Meet our governors
Our council of governors is made up of service users, carers, staff and others. They hold the board and its decisions to account.
Staff Non-Clinical Governor
Gemma Miles
Appointed December 1, 2024
Partner Governor for Newcastle University
Andrew Kingston
Appointed December 1, 2024
Service user Governor, Adult Services
Kaye Totts
Appointed May 12, 2025
Public Governor, Northumberland
Serena Ayres, Shadow Governor
Public Governor, North Tyneside
Vacant
Service User Governor, Older People’s Services
Vacant
Service User Governor, Learning Disability Services
Vacant
Local Authority Governor, Northumberland County Council
Vacant
Local Authority Governor, Cumberland Council
Elaine Lynch
Appointed August 1, 2023
Clinical Staff Governor
Sinead McGowan
Appointed December 1, 2025
Public Governor, Cumbria North
Tom McLaughlan – Interim Lead Governor
Appointed December 1, 2024
Staff Clinical Governor
Sam Brass
Appointed December 1, 2025
Carer Governor, Adult Services
Vacant
Service User Governor – Children & Young People Services
Lauren Cook
Appointed December 1, 2025
Service User, Autism Services
Vacant
Staff Governor – Non-Clinical
Nicola Todhunter
Appointed December 1, 2025
Carer Governor Older Peoples Services
George Smith
Appointed December 1, 2025
Public Governor - Gateshead
Tom Bentley
Appointed December 1, 2025
Public Governor Sunderland
Rahul Bhugra
Appointed December 1, 2025
• Partner Governor for Sunderland University
Vacant
Public Governor, South Tyneside
Heather Lee
Appointed December 1, 2024
Medical Staff Governor
Dr Thomas Lewis
Appointed January 1, 2022
Staff Governor Non-Clinical
Emma Silver Price
Appointed January 1, 2023
Staff Governor Clinical
Doreen Chananda
Appointed January 1, 2023
Partner Governor for Newcastle City Council
Miriam Mafemba
Appointed May 1, 2023
Partner Governor for North Tyneside Council
Jane Shaw
Appointed July 1, 2023
Partner Governor for South Tyneside Council
Ruth Berkley
Appointed July 1, 2023
Partner Governor for Community and Voluntary Sector
Julia Clifford
Appointed June 1, 2023
Partner Governor for Cumbria University
Joy Duxbury
Appointed April 1, 2025
Service user Governor Neuro Disability Services
Russell Bowman
Appointed January 1, 2023
Partner Governor for Cumberland Council
Elaine Lynch
Appointed August 1, 2023
Carer Governor for Learning Disability Services
Rosie Lawrence
Appointed December 1, 2023
Carer Governor for Children and Young People’s Services
Shannon Fairhurst
Appointed December 1, 2023
Partner Governor for Community and Voluntary Sector
Bea Groves-McDaniel
Appointed December 19, 2023
Carer Governor, Adult Services
Anita Kniveton
Appointed December 1, 2024
Carer Governor, Neuro Disability Services
Neil Newman
Appointed December 1, 2024
Public Governor, Newcastle / Rest England/Wales
Mahdi Hassan
Appointed December 1, 2024
Governor for Adult Services
Tom Rebair
Appointed March 1, 2021
Carer Governor for Learning Disability Services
Fiona Regan
Appointed January 1, 2022
Partner Governor for Gateshead Council
Vacant Position