Pippa was born and attended school in a village called Poynton in Cheshire, UK, she then went to Nottingham School of Nursing to complete her Registered Nurse training. After a short time in the National Health Service she joined the Royal Air Force (RAF) as a Nursing Officer and served 20 years in the UK and on postings and deployments overseas. She worked predominately in the field of trauma and aeromedical evacuation, before going into the management side of the nursing branch. She met her Australian, future husband whilst on a senior management course while he was doing an exchange tour to the UK. Pippa left the RAF in 2008, moved to Australia and married Steve and continued her nursing clinical career in Australian public hospitals, and lastly, at a medical centre as a Practice Nurse.
She retired in 2022 and has since filled her days with Reformer Pilates, dog walking (not just her own), catching up with friends, supporting her husband’s continuing career in the Royal Australian Air Force and travelling for holidays and visiting family in the UK. Pippa now lives in Canberra, ACT, with her husband Steve, and greyhound, Fawna.
However, in 2022 her husband started becoming ill and after several months of investigations, tests, Drs appointments and worry, Steve was diagnosed with MND in June 2023. Despite her nursing experience, nothing had prepared her for the impact of this diagnosis, illness and journey so far on Steve and herself. Steve and Pippa are being very well supported by Defence, the MND Clinic at Canberra and family and friends, but they are keen to be involved in the Australian MND Guideline project to heighten awareness of MND, aim for a consolidated set of MND guidelines for professionals, patients and carers and support the essential need to find a cause, treatment and ultimately a cure for MND.
