CHARITY MOURNS LOSS OF PIONEER AND FRIEND

The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS) is mourning the loss of one of the most influential people in the charity’s history after Alexandra Pope, Deputy CEO and Director of People and Organisational Development, passed away last month.nnAlexandra, mother to Anna and Viktor, sadly lost a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was just 49-years-old.nnDuring her eight years with the charity, Alexandra helped thousands of people through her work. She was very patient focused and strongly believed in doing good and doing the right thing, no matter how difficult it would prove.nnAlexandra was responsible for many great innovations within TAAS. She created and implemented the model of employing paramedics directly, which enabled more specialist care to be delivered at the scene of trauma, and this approach is now widely adopted nationwide. She created the core values of Courage, Creativity and Compassion, things she herself held in abundance. Alexandra also created the staff forum to ensure that everyone in the organisation had a voice.nn“As a Line Manager Alexandra challenged you to become the very best version of yourself. She encouraged life-long learning, self-improvement and to think more creatively and resourcefully,” said Jo Payne, the longest serving member of staff at TAAS.nn“For those that were privileged to work with Alexandra and got to know her, she was a very caring woman. Often the first to take you to one side to check on your welfare or that of your family if she knew they had been taken ill. Yet never burdening you with her own circumstances. She gained respect and was a very charismatic woman; she embodied our core values of courage, compassion and creativity, and the charity has lost a much valued colleague, friend and leader”.nnOne of the greatest testaments to Alexandra’s dedication and determination is the Orange National Business Award the charity won in 2012 following her successful pitch. The organisation is still the only charity to have won this prestigious award.nn“Alexandra was a truly remarkable woman,” said Charity CEO Andy Williamson. “She was the quiet, unassuming brains behind much of what we do and most of what we have achieved as a team. Those of us involved in the charity knew her skills and ability, and the huge difference she made to everything. This is a truly devastating loss to the charity and to everyone who knew her.”