Board of Directors who's who

Responsibilities

Glen is Chief Executive of the four Trusts (South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, Wye Valley NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust).

As the Accounting Officer of the Trust he is a full voting member of the Board taking overall responsibility for quality, performance, strategy and financial stewardship.

Each Trust in the Group has a Managing Director who is responsible for the day to day running of the Trust. The Group was created to support the Trusts to develop as lead providers of integrated care in their localities, and to share best practice to improve quality and productivity.

Voting board member

Biography

Glen joined the NHS as a Finance Trainee in 1983, becoming a Director of Finance in 1995, and then gaining operational experience at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, before joining South Warwickshire as CEO in 2006. The Trust has developed a strong local and national reputation, achieving Foundation Trust status, completing the successful acquisition of Warwickshire Community Services, and gaining outstanding ratings for quality and use of resources. From this foundation, the Group has grown incrementally over the past few years as the performance of all member Trusts has improved. Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHST became the newest member in 2023.

Glen also carries out a number of national and regional responsibilities alongside his work in the Group.

Responsibilities

Adam is the Managing Director for South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (appointed 2023).

The Managing Director is responsible for the day to day leadership and management of the Trust on behalf of the Group Chief Executive. The Managing Director leads the Executive Team and Chairs the Trust’s Management Board. The role encompasses the development and implementation of the Trust strategy and objectives, engagement with staff and stakeholders and embedding partnerships with key stakeholders to the organisation. The Managing Director oversees communications activity across the Trust, both internally and externally, ensures delivery of the Board Assurance Framework and Chairs the Trust Risk Management Board.

SWFT is part of a Foundation Group of hospitals along with the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (GEH), Wye Valley NHS Trust (WVT) and Worcester Acute Hospital NHS Trust (WHAT). Each of these Trusts has a Managing Director reporting to the Group Chief Executive.

Voting Board member

Biography

Adam started his career within the NHS in Birmingham, 2004 and has had several roles leading service improvement and digital development across a number of healthcare settings. Adam is experienced leading complex partnerships, and during his time in the NHS has led collaborations of partners across acute, mental health and maternity services.

Adam joined South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust in 2018, leading Digital Transformation and progressed to the role of Chief Digital & Technology Officer. In 2021 Adam led the establishment of Innovate Healthcare Services Ltd, a subsidiary of the Trust delivering Information Technology, Information Governance and Digital Transformation to the Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Primary Care Services across Warwickshire. Adam was appointed Chief Executive of the company following its formation.

Adam is passionate about clinically led transformation, digital and equality. He lives in South Birmingham with his partner and dogs.

Responsibilities

Charles is the Chief medical Officer for South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (Appointed 2014).

As Chief Medical Officer Charles’ main responsibilities are leading the medical workforce and acts as the organisation’s Caldicott Guardian. He is the joint lead for quality and safety, as well as the responsible officer for medical revalidation, end of life care, clinical audit, medical education and training and chairs the mortality surveillance committee.

Voting Board member

Biography

Dr Charles Ashton graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery after studying at Middlesex Hospital Medical School between 1976 1981. Dr Ashton is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and has an honorary Doctorate from Coventry University.

Previously, Dr Ashton has held the post of Medical Director for 14 years in Worcestershire and has extensive experience of service review.

Dr Ashton also has commissioning experience and was the secondary care representative on the Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group.

From a clinical perspective Dr Ashton was a Consultant Physician with a special interest in care of the elderly, stroke and clinical pharmacology. As well as the acute sector he has worked in stroke rehabilitation at Evesham community hospital and has also worked closely with primary care providing clinics at local health centres.

Responsibilities

Fiona is the Chief Nursing Officer for South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (appointed 2019).

As Chief Nursing Officer, Fiona provides professional leadership for Nursing Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals. She is also the Accountable Officer for controlled drugs (CDs) and the DIPC (Director of Infection Prevention and Control).

Fiona is also responsible for adult and children safeguarding, patient experience, patient safety, clinical governance.

Voting Board member

Biography

Fiona Burton commenced in post as Chief Nursing Officer at SWFT in 2019, having worked within the Trust since 2013. Fiona has worked in the health service for 34 years, having initially worked as a Healthcare Assistant before commencing her registered nurse training in 1990. Since finishing her nurse training, Fiona continued her study to achieve a first class BSc (hons) and an MSc and was awarded an Honorary DSc in early 2022.

Fiona has a wealth of experience in nursing and professional practice having worked in a number of large NHS Trusts across the midlands and a short period of time in NHSE.

Responsibilities

Harkamal is the Chief Operating Officer for South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (appointed 2021).

Harkamal oversees the daily operational delivery of the hospital, out of hospital and children, young people and family services. As part of this she is responsible for co-ordinating and delivering performance against national and local clinical operational and performance standards.

Harkamal plays a key role in integration with the wider health and social care system.

The Chief Operating Officer also leads on Emergency Planning and Operational Programme Management.

Voting Board member

Biography

Harkamal Joined South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust in 2019 as the Associate Director of Operations for the Elective Division / Deputy Director of Operations. In October 2021, she was appointed to the role of Director of Operations.

Beginning her career as part of the NHS Management Training Scheme Harkamal has an MSc in Health & Public Leadership. Prior to joining the Trust, Harkamal has held a number of operational roles across the NHS after successfully completing the NHS Graduate Management Programme in 2010.

Responsibilities

Kim is the Chief Finance Officer for South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (Appointed 2016).

As Chief Finance Officer, Kim is responsible for the development of the Trust’s financial strategy, overseeing all financial planning and management including charitable funds. Kim also oversees the Trust’s Procurement and Information functions.

Kim is a Non-Executive Director of SWFT’s wholly owned subsidiary SWFT Clinical Services Limited, as well as a Trustee for Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), the professional body for finance staff working in healthcare that promotes the highest professional standards and innovation in financial management and governance across the UK health economy through its local and national networks.

Voting Board member

Biography

Kim is a Business Studies graduate and qualified as a Chartered Public Finance Accountant (CPFA) in 1995. Kim began her public sector career with the Audit Commission in external audit, before joining the NHS working across a number of finance roles.

Kim is an active member of the HFMA West Midlands Executive Branch and is a past Branch Chair. Kim is a qualified coach/mentor with a Level 7 Certificate in Mentoring and Coaching from the Institute for Leadership & Management (ILM). Kim is an assessor/coach on the National NHS Finance Leaders Talent Pool and is also the Midlands representative on the One NHS Finance Innovation Forum.

Responsibilities

Sophie is the Chief Strategy Officer for South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (Appointed 2018).

As Chief Strategy Officer, Sophie is responsible for corporate strategy, service improvement, business development, communications and engagement and fundraising. In addition, Sophie also leads the organisations capital and estates programme, with responsibility for sustainability and fire management.

Biography

Sophie joined the Trust in 2008 in a lead communications role. In 2014 Sophie was appointed as Associate Director of Marketing and Communications, leading the commercial bids for the organisation.

Before joining the Trust, Sophie held a number of positions nationally in the private sector in Sales and Marketing as well as working in Marketing Development at Worcestershire County Council.

Responsibilities

The Chief People Officer oversees the development and delivery of the workforce strategy and implementation plans and acts as the Board’s Expert Advisor on Human Resources, Employment Tribunal activity, Organisational Development and education and training. This includes the provision of a strategic and professional advisory service to the Trust in respect of people management, staff experience, and engagement, and development and demonstration of the Trust’s value pledges at all times. In addition the role covers workforce health and wellbeing, occupational health, equality and diversity, employment legislation and medical staffing.

The Chief People Officer also acts as the executive lead for Freedom to Speak Up and is the Chief Knowledge Officer for the Trust.

Non-voting Board member.

Zoe is the Chief Commissioning Officer for South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (appointed 2024).

Zoe’s role is joint between SWFT, Coventry and Warwickshire’s Integrated Health Board and Warwickshire County Council. She is responsible for a wide range of commissioning areas including children and young people, mental health, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, Autism and older people.

As Chief Commissioning Officer, Zoe also has responsibility for the quality assurance and contract management of all services.

As part of her role at SWFT, Zoe is creating the infrastructure and capabilities for the Trust to operate as Host/Lead Provider in Warwickshire working transparently and in partnership with Warwickshire Places. This includes overseeing the transfer of responsibilities and resources from the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) to the Warwickshire Care Collaborative.

Zoe is also the lead for the Better Care Programme for Warwickshire, Senior Responsibility Officer role for the intermediate care frontrunner programme and leads on the commissioning developments for the new community integrator arrangements (previously known as Out of Hospital).

Non-voting Board member

Russell Hardy joined the Trust as Chair of the Board of Directors from 1 August 2023. Russell, who is also Chair of Foundation Group partner organisations; George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Wye Valley NHS Trust, has a wealth of experience from working in NHS trusts and private companies, with a firm understanding of working in large organisations and overseeing strategic developments.

Russell is the Chair.

Simon Page joined the Trust as a Non-Executive Director in February 2016.

He has over 20 years of wide ranging leadership experience in the private sector as Chairman, Managing Director and Director. Simon's career has centred around retailing and manufacturing businesses operating within the consumer and building products markets.

He has a strong background in marketing, sales and commercial leadership, working for some well known blue-chip brands, in both the prestige branded and mass-market arenas; these include Aga, Fired Earth, Villeroy & Boch and Rangemaster. This has given him a clear insight into working for complex international organisations, change management, strategy development and delivery, and of the importance of delivering success with and through others, especially in periods of change.

Simon lives in Stratford upon Avon with his wife, Patty; he has two grown up children.

Simon is the Vice Chair.

Phil joined as a Non-Executive Director in March 2022. From October 1st 2024, Phil became the Senior Independent Director (SID).

He is a commercially astute Director with over twenty years of general management experience gained in the energy industry, at global energy company E.ON. He brings to the board strong experience in Commercial, Transformation, Digitalisation and has passion and expertise in Sustainability (ESG) and Net Zero.

He lives in Solihull with his wife and two young daughters.

David qualified from Birmingham Medical School in 1981 and now has 40 years of continuous service within the NHS. For the past 35 of those years he has been a GP at a local practice in Kenilworth which has a strong commitment to teaching the doctors and specifically GP of the future along with providing high quality clinical care. It is currently rated as outstanding by CQC. He was elected Fellow of the Royal College of GP in 2012 for services to Primary Care.

He also has significant experience in clinical leadership with past roles at national level with the GMC and NICE, regionally with the Royal College of GP and more locally with Primary Care Trusts and most recently CCG. He stood down from being Chairman of South Warwickshire CCG after 8 years in that post in March of 2021 after leading the CCG through the worst of the Covid pandemic and merging the then three Coventry and Warwickshire CCG.

David has lived in Kenilworth since 1986 with his wife. He also shares his life with a chocolate labrador with whom he enjoys long walks across the countryside. In addition he has what some call an obsession with the motor car and all things mechanical, he still holds a valid motorsport competition licence.

He is determined to keep the patient at the centre of healthcare decisions and is passionate about providing safe and effective healthcare for all in society particularly those with disabilities. Whilst at the CCG he championed the cause of those with learning difficulties and intends to continue this as Non-Executive on the board at South Warwickshire University Foundation Trust.

David is the Chair of the Clinical Governance Committee.

Robert is a Chartered Professional Accountant, holds a masters degree in finance and accounting and is a bachelor of commerce.  From 2014 to 2023 he was Director of Health Value for Money audit at the National Audit Office reporting on government programmes and NHS expenditure including during the pandemic period.  He provided advice and support to the Auditor General and Comptroller as well as to the MPs and Chair of the UK parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.  In the 8 years prior to this, he was Executive Director of finance for Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust having previously worked at a senior level in large acute teaching hospitals and community, mental health and learning disability providers.  His career in healthcare administration commenced in Canada prior to moving to the UK.  As an associate for the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and as an independent practitioner, Robert provides training and research services to the NHS as well as writing and speaking on NHS finance topics.  He is a fellow of the HFMA and served on its National Policy and Research Committee for several years.  

Robert is married with two grown up sons and lives in Solihull.  As a keen cyclist, Robert is currently training to be a Level 2 cycling instructor as part of providing school children with the necessary confidence and skills to take to the roads.  He spends most weekends cycling the length and breadth of the Warwickshire countryside.

Robert is the Chair of the Trust’s Audit Committee.

Sue Whelan Tracy joined the Trust as a non-voting, Non Executive Director in February 2016.

She has a background in retail and corporate banking in the UK, Europe, the Caribbean and Australia. Her last executive post before embarking on a non executive career was Marketing and Customer Engagement for Barclays in the UK. Her specialisms are customer experience and marketing, along with commercial leadership of products and channels, including digital.

As a non executive Sue works nationally, across sectors with organisations committed to delivering high standards of customer experience.

Sue lives in Leamington with her husband, Virgil and two teenage children.

Yasmin has held senior leadership roles within the health sector including primary care, acute care, professional regulation, and medical education. She has significant experience in business model innovation, complex systems change and digital transformation.

Currently, she is the Chief Executive of the Institution of Structural Engineers. She mentors mid-to-senior level professionals and is passionate about sustainable development and reducing health inequalities.

Yasmin is an alumna of the University of Warwick and London Business School. She has an MBA and Masters in English Literature and is pursuing a Doctorate in digital innovation and transformation.

Paramjit is Professor of General Practice, University of Warwick, NIHR Senior Investigator and brings a wealth of experience in primary/community care. He joined the Non-Executive Team in April 2022 and is passionate on promoting research and training in this role as well as addressing inequalities in care.

In recognition of the Trust’s status as a University NHS Foundation Trust and in association with the University of Warwick Medical School, the Medical School has nominated Paramjit Singh Gill as a Nominated Non-Executive Director of the Trust.

Bharti Patel has joined as an Associate Non Executive Director in October 2023. Having lived within the area for most of her adult life, Bharti and her family have benefitted from a wide range of NHS and social care services from maternity all the way through to chronic condition management and elderly care.

Bharti has over 30 years experience in public and private healthcare sector, with senior roles in procurement, commercial, operations, strategic business development and general management, predominantly at Board level.

Her extensive experience across NHS commissioning, Homecare, National and Independent retail pharmacy, global medical technology solutions and life sciences, has given her a strong understanding of the healthcare environment, which she uses to support organisations nationally through her healthcare consultancy,

She delivers value through her authentic leadership style, collaborative approach and building strategic relationships to help deliver improved patient pathways and outcomes.

Bharti is passionate about leveraging her breadth of experience to give back to the community in which she has spent most of her life and is excited to support the work of South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust.

Oliver Cofler has joined as an Associate Non-Executive Director in October 2023.

Oliver has held a number of leadership roles in supply chain, including Operations Director for Alliance Healthcare, responsible for all aspects of operations across the UK, and Supply Chain Director for the UK, Ireland and Nordics at Mondelez International. He has significant operational and leadership experience across all aspects of supply chain. He is also a trustee and Chair of Bath and Wells Multi Academy Schools Trust.

Oliver is a keen football fan, supporting Aston Villa, and also loves live music. He’s married with two grown up children, and has lived in Leamington Spa for 25 years. He also volunteers at Helping Hands Soup Kitchen.

Oli Hiscoe joined as an Associate Non-Executive Director in October 2023.

Oli has worked in the charity sector for over 16 years, primarily in community and event fundraising, as well as philanthropy and corporate fundraising. He brings a wealth of experience in community engagement, co-design and working with volunteers to the Trust. Oli has worked for a range of national and local charities, primarily within the health sector including an Air Ambulance, Medical Research Charity, Motor Neurone Disease Association and is an Associate Director of a Hospice in the South East.

He lives in Leamington Spa with his daughter and enjoys cooking and cycling with his time off.