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Our People

Te whānau

We have a team of 75+ people who work with energy, commitment and heart to care for and support patients and their whānau. Our team are supported by over 600 volunteers and the Cranford Hospice Trust and Foundation Boards.

Senior leaders

Andrew Lesperance

Chief Executive Officer

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Andrew Lesperance

Chief Executive Officer

Andrew Lesperance is the Chief Executive Officer of Cranford Hospice, bringing extensive experience in health leadership, clinical practice and service development across New Zealand, Canada and the United States.

Originally from Ontario, Canada, Andrew trained as a registered nurse and began his career in remote Indigenous health settings, building a strong foundation in culturally responsive and community-based care. His clinical background includes intensive care and cardiology, supported by postgraduate qualifications in education, business and leadership.

Since moving to New Zealand, Andrew has held senior clinical and executive roles, leading major health developments including the Hastings Health Centre, and contributing nationally across the palliative care sector.

Debra Ridgway

Finance Director

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Debra Ridgway

Finance Director

Debra Ridgway is Finance Director at Cranford Hospice and brings extensive experience in finance, governance and the charitable sector. She began her career with PwC before specialising in not-for-profit organisations and later completed a Master of Laws (LLM) focused on professional complaints and disciplinary systems.

Following eight years with Lake Taupō Hospice, Debra joined Cranford Hospice to continue supporting the hospice movement. Inspired by her own family’s experience of hospice care, she is passionate about ensuring Cranford Hospice remains financially sustainable so patients and whānau can continue to receive compassionate, high-quality care when they need it most.

Martyn Horsfall

Medical Director

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Martyn Horsfall

Medical Director

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Carol-Ann Stubbs

Development & Engagement Director

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Carol-Ann Stubbs

Development & Engagement Director

Carol-Ann Stubbs is the Director of Engagement and Development at Cranford Hospice, leading fundraising, marketing, communications, community engagement, events and retail. She brings extensive experience in relationship management, business development and strategic planning, with a passion for connecting people and organisations to causes that make a meaningful difference. Carol-Ann works closely with donors, grant makers, community groups and business partners to help sustain hospice care across Hawke’s Bay. A proud Hawke’s Bay local, she also holds leadership roles with BNI and Lions Clubs, and coaches netball.

Jacqui Sanders-Jones

Executive Assistant and Administration Manager

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Jacqui Sanders-Jones

Executive Assistant and Administration Manager

Jacqui is Executive Assistant at Cranford Hospice, providing executive, governance and strategic support to the Chief Executive Officer and leadership team.

She brings extensive experience in executive support, governance and stakeholder engagement, having previously worked with Hawke’s Bay DHB, New Zealand Police and several Hawke’s Bay schools. She holds a New Zealand Diploma in Business (Leadership and Management) and a Certificate in Tikanga Māori.

Alongside her role at Cranford Hospice, Jacqui is Presiding Member of a local school board. Originally from the UK, she has proudly called Hawke’s Bay home for the past 18 years.

Sharyn Flynn

Nurse Manager

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Sharyn Flynn

Nurse Manager

Sharyn Flynn is Nurse Manager (Kaiwhakahaere Nēhi) at Cranford Hospice, leading a team of nurses providing specialist palliative care across Hawke’s Bay.

With more than 45 years of nursing experience spanning intensive care, surgical nursing, public health, district nursing, aged care and palliative care, Sharyn brings extensive clinical and leadership expertise to her role. She holds a Master of Nursing and is passionate about supporting patients, whānau and her team through some of life’s most challenging moments.

Born and raised in Hawke’s Bay, Sharyn enjoys trail running around Te Mata Peak and spending time with her husband, four daughters and four grandchildren.

Paul McOnie

Family Support Team Manager

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Paul McOnie

Family Support Team Manager

Paul McOnie is a counsellor, educator, and reflective practitioner, currently serving as the Family Support Team Manager at Cranford Hospice in Hawke’s Bay. In his role, he supports patients and whānau navigating grief, loss, and complex emotional experiences, while leading a multidisciplinary team with a strong focus on holistic, client-centred care. Alongside his leadership work, Paul offers individual, couples, and family therapy, with experience working with both adults and young people. His practice is grounded in reflective, relational approaches that support meaning-making and emotional integration. Outside of work, he values time with family and connection to the Hawke’s Bay community he calls home.

Trust Board

Andrea Jopling

Chair

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Andrea Jopling

Chair

Originally from the UK and educated at the University of London, Andrea has worked in New Zealand’s health sector since 2002 as a project manager, strategic planner, evaluator and funder across health and social services.

Alongside several governance roles, Andrea works as an independent consultant and brings extensive experience in health system planning and service development.

Andrea has had a longstanding connection with Cranford Hospice and a strong interest in palliative care. Before joining the Trust Board in 2017, she worked closely with Cranford through her role at Hawke’s Bay District Health Board and later as Project Manager supporting the successful Service Design and Business Case development for the Hospice Innovation Funding project.

Andrea is also a Director of the Heretaunga Building Society and a former Director of DOVE Hawke’s Bay.

Richard Brown

Deputy Chair

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Richard Brown

Deputy Chair

Richard brings extensive international banking and governance experience to the Cranford Hospice Trust Board, following a global career with HSBC where he held a variety of senior leadership roles across banking operations, finance, human resources, customer service, marketing and compliance.

Originally from the UK, Richard moved to Hawke’s Bay from Malta in 2014 with his wife Jennifer and twin daughters. Jennifer’s family have long-standing connections to the region, and Richard has since become deeply involved in the local community.

Richard serves as Chair of Cranford Hospice’s Finance, Audit and Risk Committee, bringing strong financial oversight and strategic governance expertise to the organisation.

He is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Iona College and owns Tironui Estate, a boutique vineyard near Taradale.

Garth Cowie

Trustee

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Garth Cowie

Trustee

Garth Cowie brings extensive business and governance experience to Cranford Hospice, having led 18 years of growth and significant development at Napier Port.

His career has given him strong insight into the changing nature of work, the impact of technology, environmental sustainability, and the increasing importance of diversity in shaping communities and organisations.

Recently retired, Garth now focuses on consultancy work across transport and infrastructure, alongside a range of governance roles. These include Chair of the Hawke’s Bay Joint Governance Group on Safe Drinking Water and Chair of Hastings District Council’s 3 Waters Improvement Committee.

Garth was recently made a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand in recognition of his longstanding contribution and service to the accounting profession.

Helen Waker QSM

Trustee

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Helen Walker QSM

Trustee

Helen Walker QSM holds a Bachelor of Science from Massey University, majoring in physiology, and is a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors New Zealand.

Rurally based in Central Hawke’s Bay, Helen runs a successful farming operation alongside her husband, Ian.

Helen brings extensive governance experience to Cranford Hospice and is currently involved with the NZ Singing School Trust, the Central Health & Disability Ethics Committee, and the Medical Sciences Council. Her previous governance and directorship roles include Unison Networks, Health Hawke’s Bay, and the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board.

Derek Goodisson

Trustee

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Derek Goodisson

Trustee

Derek Goodisson is a Maxillofacial Surgeon with a sub-specialty interest in head and neck cancer.

He brings extensive clinical, governance and leadership experience to Cranford Hospice, having served for many years on an international not-for-profit trauma board. He is also an advisor to his surgical college on continuing education and has represented New Zealand on his specialty council.

Derek has a strong interest in healthcare governance and health equity, bringing valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing the health sector.

Alan Wright

Trustee

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Alan Wright

Trustee

Alan moved to New Zealand from the UK in 1993 and has spent much of his career serving communities in Hawke’s Bay as a General Practitioner.

A strong advocate for the specialty of General Practice, Alan has a deep commitment to holistic care, particularly at the end of life, where some of the strongest bonds are formed with patients and their whānau.

Married to Ali, a registered surgical nurse, and with three adult children, Alan and his family are firmly rooted in life in New Zealand.

Alan brings an inquisitive nature and a strong desire to find solutions to complex challenges, contributing thoughtful insight and practical perspective to the Cranford Hospice Board.

Regan Loach

Trustee

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Regan Loach

Trustee

Bio coming soon.

Fleur Wainohu

Trustee

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Fleur Wainohu

Trustee

Tēnā Koutou,

Ko Fleur Wainohu tōku ingoa.
He uri ahau nō Kahungunu ki Heretaunga.
Ko Pahauwera tōku hapu
Ko Iwitea tōku wāhi tūpuna
Ko Takitimu te waka.
He mema poari matua me he kaitiaki o te kaupapa au o
Te Kahu Pairuri o Cranford ki Te Matau ā Māui.
Nō reira, tēnā rā koutou katoa

Michael Newby

Trustee

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Our People

Te whānau

Senior leaders

Andrew Lesperance

Debra Ridgway

Martyn Horsfall

Carol-Ann Stubbs

Jacqui Sanders-Jones

Sharyn Flynn

Paul McOnie

Trust Board

Andrea Jopling

Richard Brown

Garth Cowie

Helen Waker QSM

Derek Goodisson

Alan Wright

Regan Loach

Fleur Wainohu

Michael Newby

Foundation Board

Chris Tremain (Chair)

David Martin

Hannah Morrah

Jude Minor

Ben Petro