Our board

Trustees - what do they do?

Our trustees are responsible for making sure we are doing what we was set up to do.

• They are the people who lead us and decide how we are run.
• Being a trustee means making decisions that will impact on people’s lives.
• They help to make a difference to the community across North Yorkshire.
• Trustees use their skills and experience to support and help us achieve our aims.

Learn more about our work

Delve into our latest progress (board) report that we share with our trustees about the work we are doing for our public

Find out about our plans for up to 2026

Meet our trustees

Lee Adams - Chairperson

Lee worked for 30 years in the NHS in public health and commissioning in several places around England and at national level. She spent the last ten years before retirement as a senior manager in local government in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire. Lee is currently on the national committee at Healthwatch England. She is experienced in equalities and governance as well as policy and performance in public service . She has a strong track record in transformation .

Lee is particularly interested in citizen participation, democracy and tackling the root causes of ill health as well as improving public service.  She lives in Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire and she and her family have lived experience of several NHS services.

Pat Southgate, Vice chairperson

Pat is a retired nurse of 44 years, experienced in many nursing roles. The last 30 years working as a community public health nurse, working with families and their communities.

She also held several strategic/board level roles within large NHS organisations in acute care, mental health, community,  primary care, and several years working for the Nursing and Midwifery Council, nursing’s regulatory body, as a member of their Fitness To Practice Panels, and latterly as a NMC Council Board member for England, elected by peers. She is currently a board member at York Housing Association, and until recently, a local authority governor of Sheriff Hutton school.

Pat volunteers within York and Scarborough NHS Hospital Trust, and also Martin House Hospice.

Throughout her varied professional experience, she has recognised that health inequalities are ultimately different in the status of people’s health, however fundamentally, it is the social, economic and environmental conditions in which people live that impact on their health.

Laura Parker

Laura has worked across different sectors, starting her career as a Support Worker. She has studied criminology whilst working with the Criminal Justice Service supporting young people through an alternative to custody programme before working in the education sector.

After having spent time working with wounded, injured and sick veterans across Northern England, Scotland and Northern Ireland she found a long standing connection with social care supporting individuals diagnosed learning disabilities and/or autism since 2017. Currently working as a director of operations for a Yorkshire based charity, she is passionate about supporting individuals to have a voice within their communities to champion and advocate for social inclusion

Laura is very interested in hearing people’s experiences of health and social care and ensuring their voice and feedback shapes service design and improvement.

Kacie Hodgson

Kacie is a college student with a deep passion for ensuring that people have a voice, especially those who might be considered marginalised or disadvantaged such as those with special educational needs. As someone who has seen first-hand how these individuals can be overlooked or ignored in society, she is committed to supporting them to get the healthcare that everyone is entitled to. She believes everyone is responsible for supporting one another and creating a more inclusive and equitable world. In everything she does, she hopes to be a force for positive change and an advocate for those who need it most.

John Cunningham

John has 25 years expertise in geopolitics and clean tech project development. He has vast international experience, having operated across the US, Middle East, FSU, Europe and Africa. He has a successful track record in raising funds for and the development of innovative technology and has project-managed in Africa, the US and Europe. A geo-political expert, he has worked closely with financial groups and private equity advising them on risk mitigation overseas and the development of their investment portfolios, with particular reference to emerging markets.

Alison Wood

Alison joins us as a new trustee in January 2024. She has a background in financial services, working in a range of large financial institutions in project management and analytical functions. She has an interest in behavioural change and recently completed a Master of Science conversion degree in psychology. Her focus is on evidence based health care solutions and ensuring patient and public feedback is at the centre of decision making. 

Alan Cram

Profile coming soon...