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Meet the Board
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Meet the Board
NHS Boards play a key role in shaping the strategy, vision and purpose of an organisation. They hold the organisation to account for the delivery of strategy and ensure value for money. They are also responsible for assuring that risks to the organisation and the public are managed and mitigated effectively. Led by an independent Chair and composed of a mixture of both Executive and independent Non-Executive Directors, the Board has a collective responsibility for the performance of the organisation.
The Chair is responsible for the effective leadership of the Trust Board. They work alongside the Chief Executive who is responsible and accountable for the strategic and operational leadership of the Trust.
Chair - Nick Carver OBE
Nick Carver joined us as our Chair on 1 February 2022.
Nick has worked in the NHS for 42 years joining as a hospital porter, then qualifying as a registered nurse before moving into health service management. Nick has held several senior roles in the NHS in the East of England, West Midlands, West Country and South Wales. He joined East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust as Chief Executive in November 2002, retiring in December 2021 having held the role for 19 years.
Nick is passionately committed to leadership development and has supported the Aspiring Chief Executive programme, was the lead for a widely praised Aspiring Directors Programme and previously chaired the Midlands and East Talent Board, which established improved mechanisms for the development of senior talent within the NHS.
Voting member of the Board
Chief Executive - Anthony May OBE DL
Anthony May joined us as our Chief Executive on 1 September 2022.
Anthony was Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire County Council from April 2015 to August 2022, with responsibility for the council’s £1.1 billion budget and around 18,000 staff who work directly and indirectly for the council. He was also Chair of the Midlands Engine Operating Board for five years and Chair of the Association of County Council Chief Executives for over two years.
Anthony was also one of the nine chief executive leads (representing the East Midlands) who worked with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, on the response to Covid-19 and the strategic direction of local government.
Voting member of the Board
Non-Executive Directors
Non-Executive Directors are members of the Trust Board who share the corporate responsibility for ensuring that the Trust is run efficiently and effectively. They use their expertise, interest and experience to scrutinise and monitor performance.
Non-Executive Director - Tracey Blackwell
Tracey Blackwell has over 36 years of experience working in local government in wide range of district and city councils. As an Environmental Health Officer Tracey’s early career focussed on a wide range of community-based issues including - housing conditions, food safety, infectious diseases, pollution control, public health and health & safety in the workplace. Tracey joined the Trust Board as a Non-Executive Director on 27 September.
Chair of Quality Assurance Committee.
Voting member of the Board
Non-Executive Director - Professor Sube Banerjee
Sube Banerjee is Pro-Vice Chancellor and Professor of Dementia of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of Nottingham where he is responsible for its Schools of Health Sciences, Life Sciences, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine and Science. He trained at St Thomas’s, The Maudsley and the Institute of Psychiatry, he is an applied health researcher focussing on improving quality of life and quality of care in dementia.
Clinically he is an old age psychiatrist with a particular interest in memory assessment and support services. He co-led the development of the National Dementia Strategy for England and has worked closely with the World Health Organisation and governments internationally on dementia policy. He has been awarded national and international awards for policy and research in dementia.
Voting member of the board
Non-Executive Director - Mark Chivers
Mark Chivers is currently the Government Chief Property Officer at the Cabinet Office. He has 17 years’ experience at Board level in both the private and public sector, including as Director of Estates at Boots UK, Director of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone for Walgreens Boots Alliance and Director of Shared Services for Alliance Boots.
Vice-Chair of the Trust.
Voting member of the Board
Non-Executive Director - Karen Tomlinson
Karen Tomlinson has worked in the NHS for over 45 years and is very proud to be part of such a great institution. The last ten years have been at East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust, initially as a Non-Executive Director (NED).
Karen became Deputy Chairman in 2021, and Chairman in 2022-2024.
The experiences and knowledge she has gained during her time working as a nurse, and having progressed to various senior management roles including Executive Nurse, Deputy Chief Executive, and Director of Operations, and Chairman, will assist her in the new role as Associate NED at Nottingham University Hospitals.
During her time at EMAS she launched a new five-year strategy, created and published a clear vision and ambitions to improve services for staff and volunteers and to enhance the care and treatment provided to patients.
Compassionate leadership has always been a personal priority. She enjoys engaging with staff, utilising reverse mentoring opportunities and holding conversations with colleagues, leaders and volunteers and is looking forward to meeting members of the team at NUH.
Karen has lived in Nottinghamshire all her life and particularly enjoys family time. Keeping fit is important to her and enjoys running, the gym and dog walking. For quieter moments she enjoys reading, knitting and sewing.
Voting member of the Board
Senior Independent Director (SID)
Non-Executive Director - Jason Ward
Jason Ward is a chartered accountant with over 25 years of blue chip experience. He qualified with EY in 1998 where he held various roles including Audit Senior Manager.
Jason then worked at Boots UK for 18 years, of which the last 10 years he held numerous Director roles most recently the Finance Director for Operations. He has significant experience of working on audit committees and large scale change programmes. He continues to be a Director of the Boots Pension scheme.
Voting member of the Board
Non-Executive Director - Steve Hackett
Steve Hackett has worked in the NHS for 35 years, working predominantly in the South Yorkshire and surrounding areas.
Steve has worked as a Director of Finance in the NHS for 24 years and has worked in Community, Mental Health and Acute organisations at Board level. Steve also has experience of commissioning healthcare services and has worked for NHS England as Director of Finance in the South Yorkshire regional team.
Steve is proud to be part of the NHS and believes its a privilege to work in this great institution, delivering the best quality care for the population we serve.
Non-Executive Director - Kate Nowicki
Kate Nowicki is a specialist in dispute resolution and employment relations. She has worked with the conciliation service Acas for more than 30 years, building her experience, skills and knowledge through a number of roles, before retiring from post as Director of Dispute Resolution in early 2025. Kate’s long interest in the health service was strengthened through her work with Acas where she led the dispute resolution function through change and challenge, including through periods of significant industrial unrest in the NHS.
As well as her expertise in dispute resolution Kate is a qualified change leader.
Kate is a a local resident who was born and raised in Nottingham. She is a member of the NHS Pay Review Body, and she. is also an independent consultant in employment relations and the wider workplace.
Associate Non-Executive Director - Paul Lawrence
Paul is a technology executive with over 40 years’ commercial experience, working within IT, communication and software service providers. In addition, he has held several board-level roles within Enterprise and SME companies, including PLC, entrepreneurial/private equity-backed businesses, specifically delivering strategic transformation & growth.
Most recently Paul is Managing Director of Addsecure – Smart Transport UK, North America & Australia, specialising in Fleet Management solutions to the transport & logistics industry. During his career Paul has specialised in engineering, sales leadership and senior management roles within the UK and internationally at leading companies including GEC, Siemens and Virgin Media. Paul brings a wealth of knowledge across various technologies, as well as driving transformational change in a digital context. In prior roles, Paul has delivered a range of next generation digital solutions to the NHS, specific to both acute and residential care environments and is looking forward to bringing his technology experience in support of the NUH digital agenda. Paul completed an MBA with Loughborough University Business School in 2007.
On his appointment Paul said ‘It’s both a delight and privilege to be chosen by our local Hospital Trust to take the role of Non- Executive Director’. Having lived in Nottingham for most of my life, I have always taken a keen interest in our healthcare services and I’m looking forward to using my knowledge and expertise for the benefit of patients and staff at NUH.
Non-voting member of the Board
Associate Non-Executive Director - Dr Umar Ahmad
Dr Umar Ahmad is a local GP who was born and bred in Nottingham. He helps run his GP practice in Mapperley as Partner for the last 10 years. In addition he is the Clinical Director for Arrow Primary Care Network which comprises 5 GP surgeries looking after approximately 40,000 patients. His primary care network has pioneered novel ways to care for its patients which includes introduction of Mental Health Teams imbedded into general practice (both for children and adults) as well as the use of Paramedics, Physiotherapists, Pharmacists and Social Prescribers into Primary Care. He also holds posts in the local GP Federation as well as sitting on Local Medical Committee for Nottinghamshire.
Non-voting member of the Board
Associate Non-Executive Director - Professor Sunita Toor
Suni as she prefers to be called is Professor of Human Rights and Gender Justice Practice at the world leading Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, Sheffield Hallam University. She is an award-winning academic, activist and advocate who is passionate about combatting gender-based violence, advancing women & girls rights across the world and shaping justice sector reform and architecture to promote human rights for all. She is a cutting-edge thought leader who champions rights, equality, diversity, and inclusion. Sunita's work is underpinned by a commitment to making human rights and justice accessible to the most marginalised individuals and communities in the world. Sunita is wonderful mentor and champion of others, and actively supports the next generation of human rights activists and academics. Sunita is passionate about protecting and championing human rights through fusing practice, cutting edge research and academic rigour to deliver international projects that transform lives.
Non-voting member of the Board
Suni is Nottingham born, and after living in other parts of the UK and beyond has returned to Nottingham and lives with her family.
Non-Executive Director - Mark Onyett
Mark Onyett is an experienced board member and entrepreneur who founded TDX Group, a data and technology business that grew to over 350 staff across six countries and was acquired by Equifax PLC for £200 million. He has chaired or served on the boards of numerous companies including Oakbrook, Liberis, BCI Finance, and OpenWrks, leading strategic change, committee oversight, and large-scale financial management and structuring.
In the public and voluntary sectors, Mark serves as a Deputy Lieutenant for Nottinghamshire, is a governor at Nottingham Girls’ High School, sits on the advisory board for Nottingham Business School and was previously a trustee and volunteer first responder for Vale First Responders.