Director of the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity, Suzanne Mainwaring, has announced that she has stepped down from her role after 26 transformational years. Suzanne became the organisation’s first employee when the appeal was first launched back in 2000. Under her directorship, it became the most successful fundraising appeal in Wales, harnessing the support of children and adults from across the nation and beyond. The results speak for themselves. By 2005, the initial phase of Wales’ first ever children’s hospital was built, entirely funded by supporters of the Noah’s Ark Appeal. In 2015, the hospital’s second phase was opened to patients. Within its walls were millions of pounds in specialist equipment and facilities, including state of the art children’s operating theatres, a paediatric MRI scanner and a hydrotherapy suite – all funded by the newly re-named Noah’s Ark Charity.
Speaking of her decision to step down, Suzanne said: “After sustaining a traumatic brain injury in an accident, I have made the difficult decision to retire much earlier than planned. It’s not the ending I imagined, but it feels important to reflect with gratitude on the past 26 years. We started with little more than a vision, immense determination, and a very large fundraising target. We believed that the children of Wales deserved a world-class children’s hospital, and together we set out to make that happen. What followed was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
“Today, when I look at what has grown from those early days, I am overwhelmed with pride. The charity and the hospital continue to evolve, shaped by the voices of patients, families and staff. Every year, more than 80,000 children receive specialist care, and the charity continues to make an immeasurable difference to their lives and futures.
“Although I am stepping away, I leave knowing that the charity’s future is bright and that its work remains in the very best hands. I will continue to cheer on its successes.”
Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity Chair of Trustees, Eddie Hayward OBE said: “On behalf of the children and families of Wales, I would like to say a huge and heartfelt thank you to Suzanne for her years of commitment and dedication to the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital Charity. Her humility together with her knowledge, experience and unique sense of purpose and determination, have played a huge part in shaping what the organisation stands for today. She has achieved so much in her career and though she will be dearly missed, we wish her every joy and happiness for the future.”
Picking up the mantle from Suzanne are Bethan Simmonds and Lucy Jones, who have been appointed Co-Directors of the charity following a period of acting up into the role. Bethan was previously Head of Communications and Engagement, and Lucy was Head of Fundraising and Development. Together, they look forward to taking the charity into its next chapter.
