Sheila Payne holds the title of Professor Emeritus at the International Observatory on End of Life Care, within the Division of Health Research at Lancaster University. Her expertise lies in palliative and end-of-life care, supported by her previous experience as a nurse at St. Mary’s Hospital and her academic qualifications, including a Bachelor of Arts and a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Exeter. She served as Vice President of the European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC) from 2007 to 2011, and as Director of the Cancer Experiences Collaborative (CECo) from 2006 to 2012. Additionally, she has been recognized with numerous awards, such as second place in the IJPN Researcher of the Year in 2015, the European Association for Palliative Care Award in 2017, and the Journal of Palliative Medicine European Paper of the Year (2024) in 2025.
Nancy Preston is a Professor of Supportive and Palliative Care, Co-Director of the International Observatory on End-of-Life Care, and the Associate Dean for Research at Lancaster University's Faculty of Health and Medicine. She holds a B.Sc. (Hons) and a Ph.D. in Nursing, making her an expert in supportive and palliative care. Additionally, Dr. Preston has received recognitions such as the NIHR Greater Manchester Health and Care Research Award for Collaborative Working in 2022, and was esteemed as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in 2025.
