Richard Mountford

Director of Communications and Community Engagement, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL)

Richard is an experienced communications leader with expertise and academic qualifications in public relations, business and reputation management. He has worked across both provider and commissioner organisations and now operates at board level in the NHS.

Richard is currently Director of Communications and Community Engagement at Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL), where he leads strategic communications and engagement to support staff, patients, and the wider community.

Alongside his Trust role, Richard plays a national leadership role as Co-Chair of the Monitoring and Evaluation working group for the NHS Communications AI Network. In this capacity, he is helping to shape how communications professionals across the NHS can build confidence and capability in using AI responsibly. His focus is on ensuring AI tools are applied in ways that improve transparency, sharpen insights, and enhance public engagement, while always safeguarding trust and inclusivity.