Our Patrons | Cavell

Dame Ruth May was Chief Nursing Officer for England 2019-2024, capping her 40 year nursing career. Ruth played a pivotal role increasing the nursing workforce and led the profession through the COVID-19 pandemic. Her experience also includes senior leadership roles, including as an NHS chief executive, and then regional and national roles with Monitor, NHS Improvement and NHS England. A passionate advocate for nursing excellence and innovation, Ruth led initiatives such as the “Stop the Pressure” campaign. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded a Damehood (DBE) in 2022 and holds multiple honorary doctorates.

Gezz Van Zwanenberg started his career as an RAF Nurse in battle zones such as Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan. He and won a national award for his work leading a team treating injured soldiers on Afghanistan battlefields and on flights back to Britain. Gezz moved into critical care and leadership, winning awards for patient safety and led critical care transfer at London’s Nightingale Hospital during the Covid pandemic. His current role is Chief Operating Officer at HCRG Staffing, experts in recruiting to all healthcare staffing groups. Gezz said “I am delighted to join an organisation that has the wellbeing and welfare of nurses at its heart and I am looking forward to contributing to benefit other nurse colleagues.”

Dame Jackie Daniel progressed through the nursing ranks quickly, becoming a Ward Sister and moving into NHS management, where she spent a decade at board level before becoming a CEO. Whilst at CEO level Jackie led acute, community, mental health, specialist and community services most recently whilst CEO at Newcastle Hospitals, one of the largest hospitals in the UK. Jackie said “I’m really pleased to be able to take on a patron role with the fabulous organisation that is Cavell. I began my career as a nurse, so I feel very passionately about the profession and know what it’s like to work in frontline care. At times it’s not easy when life events turn up and so it’s important that Cavell is there to offer all kinds of support to staff when it’s needed.”

Heather Tierney-Moore OBE was one of the first Macmillan breast cancer nurses in the UK before moving into senior leadership roles at provider, regional and national levels in the NHS in England and Scotland. After 10 years as Chief Executive at Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, she has retired and is now supporting organisations and individuals seeking to work with, in or at the interface of the NHS and social care. Heather said “It’s a huge honour to be a Cavell patron. When I started out years ago as a student nurse, I could never have imagined I’d be in this position. I’m truly looking forward to helping shine a light on the immensely valuable work Cavell does to support nurses and midwives, especially during times of personal or professional crisis.”

Dame Christine Beasley DBE has enjoyed a 50 year career in the NHS. She took up the post of Chief Nursing Officer for England in 2004, which she held until her retirement in 2012. In 2002, Dame Christine was awarded a CBE and made a Dame in 2008. Since her retirement as Chief Nursing Officer, she has become Chair of Council at Bucks University and Non-Executive Director of the NHS Trust Development Authority. Dame Christine said: “I am delighted to have been asked to be a Patron of Cavell and I look forward to supporting and promoting the contribution that the Trust is making to nurses and nursing.”

Lord Simon Russell is the 3rd Baron Russell of Liverpool and is a British crossbench peer. The paternal grandson of Edward Russell, 2nd Baron Russell of Liverpool, he was educated at Charterhouse School, Trinity College, Cambridge, and INSEAD Business School.

Sophie Ward is an English actress and the daughter of actor Simon Ward. Sophie has appeared in numerous films and stage plays ranging from Young Sherlock Holmes to Book of Blood, and in many TV series, notably Heartbeat and Holby City.

Cherish Reardon is the Co-Founder of Popsy Clothing, one of the UK’s most community-driven fashion brands, built with the mission to help women feel seen, confident, and accepted. She has built a supportive online community of over 250,000 women, championing inclusivity, body confidence, and self worth. A Forbes 30 under 30 honouree and multi award winning entrepreneur, Cherish was raised in a nursing household, inspiring her passion for using her platform to uplift others and make a meaningful difference.

Natasha Phillips is the Founder and CEO of Future Nurse, a think-and-do tank committed to bringing nurses and tech together for better care. Natasha created the CIC to put nurses firmly in the ideation space to shape technology – not just being on the receiving end of innovation. Driven by the belief that nurses can change the world, Natasha has built a focused, mission-driven team to create a growing community of innovators, disruptors and partners across healthcare, industry and academia. Together they are reimaging the future of the profession while honouring its nursing roots. Previously the first Chief Nursing Information Officer for England, Natasha set the pace of the national digital agenda creating the strategic conditions that continue to influence the education, digital safety and workforce capability. Today, her mission is clear: ensure nurses are recognised, valued, and central in designing the future of care.