Shaun O’Leary
I have worked in the voluntary sector – specifically with people facing end of life for over 30 years. My experience was initially shaped through working in HIV charities in the 1990’s before effective HIV treatment had been discovered, then in the charity that is now Prostate Cancer UK and then in three UK hospices- as sole CEO at St Catherine’s in West Sussex, as Joint Chief Executive with Heather at St Christopher’s and for the last 18 months as Chair of Trustees at St Wilfrid’s in Eastbourne.In all these roles I have been interested in the social interactions that underpin an organisation. The behaviours , the connections and the relationships which support cohesion, confidence and culture. I have been said to be the person who always says, ‘so what?’, the one who dislikes jargon and pushes people to use plain language and the one who sees beyond hierarchies.
I get energised working with people who are curious, who are motivated to change and who have a constant quest for improvement.I also believe in trying to have some fun whilst tackling what can sometimes be difficult issues and though I often express strong opinions, I try not to take myself too seriously.