The purpose of the Trust Board is to govern effectively and in doing so build patient, public and stakeholder confidence that their health and healthcare is in safe hands.
This fundamental accountability to the public and stakeholders is delivered by building confidence:
In the quality and safety of health services
That resources are invested in a way that delivers optimal health outcomes
In the accessibility and responsiveness of health services
That patients and the public can help to shape health services to meet their needs
That public money is spent in a way that is fair, efficient, effective and economic
The Board should demonstrate leadership by undertaking three key roles:
Formulating strategy for the organisation
Ensuring accountability by:
Holding the organisation to account for the delivery of the strategy
By being accountable for ensuring the organisation operates effectively and with openness, transparency and candour and by seeking assurance that systems of control are robust and reliable.
Shaping a healthy culture for the Board and the organisation.
Executive Directors
Executive Directors take the lead in developing strategic proposals, drawing on professional and clinical experience. They lead on the implementation of strategy within functional areas and manage performance within their area.
Executive Directors will also actively support and promote a positive culture for the organisation and reflect this in their own behaviour and nurture good leadership at all levels. They will take principle responsibility for providing accurate, timely and clear information to the board and lead on engagement with specific internal or external stakeholder groups.
Responsibilities
Glen is the Foundation Group Chief Executive which includes George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, Wye Valley NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust.
There are two Acting Chief Executives within the Foundation Group, one for Herefordshire and Worcestershire and one for Warwickshire.
Glen has a national role in the NHS Transformation Executive Team as Financial Reset and Accountability Director.
Voting board member
Biography
Glen began his NHS career in 1983 as a finance trainee, qualifying as a Chartered Public Finance Accountant in 1990. After reaching the position of Director of Finance for South Warwickshire Mental Health Services NHS Trust, he moved into an acute operational role when he became Director of Operations for the Surgical Division of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust.
In 2003 he was appointed as Deputy Chief Executive to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and joined South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust in 2006, initially as interim Chief Executive and then substantively in 2008. Following the proposal for George Eliot Hospital to join the Foundation Group of Hospitals comprising South Warwickshire NHS Foundation trust and Wye Valley NHS Trust, Glen was appointed as Chief Executive at George Eliot Hospital in July 2018.
Adam is the Acting Chief Executive for George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust (appointed April 1 2025).
The Acting Chief Executive is the Accounting Officer of the Trust, taking overall responsibility for quality, performance, strategy and financial stewardship. Adam leads the Executive Team and the role encompasses the development and implementation of the Trust strategy and objectives, engagement with staff and stakeholders and embedding partnerships with key stakeholders to the organisation.
GEH is part of a Foundation Group of hospitals along with South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust, Wye Valley NHS Trust (WVT) and Worcester Acute Hospital NHS Trust (WAHT). Adam is the Acting Chief Executive for SWFT and GEH, while Glen Burley undertakes an interim role in the national NHS England executive team.
Voting Board member
Biography
Adam started his career within the NHS in Birmingham, 2004 and has had several roles leading service improvement and digital development across a number of healthcare settings. Adam is experienced leading complex partnerships, and during his time in the NHS has led collaborations of partners across acute, mental health and maternity services.
Adam joined South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust in 2018, leading Digital Transformation and progressed to the role of Chief Digital & Technology Officer. In 2021 Adam led the establishment of Innovate Healthcare Services Ltd, a subsidiary of the Trust delivering Information Technology, Information Governance and Digital Transformation to the Trust, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Primary Care Services across Warwickshire. Adam was appointed Chief Executive of the company following its formation.
Adam is passionate about clinically led transformation, digital and equality. He lives in South Birmingham with his partner and dogs.
Responsibilities
Dr Najam Rashid is the Chief Medical Officer for George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust's single joint Executive Team.
As Chief Medical Officer Dr Rashid's main responsibilities are leading the medical workforce and acts as the organisation’s Caldicott Guardian. He is the joint lead for quality and safety, as well as the responsible officer for medical revalidation, end of life care, clinical audit, medical education and training.
Voting Board member
Biography
Dr Rashid, was appointed Chief Medical Officer for George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust in March 2023. In 2025, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust implemented a joint single Board, with Dr Rashid appointed as Chief Medical Officer.
Fiona is the Chief Nursing Officer for George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust's joint Executive Team.
As Chief Nursing Officer, Fiona provides professional leadership for Nursing Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals. She is also the DIPC (Director of Infection Prevention and Control).
Fiona is also responsible for adult and children safeguarding, patient experience, patient safety, clinical governance.
Voting Board member
Biography
Fiona Burton commenced in post as Chief Nursing Officer at SWFT in 2017, having worked within the Trust since 2013. Fiona has worked in the health service for 34 years, having initially worked as a Healthcare Assistant before commencing her registered nurse training in 1990. Since finishing her nurse training, Fiona continued her study to achieve a first class BSc (hons) and an MSc and was awarded an Honorary DSc in early 2022.
Fiona has a wealth of experience in nursing and professional practice having worked in a number of large NHS Trusts across the midlands and a short period of time in NHSE.
Responsibilities
Harkamal is the Chief Operating Officer for George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust's joint Executive Team..
Harkamal oversees the daily operational delivery of the hospital, out of hospital and children, young people and family services. As part of this she is responsible for co-ordinating and delivering performance against national and local clinical operational and performance standards.
Harkamal plays a key role in integration with the wider health and social care system.
The Chief Operating Officer also leads on Emergency Planning and Operational Programme Management.
Voting Board member
Biography
Harkamal Joined South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust in 2019 as the Associate Director of Operations for the Elective Division / Deputy Director of Operations. In October 2021, she was appointed to the role of Director of Operations.
Beginning her career as part of the NHS Management Training Scheme Harkamal has an MSc in Health & Public Leadership. Prior to joining the Trust, Harkamal has held a number of operational roles across the NHS after successfully completing the NHS Graduate Management Programme in 2010.
Responsibilities
Sophie is the Chief Strategy Officer for for George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust's joint Executive Team.
As Chief Strategy Officer, Sophie is responsible for corporate strategy, service improvement and transformation, development of lead provider model, business development, communications and engagement and fundraising. In addition, Sophie also leads the organisations capital and estates programme, with responsibility for sustainability and fire management.
Biography
Sophie joined South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust in 2008 in a lead communications role. In 2014 Sophie was appointed as Associate Director of Marketing and Communications, leading the commercial bids for the organisation, before being appointed Chief Strategy Officer at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust (2018). In 2025, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust implemented a joint single Board, with Sophie appointed as Chief Strategy Officer.
Before joining the Trust, Sophie held a number of positions nationally in the private sector in Sales and Marketing as well as working in Marketing Development at Worcestershire County Council.
Responsibilities
Ashi is the Chief People Officer for George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust's joint Executive Team.
As Chief People Officer, Ashi, oversees the development and delivery of the workforce strategy and implementation plans and acts as the Board’s Expert Advisor on Human Resources, Employment Tribunal activity, Organisational Development and education and training. This includes the provision of a strategic and professional advisory service to the Trust in respect of people management, staff experience, and engagement, and development and demonstration of the Trust’s value pledges at all times. In addition the role covers workforce health and wellbeing, occupational health, equality and diversity, employment legislation and medical staffing.
The Chief People Officer also acts as the Executive Lead for Freedom to Speak Up and is the Chief Knowledge Officer for the Trust.
Non-voting Board member.
Biography
In August 2025, Ashi joined George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust from the Black Country Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, bringing with her a wealth of experience in HR, workforce, and organisational development. She has an extensive 19-year career working in the NHS across commissioning and Mental Health and Learning Disability services.
Ashi is passionate about ensuring our staff have the right skills and resources to perform their roles to the best of their abilities and that their health and wellbeing is looked after and their voice heard.
Robin is the Chief Digital Officer for for George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust's joint Executive Team.
Biography
Robin started his career in the NHS in 1996, qualifying with a BSc Hons Degree in Nursing with Registered Nurse qualification from the University of Hertfordshire.
He has worked in various ward based clinical nursing roles, culminating as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Vascular Studies.
Robin joined the NHS Graduate Financial Management Training Scheme and qualified as a Management Accountant, as a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), in 2002.
He has since gained valuable experience in various managerial roles, including group manager to Director of Operations of two divisions at University Hospital Birmingham Foundation Trust from 2000 to 2014 and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, until 2017. He also spent a year working with Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group as Director of Urgent Care.
Robin then held the role of Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, from 2018 to April 2022 before joining George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust as Chief Operating Officer.
In 2025, George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust implemented a joint single Board, with Robin appointed as Chief Digital Officer.
Responsibilities
Ravi is the Interim Chief Finance Officer for George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust.
As Interim Chief Finance Officer, Ravi is responsible for the development of the Trust’s financial strategy, overseeing all financial planning and management including charitable funds. She also oversees the Trust’s Procurement and Information functions.
Voting Board member
Ravi is also a Non-Executive Director of SWFT Clinical Services Limited.
Biography
Ravi joined the South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust in 2008 and has held a variety of finance posts, the last being Deputy Director of Finance, before being appointed as Interim Chief Finance Officer for George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust's joint Executive Team in 2025.
Ravi began her public sector career in 1993 with the Audit Commission and before joining the Trust held various finance and commissioning roles at other NHS organisations. Ravi graduated with a BA (Hons) Public Administration and has an MSc in Healthcare Leadership and is a fellow Chartered Certified Accountant.
Chairman & Non-Executive Directors
Non-executive directors bring independency, external perspectives, skills and challenge to strategy development. They hold the executive team to account for the delivery of strategy and offer purposeful, constructive scrutiny and challenges. They also act as chairs and participants of key committees that support accountability.
Non-executive directors actively support and promote a healthy culture for the organisation and reflect this in their own behaviour and provide visible leadership in developing a healthy culture so that staff believe they provide a safe point of access to the board for raising concerns. They also satisfy themselves of the integrity of financial and quality intelligence including getting out and about, observing and talking to patients and staff. They ensure the board acts in the best interests of patients and the public.
Responsibilities
Russell Hardy MBE is the Chairman of George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust. He started his role on 1 April 2019.
Biography
Russell joins the Trust alongside his role as chairman of the two other hospitals in the Foundation Group of which George Eliot Hospital is a member – South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust and Wye Valley NHS Trust.
He brings a wealth of experience from working in both NHS trusts and private companies, with a firm understanding of working in large organisations and overseeing strategic developments.
Russell was awarded an MBE in June 2025 for his outstanding service to the NHS and to Charity
Contact details
Telephone: 02476 351351
Responsibilities
Simone Jordan joined George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust in November 2018. Simone is Audit Committee Chair and a member of the Trust’s Appointments and Remuneration Committee and Charity Trustee.
Biography
Having worked at board level for over 20 years, most recently as an Associate Non-Executive Director for the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Birmingham. she has significant leadership and organisation development expertise within the NHS. Her experience also spans the service and hospitality sectors, manufacturing, health, higher education and other public sector organisations.
Simone has considerable leadership experience and is also a qualified coach, mentor and facilitator with a comprehensive grasp of organisational dynamics, governance and accountability frameworks.
She has led numerous major cultural and organisation change programmes across multiple organisations and has shown tremendous aptitude for building and developing teams and knowledge of the healthcare system.
Contact details
Telephone: 02476 351351
Responsibilities
Sarah joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in July 2022. She is Vice Chair for the Trust since Many 2025. She is Quality Assurance Committee Chair and the Non-Executive lead for Patient Experience, End of Life Care and Doctors Disciplinary. Sarah is a member of the Trust’s Appointments and Remuneration Committee, Foundation Group Strategy Committee and Charity Trustee. Sarah is also the Chair of the Organ Donation Committee. Sarah is also the NED champion for Emergency Department Safety.
Biography
Sarah is a GP who qualified from Imperial College London in 1999 and after a brief career in General Surgery has been a GP since 2005 working in Coventry since 2014 where she lives with her vicar husband and 3 children. She is passionate about understanding the wider determinants of health and reducing health inequalities and shares the EXCEL values of the George Eliot.
Sarah had been the Chair of the Coventry and Warwickshire CCG (and formerly of Warwickshire North, Coventry and Rugby CCG) and continues as Deputy Chair of the Marmot Partnership and is a Non-Executive Member of Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB.
Responsibilities
Umar joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in July 2022. He is the Non-Executive Director lead for Freedom to Speak Up. Umar is a member of Audit Committee, Appointments and Remuneration Committee and Charity Trustee. He is also non-executive lead for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. He is Senior Independent Director (SID) since May 2025
Biography
Umar is the Managing Partner and founder of Zebra Associates. He has experience of working in several sectors and has held senior executive roles in Higher Education, Social enterprise, NHS, Fire & Rescue Service, Policing and the Civil Service where he was an advisor in private office to the Home Secretary and senior civil servants. He has led national and international projects on culture change, leadership and Inclusion, People development strategies and supported on complex employee relations issues.
Umar is also an accomplished conference speaker on the national and international circuit. He has keynoted at conferences in UK, Turkey, USA, Canada, Jamaica, Denmark, India and many others. He has also held prestigious board positions as a Non-Executive Director on several national and local Boards such as Association of Commonwealth Universities HR Committee, George Elliot Hospital NHS Trust, Healthwatch England and Sheffield Theatres Trust.
Responsibilities
Jackie joined the Board as an Associate Non-Executive Director in September 2023, becoming a Non-Executive Director in May 2025. Jackie is the Non-Executive Director lead for Perinatal care. She is a member of Audit Committee, Quality Assurance Committee and Appointments and Remuneration Committee and also Charity Trustee Chair.
Biography
Jackie is a qualified Chartered Accountant (ACA) with over thirty-five years’ experience working at senior manager and director level in the health, housing, adult social care, central government, local government, private and not for profit sectors.
She is also currently a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of Tuntum Housing Association.
Jackie brings extensive knowledge of finance and corporate governance to the role and holds an Advanced Corporate Governance Certificate. She is committed to seeing how diversity can be improved and to helping to remove health inequalities for the communities served by the Trust.
Responsibilities
Rosie joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in July 2022. She is the Non-Executive Director lead for Research and Development, Wellbeing Guardian and Volunteering and Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response. Rosie is a member of the Quality Assurance Committee and Appointments and Remuneration Committee and also attends Charity Trustee.
Biography
Professor Rosie Kneafsey is the Director for the Centre for Healthcare Research and also Strategic lead for knowledge and engagement for the Centre for Care Excellence.
Prior to this she was the Head of School, for Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Coventry University. Her career began as a registered nurse and she has worked as a researcher and teacher during her time at both Salford University and Birmingham University, joining Coventry University in 2011.
In 2012 Rosie completed her PhD which examined the nursing contribution to hospitalised older adults’ mobility rehabilitation.
She is currently engaged in research relating to nursing, midwifery and education.
Responsibilities
Paul initially joined the Board as an Associate Non-Executive Director in September 2023, he assumed the position as a Non-Executive Director in September 2025. He’s a member of Audit Committee and Appointments and Remuneration Committee and also attends Charity Trustee. He is Non-Executive Director lead for Security Management. Paul is also non-executive lead for Digital and Data Forum with Electronic Patient Records (EPR) focus.
Biography
Paul has worked within and alongside the NHS for over three decades providing expert audit and consultancy services. He has previously held the role as a Director at PWC and has also ran a leading internal audit and consultancy organisation across the region.
Paul is a qualitied accountant who is an expert in risk management, governance and internal control covering providing audit and consultancy services to the NHS, public and private sectors alongside housing and third sector organisations.
Paul brings extensive knowledge and experience of the operation and management of boards and audit committees to ensure that Trusts are overseen and held to account appropriately.
Trust Secretary
Sarah Collett is the Trust Secretary for George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust.
The Trust Secretary is responsible for providing expert advice and support to the Chief Executive, Trust Chair and Trust Board on all matters relating to the Trust’s corporate governance responsibilities.
