Meet the team
Meet your local healthwatch team members.
Sandie Smith - Chief Executive
At the start of her career, Sandie trained and practiced as a Diagnostic Radiographer working in several hospitals in and around London and the South East. Sandie went on to specialise in Nuclear Medicine and spent a year working in New Zealand.
After leaving the health service, Sandie went onto a number of roles in local government and the voluntary sector, including managing hostel services in Lewisham, Community Safety Manager at Maidstone Council and CEO of a domestic abuse outreach service. Since moving to Cambridgeshire, she has worked at Cambridgeshire County Council, most recently as Strategic Development Manager working on the personalisation of Adult Social Care.
Sandie has a first-class degree in Social Policy and a MA in Social Sciences, both gained through the Open University. Her community work has included being a school governor, Vice-Chair of Medway Racial Equality Council, Treasurer of Greenwich Women’s Aid and is currently a Parish Councillor.
Emma Amez - Project Worker
Emma comes from a nursing background. She worked as an RGN nurse for fifteen years before taking a break to live in France with her husband where they started a family. Since returning, she was keen to continue working in a health-related role and initially volunteered for us as an Outreach Volunteer. Emma has been involved in a number of projects, including young people’s mental health, and drugs and alcohol use.
Heather Davison - Co-ordinator
Following a long career in planning and commissioning health services in Cambridgeshire, Heather has spent more recent years working for a number of local voluntary sector organisations where she has continued to develop her interests in the needs of disabled people, older people and carers.
Within Healthwatch Cambridgeshire, Heather will focus on working alongside partner organisations representing carers, and people with disabilities and long term health conditions to understand and reflect their experiences of local health and social services. She will also take a special interest in what is happening in Huntingdonshire.
Angela Grief - Office Manager
Angela has extensive experience as an Executive PA and Business Support Manager and is responsible for the smooth running of the office, supporting the Board and staff team in their activities.
Kate Hales - Co-ordinator
Kate has extensive experience of supporting the patient and public voice in the improvement of care services, having worked in the predecessor organisations: Community Health Councils, PPI and the local LINk. Kate's interest is in older people’s care services, which she is focusing on within Healthwatch.
Elizabeth Locke - Co-ordinator
Elizabeth comes from a public health background, with several years’ experience providing community based health education. Elizabeth is particularly interested in maternal and child health and people’s experience with sexual health services.
Julie McNeill - Information Manager
Julie brings experience in improving access to services for people with disabilities through her library background. She has also developed new services in partnership with health, social care and voluntary sector groups.
Jade Hellett - Communications Assistant
Jade initially joined us on an Apprenticeship to learn about social media and marketing. As part of this she studied Business Administration with Huntingdonshire Regional College. Jade has an interest in photography and experience of working for a local post production company.
"It is a great opportunity for me to develop new skills, meet new people and receive a qualification whilst in the work place. Everyone is really friendly and helpful and they are making me feel part of the organisation." – Jade.
Janine Newby-Robson - Engagement Worker
Janine has previous experience in the health service working as a personal health trainer helping patients to make lifestyle changes to improve health. She has also worked in the field of adult and childhood weight management and sexual health.
Her role within Healthwatch Cambridgeshire is to find out about people's experiences of using local health and social care services, for example giving talks and attending community events.
Ana Rita Nunes - Youth Engagement Worker
Originally from Portugal, Rita has a background in graphic and web design. Rita's role is to ensure that Healthwatch Cambridgeshire engages with young people across the county on issues relating to their health and social care.
Angie Ridley - Communications Manager
Angie has strong voluntary sector experience, particularly in volunteer development and spent two years supporting the former Cambridgeshire LINk members to engage in developing local health and social care services.
