Our People
St Luke’s is shaped by the people who lead, deliver and enable our care. That’s why we’re committed to empowering our hospice teams to grow and be their best selves, so together we can fulfil our purpose and bring our vision to life.
St Luke’s Hospice teams and people – quick links
How our people are organised
Behind every service at St Luke’s is a clear structure of leadership, governance and specialist knowledge. This is the same for clinical and non-clinical roles, trustees and patrons, volunteers, and the programmes that guide how we work together. The sections below explain who our people are, and how responsibility, development and culture are woven throughout our organisation.
Our Chief Executive and Chief Nurse – Jo Lenton
Jo Lenton is the Chief Executive and Chief Nurse at St Luke’s Hospice in Sheffield, bringing more than three decades of dedicated experience in nursing and palliative care. She qualified as a nurse from the Sheffield School of Nursing in 1992 with a Diploma in Nursing Studies, beginning her career on a general surgical ward where she developed an early and enduring commitment to supporting patients with cancer and complex needs.
Jo’s passion for end-of-life care led her into District Nursing in 2002, before joining St Luke’s Hospice in 2008 as a Community Specialist Palliative Care Nurse. During this time, she piloted an innovative rapid response service offering same day assessment and intervention for patients in urgent need.
Her leadership pathway within St Luke’s has been extensive. She progressed through several senior roles including:
Manager for Community Nursing (2016)
Head of Community Nursing (2017)
Director of Care & Lead for Healthcare Partnerships (2019)
Chief Nurse & Director of Care Services (2023)
In June 2024, Jo was appointed Chief Executive of St Luke’s Hospice, following a long-established reputation within the organisation and across the hospice sector for clinical excellence, compassionate leadership, and strategic vision.
Jo holds an MSc in Voluntary Sector Leadership from Bayes (City) University London and has completed the Advanced Physical Assessment Course (APAC) and Non-medical prescribing.
As Chief Executive, Jo is committed to leading St Luke’s into new areas of specialist support, strengthening research in palliative care, and ensuring services continue to evolve for future generations. She is passionate about maintaining St Luke’s long-standing position as a benchmark for exceptional end of life care.
Our Executive Team and Leads
Our Chief Executive, Jo Lenton, oversees the Executive Team and Leads, who steer the charity and its people, striving to provide the best possible services for patients and their families, while nurturing a positive culture guided by shared values.
Dr Sam Kyeremateng
Medical Director & Clinical Lead for Programme Development
Dr Sam Kyeremateng
Originally from Dundee, Sam completed his initial medical training in Aberdeen in 1998. He moved to Sheffield in 1999 and began working in palliative medicine in 2002. Sam has been a Consultant at St Luke’s since 2008 and became St Luke’s Medical Director in 2013 and Responsible Officer in 2014. His role was further expanded in 2018, to reflect his role leading the development of new and innovative clinical services at St Luke’s. Sam is the Executive Lead at St Luke’s for The St Luke’s Wilkes Institute. Sam is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
Sam has held clinical leadership and advisory roles in NHS England regionally and nationally including Training Programme Director for Palliative Medicine in Yorkshire and Humber Deanery from 2018 to 2023, and most recently has been the Clinical Lead for Palliative and End of Life Care for NHSE North East and Yorkshire Region and a National Clinical Advisor to NHS England on Palliative Medicine Workforce.
Sam was appointed as a Trustee of Hospice UK in January 2025.
Tony Saunders
Director of Finance, Chief Operating Officer
Tony Saunders
Tony holds a degree in Economic and Social Studies from the University of Manchester and is a Chartered Accountant (FCA). After working in practice in Sheffield and later as Finance Director of a multi-site logistics company, he joined St Luke’s in 2010. He has since held senior roles across commercial and non-clinical operations. Tony also brings extensive non-executive experience with several charities and has served as treasurer of the Sheffield and District Society of Chartered Accountants.
Katie Weller
Director of People and Wellbeing
Katie Weller
Katie leads St Luke’s HR, L&D, EDI and Volunteering Teams. She joined in 2022 and holds a degree in Business and HRM from Sheffield Hallam University, as well as MCIPD membership. Katie brings wide-ranging leadership experience across manufacturing, engineering, wholesale, retail, distribution, local authority and insurance. Her expertise spans organisational design, HR function development, employee relations, and major transformation programmes. She is passionate about employee engagement, people development, health and wellbeing, and DE&I.
Emma Baldwin
Exec Lead for Care
Emma Baldwin
Emma joined St Luke’s in 2016 as a physiotherapist and now leads the quality and delivery of all clinical services. She studied physiotherapy at Sheffield Hallam University, began her career in the NHS in 2011, and completed a Master’s in Vitality and Ageing at Leiden University in 2014. Emma is a member of the CSP and HCPC and a regional lead for ACPOPC. She is committed to innovation in palliative care and ensuring exceptional standards across all services.
Joasia Lesniak
Exec Lead for Fundraising
Joasia Lesniak
Joasia joined St Luke’s in 2013, progressing through senior fundraising roles before becoming Head of Fundraising in 2020. She now leads all fundraising activity, guiding a team that raises over £5 million each year to support St Luke’s care and support services. Joasia shapes our fundraising strategy, driving sustainable growth through strategy, innovation and engagement. Deeply committed to the charity’s mission, she works closely with the Sheffield community to build partnerships that help secure St Luke’s future for generations to come.
Mark Gillott
Exec Lead for Digital & Data
Mark Gillott
Mark first joined St Luke’s in 2007 after completing his degree in computing and returned in 2022 following senior digital roles in hospice and social care charities. He now leads St Luke’s digital and data strategy, overseeing systems, data and information governance, security and wider transformation. Mark is dedicated to making technology seamless for colleagues and ensuring digital tools and insights enhance the delivery of compassionate, high-quality care.
Our Board of Trustees, Patrons and President
St Luke’s benefits from the leadership and support of our Trustees, Patrons and President. Their collective expertise and advocacy help ensure strong governance and sustained focus on the needs of our patients, families and community.
Adrian Belton
Chair of the Board of Trustees
Adrian Belton
Adrian was educated in Sheffield and graduated from Durham University. After an executive career across the private and public sectors, he now holds several non-executive positions. He served on the University of Sheffield Council from 2014-2023, acting as interim Chair in 2022.
He chaired Stockport NHS Foundation Trust from 2017-2021 and is currently a non-executive director at NHS Property Services Ltd. These roles have deepened his insight into how home and community care can offer the right support for patients and their families.
Adrian also chairs the MoD’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and has a long-standing interest in how academia and industry work together for the public good. He lives locally and works extensively in Sheffield.
Lady Neill DL
President
Lady Neill DL
Lady Neill has served as President of St Luke’s since 2000 and continues to be a valued champion of our work. She promotes St Luke’s widely across Sheffield and beyond, drawing on her long-standing involvement in local charitable and civic life. A member of several South Yorkshire trusts, she was also appointed Deputy Lieutenant of South Yorkshire in 1999.
Hugh Facey OBE and Frances Facey
Principal Patrons
Hugh Facey OBE and Frances Facey
“We are delighted to support St Luke’s and the care they provide for people with life-limiting conditions and their families. The fundraising needed to keep these services running is a huge, ongoing task, and we admire the enthusiasm of the Fundraising Team and volunteers who make so much possible. As neighbours, we enjoy seeing the many activities and therapies taking place at Ecclesall Road South – especially the laughter and conversations from the courtyard!”
How we support our people
Alongside our leadership teams, the following People Teams provide the professional support, development and frameworks that help to ensure our staff and volunteers feel valued, confident and able to give their best.
Our People Agenda priorities:
Attract, Engage, Retain
Enhance Wellbeing and Learning
Nurture Workplace Culture
Key People Programmes
St Luke’s People Programmes reflect our commitment to everyone who contributes to, supports, or is affected by our work. They underpin our approach to inclusion, wellbeing, engagement and culture, helping to create an environment where people feel valued, supported and able to do their best work in service of our patients and communities.
Human Resources (HR)
Our HR Team supports our people throughout their time with St Luke’s. From recruitment and development to wellbeing and support, the team helps create a positive, collaborative and inclusive workplace.
Katie Weller
Director of People and Wellbeing
Katie Weller
Katie leads St Luke’s HR, L&D, EDI and Volunteering Teams. She joined in 2022 and holds a degree in Business and HRM from Sheffield Hallam University, as well as MCIPD membership. Katie brings wide-ranging leadership experience across manufacturing, engineering, wholesale, retail, distribution, local authority and insurance. Her expertise spans organisational design, HR function development, employee relations, and major transformation programmes. She is passionate about employee engagement, people development, health and wellbeing, and DE&I.
Lucy Stanbra
Head of HR & Volunteering
Lucy Stanbra
Lucy joined St Luke’s in September 2024 as HR and Inclusion Manager following 20 years of working in Retail Management and HR across the banking retail sectors, most recently working at Santander bank as a HR manager focusing on the people experience within retail and business banking.
Her role is oversee the day to day management of the HR team, ensuring the service is aligned to needs and meets expectations effectively. She also support the HR needs for the nursing and community teams, undertaking hospice HR projects and initiatives or continual development and improvement of the service, and steering the organisation's EDI programme.
Debbie Woodruffe
People Lead
Debbie Woodruffe
Debbie is St Luke's People Lead and has been with St Luke’s since 2014. On a daily basis, she sees how much our staff care for patients, going above and beyond to make sure they receive an outstanding service. She says this makes it even more important to ensure that we employ the right people who share our values and beliefs.
She started in HR over 20 years ago because she felt it important that people get the appropriate advice, service and support from others who care, and this approach has always been at the forefront of what she does.
Initially she worked within the construction industry, then moved into civil engineering, highways maintenance and horticultural supply before finally finding St Luke’s. She's thankful and grateful that she has found such a brilliant place to work with such amazing people who give their all.
Nicola Harvey
HR Advisor
Nicola Harvey
Nicola joined St Luke’s in 2018 and supports the clinical and medical teams.
She feels St Luke’s is a truly special place to work, with the warmth of the people and the compassionate, supportive environment making it a genuinely unique organisation.
Nicola works closely with managers and staff, providing advice and support across a wide range of HR matters. She is passionate about helping to create a positive experience for everyone she works with and finds her role incredibly rewarding. She feels proud to work alongside such caring and dedicated colleagues who make a real difference to patients and their families every day.
Gemini Patel
HR Advisor
Gemini Patel
Gemini started her career in HR around 9 years ago totally by accident and to this date, it is the best job she has had. Being able to make a positive difference to an employee’s working day helps retention and alignment to an organisation's future vision, mission and strategy.
She joined St Luke’s in February 2023 and on her first visit to Little Common Lane site, she was blown away by the warmth of the people and the positive but peaceful energy at the same time.
As an HR Advisor, she support managers with a variety of people matters and continues to deliver consistency on quality, employee wellbeing and guidance on incorporating St Luke’s ways of working by putting people first.
Hannah Cattell
HR Admin Coordinator
Hannah Cattell
As the HR Admin Coordinator, it’s Hannah's job to support the HR team and ensure all our daily activities are running smoothly.
Before starting at St Luke’s, she worked in HR for a healthcare agency. Being part of a company whose sole purpose is to manage people, you quickly learn how vital those people really are! Before that, she worked in the NHS as a Medical Secretary, at a secure psychiatric unit and had a brief detour as an aspiring gardener.
She loves working with people, and says and being part of such a person focused HR team here at St Luke’s is a dream come true.
More from our HR Team
Our HR strategy sets out how we will attract, engage, retain and develop a skilled, compassionate and resilient workforce who feel valued, supported and able to thrive in a demanding care environment. This strategy delivers the commitments in the People Agenda.
Learning, development and growth
St Luke’s recognises Learning and Development (L&D) as a key enabler of excellent patient care, staff wellbeing and a positive workplace culture. By investing in the capability, confidence and development of our people, L&D helps ensure colleagues at every level are equipped to deliver safe, person-centred care and to grow throughout their careers with us.
Our approach to L&D is:
Compassion-led – recognising the emotional impact of hospice work and prioritising learning that supports humane, values-based care.
Inclusive and personalised – accessible to paid staff, volunteers and bank workers, and adaptable to different roles, learning styles and life experiences.
Embedded in practice – focused on learning that translates into compassionate behaviours, confident decision-making and safe, high-quality care.
Sustainable and proportionate – balancing regulatory requirements, service needs and wellbeing.
Co-created – shaped with staff, volunteers, patients and families wherever possible.
Our L&D Strategy sets out how St Luke’s develops its people to deliver our vision. It recognises the unique demands of hospice work and provides a framework for learning that supports care quality, wellbeing and long-term sustainability.
Our key priorities include:
Ensuring our people have the clinical, emotional and interpersonal skills needed to deliver outstanding end of life care
Strengthening engagement, retention and career satisfaction
Supporting wellbeing, belonging and psychological safety
Reinforcing a compassionate, learning-oriented culture
Building leadership capability at every level
Professional induction:
All St Luke’s new starters take part in a Week 1 and Quarter 1 induction, alongside departmental training. This helps our colleagues acquire the skills they need to deliver their roles competently and confidently.
Statutory Mandatory Training:
All St Luke’s employees complete essential healthcare e-learning modules when they join our teams, as well as throughout their employment, covering a range of important topics.
Development opportunities:
St Luke’s L&D Team runs complementary development sessions for all staff. Topics include Communication Skills, Resilience Training, Palliative Care Introduction, Menopause Awareness and more.
Clinical learning days:
Clinicians receive dedicated learning days each year to support continued professional development (to be confirmed by appointment).
Clinical supervision / reflective sessions:
Clinicians can access an annual programme of clinical supervision. Staff in patient-facing but non-clinical roles can access an annual programme of reflective sessions.
St Luke’s is committed to developing knowledge and skills in palliative and end of life care. Through the Wilkes Institute, we offer a growing programme of courses for our staff and the wider healthcare community, as well as collaborative online learning through Project ECHO, which connects professionals across South Yorkshire.
We also work with research partners across the UK to build the evidence to improve understanding and advance palliative and end of life care. We also support our staff to develop their own research ideas into grant applications for projects involving participants under our care.
Alongside education and research, we enable continuous professional development through training such as Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and Informed Consent through the NIHR, access to evidence through Sheffield Teaching Hospitals’ library services, and regional research internships.
St Luke’s works closely with local schools, colleges and partner organisations to offer work experience and placements primarily in our retail shops. Ranging from a few weeks to a full year, these opportunities provide a supportive, professional setting to learn new skills, build confidence and gain hands-on experience while contributing directly to the care and services St Luke’s provides.
Meet the L&D Team
Connor Browne
Lead for Learning & Development
Connor Browne
Connor qualified as a nurse in 2012 and has over a decade of experience in specialist palliative care, working across community and inpatient settings. His clinical background underpins a strong commitment to person-centred care. Passionate about education in healthcare, he is currently completing an MSc in Clinical Education, with a focus on interprofessional learning.
For the past four years, Connor has led Learning & Development at St Luke’s, driving workforce development through clinical skills programmes and collaborative training. Combining clinical insight with educational leadership, Connor champions a culture of continuous learning to ensure staff are equipped to deliver high-quality care across St Luke’s and the wider health system.
Leigh Evans
Clinical Facilitator
Leigh Evans
Leigh qualified as a nurse in 2012 and has worked across a range of clinical settings. She has specialised in palliative care for the past ten years and joined St Luke’s four and a half years ago. During this time, she has supported the Community Team, contributed to Project ECHO, and spent the last three years as a Clinical Facilitator within the Learning and Development Team.
Leigh is passionate about sharing knowledge and encouraging colleagues to grow in confidence and skill. She works closely with clinical teams and remains involved in direct patient care, which continues to inform her practice. Committed to lifelong learning, Leigh regularly engages with training and research to ensure her teaching reflects current, evidence-based practice.
Rachel Whelan
Clinical Facilitator & Freedom to Speak Up Guardian
Rachel Whelan
Rachel qualified as a nurse in 2010 and began her career in haematology before joining St Luke’s almost ten years ago. She has worked across several services, including the In-Patient Centre, where she cared for patients and their families during some of the most challenging times of their lives, and the Community Team, providing triage and helpline services for patients, families and professionals.
Rachel now works within the Learning and Development Team, delivering up-to-date, evidence-based education for both clinical and non-clinical colleagues. Alongside this, she is St Luke’s Freedom to Speak Up (F2SU) Guardian, offering a safe and confidential route for staff to raise concerns. Throughout her career, Rachel has remained committed to openness, collaboration, and compassionate, person-centred care.
Volunteering and community involvement
St Luke’s recognises that volunteers are essential in bringing our vision to life. By giving their time, skills, compassion and connection, volunteers enrich the experience of patients and families, help generate essential funds, support staff wellbeing and strengthen our presence across the community.
Our Volunteer Strategy sets out how St Luke’s creates the conditions for volunteering to thrive, ensuring every volunteer feels valued, supported and empowered to make a meaningful difference.
Our key priorities include:
Strengthening volunteer attraction and recruitment
Delivering consistent, high-quality onboarding and training
Enhancing volunteer wellbeing and belonging
Improving volunteer retention and recognition
Modernising systems, processes and data
Deepening the impact of volunteering across our services
St Luke’s offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities shaped around three broad programmes, helping people find community and hospice team roles that suit their interests, availability and strengths:
Retail Volunteering – supporting our charity shops, e-trading, Donation Centre and drivers, helping turn donated items into vital funds for care.
Patient-Facing Volunteering – working alongside care teams to offer comfort, connection and practical help to patients and families.
Fundraising, Events and Corporate Volunteering – helping bring communities together, raise awareness and generate essential funds across the city.
Work Experience and Placements – creating opportunities for young people to learn new skills, build confidence and gain hands-on experience.
St Luke’s is committed to making volunteering welcoming, inclusive and accessible. We work hard to remove barriers, so people from different backgrounds, ages and experiences can see the full range of opportunities available, understand what’s involved and choose roles that suit their interests, time and circumstances.
People can explore community and hospice team opportunities and apply in ways that suit them, with clear role information, guidance and support available throughout. We also offer Volunteering Taster Sessions, giving people the chance to try a role, meet our teams and see whether volunteering at St Luke’s feels right for them.
More about volunteering at St Luke’s
Volunteering gallery
Stories from our community and hospice team
Read the latest stories and updates from our hospice team and the community.