ann Hogarth was a qualified accountant and she worked for the last 20 years of her career before retiring in the NHS Public Sector within senior management. She has been a Trustee of St Elizabeth Hospice since early 2014. Ann currently Chair’s the Governance & Oversight sub-committee of the Board.

Ann is also a Trustee of Suffolk Family Carers and for the past 5 years she has been a volunteer at Sutton Hoo National Trust property. On an ad-hoc basis she currently works as an exam invigilator at a local high school.

She is married to Malcolm, a retired Health & Safety Consultant, who also carries out a number of volunteer roles, including as an events volunteer, for St Elizabeth Hospice. Ann and Malcolm have a Springer Spaniel, called Merlot, who keeps them fit and active.

Bridget Lowe

Joined: March 2023

Bridget Lowe became a St Elizabeth Hospice Trustee in March 2023, following the merger of East Coast Hospice and St Elizabeth Hospice, to form St Elizabeth East Coast Hospice.

Her career saw Bridget work for the NHS in a non-clinical capacity as a hospital site manager and for a local primary care trust in a role concentrating on health improvement and clinical governance.

After working for the NHS for over 30 years, Bridget joined the Stroke Association as a co-ordinator of stroke groups in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney area.

Outside of the hospice, Bridget is a keen Norwich City FC supporter, she also enjoys walking her dogs, watching her grandsons play and referee football as well as attending live music gigs.

Graham Mackenzie

Joined: 2019

Joining the St Elizabeth Hospice as a Trustee in 2019, Graham Mackenzie became Chair of the People & Culture Committee, at the hospice, in 2021.

He also serves as Chief Executive of Battersea Healthcare CIC, the GP Federation in Wandsworth, leading on the delivery of integrated primary and community care services in the borough. His career has also seen Graham train as a music therapist and work clinically for the NHS in mental health and services for adults with learning disabilities. An experienced service commissioner, Graham was the Chief Officer of Wandsworth CCG for five years until 2017.

A resident of Felixstowe, Graham enjoys lengthy walks along the beach with his two Cocker Spaniels, while he is also an Ipswich Town Football Club season ticket holder and a keen visitor to the theatre and cinema.

Ann Monks

Joined: December 2022

Ann Monks previously served on the Board of East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices for nine years. As with many people in Suffolk, Ann has a personal connection with St Elizabeth Hospice. Her husband passed away peacefully at the hospice while under the charity’s compassionate care.

Ann’s career has seen her work across professional practices and financial services in business development and marketing. She trained at KPMG and was Marketing Partner at Smith & Williamson, where she worked for 20 years.

In addition to walking her dog and enjoying the beautiful Suffolk countryside, Ann is involved in activities in her local community. She is a keen supporter of the arts and is a member of the Royal Over-Seas League – which promotes collaboration across the Commonwealth via education and arts programmes. She also enjoys singing with Pop Chorus and weekly tap dancing classes with other likeminded tappers!

Angela Wilson

Joined: February 2024

Angela Wilson previously had a long career in the NHS, working as a registered nurse and senior manager in the Great Yarmouth and Waveney area which is where she first began working with colleagues at St Elizabeth Hospice.

Throughout her varied clinical career, Angela has held a passion for delivering safe, effective, quality patient care and worked with colleagues, in Norfolk and Waveney, to continuously improve standards of palliative and end-of-life care.

Outside of work life, Angela is a keen ‘stitcher’ and is learning the art of quilting and patchworking. She also enjoys supporting her grandchildren, walking, cycling, gardening and generally being outside enjoying time with her family.