The Board

Vicky began her NHS career in September 2005 as an NHS Management Graduate Trainee.   Vicky's first placement on the scheme was Operational Manager at Sunderland Eye Infirmary.

Vicky has worked in different areas of healthcare. This included spending time at the European Public Health Alliance in Brussels.

In 2007 Vicky attained her first substantive operational role at Sunderland Royal Hospital. First, as a Directorate Manager working in a range of specialities over the years before becoming Head of Theatres in 2015.

Between 2019 and 2022 Vicky held two posts at STSFT. Divisional Director for family care and Divisional Director for Clinical Support.  Vicky also worked in the out of hospital arena where she formed networks with a range of system-wide partners. 

Vicky has worked on several successful Trust-wide projects and programmes. In January 2025 Vicky was appointed Executive Director of Planning and Business Development, as well as Chair of Haven Court board.

Gavin joined the NHS as part of the graduate training scheme in 2006 becoming a qualified accountant in 2009 and has held a number of senior finance posts before coming into current role in 2017. He has combined his Trust role with that of Finance Director within Haven Court since 2017.

Gavin has control and responsibility for all financial aspects for Haven Court. He ensures that financial systems are robust, compliant and support current activities and future developments.

Prior to joining the health service he worked in banking at the Newcastle Building Society.

Educated at the Universities of Leeds, Caen and Oxford, Fiona began her career as a fast-track Civil Servant in Whitehall, subsequently teaching Modern Foreign Languages and working in the House of Commons, before joining Royal Mail plc. Fiona enjoyed a thirteen-year career with Royal Mail, undertaking operational, training and management roles both at home and abroad, including Home Shopping Sales Director, and culminating as Business Implementation and Delivery Director on a UK-wide IT Programme.

Since returning to the North East, Fiona has developed a portfolio career working across all three sectors. This has included her own consultancy practice – providing language services, project management and business development support to SMEs and social enterprises – and interim change leadership roles as Director, Newcastle Science City and North East Programme Director for Safe Families for Children. She is currently Chief Operating Officer at the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle where her responsibilities include, among others, property, safeguarding, education, HR, health & safety, data protection and finance.

A former Chair and Non-Executive Director of an NHS Mental Health and Learning Disability Foundation Trust, Fiona is also employed by the Ministry of Justice as both a Specialist Lay Member of First Tier (Mental Health) Tribunals and Appraiser.

In addition, Fiona enjoys voluntary positions supporting Durham University Business School and as a Trustee of the University’s Bede Chair of Theology, as a Trustee of Vindolanda, a Trustee of the Community Foundation serving Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, a judge for the North East Accountancy Awards and a member of the Charity Advisory Panel for Age UK Northumberland.

Sarah, a Registered Nurse (BSc,) has over 25 years nursing experience after qualifying in 1999. 

She has extensive experience, a nursing diploma from Northumbria University, a BSc in Nursing Studies from Manchester University and a MSc in Leadership and Management from Northumbria University, which she passed with distinction. 

Sarah held her previous role as Matron in medicine and elderly care at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust for 12 years. Prior to that she was a Ward Manager in elderly care at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle and prior to that, a Junior Sister in elderly care at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead.