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. 

James has extensive experience in NHS leadership, including a background in finance and service delivery. He works closely with the Board and partners across the system to improve outcomes for patients and communities.

He is committed to openness, continuous improvement and supporting staff to deliver the best possible care.

Executive Medical Director and Deputy Chief Executive: Dr Rajesh Nadkarni

Appointed June 6, 2016

Rajesh provides professional leadership for medical staff and oversees the quality and safety of care across the organisation.

Rajesh plays a key role in setting clinical standards, supporting workforce development and promoting evidence based practice. He also works closely with the Chief Executive and Board to support the overall leadership of the Trust.

He is committed to clinical excellence, continuous learning and ensuring care is centred on the needs of patients and their families.

Chief Operating Officer: Ramona Duguid

Appointed April 6, 2021

Ramona is responsible for the day to day running of services, ensuring they are safe, effective and responsive to the needs of patients.

Ramona leads operational performance and service delivery, working closely with clinical teams to improve access to care and patient experience. She plays a key role in driving service improvement and transformation.

She is committed to delivering high quality care while supporting staff and making sure services meet the changing needs of the communities the Trust serves.

Executive Director of Nursing and Therapies: Sarah Glacken

Appointed February 27, 2023

Sarah provides professional leadership for nursing, therapies and quality across the organisation, with a strong focus on safety and patient experience.

Sarah leads on safeguarding standards of care, ensuring services are compassionate, safe and effective. She works with teams across the Trust to support continuous improvement and learning.

She is passionate about supporting staff, strengthening professional practice and making sure the voices of patients and carers shape how services are delivered.

Executive Director of Finance: Lis Dunning

Appointed January 5, 2026

Lis leads the Trust’s financial strategy, ensuring resources are used effectively to support high quality care.

Lis is responsible for financial planning, reporting and governance, helping the organisation remain sustainable while investing in service improvement.

She works closely with colleagues across the Trust to balance financial discipline with innovation and to ensure the best possible value for patients and communities.

Executive Director of People and Organisational Development: Lynne Shaw

Appointed October 1, 2020

Lynne leads the Trust’s people strategy, supporting recruitment, development and staff wellbeing.

Lynne works to create a positive and inclusive culture where staff feel valued and supported to deliver the best care possible. Her role includes leadership development, equality and inclusion, and organisational development.

She is passionate about building a workforce that reflects the communities the Trust serves and enabling staff to thrive at work.

 

Director of Communications and Corporate Affairs (non-voting): Debbie Henderson

Appointed January 21, 2019

Debbie leads the Trust’s communications, engagement and corporate affairs functions, supporting effective governance and decision making.

Debbie works closely with the Board and Executive Team to ensure clear, transparent communication with staff, patients and partners. She also plays a key role in supporting organisational reputation and stakeholder relationships.

She is committed to building trust through honest, accessible communication and meaningful engagement.

Non-Executive Director: Louise Nelson

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.

Non-Executive Director: Vikas Kumar

Appointed January 29, 2024

Vikas brings over 30 years of experience in the creative and voluntary sectors, including more than two decades in senior leadership roles. He has extensive expertise in strategic leadership, including setting organisational direction, governance, programme development and delivery, financial management, fundraising and quality assurance, with a particular focus on equality, diversity and inclusion.

He is the Founder and Director of GemArts, a nationally recognised arts charity based in Gateshead, and has a strong track record of working in partnership across cultural, public, private and voluntary sectors. His work has focused on improving access to arts and services for minority ethnic communities and increasing participation through culturally relevant approaches.

Vikas has received national and regional recognition for his work, including being awarded an MBE in the 2017 Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to arts and culture. He has also received the Gateshead Award for outstanding service and multiple Asian Business Connexions Arts and Culture awards.

He was appointed Deputy Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear in 2024. He also holds a number of non executive and trustee roles, including Vice Chair and Trustee of Bensham Grove Community Centre, Trustee of Northern Stage, and member of Newcastle University Court and Nominations Committee.

Non-Executive Director: Thomas Webb

Appointed September 8, 2025

Thomas brings over 20 years’ experience in NHS digital health, with a strong focus on improving the usability and effectiveness of clinical systems. He is widely recognised as a national leader in clinical system usability and has worked to ensure digital solutions better support staff and patient care.

Thomas is Founder and Director of Ethical Healthcare, a specialist digital healthcare consultancy, and is a board member of the TechUK Health and Social Care programme. He has also shared his expertise through teaching, including as a lecturer in digital strategy at Newcastle University Business School.

He brings significant experience of digital transformation, innovation and system design, supporting the Trust to make the best use of technology to improve services and outcomes for patients.

Non-Executive Director: Robin Earl

Appointed July 1, 2024

Robin is a qualified Chartered Accountant with extensive experience across regeneration, housing and the voluntary sector. He has held senior leadership roles including Group Executive Director at a house building and regeneration company and Executive Director of Corporate Services at a fast growing charity providing services for people with complex health and social care needs.

Robin has worked on a wide range of regeneration programmes, advising local councils as well as the Welsh Government and Scottish Executive. Earlier in his career, he held a project finance role with the National Regeneration Agency and was Finance Director of an urban regeneration company in the North East of England.

He also brings significant non executive experience, having served as a member of the Finance Committee at Newcastle Gateshead Initiative and as a non executive director of a housing association.

Non-Executive Director: Emma Moir

Appointed September 10, 2025

Emma is a qualified solicitor with expertise in criminal justice and regulatory frameworks. She brings over 30 years of senior leadership experience across the Civil Service and the NHS, including leading major national transformation programmes within complex public sector organisations.

She holds a number of independent roles, including Independent Specialist Member of the Mental Health Tribunal and Independent Panel Member for Fitness to Practise and Misconduct, where she contributes her legal and governance expertise.

Emma is also an experienced executive coach and mentor, supporting senior leaders to navigate complex systems and drive improvement.

Non-Executive Director: Rachel Bourne

Appointed January 29, 2024

Rachel holds a degree in History and brings a strong commitment to inclusion, safeguarding and improving outcomes for vulnerable people. She is an active member of the Trust’s Involvement Bank and has contributed to initiatives that strengthen patient voice and experience.

She has held a range of roles supporting people with learning disabilities and epilepsy, including working as a Personal Assistant and contributing to national conversations on discrimination in health and social care. She has also been involved as a writer, speaker and consultant for the ‘Hearing the Voice’ project, an interdisciplinary study exploring voice hearing.

Rachel has experience in leadership and advocacy, including serving as Women and Non Binary Officer at the Students’ Union at King’s College, Cambridge, where she organised and chaired panel discussions on learning disabilities and discrimination. She has also held safeguarding roles within the Methodist Church in the North East.

She brings a strong focus on lived experience, inclusion and safeguarding to her role, helping to ensure services are shaped around the needs of patients and communities.

Non-Executive Director (non-voting): Richard Lee

Appointed December 8, 2025

Richard brings a combination of lived experience, strategic governance insight and digital innovation expertise to support the Trust’s long term transformation and oversight. He has held a range of non executive and advisory roles across health, policing, education and social justice.

He has experience working within regulated environments and in areas including digital transformation, financial governance and providing constructive challenge at board level.

Richard has also contributed to the Trust as a Lived Experience and Involvement Advisory Member, supporting policy development, digital strategy and improvements to patient experience.

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/ 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

Meeting papers