Our Team

Joanne is the Director for the Communication, Arts, Health Charity and Engagement Team and has worked for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board for over 16 years at senior level.

Joanne is an experienced strategic communicator with over 30 years’ experience in communications, PR, marketing, emergency preparedness and digital communications in large complex organisations at a senior level.

She has a strong track record of leading and implementing partnership projects, large scale service redesign and campaigns across diverse areas and has been involved in the implementation and delivery of a number of joint ventures between private and public sector organisations, often acting as a change agent and offering peer review.

Joanne also leads Cardiff & Vale Health Charity, supporting staff and patients through good works and funding bids, including a significant Arts Programme in partnership with the Arts Council for Wales. Joanne is an advocate of continuous professional development and actively engages in coaching and mentoring opportunities to colleagues on a senior management path within the sector and profession.

Jo will often be seen along the coast path and hills with Albert, her German short haired pointer.

Barbara John is Business and Operational Manager for the Communication, Arts, Health Charity and Engagement Teams and is proud to celebrate 30 years service at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board in 2022. She has relished the opportunity since 2018 to share her knowledge and experience of working with inpatient and community mental health services, and at Digital Health and Care Wales, to support the Health Charity Team wherever possible and has fundraised by taking part in the Cardiff Half Marathon and other events. Barbara loves to travel and researching/planning her next trips – she is often jokingly referred by her colleagues as ‘HoliBabs!’   Barbara is responsible for:

• Business and Financial Management
• Administration Services
• Third Sector Grant Scheme
• Health Charity Annual Report and Strategy
• Charitable Funds and Health Charity Trustee Committees engagement
• Staff Benefits Group – promotions and partnerships

Lucie is passionate about developing the charity to make a lasting difference to the lives of those she loves – patients, staff and visitors, by creating opportunities to work with fundraisers, colleagues and local businesses. Every day she is lucky enough to meet people that wish to connect with the charity, and believes it is a privilege to get to know the supporters and their reasons for giving. She think it is great to be able to support innovative ideas and improve the services of Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. In her spare time, Lucie likes to keep fit, regularly taking part in charity events, including the Cardiff Half Marathon and the Welsh Three Peaks, and she loves nothing more than long walks with her pet dog, Maggie. Lucie is responsible for:

• The PROP Appeal
• Staff Lottery
• Make it Better Fund
• Fundraising and Events

Justine is the Senior Communications and Engagement Officer for Cardiff & Vale Health Charity, including The Arts Programme, and has a background in running the communication channels for health board charities after developing a passion for the world of public services and fundraising during her childhood. She has a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing and actively writes and publishes novels in the fantasy genre. For Justine, writing creates an escape which nurtures her mental health and wellbeing, and provides entertainment for her readers. Justine is a member of the CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) and is currently working on her chartership. By increasing her skillset, she can ensure the great work of the Health Charity and Arts Teams reach the audience they deserve. She also hates coffee. Justine is responsible for:

• Social Media
• Website
• Health Charity Branding
• Media Relations

Sue has worked for Cardiff & Vale Health Charity since 2018, and for Cardiff and Vale UHB for nearly 20 years! Sue is passionate about her fundraising role and is always looking for ideas to bring more income into the charity. A keen baker, Sue is responsible for team cakes for any occasion and also enjoys walking with her lovely dog Bo. Sue is responsible for:

• In for a Penny
• Make it Better Fund
• Barry Hospital
• Breast Centre
• Wales for Africa
• Fundraising and Events

Georgina is a Senior Fundraiser for Cardiff & Vale Health Charity. She has worked in charities for 15 years and believes the best part of her role is meeting new and interesting people every day and seeing the impact of the work from the services the charity provides. Hearing that something they did had a positive effect on another person is hugely rewarding for Georgina. In her spare time, Georgina loves to sing in the shower, enjoys time out with friends, and spending quality time with her young daughter, who she’s trying to teach to bake with few successes and many hilarious disasters – they certainly aren’t Great British Bake Off worthy yet! Georgina is responsible for:

• Community Fundraising
• Health and Wellbeing at Work
• Our Health Meadow
• Fundraising and Events

Alex Staples joined the team as Arts Programme Project Manager and primarily focuses on our hospital sites and inpatients. Alex has a background in Musical theatre and worked in the West End as well as growing up with an artist in her close family. She has a great passion for art and the positive impact it has on both mental and physical wellbeing. She has also been an inpatient in hospital for long periods of time and appreciates the need for a positive environment to aid recovery within the hospital setting. This is something she works towards on all our hospital sites, continuing to develop and grow the programme within our hospitals and their surroundings and to make a positive difference to the lives of our patients and their families.

Melanie joined the Arts for Health and Wellbeing Team as Exhibitions Co-ordinator for the Hearth Gallery in 2015 after working with Cardiff and Vale UHB as a commissioned independent artist. In 2019 she took up the role of Arts in Health Project Manager to facilitate arts projects both within hospital sites and within the community, and also co-curates our Exhibitions Programme. Melanie’s focus through several new projects aims to build connections and collaborations with community groups, third sector organisations, arts organisations, and a network of artists and creative practitioners. Melanie has a Fine Arts background, has worked as a Complementary Therapist for many years in London and Cardiff and has experience working in marketing. She strongly believes in the power of holistic, creative activities to improve our health and wellbeing. She is a member of the Kings Road Artists’ Studios collective in Cardiff and regularly exhibits her artwork locally. She has been a Wales Chwarae Teg Womenspire Awards finalist and participated in a British Council UK/Italy delegation to Rome for the Hearth Gallery.

Millie is the Team Administrator for the Communications, Arts, Health Charity and Engagement Team. Millie joined the Health Charity after completing her degree in Business Management at Cardiff University. Millie is passionate about her role and is eager to fulfil a long career within Cardiff & Vale Health Charity. You’ll typically find Millie in the office with a blanket and a cup of tea as she is always cold! Millie is responsible for:

• Supporting the Business Unit, Senior Management Team, and Health Charity with a wide range of administrative and clerical services
• Procurement and budget management support
• Administrative and clerical support to Health Charity and Arts Team meetings
• Staff Benefits Group administrative support and staff benefit promotions

Channing is currently a Fundraising Support Officer for Cardiff & Vale Health Charity. Channing joined the Health Charity as part of the Kickstart Scheme as Charity Support, and by increasing her skills and working hard she has been able to officially join the team as Fundraising Support Officer. Channing enjoys working for the Health Charity as it brings her immense pleasure to contribute towards such important work. She has always felt the need to help others and believes it is important to be kind and compassionate at all times. In her spare time, she enjoys time out with friends and eating lots and lots of takeaways. Channing is responsible for assisting with:

• Upcoming events
• Just Giving
• Fundraiser contact
• Finance importing
• Donation – PayPal recording
• Thanking and banking
• Post
• HQN management

Magda joined Cardiff & Vale Health Charity as a Fundraising Support Officer in the summer of 2021, and she currently also holds a joint role as an Exhibitions Co-Ordinator within the Arts for Health and Wellbeing Programme due to her background in the Arts. She is very passionate about helping others, and is finding the incredible work of the Health Charity hugely rewarding. In her spare time, she develops her painting skills, loves seeing live music and splashing in the sea. Magda is responsible for:

•  Social Media
•  Website
•  Upcoming Events
•  Fundraiser Contact
•  Finance Importing
•  HQN Management
•  Thanking and Banking
•  Post