Meet our Senior Leadership Team
Our PCP Senior Leadership Team bring a breadth of experience across the public, private and third sector, covering areas of health, wellbeing and education. Together, they lead our organisation, live and communicate our values and inspire our staff teams.
Carol brings a wealth of experience and insight, with over 30 years dedicated to supporting communities to thrive and more than 23 years working within the health and wellbeing sector. As Chief Executive of PCP since 2013, Carol has led the organisation through significant growth and transformation, increasing income from £1.5 million to £4.6 million, expanding strategic partnerships, and securing national recognition - including the prestigious Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service in 2017.
Carol’s journey with PCP began in 2002 as a Project Coordinator, where she managed a diverse portfolio of health and wellbeing initiatives. Her talent for strategic thinking and innovation saw her rise through the ranks to become Business Development Director, playing a pivotal role in shaping PCP’s long-term strategy and sustainability.
A proactive and visionary leader, Carol holds an MBA in Leadership and is a qualified Coach and Mentor. She is deeply committed to lifelong learning and professional development, and is an accredited Emotional Intelligence Practitioner. Her strengths lie in developing people, nurturing partnerships, and driving impactful projects that make a real difference.
In recognition of her outstanding leadership and contribution to the region, Carol was named Make Your Mark Business Person of the Year 2025. She chairs several strategic networks and meetings on behalf of statutory partners, and actively contributes to the wider sector as a school governor, trustee of VONNE (Voluntary Organisations Network North East), and enterprise advisor.
Carol is passionate about empowering individuals and communities, and thrives on the challenge of leading a dynamic organisation that puts people at its heart. Her dedication to inclusive growth, wellbeing, and innovation continues to shape PCP’s success and influence across the North East and beyond.
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Carol Gaskarth,
Chief Executive
Liz Fisher,
Deputy Chief Executive
Liz Fisher brings extensive experience in strategic leadership, community engagement, and organisational growth. She began her career as a Youth and Community Worker in Newcastle’s East End, where she developed a strong foundation in community development. Liz went on to lead the National Trust Inner City Project, before progressing into senior management roles within the National Trust.
As Assistant Director of Operations, Liz was responsible for the strategic direction and performance of multiple properties across Yorkshire and the North East. She played a pivotal role in the acquisition of Seaton Delaval Hall, a landmark achievement that reflects her ability to deliver complex, high-impact projects. Throughout her tenure, Liz ensured that heritage sites under her leadership were deeply connected to their local communities, embedding engagement at the heart of operations.
In 2015, Liz joined The Auckland Project as Community and Engagement Director, where she was instrumental in building strong community links and leading multimillion pound capital workstreams that shaped the development of major visitor attractions in Bishop Auckland.
As a senior leader in the voluntary sector, Liz has consistently championed initiatives to address health inequalities and improve community wellbeing. In her current role as Deputy Chief Executive at Pioneering Care Partnership (PCP), she is committed to driving organisational growth, expanding services, and strengthening PCP’s impact across the North East.
Liz is recognised for her strategic vision, collaborative leadership style, and ability to deliver sustainable change that benefits both organisations and the communities they serve.
Sandra is a senior leader at PCP, responsible for governance, quality assurance, and business development. She brings strategic insight and a calm, solutions-focused leadership style that supports teams through change with compassion and professionalism.
With a Level 7 qualification in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice, Sandra combines deep expertise with a commitment to continuous learning. She leads on compliance, funding, and impact reporting, helping PCP achieve quality awards and external recognition.
Sandra is a trusted mentor and collaborator, known for empowering others and fostering a values-led culture. Her work continues to shape PCP’s growth, resilience, and strategic direction.
Sandra Roberts,
Governance and Development Manager
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Vicky Browning,
Operations Manager
Vicky started her professional life in press work for a charity based at the RVI in Newcastle, before moving to a software company at which she developed her marketing and business development skills.
She then joined a regional law firm in the Teesside area. She led on all aspects of the firm’s marketing and communications plans developing promotional and business development plans to drive growth.
After some years with the firm, Vicky returned to the voluntary and community (VCS) sector, joining Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency. In this role she undertook partnership and development work in economic development supporting the local VCS to engage funding streams with statutory and private sector commissioners. Later re-joining the law firm, Vicky went on to develop expertise and led in all non-legal areas of the business including strategic development, ICT, HR, compliance and risk. She moved into a Practice Director role and was the first non-lawyer to be appointed a Partner at the firm.
Vicky came back to the charity sector in 2021 joining PCP as Operations Manager. With oversight of the marketing, ICT and HR teams Vicky works with her colleagues to ensure that central functions meet the needs of the organisation. Also providing strategic development on operational growth and some compliance areas such as data protection.
Melanie has a breadth of strategic leadership, funding and management experience gained within the education, local government, and voluntary sectors. Much of this experience involved developing provision through partnership approaches and Melanie has supported organisations to successfully achieve change through working collaboratively. Her experience in delivering and managing programmes has included the development of employability and return to work programmes and she has a keen interest in how learning can support social mobility.
After leaving a successful career within local government, Melanie ran her own freelance consultancy; supporting organisations to review their provision, working with funding agencies to assess and review voluntary sector project funding applications, and working with individual clients as a leadership coach.
Melanie joined PCP in 2022 to lead on partnership working in Poverty, Health and Mental Health Transformation and she is looking forward to developing new relationships and collaborations across the voluntary sector.
Melanie Bear,
External Partnerships Manager
Jo Davies,
Finance Manager
Jo has been employed as Pioneering Care Partnership’s (PCP) Finance Manager since joining in 2018, progressing to the Senior Leadership Team in May 2023.
She has over 25 years’ experience in management accounting, covering all aspects of both public and private sectors. The majority of that time has been spent working within and managing an NHS finance team.
Jo is a qualified accountant and is a member of The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). She possesses knowledge and expertise in both operational and business accounting providing high level support across all business’s she has been involved with.
Jo prides herself on attention to detail and is committed to providing accurate and informative financial information to enable PCP to deliver its objectives.
Bobby has worked extensively in the delivery, coordination and management of a wide range of community health and wellbeing programmes since 2006, when he was employed as a Lifestyle Manager by Leisureworks, a leisure trust set up by the local authority to deliver services primarily in Derwentside. His experience spans almost two decades and notable projects have included family health and wellbeing, workplace health, exercise referral including cardiac rehabilitation and diabetes, exercise in the community with a specific focus on walking and cycling for older people and programmes to support physical activity, positive lifestyle change and social opportunities for young adults. Many other projects including Wellbeing for Life and Colour Your Life were delivered in partnership with Pioneering Care Partnership, where a professional and very collaborative relationship was formed.
Bobby is very committed and enthusiastic about providing opportunities for people to improve their lifestyle and health and wellbeing. He places great importance on partnership work, and working in collaboration with like-minded organisations, and firmly believes this is the best and most efficient model to achieve project outcomes. Empowering communities and giving them choice and opportunity underpin this belief.
Bobby has also worked within the education sector as a classroom teacher and was PE lead during his stella career. He fully endorses the benefits of exercise, across all age groups, with a particular focus on outdoor activities.
Bobby returned to the Health and Wellbeing sector in June 2023 with Pioneering Care Partnership and prides himself on supporting and developing teams to reach their full potential and to provide a first-class service for every user.
Bobby Hewitson,
Project Development Manager
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Gayle Goldsmith,
Project Development Manager
Gayle has an extensive career working in the field of Health and Social Care. For the last 28 years she has been employed by a North-East charity providing specialist support and education to autistic adults and young people.
During this time, she has worked in a diverse range of roles, from support worker to registered manager. More recently she has been working in the position of Learning and Development Manager, coordinating, delivering, and developing bespoke training for 600 staff.
Gayle has successfully managed several CQC registered services, steering and leading change during times of uncertainty in the sector. With demonstrable experience of establishing, leading, and developing staff, she has enabled teams to provide CQC rated, outstanding person-centred care and support.
Gayle remains incredibly passionate about promoting the rights and improving the lives of vulnerable people. She looks forward to joining the team and continuing to use her knowledge and skills to support vision of PCP, and benefit others within the community.
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Lindsey Wood,
Wellbeing For Life Programme Manager
Helen Dent,
Project Development Manager
Helen brings a demonstrable wealth of experience in partnership working across various sectors. Following a long career in community safety and project work, including community consultation and restorative approaches, Helen thrived on working with communities that face inequalities and advocating to make a positive impact.
With a passion to drive change, Helen shifted her focus to education and prevention embarking on consultancy work for over eight years. Helen has worked with International businesses, nationwide local authorities, social housing providers and large academy trusts. Working with human resource and leadership teams to implement organisational change, focusing on health and wellbeing, supporting policy writing and the delivery of training programs, upskilling leadership teams on key legislation. During this time Helen also acted as an independent designated safeguarding lead for various sectors.
Helen’s continued study and working experience in mental health, mental illness and trauma informed approaches led to joining the Mental Health First Aid England Team within the national trainer program delivering on both adult and youth portfolios for seven years. Helen states she has always mirrored the strong values of the PCP and is excited to be part of the growth of projects we deliver.