Who our governors are

Health management rightly heads the public agenda, and I want to help in guiding the Trust towards delivering a world-class health service. My senior management background entailing public accountability and achieving statutory performance targets enables me to offer unique oversight as a Governor.

My experience as a patient, at one time seriously ill, has given me insight into the Trust's 'front line', furthering my desire to be involved in guiding and developing its future. Over many years I have seen first-hand how the absence of adequate health services can negatively impact on communities and the social environment. I want to help in ensuring against just that.

I am a long-time supporter of Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals. 2 of my children are patients at Royal Brompton. My eldest child had many major heart operations and was in intensive care for almost a year.

My family has continued its relationship with the hospital, establishing a charity to fund research and extra training for nurses. My husband is chairman of the Brompton Fountain.

I am an active campaigner in Kensington and Chelsea, having served as a local councillor, a Member of the Greater London Authority and the MP for Kensington.

As a patient, volunteer, and emergency service partner to the Trust, I hope to draw on the experience of helping to coordinate the Metropolitan Police's response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Having worked alongside paramedics on emergency response, I advised on major incidents before investigating serious and complex crime.

I also draw on experience of developing biotechnology. After losing my dad to Parkinson's disease, I identified sufferers would appear distant when they would laugh and smile. I developed a tool that uses facial recognition to diagnose and monitor the condition.

I stood for election because I have benefited from unparalleled support, from the care given to my dad to the emergency operation I successfully overcame, it is an enormous privilege to become a governor. I want to tackle staff burnout, cancelled elective surgeries, comorbidities left untreated, and the prevalence of long-COVID. I will champion the importance of patient voice and staff wellbeing as well as the opportunities afforded by technology, service interoperability, and supported outreach.

I am a lawyer with over 20 years' experience of advocacy working for a positive change with national governments (in the UK and internationally), NGOs, and the private and public sectors. I have represented a wide range of individuals and groups. I advise extensively on strategic planning and corporate governance issues through my work and as a trustee advocating for rare diseases, disability awareness, medical research grants, designated specialist nurses and the provision of key medical services. I have many years of board level experience including chairing committees, project managing, as well as designing and leading innovative programmes for sustainable positive outcomes.

I have been a lung patient at Royal Brompton for many years, developing a strong affinity with the hospital through receiving excellent care. I am an active member of the patient and public engagement group, getting involved in major patient programmes for improved services, writing the terms of reference for key groups and volunteering for the peer leadership development programme. Through this, I maintain close links with other patients and keep up to date with current issues. I understand the needs of vulnerable patients and end of life issues from caring for my father, an Alzheimer's and cardiac patient.

My combined personal and professional experiences enable me to advocate passionately for the interests of patients at Royal Brompton and Harefield and to make sure that it remains a world-class leading centre of excellence. 

I was elected as a patient Governor in July 2022 having been a long term patient of the dental department. I am a recently retired consultant physician.

I was a medical student at Guy’s Hospital and then trained at Guy’s and Thomas’ hospitals in kidney and acute medicine. I became a consultant initially in Bristol then Norwich with half my time in medical education.

Outside of my clinical work I have been:

• a Care Quality Commission inspector of acute hospitals
• a commissioner of the 3 Norfolk hospitals with the Norfolk and Waveney CCG.

Over the years I have been convinced that it is failure of communication between clinicians and patients, clinician to clinician, and to hospital managers that can lead to dissatisfaction and episodes of poor care. Now despite many years in the NHS I am still learning how a large organisation such a Guy’s and Thomas’ Hospital and now merged with the Royal Brompton works and how difficult it can be to achieve good clinical outcomes.

As a governor I hope that I have been able to identify or respond to areas of concern and when necessary, lead to improve the whole experience for patients and all the staff who work here.

I've worked in communications for the NHS and healthcare charities for over a decade, and more recently, have become a patient at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.

My time working in the healthcare and disability sectors has shown me the importance of patient voice, inclusion and making sure that services are produced with us rather than for us.

Outside of my career, I have also:

• acted as a mentor
• volunteered for a charity helpline
• fundraised for medical charities

It's an honour to serve as a patient governor, advocating for patients and their families and helping to secure change for the better.

I trained in Canada as an airline pilot and have had a successful career.

I resigned a few years ago to care for my loved ones. I continue to devote my time to caring for my elderly grandmother while working part-time in public relations for a global luxury fashion house.

My grandmother has been a cardiac patient at Royal Brompton hospital for several years. I have accompanied her to all of her appointments.

I also help my local community, Harrow, and take pride in being the local carer's 'champion'. I help carers to contact the local authority, and deliver information from the local authority to carers.

I am a magistrate and I have recently completed a master's in middle east politics and conflict, as well as a master of law (LLM) in constitutional law, politics and theory.

I hope to be of service to patients of the Trust.

As a former patient of Guy's and St Thomas', following an admission to intensive care (ICU) and having ECMO treatment, I am very grateful to everyone who helped save my life and provide me with the incredibly fortunate life I now live today. As such, it is a great privilege to be a governor.

I am an aspiring clinical psychologist, with an interest and academic background in psychology. Alongside this, I have gained extensive experience in the mental health sector, from inpatient units and community environments, to GP surgeries and charity services, together with wider research experience. 

I continue to liaise with the ICU team to provide my insights and experiences from my time in ICU and post-ICU. I am committed to improving inpatient services, as well as outpatient care. Fundamentally, I wish to contribute to the very organisation that saved my life.

The Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust has given me excellent care. As a governor I hope that my strong financial background and governance experience will help me to deliver significant benefits for the patient community.

I qualified as a chartered accountant in Price Waterhouse's audit practice at London Bridge, working in audit and the consultancy divisions. I then joined Marks and Spencer plc's finance function, progressing to the head of finance for the menswear group.

More recently I served as Chairperson of Drapers' Academy in Romford, working to secure better outcomes for pupils and staff. 

Currently, I am an Alms House Visitor in Greenwich, listening to residents to understand their health and accommodation concerns. I am also a volunteer with my local youth justice service.

I will work hard to support the Trust to provide timely, high quality, inclusive and compassionate care to patients. 

After a career of 47 years as a business psychologist and HR executive, I retired at the end of 2023. St Thomas' Hospital has been a part of my life since I was born at the Lambeth Hospital (then in Kennington) to parents who both trained at St Thomas', as a doctor and as a nurse. 

Growing up in a medical family has given me a lifetime commitment to the NHS. I have lived in Lambeth for over 40 years. My 3 children (and 1 grandchild) were born at St Thomas' and all have received wonderful care there for chronic complaints. In the last 2 years I have been a patient at both Guy's and St Thomas'. 

From 1990 to 1996, I was a non-executive member of the Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster Family Health Services Authority where I learnt to appreciate the importance of listening to the local community, collectively and individually. 

I trained as an occupational psychologist, seeking to apply psychology to the world of work to the benefit of organisations and their people. Professionally, I spent 10 years as the HR Director of 2 commercial organisations. For the last 25 years of my career, I was a Director of a business psychology consulting firm. 

In my practice, I specialised in executive assessment and coaching, team and leadership development, board effectiveness, talent strategy and organisational development. As a member of the Council of Governors, I want to act as a patient advocate, understanding the health needs of our communities and influencing the development and delivery of medical treatment and care to those communities.

I received care as a patient at Royal Brompton and Harefield hospitals.

As a governor, I bring the skills as a committee member (I chaired 2 select committees in the House of Commons over a period of 14 years), and my experience of working with successive governments.

I am familiar with the Department of Health and Social Care and have a good idea of how it operates. As the former finance minister in Northern Ireland, I was responsible for a budget of around £8 billion, so understand how budgets work and how best to use scarce resources.

Having started my career in pharmaceutical market research, I have long had a keen interest in the healthcare system, with a particular focus on elderly medicine and children's services.  

In recent years I have had increasing personal experiences of the practices, decisions and procedures of the Trust. I am  eager to use my skills and experiences to be an effective voice for patient carers, strengthen ties with the local community and help the Trust to deliver its vision.

I am passionate about health because it is central to our quality of life. A person's health can make them vulnerable, regardless of their background and social status.

In an uncertain world the opportunity to contribute and collaborate as part of a board of governors is a humbling privilege.

I have a wide range of professional experience in international charitable, private and public sectors. My roles have included:

• corporate ethicist
• researcher
• medical philosopher
• academic consultant
• investments strategist
• futurist
• race equality advocate
• published author

I have over 25 years' experience in executive senior roles. 

I have served on a range of boards. This includes a full elected trusteeship for the National Council of Voluntary Organisations from 2000 to 2006.

I have been a member of the Institute of Directors for over 20 years.

I was born in Essex and came to London to study economics. After graduating I worked as a statistician and then a marketing manager in the private sector.

At 30 I moved into education and training, starting at Brixton College and Southwark College. I then became principal at Southall College and South London College.

After this I was an education consultant, leading teams across the country.

I have volunteered in a number of organisations, including as a non-executive director of St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

I have lived in Lambeth for nearly 50 years and am married with 2 grown up children and 2 grandchildren.

I draw on my experience of working in the pharmaceutical industry as well from being a patient and volunteer to the Trust.

I hope to also bring a new perspective from my experience of working as a vaccinator with St John Ambulance during the pandemic.

I have personal experience of cancelled elective surgeries due to the pandemic, as well as first-hand experience of the care given to various family members.

With this experience, I hope to represent the younger generation's voice to the Board of Governors and champion the implementation of technology and innovation.

I have lived in Kensington and Chelsea for over 30 years, I'm Chair of governors at a local primary school and a member of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea's Schools Forum.

I'm a volunteer at the Royal Brompton Hospital. Professionally I am a real estate solicitor, retiring in September 2022.

I became a governor for Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust because I want to give something back to the NHS. In the last few years my partner and my brother have received amazing and dedicated treatment at NHS hospitals for cancer, both in London and the north east.

I am a public sector consultant and local resident. Walking past St Thomas' Hospital on my way to work, I know the value Guy's and St Thomas' provides to the community.

I have a lot of experience holding senior leadership to account, both as a union representative and as a school governor, where I became Chair of the Business and Finance Committee. I am a mental health first aider, and I will push for youth and mental health services to grow. I have been a blood donor since I was 18. I volunteered with St John Ambulance during COVID-19 to support the vaccination effort.

Guy's and St Thomas' has done a lot for my family, so I want to give something back. I am committed to increasing transparency of decision-making, increasing community services delivered, and increasing the number of active members.

I was born and educated in Glasgow, but have lived in Streatham, London since 1985.

I started work as a motor mechanic but after 10 years I returned to full time education at Jordanhill College where I qualified in community education.

After working in youth and community work and community development for several years I moved to adult social care management, until I retired in 2019. I have extensive experience in developing and delivering services to adults with learning disabilities and supporting carers.

I am a former councillor on Lambeth Council (2014 to 2018) and was a member of a number of health related committees.

I have always been active in my local community and am currently:

• chair of my local GP PPG
• a member of the PCN Patient Group
• chair of the local Safer Neighbourhood Panel

I am married and both our children were born at St Thomas' Hospital.

I have a background in internal medicine and public health. I am interested in health systems and digital health innovations, and I'm the co-chair of the Faculty of Public Health's AI and Digital Health Special Interest Group through the FPH. 

I have 10 years experience working in the NHS and have also worked in a variety of academic, governmental and international organisations including:

• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
• Department of Health and Social Care
• UK Health Security Agency
• World Health Organisation
• European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
• Imperial College London
• London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

For over 10 years I've had the privilege of serving as an NHS doctor. Not only do I work in this vibrant community as a general practitioner, my family and I rely on the outstanding services provided by Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust.

My passion for family medicine goes beyond my clinical role. I've held leadership positions advocating for innovative global best practices in family medicine. I nurture the next generation of medical professionals as a GP trainer and educator at King's College London, instilling values of compassion and excellence.

As an elected governor, I'm thrilled to help drive transformation through technology, foster innovation, improve population health, and ensure equitable access to quality care. In this role, I am committed to holding the Trust accountable, representing the views of patients, and upholding the highest standards of healthcare delivery.

I live in south east London, and represent the public on the Council of Governors.

My partner is a nurse. I have 3 daughters and 4 grandsons. I am a qualified general nurse and mental health nurse. For 40 years I worked in our local hospitals and community services, in clinical and support services. I have also worked at a national level with NHS Improvement, helping NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts to identify where service improvement is needed and supporting the implementation of quality improvement programmes. 

It is a great privilege to be elected to the Council of Governors, and I look forward to supporting the Guy's and St Thomas' Board in delivering top-quality healthcare for people in our local communities.

I'm a seasoned business leader with over 25 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry. I have a proven track record of driving performance and leading companies through growth and change.

My expertise includes bringing new medicines to market to make them available to patients quickly. I have worked with global leaders such as GSK, AbbVie, Novartis, and Pfizer.

I started my career as a hospital pharmacist. I have:

• a BSc (Hons) in pharmacy
• a postgraduate diploma in clinical pharmacy
• an MBA.

My background gives me unique insights into the healthcare system's pressures and priorities.

I'm committed to representing the community, ensuring high-quality care and the best outcomes. I served as a treasurer for Oxfam, a Board Director for the London Sinfonia Orchestra, and currently serve on the Board of Directors for my residential building. I bring my wealth of experience and dedication to the Council of Governors at Guy’s and St Thomas' NHS Trust.

I'm a mum and carer and an enthusiastic, hard-working individual. I have a degree in agronomy.

I have spent most of my career working for Guy's and St Thomas' as an administrator in different areas of the Trust. During this time I have developed my ability to listen with inquisitiveness which I believe will help me in my role as a governor.

I'm dedicated to providing comprehensive support for patients and the local community. I want to help support positive changes to our services.

As a governor I hope to bridge the gap between the non-clinical staff and the Council of Governors. I'll be advocating for staff views in patient safety, experience and quality of services.

I have worked in the Trust's strategy and partnerships team since 2018. Before this I worked for 4 years in the fundraising communications team at Guy's & St Thomas' Charity.

My role here is to act as a liaison between the Trust and charities and to help instil a 'charity culture'. This means raising awareness among Trust staff about how they can access charitable funds, raise funds and signpost patients and family to support the charities.

I trained as a journalist and have had a number of charity, consumer and corporate communications roles, using storytelling to engage and inform. So many incredible stories can be told at Guy's and St Thomas' every day and I am very proud to work here. I'm looking forward to playing this important role as a governor.

I am one of several nurse practitioners in the Homeless and HIU Service, working with people experiencing homelessness within the Trust since 2012. I have developed services, to improve the health and social wellbeing of my patients. My voluntary roles are:

• vice chair/trustee for the London Network for Nurses and Midwives Homelessness Group
• secretary for the Manna Society
• board member for the London Housing Foundation

I have published several articles relating to inclusion health and I have received numerous accolades for my contribution to homeless and inclusion health work, most notably being awarded an MBE in The King’s Birthday Honours in 2023.

I enjoy walking in green and blue spaces, knitting and sewing. I am enthusiastic about looking after our environment and reducing the carbon footprint. I am looking forward to my role as governor and making a valuable contribution in being the voice for community staff.

I am a dedicated staff nurse and have worked at Guy's and St’ Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust since 2021. After moving from the surgery directorate, I am looking forward to exploring my future in the haematology and oncology department. 

I have an ardent passion for training and developing junior colleagues and prospective nurses. I delight in teaching and contributing to the development of others. I have experience in practice development and education. I strongly believe education and clinical development helps to build a competent workforce, and results in excellent quality of patient care. 

I consider myself as a change agent; I love influencing positive changes. This is why I am keen on making impactful contribution as a governor, while I promote the interests of the staffs, patients and the wider Trust. 

In my free time, I enjoy writing, art, and growing in wisdom. I also serve as a teacher and a youth leader in my local church.

Nigel Beckett was elected to the Council of Governors in July 2024.

I am a deputy Chief Medical Officer at Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital Foundation Trust with a portfolio for professional fulfilment and resilience. I have had several quality improvement and transformation roles, have significant operational leadership experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, and lead the trust’s response to planning for medical industrial action.

I'm a consultant obstetrician with an interest in maternal medicine and was lead regional obstetrician for NHS England south east region. I have a longstanding commitment to reducing health inequities and racism both locally (chairing the Guy's and St Thomas' EDI Improvement Board) and nationally. I co-chair the Maternity Advisory Group of the Race and Health Observatory. I'm now the Medical Director for Secondary Care Transformation (NHS England, south east region).

I was maternity clinical advisor to the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch (now Maternal and Neonatal Safety Investigations), and have a Masters in leadership and partnership working and an honorary readership with King's College London in healthcare management and leadership, supporting design and delivery of leadership development programme for King's Business School and Guy's and St Thomas' Commercial.

I'm Trustee for the Foundation for Education to improve family planning (FEFP). I'm the clinical lead for the data-led prioritisation programme with Factor-50 and Revolution Zero's reusable drapes project. I'm committed to supporting healthcare innovations. 

I'm an accredited executive coach and trained mediator in alternative dispute resolution, engaging in coaching, mediation and facilitation. I'm an elected Council member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) and a RCOG trustee board member. I'm also an official spokesperson for the RCOG.

I was the national lead for inclusion and a council member of the Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management, and was co-chair for the south east London Local Maternity System and supporting integration of the maternity governance framework within the Integrated Care System. I was responsible for implementing the 'supra-hub' concept of the maternal medicine networks across south east London and south east England. 

I was NHS London’s clinical lead for leadership development, clinical lead for London’s Clinical Leadership Network and a member of the National Task Force for senior female medical leadership. I was listed in the 2013 HSJ BME Pioneers list and 2014 HSJ Inspirational Women in Healthcare Awards. 

I'm a dedicated registered staff nurse at Royal Brompton Hospital, specialising in cardiology, cardiac, and thoracic care. With 6 years experience in the healthcare industry, I've developed a strong expertise in managing complex cardiac conditions and providing high-quality patient care.

I hold a Bachelor of Science in nursing from India, where I received comprehensive training that laid the foundation for my career. I'm passionate about improving patient outcomes and am known for my compassionate approach and commitment to excellence in cardiac care. My role at Royal Brompton Hospital allows me to work with a diverse patient population, using my skills and knowledge to make a positive impact on their health and wellbeing.

I believe that every single life matters, so ensure that my job is handled with utmost care and precision.

I have a bachelor’s degree in Romanian and French.

After a year in the UK I started my career in healthcare. In 2007 I became a personal assistant to a specialist in oncology. This was followed by positions at the Harley Street Clinic and BUPA Cromwell Hospital. In February 2021 I joined the Royal Brompton and Harefield Wimpole team. As a patient coordinator, I am able to help both  patients and consultants. 

I am a Southwark councillor for the ward of London Bridge and West Bermondsey, where Guy's Hospital is based.

Guy's Hospital is responsible for thousands of visitors to the ward each year. It is also a hub of development and regeneration and a significant employer.

My role as a governor will be to make sure the hospital's presence in the ward has a positive impact on the community, and that our community supports the hospital and its essential work.

I have 8 years' experience advising on climate change, and so I'm very interested in how the Trust manages its air pollution and reduces its overall impact on the environment.

Mary was appointed as a governor in September 2021.

I am professor of respiratory medicine, head of the respiratory division at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College and honorary consultant at Royal Brompton and Harefield. I qualified from Somerville College, Oxford University and St Bartholomew's Hospital Medical College. I was elected as fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci) and am a fellow both of the American Thoracic Society (ATSF) and European Respiratory Society (FERS). I received the Helmholtz International Fellow Award in 2014 and delivered the Samuel Gee lecture at the Royal College of Physicians in 2016.

My major interest is the causes, mechanisms, impact and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations, and in the role of bacterial and viral infection in COPD exacerbations. I direct an active research group specialising in COPD exacerbations, and have published extensively on this topic.

I previously chaired the English department of the health home oxygen clinical user group, and was a member of the guideline development group for the revision of the National Institute for Healthcare and Clinical Excellence COPD guidelines.

I was editor-in-chief of Thorax from 2002 to 2010 and am currently editor-in-chief for the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. I was the Lancet Ombudsman until 2014, publications director for the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and have also previously been ERS guidelines director.

I'm the Vice-Chancellor of London South Bank University and CEO of the LSBU Group. In addition to being the Accountable Officer for the university, I'm the Accountable Officer for South Bank Colleges and Principal Accounting Officer for South Bank Academies. I was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians (Edinburgh) for my contribution to medical research and education, and recognised as an Academician by the Academy of Social Sciences for my work in areas linked to educational policy and the skills agenda. 

With over 250 publications, I've held a range of visiting posts including visiting professor at King’s College London and Sichuan University, China. My research focuses on molecular engineering and soft matter modelling. I'm a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Royal Society of Biology, the Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications, and the Royal Society of Medicine. In 2010 I was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for services to Science and Higher Education, and appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London in 2015.

I've got a strong interest in public engagement with science and engineering. In 2015 the Prime Minister appointed him as a Trustee of the Science Museum Group where he is Deputy Chair. He has also been Chair of the Science and Industry Museum.

I'm also a Director of the National Centre for Universities and Business as well as London Higher. I've previously served as a Director of Universities UK, Chair of Million+, UK representative on the European Committee of Biological Associations and Chair of the professional recognition panel as well as a Council member of the Society of Biology.

I've worked extensively overseas, developing and leading on an overseas campus in Cyprus and a research institute in China. I was awarded an individual Excellence award by China’s Vice Premier in 2014 and in 2016 was given the national Friendship Award (China) by the Premier for my outstanding contribution to the country’s economic and social development.

Jim Dickson was appointed as a Governor in April 2024.

I've lived in London for over 25 years. After graduating from an engineering school in France in the late 90s, I spent nearly 10 years working in research at Procter & Gamble before moving to positions at Sotheby’s and other companies. Recognising the immense impact of community support during challenging times, particularly amid the COVID-19 crisis, I became actively involved in various volunteering programmes. 

My efforts have ranged from helping at local food banks and organising fundraisers for school scholarships to acting as a liaison for Kensington residents with the Independent Advisory Group at the MET. Furthermore, I serve as a Board Governor at the Harris Federation Academy in Battersea. 

In May 2024, I was elected as a Councillor in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Within the Council, I hold positions on the Licencing Committee and the Adult Social Care Committee with a particular focus on developing initiatives to address health inequalities.

Tosca Fairchild was appointed as a Governor in July 2024.

Annette Boaz was appointed as a Governor in July 2024.