Leadership team

Nigel Harding

Chief Executive

Nigel joined Shooting Star Children’s Hospices in September 2018 as Chief Executive, bringing 20 years’ of experience in senior appointments in medical and palliative care.

Most recently Nigel was Chief Executive of St Joseph’s Hospice, where he remains a Trustee, and Chief Executive of Woking and Sam Beare Hospices. He previously worked as Director of Development at St John’s Hospice in St John’s Wood, and then moved to Ireland to run the Mount Carmel Medical Group, a private health care company with three acute hospitals in Dublin, Kilkenny and Sligo.

If you were a Friendlie – which one would you be and why?
It would have to be Professor Popplepants of course! He has an eye for business, works hard and is in touch with his creative side too!

Karen Sugarman

Executive Vice President

Following a career in music, Karen joined Cancer Research UK as a volunteer before spending 15 years working with children and young people living with cancer and leukaemia. Having been aware of the vital importance of the hospice movement due to personal circumstances, it was in 2002 that Karen fulfilled her ambition to work in children’s palliative care when she joined The Shooting Star Trust.

In her current role as Executive Vice-President of Shooting Star Children’s Hospices, Karen helps to drive and develop specialist fundraising streams, creating high-profile events and key donor programmes to build longevity and sustainability. Karen works closely with her co Vice-Presidents, who include Tony Hadley and Simon Cowell, and the charities army of high profile Patrons an celebrity supporters.

Karen has been responsible for securing and speaking at private events, including Buckingham Palace and Downing Street, as well as leading on projects such as the X Factor charity singe and working with Patron Dame Joan Collins who has donated much of her vast wardrobe to many of the charity’s shops.

Most recently, Karen secured £250,000 funding from the ICAP Charity Day to refurbish our Guildford hospice, Christopher’s, and was  responsible for working with NEXT to see the charity benefit from the retailers 5p carrier bag levy, raising £300,000 over three years.

Karen has recently become a weekend volunteer at one of our charity shops and looks forward to a weekly visit from some very special four-legged friends: “They know I have a jar of doggy biscuits under the counter. I now know all the dogs by their names; Gilbert the puppy loves our shop!”

Best thing about Shooting Star Children’s Hospices:

“Working with an incredible team across the charity and helping to create some very special memories for the children and families we support.”

If Karen was one of the Friendlies, she would be…

It would have to be Sugar, of course!

Patricia Mbasani

Director of People Development, HR and Volunteers

Patricia joined Shooting Star Children’s Hospices in August 2015 to lead on the strategic delivery of all aspects of people development and facilities for our 200 staff and 700 volunteers. She brings with her a wealth of experience following seven successful years as Head of Human Resources at the Multiple Sclerosis Society leading on major people and performance projects and the development of HR policies and standards. Her previous roles include Director of Personnel at Morley College and HR Manager at Queen Mary, University of London.

Patricia has a range of qualifications, including BA Hons in Business Studies majoring in Industrial Relations and Personnel Management, an MSc in Public Service Management and is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Best thing about Shooting Star Children’s Hospices

“The passion people have for Shooting Star Children’s Hospices – both staff and volunteers – is quite remarkable. The dedication they show really does make a difference to the level of support we provide for families.”

If Patricia was one of the Friendlies, she would be…

Chuckles: Works tirelessly to keep our people smiling.

Helen Sibley

Director of Care

Helen joined Shooting Star Children’s Hospices as Director of Care in January 2015. She brought with her 30 years’ nursing experience that began by training as a nursery nurse in a small town in Wales to Associate Director of Operations, Women’s Health and Paediatrics in Acute Hospital services at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals. In between, Helen has gained first-hand experience across a wide range of services in both children’s and adult’s care , setting up community children’s nursing services, developing pathways of care for children with cancer, working in practice education and child safeguarding, and as Head of Paediatric Services at West Middlesex University Hospital.

Helen undertook her nurse training in Hammersmith Hospital in west London and her professional qualifications include registration in both adult and paediatric nursing and in Post Graduate Health Service Management. Helen’s passion for high quality, compassionate care has driven her work to develop services to make a difference to the individual and their family and took on roles including paediatric oncology peer reviewer for the London Regional Office.

Best thing about Shooting Star Children’s Hospices:

“I am regularly humbled by people’s commitment, not just in the care team but from everyone else who supports the work. There is an absolute commitment and focus on the families and an incredible willingness to go the extra mile to make every moment count.”

If Helen was one of the Friendlies, she would be…

Nurse Luffley: Caring, talented, and likes to dance.

Sally Wells

Director of Fundraising Operations

Sally brings a wealth of organisational knowledge and fundraising experience having joined The Shooting Star Trust in 2000. Focusing initially in the trusts and corporate field, Sally was instrumental in helping to achieve the £6.5 million capital appeal to build Shooting Star House. Following this, Sally spent ten years’ specialising in major donor and high profile event fundraising, with a focus on planning and executing the team’s annual strategy.

In her current role, Sally leads the entire fundraising team – Community, Corporate, Specialist, Challenge Events and Supporter Development – overseeing day-to-day operations as well as developing and implementing the fundraising strategy to maximise income generation and help ensure Shooting Star Children’s Hospices remains a leading children’s hospice charity.

Best thing about Shooting Star Children’s Hospices:

“Fundraising, particularly in the current climate, can be challenging, but knowing that every day we’re making a difference to families who desperately need our care and support is hugely inspiring. That, and the fact we have such a dedicated team, makes my job incredibly rewarding.”

If Sally was one of the Friendlies, she would be…

Dazzler: Always looking for exciting new ways to raise money…bungee jumping anyone?!