Steve, a former Vice Principal at Belfairs Academy, first joined Havens Hospices in 2015 as its Director of Facilities and New Fair Havens, tasked with completing the project to plan, build and open the new hospice in Prittlewell.
When Steve became CEO in August 2019, his priorities were clear: to strengthen staff and structure, improve culture, and make better use of data, resulting in the charity’s ambition to provide more care to more people and remove barriers to accessing specialist care when diagnosed with a complex or incurable illness.
Thanks to his strategic direction and determination, that ambition has been fully realised, with an 85% increase in the number of people the charity has cared for over the last five years.
Reflecting on this milestone, Steve says. “I’m most proud of how everyone at Havens Hospices has come together to enhance and increase the care and services for our local community, reaching more families than ever before at both Fair Havens and Little Havens.”
Under his leadership, the charity consistently maintains enough nursing staff to deliver care across both its adult and children’s services, improved data collection plays a key role in guiding decisions and shaping services, and there is a strong Leadership Team in place focused on the delivery of the hospice’s services, which all contribute to a positive and supportive culture.
Havens Hospices is now defined by a strong, values-driven culture, one that empowers people to do their best and feel genuinely supported. Support for employees and volunteers has continued to grow, with a focus on creating a positive and inclusive environment. As a result, more than 90% of employees report being proud to work for the charity and feel they are making a difference, with 92% of employees stating that they clearly understand and support its mission.
In 2023, Steve’s leadership and vision were recognised on a national level when he was named ‘Rising CEO’ at the Third Sector Awards, a respected industry award that celebrates excellence within the charity sector. The judges praised his inclusive leadership style, focus on staff wellbeing and innovation, and his success in expanding care and impact at a time of significant challenge for the sector.
One of the most significant milestones during his leadership was the opening of the new Fair Havens Hospice in March 2020. This state-of-the-art, purpose-built facility in Prittlewell has transformed the way the charity delivers care, allowing it to support more patients and families in a modern, welcoming environment.
Steve has also championed service innovation through initiatives like the Hospice Rapid Access Service (HRAS), alongside other hospices, which has expanded access to the charity’s specialist care and support when the end of life is in sight. This pioneering approach has resulted in a 63.1% increase in the number of people the Community Team supports in Southend, Rochford and Castle Point in the last year alone. It was also nationally recognised when it won a Health Service Journal (HSJ) Award for the ‘Best Not-for-Profit Working in Partnership with the NHS’, a proud moment for the organisation.
Looking back on his time with the charity, Steve said: “Although my time at Havens Hospices is coming to an end, it will remain my local hospice. It has been an enormous privilege to lead the charity through such a transformative period. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together, from opening new Fair Havens to finding innovative ways to support people in our care.
“Every patient and family’s story stays with me. It’s a reminder that it could be me or my loved ones, and that thought has driven me to keep improving the experience the charity provides. I’m proud that, during my time, we have become known as a hospice that makes things happen – positive, progressive, and always striving to do better.”
In the wake of the pandemic, Steve focused on securing the charity’s long-term sustainability at a time when fundraising across the hospice sector had significantly declined and financial pressures were mounting. With the majority of Havens Hospices’ income traditionally coming from fundraising, the drop in donations posed a serious challenge. Despite this, the charity has strengthened its financial position. This stability has been vital in supporting ongoing growth and safeguarding services during a period of continued funding uncertainty for hospices nationwide, including Havens Hospices.
Steve says, “None of this would have been possible without the amazing commitment of our staff, volunteers, fundraisers, and supporters. Thank you all for your passion in making every day count for the people we care for, I’m so grateful to have been part of it.”
Steve will remain with the charity until 20th June to ensure a smooth and stable transition with Louise Byran, Director of Finance and Business Development, who has been appointed as Interim CEO. Louise brings a wealth of experience and knowledge of the organisation. She will continue to lead the charity while the Board of Trustees completes the recruitment process for a permanent successor.
Published on 17th June 2025
