Menu
Close

Our board and executive team

Our board of trustees is responsible for the overall control and strategic direction of Tŷ Hafan.

Our trustees work for Tŷ Hafan voluntarily and are completely dedicated to helping us improve the lives of children with life-shortening conditions and their families in Wales.

Our board Ty Hafan

Our board and trustee members

The board is headed by chairman, Martin Davies, and includes trustees, Susan Cooper, Mick McGuire, Dr Keith Holgate, John Hoskinson, Dr Helen Matthews, James Pepper, Matt Sinnott and Sian Thomas. Together with executive directors they have a wide range of strategic experience in health care, governance, commercial activity, financial management, income generation and people services.

All members of the trustee board follow Tŷ Hafan’s values: demonstrating compassion, working together, providing excellent service and taking ownership. By living our values, we hold ourselves to high standards of care and integrity as we carry out our roles and come together to work towards our purpose.

From time to time committees are also supported by co-opted members, who bring external perspective and expertise, giving added assurance to the board through their scrutiny and insight. This role also provides an opportunity for development as trustees, and supports the board’s succession planning.

 

Martin Davies new

Martin Davies

Chairman 

Martin has been Chairman of Tŷ Hafan since 2016.  Formerly a director at Experian, Martin spent over 20 years working with major retailers and financial services companies, advising them on retail distribution planning and marketing strategy. He is also the Chairman of Crackerjackpot Limited, which supports Tŷ Hafan and other good causes by running lottery services.
Dr Keith Holgate

Dr Keith Holgate

Trustee

Keith worked as a GP in Barry for over 36 years, until he retired in 2016. He was also a trainer for general practice, specialising in the field of respiratory medicine. Keith was the crowd doctor for Cardiff City Football Club, a role he held for several years.
James-Pepper-Ty-Hafn-trustee

James Pepper

Trustee

James is the chief executive officer of Vista, a leading technology services business company headquartered in Wales. He has over 20 years experience in business critical technology support and has worked with many companies to help them to define and implement technology strategies.
Sian-Thomas

Sian Thomas

Trustee

Sian is the only nurse consultant for children in Wales and is based at Aneurin Bevan University Hospital Health Board. Her role involves enhancing patient care through service development, research, education and strategy. Sian has had a strong link with Tŷ Hafan throughout her career.
Michael McGuire

Michael McGuire

Trustee

Mick joined the Tŷ Hafan board in 2021, following his retirement from the Welsh government, where he was the director for economic growth and development. Prior to this role, Mick worked for 30 years in financial services, holding a number of senior roles at the Principality Building Society. 
Dr Helen Matthews

Dr Helen Matthews

Trustee

From 1998 until her retirement in 2019, Helen was a consultant psychiatrist at Hywel Dda University Health Board. She is an expert in complex mental illness, autism and learning disabilities. Helen was vice-president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a senior lecturer at Swansea Medical School. 
John Hoskinson

John Hoskinson

Trustee

John has had three very different careers. Initially, he spent 35 years in the Army retiring as a Brigadier in 2005; he moved on to become a Registrar first at Liverpool University and then Northampton until 2012; and finally, he was Chief Executive of a charity in Bristol supporting people with learning disabilities and those suffering with their mental health until 2020 before retiring to Penarth.
Susan Cooper

Susan Cooper

Trustee

Sue is a professionally registered social worker with 36 years’ experience of working in local government. She has worked across all the disciplines in social care. Before her retirement in 2020 Sue held the position of statutory director of social services in a south Wales authority. Sue has led several large partnership and integration programmes as well as delivering on significant transformation.
Matt Sinnott

Matt Sinnott

Trustee

Matt has over 20 years' experience in human resources, most recently as Group People and Property Director for Lloyds Banking Group. Prior to that, he held a number of other senior HR positions in financial services. Matt joined the Tŷ Hafan board in August 2023.
Dr Graham Shortland OBE

Dr Graham Shortland OBE

Trustee

Graham has had over 30 years experience as a Consultant Paediatrician in Cardiff. He is currently leading on the delivery of a novel outpatient clinic service for the whole of Wales, the Syndrome Without a Name Clinic (SWAN Wales) and is Deputy Chairman of the United Kingdom National Screening Committee. Graham was previously the Executive Medical Director, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (2010 to 2019). He was awarded an OBE for Services to Paediatrics, Patient Safety and the NHS in Wales, in the Queens Birthday Honours List June 2020. In his semi-retirement Graham has a passion for sailing as an RYA Yacht-Master and is a lifelong fan of Tottenham Hotspur football club.

Our executive team

Irfon Rees CEO

Irfon Rees

Irfon Rees, our Chief Executive Officer, joined us in June 2024. He has extensive experience in leading multi-profession teams within UK Government, Welsh Government and NHS Wales with his previous role being Director of Health and Wellbeing for the Welsh Government.
Jason Foster

Jason Foster

Jason joined Tŷ Hafan in June 2017 and leads our finance and support services function, and is our deputy Chief Executive. He has over 25 years’ experience working in senior finance positions across a range of sectors. Jason is also a keen runner and has completed marathons and ultra-marathons to raise money for our charity.
Tracy Jones

Tracy Jones

Tracy joined Tŷ Hafan in 2009 as a senior practitioner in the family support team, having spent 15 years as a local authority social worker in Yorkshire and later in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Tracy joined the senior care management team in 2015 before taking up her new executive position in 2022 and is looking forward to extending the reach and the impact of Tŷ Hafan's community service offer, ensuring that families can access meaningful palliative care support wherever they live in Wales.
Jenna Lewis

Jenna Lewis

Jenna joined Tŷ Hafan as Director of Income Generation in April 2022, having previously worked at the Charity in the Individual Giving Team. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and has worked in fundraising and communications roles for a range of charities. Jenna is passionate about providing the best experience possible for our supporters, while also raising funds to support families in Wales.
Sian Middelton

Sian Middleton

Sian joined Tŷ Hafan in 2022, stepping up to the position of director of nursing and clinical services, and was appointed early 2023. With first class honours in nursing (BN) and midwifery (BMid) and a successful career in clinical care, Sian delivers clinical leadership for nursing and healthcare support services for children with specialist and complex care needs.
john-mladenovic

John Mladenovic

Before joining us in 2013, John gained experience in digital and direct marketing across a diverse range of sectors. Initially, he was responsible for our Crackerjackpot lottery, but he’s also taken on other key roles across our charity. In June 2021, John was appointed to his current position. 
zoe-tippins

Zoe Tippins

Zoe joined the HR team at Tŷ Hafan in 2015 and was appointed to our executive team as director of people services in October 2021. She is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIP) and has over 18 years’ of experience in HR management. 

Our reports and documents

Read or download key Tŷ Hafan documents, including our annual report and accounts and the latest report from Healthcare Inspectorate Wales about our clinical care and support services.

Find out more