Heather Richardson PhD

Heather Richardson currently works as the Director of Education, Research, and End of Life Policy at St Christopher’s Hospice. She previously worked as Joint Chief Executive, then CEO of St Christopher’s over a period of eight years. In the past she has held the role of National Clinical Lead for Hospice UK and worked as Clinical Director, then Strategy Advisor to St. Joseph’s Hospice in East London prior to her move to St Christopher’s. She has also worked as an associate with the Innovation Unit based in London.

Heather is a registered general and mental health nurse and has worked in hospice/palliative care since 1988. She has a Ph.D., and her research is concerned with users’ experience of day hospice. More recently she has developed a research interest in public health and end-of-life care and is involved in global programs of learning for palliative care leaders. She currently serves as an honorary professor in palliative care at Lancaster University and has recently joined Harris Manchester College in Oxford as a Senior Research Fellow. In the past, she has received the International Palliative Nurse of the Year award issued by the International Journal of Palliative Nursing and other awards related to her role in innovation in healthcare.