Our people

Working together, we are uniquely placed to bring together, support and speak for leaders and organisations across the sector.

The NHS Confederation is governed by a board of trustees and is subject to the regulations of both the Charity Commission and Companies House.

Many of our membership networks and country offices also have advisory boards of members who guide and inform our work for Wales and Northern Ireland and specific sectors in England. These are outlined in the networks and countries section of the website.

All of the trustees, with the exception of the board's Chair, which is a part-time remunerated post, are voluntary.

Our executive team are responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation.

Meet our board of trustees

Victor Adebowale CBE

Chair

Victor became chair of the NHS Confederation in April 2020. Before this, he was chief executive of Turning Point, a social enterprise.

'Foluke Ajayi

Vice-chair, NHS Confederation, and CEO, Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.

'Foluke Ajayi is vice-chair of the NHS Confederation and chief executive of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust.

Dame Jackie Daniel

Former Chief Executive, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust

Dame Jackie began her NHS career as a nurse before moving into management, and has been a chief executive officer for 20 years.

Paul Davies

Trustee and Chair of the Finance and Operations Committee

Paul Davies is a Chartered Accountant with a wealth of experience at director level in financial and operational roles across the financial services.

Dr Peta Foxall CBE DL

Senior Independent Trustee

Peta is committed to public service and has extensive experience of leading and working in multi-disciplinary teams within the NHS.

Dame Marie Gabriel

Trustee and Chair, NHS Race and Health Observatory

With almost 20 years of NHS Board experience, Marie is currently the Independent Chair Designate of the North East London Integrated Care System,

Prof Joe Harrison CBE

Trustee and Chief Executive, Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Professor Joe Harrison CBE has been an NHS acute hospital Chief Executive for over ten years.

Jonathan Morgan

Trustee representative for Wales

Jonathan Morgan has spent the past 12 years working across health, social care, and housing in a variety of senior and non-executive roles.

Valerie Morton

Trustee and Chair of the Remuneration Committee

Valerie joined the Confederation in Summer 2021 as Trustee and Chair of the Remuneration Committee.

Dr Pramit Patel

Trustee and GP Clinical Director, Care Collaborative PCN

Pramit is a GP partner at Greystone House Surgery, a 15,000-patient practice within a three-practice PCN.

Jonathan Patton

Trustee representing Northern Ireland

Jonathan Patton is the Chair of NICON and holds a range of board positions including; Chair of the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust.

Nanda Ratnavel

Trustee and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee

Nanda has spent most of his working career within finance in healthcare environments and joins us as Trustee and Chair of Audit and Risk Committee.

Emma Woollett

Independent Trustee and Chair of the NHS Confederation Services Subsidiary Board

Emma was Chair of the Swansea Bay University Health Board and has held exec, non-exec and advisory positions across both private and public sector.

Meet our executives

Matthew Taylor

Chief Executive

Matthew joined the NHS Confederation as Chief Executive in June 2021.

Danny Mortimer

Chief Executive, NHS Employers, Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation

Danny is the deputy chief executive of the NHS Confederation and chief executive of NHS Employers.

Joan Saddler OBE

Director of Partnerships and Equality, NHS Confederation

Joan leads work around inclusive engagement and equality and diversity.

Daniel Reynolds

Director of Communications

A former journalist and now communications director with over 20 years’ experience of working in high-profile national organisations.

Dr Layla McCay

Director of Policy, NHS Confederation

Dr Layla McCay is the NHS Confederation's director of policy and executive lead of the Health and Care LGBTQ+ Leaders Network.

Marie Pritchard

Director of People and Governance

Marie joined the NHS Confederation in August 2012 and took up the role of Director of People and Governance in July 2021.

Nikki Barraclough

Director of Finance and IT

Nikki has 20 years of experience in charity and public sector environments.

John O’Brien

Commercial Director

John joined in November 2019 as commercial director. He is also project director of NHS ConfedExpo, our new joint event with NHS England..

Rory Deighton

Director, Acute Network

Rory is our director of acute, emergency and community care, leading the Acute Network.

Ruth Rankine

Director, Primary Care Network

Ruth is our director of primary care, leading the Primary Care Network.

Rebecca Gray

Director, Mental Health Network

Rebecca Gray is director of our Mental Health Network.

Heather Moorhead

Director, Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care

Heather Moorhead was appointed Director of the Northern Ireland Confederation in May 2010.

Darren Hughes

Director, Welsh NHS Confederation

Darren has been director of The Welsh NHS Confederation since August 2019.

Sarah Walter

Director, ICS Network

Sarah has a background in health policy, working at the Department of Health and NHS England before joining the NHS Confederation in 2012.

The NHS Confederation's Board of Trustees and Executive Team are supported by Convene, a paperless digital board portal that facilitates secure paperless Board and Committee meetings.

Meet our country office executives

Darren Hughes

Director, Welsh NHS Confederation

Darren has been director of The Welsh NHS Confederation since August 2019.

Heather Moorhead

Director, Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care

Heather Moorhead was appointed Director of the Northern Ireland Confederation in May 2010.

Nesta Lloyd-Jones

Assistant Director, Welsh NHS Confederation

Nesta has over ten years’ experience working in policy and public affairs in Wales and is currently assistant director of the Welsh NHS Confederation.