Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors (which includes Non-Executive and Executive Directors) has overall responsibility for the running and management of our organisation and services, including strategy and performance.
Chair: Darren Best
Appointed October 1, 2023
Darren's experience includes 30 years as a Police Officer. He worked in senior police leadership roles for over a decade, including as Head of Professional Standards, Area Commander, and Head of the Criminal Investigation Department at Cleveland Police; Temporary Assistant Chief Constable at Durham Constabulary; and Assistant Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable at Northumbria Police. Darren was also Chair of the Teesside Safeguarding Adults Board from October 2021 – April 2024.
Before becoming Chair of the Board, Darren served as a Non-Executive Director and Vice-Chair at CNTW.
Vice-Chair: Brendan Hill
Appointed October 1, 2021
Brendan is a Registered Mental Health Nurse, with extensive experience in cross-sector partnerships and service innovation. He has spent more than 30 years working in health and care, and held senior positions at mental health and wellbeing organisations, including 17 years as CEO of Mental Health Concern.
Chief Executive: James Duncan
Appointed February 1, 2022
James has over 25 years experience holding NHS Board roles, and has led major transformational programmes across NHS Trusts and healthcare systems. Before being appointed as Chief Executive, James held the role of Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Finance for CNTW for many years.
Dr Rajesh Nadkarni
Executive Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive
Ramona Duguid
Chief Operating Officer
Sarah Glacken
Executive Director of Nursing and Therapies
Lis Dunning
Executive Director of Finance
Lynne Shaw
Executive Director of People and Organisational Development
Debbie Henderson
Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs (non-voting)
Appointed January 16, 2019 (appointed as Senior Independent Director from 15 January 2025)
Michael is a Qualified Solicitor and former partner of a large UK-based law firm, holding a BA Hons in Law from Oxford University. He is an experienced Non-Executive Director and Board Member. Michael served as Company Secretary and Group Legal Director at the Sage Group PLC for 15 years.
Appointed October 1, 2021
Louise has spent 37 years working in healthcare and 17 years working in Higher Education, with extensive experience in nursing education, clinical governance, and strategic planning. She holds a PhD on the subject of service users' experiences of Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment services. Louise has held senior roles as Head of Nursing, Health, and Professional Practice at University of Cumbria; Non-Executive Director for Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust / North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust; Chair of Carlisle and Eden MIND; and as an advisor for Borderline UK.
The Chairman, on behalf of the Board of Directors, regularly reviews the size, composition, and succession planning of the Board in alignment with the Trust’s strategic objectives. Recommendations are made to the Council of Governors through the Nominations Committee as appropriate. The appointment and reappointment procedures for Non-Executive Directors, overseen by the Nominations Committee and Council of Governors, formally recognise the intention to address gender and ethnic minority imbalances within the Board, wherever feasible.
Governors
Governors are responsible for ensuring the views of our diverse local communities and members are considered in decisions about how we develop our services. They are elected by the public, which includes service users, carers and staff. The Governors hold the Board of Directors to account, as well as carrying out many other duties.
Public Governors
- Newcastle and rest of England / Wales: Mahdi Hassan, appointed December 1, 2024
- South Tyneside: Heather Lee, appointed December 1, 2024
- North Tyneside: Vacancy
- Northumberland: Serena Ayres, appointed December 1, 2025
- Gateshead: Tom Bentley, appointed January 1, 2025
- Sunderland: Rahul Bhugra, appointed December 1, 2025
- Cumbria: Tom McLaughlan, appointed December 1, 2024
Carer Governors
Adult Services:
- Anita Kniveton, appointed December 1, 2024
- Vacancy
Children and Young People’s Services: Shannon Fairhurst, appointed December 1, 2023
Older People’s Services: Vacancy
Learning Disability Services: Rosie Lawrence, appointed December 1, 2023
Autism Services: Fiona Regan, re-appointed December 1, 2025
Neuro Disability Services: Neil Newman, appointed December 1, 2024
Service User Governors
- Adult Services: Kaye Totts, appointed May 12, 2025
- Learning Disability Services: Vacancy
- Neuro Disability Services: Russell Bowman, appointed January 1, 2023
- Autism Services: Vacancy
- Learning Disability Services: Vacancy
- Children and Young Peoples Services: Lauren Cook, appointed December 1st, 2025
- Older Peoples Services: Vacancy
Local Authority Governors
- Northumberland County Council: Vacancy
- Newcastle City Council: Miriam Mafemba, appointed May 1, 2023
- North Tyneside Council: Jane Shaw, appointed July 1, 2023
- South Tyneside Council: Vacancy
- Gateshead Council: Vacancy
Sunderland City Council: Cllr Kelly Chequer, appointed July 29, 2019 - Cumberland Council: Justin McDermott, appointed June 19, 2026
Staff Governors
Clinical:
- Sam Brass, appointed December 1, 2025
- Doreen Chananda, re-appointed December 1, 2025
- Sinead McGowan, appointed December 1, 2025
Medical:
- Dr Thomas Lewis, re-appointed December 1, 2024
Non-Clinical:
- Gemma Miles, appointed December 1, 2024
- Nicola Todhunter, appointed December 1, 2025
- Emma Silver Price, re-appointed December 1, 2025
Governors from partner organisations / the Community and Voluntary Sector:
- Bea Groves-McDaniel, appointed December 19, 2023
- Julia Clifford, appointed June 1, 2023
Governors from local Universities
- Northumbria University: Toby Brandon, Appointed December 1, 2025
- Sunderland University: Vacancy
- Newcastle University: Andrew Kingston, appointed December 1, 2024
- Cumbria University: Dr Fiona Chatten, appointed May 26, 2026