Our Council of Governors, which is chaired by the Trust Chair, is made up of 25 elected governors from members of staff and the public, and six appointed governors from partner organisations representing our key stakeholders.
The Council of Governors is a valued and effective body, advising the Trust on issues that are important to our patients, members and the wider community. The Council works with the Trust to ensure it provides the highest quality services for our patients.
The Council of Governors is not responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation but works with the Board of Directors to influence the Trust’s future plans, ensuring that the voice of members and partners help inform the Trust’s decision-making. As such, the Council of Governors is an integral part of the Trust’s Governance Structure.
If you have any queries please contact the Corporate Governance Office on 0151 529 8692 or email: corporate.
Meet our Council of Governors
Karl Roberts, Lead Governor and Public Governor: City Region North
Karl was born to profoundly deaf parents and started his NHS career at Fazakerley and Walton Hospitals (Aintree University Hospital).
During the last seven years his family have received treatment and care at Aintree and The Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
Karl is a senior NHS leader and manager within NHS England and Improvement and Honorary Lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, Department of Nursing and Allied Health; he is passionate about the involvement of people and their experiences of care.
Karl says: “I am very proud to have been elected as a Public Governor and want to ensure that Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust continues to offer high standards of treatment and compassionate care for everyone in the city region, especially those who are seldom heard or involved in healthcare services.”
Term of Office
Public Governor Term of Office
Six years (expiry date 6 December 2025)
First appointed/elected 1 July 2020
Lead Governor Term of Office
1 year (expiry date 11 November 2023)
Robert Cannon, Public Governor: City Region North
Rob is local resident of Aintree University Hospital where he spent some time as a volunteer. He decided to become a public Governor in the hope that he could help to support staff and work towards improving patient care.
Rob took early retirement in 2016, after working for over 30 years in the public sector where he dealt directly with the public.
His work experience enabled him to develop good interpersonal skills to engage effectively with a variety community groups. Rob is a committed trade unionist and continues to be involved with Unison. He was also a founding member of the Aintree Tinnitus Support Group.
Rob says: “I believe in the NHS and I strongly oppose privatisation of public sector patient care. Patient dignity will always be my number one priority as a governor.”
Term of Office
Six years (expiry date 6 December 2025)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2019
Judith McGregor, MBE, Public Governor: City Region North
Judith is a resident of the Aintree area and a recently retired registered nurse with 45 years’ experience working in the NHS.
During her career, Judith worked both clinically and strategically and is now keen to share her knowledge, skills and experiences to support the Trust in delivering high class healthcare across Liverpool.
For the majority of Judith’s clinical career, she worked as a nurse in the Accident and Emergency Department of Aintree University Hospital, during which time she witnessed not only the healthcare challenges of the region, but also the difficulties faced in relation to staffing and resource allocation.
In 2003 Judith started working on a number of workforce projects aimed at developing and supporting new ways of working across the sector. Having reintroduced cadet nurses back to Aintree University Hospital, after a 30-year gap, she went on to set up and manage the Skills Academy for Health as a North West-wide project with the aim of addressing workforce shortages by widening access to those who wished to work within the sector and upskilling existing staff to support working initiatives and career progression. In light of this, and other projects including access to apprenticeships for staff and the introduction of Physician Associates as a new role in the sector, Judith was awarded an MBE for Services to Education in the NHS in 2016.
Judith says: “Working for the NHS was not only a career for me but also a great privilege and I welcome the opportunity as a governor to work alongside the Trust in delivering the care and compassion the people of Liverpool deserve.”
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date 2 December 2024)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2021
Andrew Moran, Public Governor: City Region North
Having spent many days visiting family at Aintree University Hospital and The Royal Liverpool University Hospital and seeing the excellent treatment and care that they received, Andrew wanted to do what he could to ensure that these high standards were maintained at Aintree, Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen hospitals for all.
Andrew is a research associate at the University of Liverpool and has a background in human and animal nutrition and gastrointestinal physiology. He is active in his local Labour Party branch and has previously been a Public Governor at the former Aintree University Hospital Foundation Trust and a volunteer in the Mersey Trains Customer Community.
Andrew says: “I am very proud to have been elected as a Public Governor and want to ensure that Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust continues to offer excellent treatment and care for everyone in the city region, especially in the turbulent times ahead.”
Term of Office
Six years (expiry date 6 December 2025)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2019
Ian Boycott-Samuels, Public Governor: City Region North
Now a retired nursing officer, Ian’s career and background has predominately been within the NHS, which has afforded many valuable experiences and opportunities. After training as a registered nurse in Liverpool, he has since held numerous management posts, in a variety of roles and settings including hospital manager. Additionally, Ian has experience within the private health care sector in management in which teaching was an integral component. He holds a teaching qualification in Adult Education with distinction.
In 2013 Ian was successfully elected as a Public Governor for the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, which he fulfilled for six years. During this time, he participated in the preparations for the Clatterbridge Hospital in Liverpool and was a member of the Patient Experience Committee.
Ian says: “I have always had the greatest respect for the NHS both as an employee and indeed as a patient, and I was keen to further develop my experience and knowledge as a Public Governor for the NHS. Having received such excellent care from NHS services across the city, including Liverpool University Hospitals, becoming a Public Governor is an opportunity to share my experiences and give back to the organisation. I feel extremely privileged to have been elected as a governor for Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and in representing the public.”
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date 2 December 2024)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2021
Dorcas Olanike Akeju, OBE, Public Governor: City Region South
Dorcas is a Registered Nurse and Midwife and she practised as a Midwife in Liverpool for over 30 years in both hospital and community settings. During her working life she developed different initiatives, such as setting up a special clinic for women whose first language was not English. She was passionate about her job and was one of the first midwives to implement Changing Childbirth.
She was a School Governor for seven years, Staff Governor at the Liverpool Women’s Hospital for three years and Shadow Governor at The Royal Liverpool University Hospital before she was elected to serve as a governor for Liverpool University Hospitals.
Dorcas has been a volunteer for more than 20 years, working for different organisations and setting up different charities. She has won many awards but her highlight was getting the OBE from the Queen for services to NHS and Communities.Dorcas says: “Being elected to serve for the Liverpool University Hospitals will be challenging but I believe I can use my developed knowledge to meet the challenges working with other governors to ensure good quality care for our patients. I also believe in Equality and Diversity and that a happy workforce will do their best for their patients.”
Term of Office
Six years (expiry date 6 December 2025)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2019
Ged Ashley, Public Governor: City Region South
As a service user at The Royal Liverpool University Hospital, Aintree University Hospital and Broadgreen Hospital over many years and seeing first-hand the fantastic work staff at all three hospitals carried out, Ged thought he should try and get involved to ensure patients continued to receive the best care available. He was a Shadow Governor at the Royal from 2011 and decided to stand again when the merger took place, and Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was formed.
He has served on a variety of committees over the last nine years, attended Board meetings and many training events to ensure he was able to represent the Trust’s members.
Ged worked in industry for nine years as an Electronics Engineer and prior to retiring, for almost 30 years, as a teacher and head teacher in various schools in Sefton and Liverpool. He is also a governor at a large primary school in Liverpool.
Ged says: “'I'm proud of the work I did as a governor at the Royal, Broadgreen and Dental Hospitals and am pleased to continue to apply my experiences to ensuring the service users of Merseyside and the wider area are well served, in these challenging times, by Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust.”
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date 2 December 2024)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2021
Fiona Perry, Public Governor: City Region South
Fiona started her career as a Registered Nurse specialising in Gynaecology, eventually she moved into community health, and began working as a Health Visitor in the Liverpool area. Fiona gained vital insight and experience in an NHS that she strongly believes in and opposes the privatisation of local healthcare. Fiona is passionate about ensuring equal healthcare provision for all.
After a period of working in healthcare research outside of the NHS, Fiona experienced a long episode of ill health, which gave her great insight as an NHS patient. She was able to utilise her skills to then forge a career in business. Following her retirement seven years ago she moved into Liverpool City centre.
Fiona is also a member of the Patient Participation Group (PPG) at her GP Practice, and volunteers at a local hospice.
Fiona says: “I feel privileged to have been appointed as a Public Governor, with the aim of representing the healthcare needs of the local community, including those less able to represent themselves. Striving to help Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust deliver outstanding healthcare for all residents, I would very much like to play a part in helping to shape healthcare in our city for the benefit of the local population.”
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date 6 December 2025)
First appointed/elected 7 December 2022
Sheila Coleman, Public Governor: City Region South
A Liverpudlian for nearly 50 years, Sheila has a good track record of both civic and communal service. She was appointed a Magistrate in 1983 and served on many court related committees. Sheila has always been a fervent advocate of the NHS. Most of her adult life has been spent working in some aspect of the service.
Sheila worked for 20 years in her husband's teaching and training practice. The role involved constant contact with patients, practice staff and consultant staff within the major Liverpool hospitals. She served as a Shadow Governor at The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust from 2011. In this role she regularly attended Trust Board meetings as an observer and participated in a number of Trust meetings, representing the views and interests of members of the public.
Sheila says: “I have developed good relationships with staff within the Trust and have welcomed the opportunity to bring forward the experience and training gained as a Shadow Governor into my role as a substantive governor for Liverpool University Hospitals.”
Term of Office
Six years (expiry date 6 December 2025)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2019
Tristram Brown, Public Governor: City Region South
Biography to follow.
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date 2 December 2024)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2021
Doreen Schlechte, Deputy Lead Governor and Public Governor: City Region South
Doreen’s background is in education, having been a teacher and lecturer in mathematics, with some years spent in training school governors on their role and responsibilities.
She first became involved with The Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals Trust following some poor experiences. During several years as a member of the Trust’s Patients’ Council, she worked with others to improve patient experience. In many ways this was successful, and a marked improvement was noticed. Over the years her personal experience changed greatly.
Following on from that work she became a Public Shadow Governor for the Royal. She has seen the efforts made to maximise the positive and minimise negative elements. As a Public Governor of Liverpool University Hospitals, she continues her efforts to help ensure its work will improve experiences of patients and staff.
Doreen said: “The hospitals might well experience challenges but the Trust remains in an exciting time, with the opportunity to draw on the best of the experiences of the two predecessor Trusts (Aintree University Hospitals NHS FT and Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen Hospitals Trust).”
Term of Office
Public Governor Term of Office
Six years (expiry date 2 December 2024)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2021
Jackie McNally – Public Governor North West England and North Wales
Jackie worked in the education sector for 32 years, working in schools in Wirral, Sefton and Lancashire. As a Headteacher for 23 years she has considerable experience in leading strategic school improvement, financial management, training & development and premise management. Jackie has supported other schools in order to raise standards and improve the quality of leadership and management and has worked as a lead school inspector.
She has considerable experience as a Designated Safeguarding Lead and has regularly worked with multi-agencies to ensure the best support for children and families. Since her retirement she has been working with schools in a number of local authorities, providing support and advice for senior leaders.
Jackie says, “It is a great privilege to be elected as a Public Governor and I look forward to making a positive contribution to the Trust’s vision of working together to support our communities to live healthier, happier and fairer lives.”
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date August 2025)First appointed/elected August 2022
Fiona Daglish, Staff Governor: Allied Health Professionals (AHP), Scientists and Technicians
Fiona stood to become a Staff Governor because she believes strongly in fair and equitable access to services for our wide and diverse community and wishes to ensure that all staff are supported during the evolution of the Trust and in the continuing development of high quality services.
Fiona completed her Physiotherapy degree at Manchester in 1990 and has since worked across the North West and at the Royal and Broadgreen sites since 1995.
She is currently a clinical specialist physiotherapist for Limb Reconstruction, an Advanced Therapy Practitioner role within the Trauma and Orthopaedic Specialty, based at Broadgreen Hospital. She is developing links across the Trauma Unit with therapy colleagues at Aintree and the Major Trauma Centre to continue improving quality services for these patients.
Fiona says: “It is an honour to represent and support all my AHP and scientist colleagues during this exciting period for our new organisation. I have extensive experience of governance within education and use this experience to ensure the staff are well represented.”
Term of Office
Six years (expiry date 6 December 2025)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2019
Noeleen Ryan, Staff Governor: Allied Health Professionals, Scientists and Technicians
Noeleen is from County Tipperary in southern Ireland. In 2005 she moved to the United Kingdom to complete her postgraduate training in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Chester. She completed her final placement in the Trust before commencing her first band 5 post in 2007.
She worked clinically for eight years, working in clinical areas including Haematology and Renal medicine. In 2014 she moved from clinical practice to education, working as a Practice Educator Facilitator (PEF). She currently is the Team Lead for the PEF service supporting undergraduate learners from a Nursing and Allied Health background who complete their clinical placements within the organisation. The team also assists staff who undertake post graduate training.
Noeleen is passionate about ensuring learners receive a high-quality placement experience, enabling them to gain robust skills and knowledge so they become competent practitioners of the future. Through investing in education for all healthcare professions, the Trust ensures the patients of the region will be cared for by a motivated, dynamic and skilled workforce for years to come.
Noleen says: “I feel privileged to represent the Allied Health workforce and will endeavour to ensure we have a voice and can contribute to decision making within the organisation. I am passionate about ensuring there is equity of resources, leadership and decision making opportunities from all professions.”
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date 2 December 2024)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2021
Dr Bhavna Kalpesh Pandya, Staff Governor: Medical Practitioners and Dentists
Bhavna has worked as a Consultant Nephrologist at Aintree University Hospital since 2005. She has led on several areas in the Trust and in the region to support implementation of Department of Health initiatives, such as for chronic kidney disease and as the Trust lead for long term conditions.
With her passion to provide support to kidney patients, she set up Aintree Kidney Patients Association as a charity. Ensuring patient safety and quality at every level is a passion of Bhavna’s. To help this, Bhavna obtained MSc in Quality Improvement in 2010.
She enjoys teaching and training and supports this as department education lead and Trust champion for less than full time trainees (LTFT). She is heavily involved in gender equality and diversity nationally in Renal Association, Medical Women’s Federation and as Trust Equality and Diversity team member. In the Renal Association, her work has been commended and has resulted in development of equality and diversity strategy in the Association. For the past 12 years she has organised World Kidney Day health check-ups in Aintree and Southport Hospital for hospital staff, and in Bootle Strand and Liverpool Central station for the public.
Bhavna says: “I am honoured and privileged to serve as a medical and dental Staff Governor as I believe that supporting professionals who support and care for our patients is equally important to provide the best patient care and accomplish our mission together.”
Term of Office
Six years (expiry date 6 December 2025)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2019
Vinita Mishra, Staff Governor: Medical Practitioners and Dentists
Vinita’s affiliation with Liverpool University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (LUHFT) has been for more than 10 years after she joined as a trainee at the Royal followed by becoming a consultant. During her tenure as a consultant, her role has evolved. As a clinical lead of the Integrated Planning Team, she helped with the strategic and influential delivery of the merger of two major NHS Trusts to create LUHFT. This added to her personal leadership development, where she observed senior leaders involved in bringing strategic changes into the organisation.
Her current role as a Clinical Director for her specialty has helped Vinita in understanding the team behaviours, inspiring the team members to bring innovation and creativity which adds value to the services, fostering a culture of openness and communication that promotes collective leadership in problem solving. Thus, creation of shared experiences among team members has an impact on commitment and teamwork. During her leadership journey, Vinita has become a reflective practitioner which has contributed to her growth as a strategic leader.
The three-year strategy of LUHFT is to develop a shared vision for “healthier, happier and fairer lives” for the population of Liverpool. The mission is to deliver exceptional health services through four strategic initiatives: “great care, great people, great research and innovation and great ambitions”.
Vinita says: “The aim for undertaking this prestigious position is to work as part of the Council of Governors in setting out a direction for LUHFT which succeeds in providing world class health care services to Liverpool.”
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date 2 December 2024)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2021
Kelly Hughes, Staff Governor: Nursing
Kelly started her nurse training in 1992 at The Royal Liverpool University Hospital and has stayed here to work ever since. Her career path has led her through ward nursing, ward management, undertaking a resuscitation officer role, and now to education where she is currently working as the Simulation Manager across the Aintree, Broadgreen and Royal sites.
She was previously a Shadow Staff Governor prior to the merger and enjoyed learning the details of governance that she wouldn’t have ordinarily become familiar with.
Kelly says: “As part of my role, I meet and work with many different staff groups and it is an honour to be representative of them as part of the Council of Governors.”
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date 2 December 2024)
First appointed/elected 1 March 2021
Andrew O'Sullivan, Staff Governor: Nursing
Andrew initially started her nursing career in Acute Surgery in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary (HPB)/Colorectal before moving into Gastroenterology and then becoming an Alcohol Specialist Nurse.
Andrew has always enjoyed working with others and understanding the function and layout of an organisation using a holistic perspective.
At university he undertook the role of Course Representative, during his three year tenure, as he felt it important to engage with peers and the environment as much as possible.
Andrew says: “I enjoy the work and challenges that being a Governor provides and I am keen to do my part in improving our fantastic Trust and representing members throughout the organisation.”
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date 2 December 2024)
First appointed/elected 15 February 2022
Christopher Ashton, Staff Governor: Other Non-clinical Staff
Christopher has worked in the NHS since he was 18, first starting out as a cleaner in community health. He has been working at the Trust for 10 years now and working within clinical administration. What drives him every day is improvement, for both staff and patients. Chris has never settled - he always looks to improve how we do things, to improve patient experience and to also play his part in our world class work force.
Chris stood to be Staff Governor to represent staff just like himself, those who can often got unnoticed, and to apply his passion for change and improvement for the benefit of the Trust.
Chris says: “I believe that each and every one of us are vital in playing our part in providing world class care for our patients. No matter what your role, our voices, passion and ideas are the foundation to making this Trust as good as it can be.”
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date 2 December 2024)
First appointed/elected 1 March 2021
Joanne Pepper, Staff Governor: Other Non-clinical Staff
Joanne’ s primary reason for becoming a Staff Governor is to give something back to the Trust and ensure staff are integral to the decisions made on services going forward.
With no formal qualifications, someone saw potential in Joanne and gave her a job in 1990. Computers had just arrived in the hospital and paper was to be a thing of the past!
Thirty years on, with a degree in Health Informatics, she hopes her skills will ensure innovation and technology is cohesive, helping staff to deliver the best care for patients in whatever role they do.
She says: “Everyone who works in the Trust is important in the patient journey.”
Term of Office
Six years (expiry date 6 December 2025)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2019
Professor Graham Kemp, University of Liverpool, Appointed Governor
Graham grew up in Essex, trained in medicine at Oxford, and after specialising in clinical biochemistry became a full-time medical academic researcher and teacher. He has spent nearly 25 years at the University of Liverpool, where he is a professor and a head of department, with particular responsibilities in research ethics, PhD training and clinical research.
Graham says: “The health of the public increasingly depends on high-quality clinical research, in which hospital trusts and universities both play a crucial role. Being a governor is a valuable opportunity to support that relationship.”
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date 2 December 2025)
First appointed/elected 2 December 2019
Dr Julie Williams, Liverpool John Moores University, Appointed Governor
Biography to follow.
Term of Office
Jacqueline Leigh, Edge Hill University, Appointed Governors
Biography to follow.
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date 6 December 2025)
First appointed/elected 7 December 2022
Liverpool City Council, Appointed Governor
Details of this seat will shortly follow.
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date July 2025)
First appointed/elected July 2022
James Hansen, Sefton Council, Appointed Governor
Biography to follow.
Term of Office
Three years (expiry date August 2025)
First appointed/elected August 2022
Cllr Denise Allen – Appointed Governor for Knowsley Council
Biography to follow.
