Deborah Marsh was a nurse for 35 years, concluding her varied career as a Nurse Practitioner while also serving as a Licensed Lay Minister and one of the UK’s first Parish Nurses. In 2013, she left nursing to train for ordained ministry and has since served for 8.5 as a parish priest in Rutland. For nearly 30 years, Deborah has felt called to support Christian nurses in their workplaces. A new part-time role in central London is now creating opportunities to turn that vision into reality. She looks forward to sharing how we can truly practise what we preach and hearing how Parish Nursing continues to flourish across the UK.

Ruth McDonald qualified as a Registered Nurse in 1995 and developed extensive experience in orthopaedics, elective care and trauma, including work as a Clinical Lead and Ward Manager at Furness General Hospital. She served for 15 years as a Parish Nurse and was also PNMUK’s North West Coordinator. Her Parish Nursing service developed an NHS partnership supporting people following hospital discharge, work recognised when she became a Queen’s Nurse in 2022. Ruth now co-leads a church with her husband Geoff while preparing for ministry.

Bob Brown has more than 40 years of nursing experience across practice, education, research, management and service leadership. His most recent senior role was Chief Nurse and Executive Director of Community and Older People Services. Bob has served as a Parish Nurse around St Mark’s, Armagh, for three years, with particular interests in bereavement, loss, wellbeing and addiction recovery. He is a PNMUK Trustee and a Diocesan Reader in the Church of Ireland. Bob also continues to work occasional shifts in his local Emergency Department.

Revd Dr David Southall is Chaplaincy Team Leader and Equalities Engagement Lead at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. His life and work have been shaped by family, faith and a lasting curiosity about how people understand themselves and the world around them. David and his wife Alison have three adopted children, who are now grown with families of their own. He is particularly interested in the stories people tell about their lives and how those stories influence identity, relationships and spiritual care.

Revd Jonathan Edwards is a Baptist minister and former General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. He now supports churches experiencing periods of transition, mentors Christian leaders and advises several Christian disability charities. Jonathan is also an Ambassador for Premier Christian Radio and a Trustee of PNMUK. He lives in Berkshire with his wife Sue, who trained as a nurse. His experience of church leadership, organisational change and supporting people through uncertain seasons informs his contribution to this year’s Symposium.

Kenny Gibson MBE is Deputy Director for NHS Safeguarding at NHS England, overseeing integrated safeguarding across all ages. His national responsibilities include contextual safeguarding, trauma-informed care, Prevent in the NHS and the Child Protection Information System. Kenny began his NHS career as a laundry assistant in 1980 before becoming a nursing assistant, nurse and midwife. He is a strong advocate for listening to lived experience and recognising local practitioner knowledge. Kenny received an MBE in 2022 for services to healthcare leadership.

Kathy Barker qualified as a nurse in 1993 and later specialised in palliative care, working both on a hospice ward and in the community. Her wider experience includes six months at an orphanage in Thailand and several short-term mission visits to Africa. After discovering Parish Nursing through an episode of Songs of Praise, Kathy volunteered with her church for two years and is now employed as a Parish Nurse. She works alongside Tracy Stevens to facilitate The Bereavement Journey, supporting people as they find their way through grief.

Nick Thompson qualified as an Operating Department Practitioner in 1997 after leaving the Royal Navy. He has worked in the UK and New Zealand and previously served as Resuscitation Lead within an NHS trust. Nick is a UK Resuscitation Council instructor in advanced adult and paediatric life support, as well as an instructor educator and course director. Away from healthcare, he volunteers as a Station Master on a heritage railway. At Symposium, Nick will lead relaxed, practical sessions updating attendees on basic life support.

Tracy Stevens has served as Parish Nurse at Crawley Community Church in West Sussex for seven years. Her work includes supporting people experiencing loneliness, isolation, mental health difficulties and physical illness, as well as helping people connect through the church’s drop-in café and parent and toddler activities. Before facilitating The Bereavement Journey, Tracy completed it as a participant so that she could understand the experience personally. She now delivers the programme alongside Kathy Barker, helping people find support and hope while living with grief.