Meet the Team

Mark Hayes, Commercial and CFR Training Manager

I’m Mark and I lead the Commercial Training Team. My background is in the commercial world with time at Thomas Cook Group, Royal Caribbean Cruises, The Disney Corporation and others. Most recently I have been in the training and education sector with Cornwall College and most recently running the commercial functions at Somerset College. At both colleges I developed the training offering for their local NHS.

I’m here to make sure that our ambulance clinician trainers have everything they need to deliver you great training; inspiring, reflecting the best of current practice, tailored to your operation and fun! I also try and make sure that you get value for money and that any surplus we do make goes straight back to our frontline operation.

I have two grown up sons and enjoy cycling and sailing near where I live in Norfolk.

If you have any feedback on how our courses can be even better, talk to your trainer or drop me a line and I’ll ring you right back.

Kate Fitchew-Cattrell, Commercial Training Administrator

My name is Kate; I am the team Administrator and more! I have worked for the ambulance centre previously on the road, but now I am in a different driving seat in the comfort of the office. Yet, it can be just as hectic.

I have taught many skills; functional skills, assessing, delivering learning and business administration. I have also been an Office Manager in a training environment. Now it’s my role to try and ensure that the team have the paperwork and resources they need to be able to deliver at their sessions, anything from awarding bodies’ paperwork to registers, to uniforms, to refreshments. I assist with telephone sales of the defibrillators and their cabinets; I also attempt to answer the many customer queries we receive.

I like to think I am both tenacious and resourceful, taking pride in wanting to see a project through to a successful completion and the knowledge I have supported my colleagues to the best of my ability.

Jess Butwright, Senior Commercial Training Officer

I have been working for TrainEEAST since 2018, working as a training officer and now leading the team. I am a qualified paramedic, graduating from the University of Hertfordshire with a BSc in Paramedic Science and began my career working front line for the London Ambulance Service before moving home to Norfolk.

My professional interests lie in mental health care and pre-hospital trauma management, alongside ensuring TrainEEAST deliver the highest possible quality of courses. I deliver courses ranging from mental health first aid to 5-day accredited first aid courses.

Outside of work, I am involved in the preservation of the rare, native breed Dales pony, having home bred and ridden for most of my life. I love to cook (and eat!) and enjoy travelling the world when possible.

 Vikki Darby - Senior Training Officer - CFR

My name is Vikki and I have worked in the NHS for 18 years mostly as a Paramedic. I diversified into teaching following a role as a resuscitation officer at Cambridge University Hospital.

 I am responsible for the Quality Assurance in the team and manage the Community Response Training for CFRs. I am happiest in the classroom and that is where you’ll often find me!

 My hobbies include my dog, family and friends and spending time with them is important to me, usually outside if we can.

 Anne Dickerson, Commercial Training Officer

 Hi, I’m Anne and I’ve worked for the East of England Ambulance Service Trust for 23 years mainly as an Emergency Medical Technician and more recently as a full-time Commercial Training Officer within the Commercial Training Department of the trust. I am based in Norfolk but do travel to other localities in the East of England.

As a team we deliver a variety of courses including; defibrillator awareness training, basic life support, intermediate life support, anaphylaxis training, First Response in Emergency Care (FREC), fire safety, falls training and adult and paediatric first aid at work courses to name a few. We also deliver bespoke training sessions to different companies and community groups upon request. I am able to deliver and assist on these courses.

I am passionate about my role and want you to be the best you can, should you be faced with an emergency medical situation. My approach to training is to provide a positive, fun, relaxed, informative environment whilst using a variety of effective method(s) of teaching enabling all persons to participate and for you to leave the session with life skills and confidence that you would be able to assist another person in their time of need.

Ann O'Sullivan, Commercial Training Officer

Hi, my name is Ann. I joined the ambulance service 17 years ago. Since moving into the East of England I joined as a Bank Commercial Training Officer in January 2018 doing both frontline and teaching duties. In September 2021 I became a full-time member of the team.

I absolutely love the variety of course on offer from the whole of the First Aid at Work suite, Basic and Intermediate Life Support, Anaphylaxis and AED, and Moving and Handling. I also enjoy delivering some of our more bespoke courses such as Fall Intervention training and other specific courses to our clients, as well as assisting the community responders’ courses.

I am blessed to do something I am passionate about. Endeavouring to deliver courses that are not only informative and fun, but at the same time being relaxed and positive so that once the course ends you feel confident in your skills and abilities to assist someone in their hour of need.

My main hobbies are dog walking who by the way is mad as a box of frogs!! He has such energy and loves life and he give me the necessary time to recharge my batteries. I also started to learn to play golf before the pandemic, just waiting for the warmer weather so that I can play again.

 We have a wonderful team of bank staff who may come and deliver your course, in between their full time work on the EEAST front line.