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Our Board

Meet our Board members

Chair and Chief Executive


Board Members Sir David Nicholson

Sir David Nicholson KCB CBE

Group Chairman of the Board

Sir David Nicholson joined the Trust as Chair on 1 April 2023. This appointment saw him become Chair of… continue reading

Board of Directors Joe Chadwick-Bell

Joe Chadwick-Bell

Group Chief Executive

Joe became Group Chief Executive on 1 January 2025, joining The Royal Wolverhampton and Walsall Healthcare NHS Trusts… continue reading

Executive Directors


Stephanie Cartwright - Group Director of Place

Stephanie Cartwright

Group Chief Community and Partnerships Officer

Stephanie has more than 30 years’ experience in the NHS, and has a wealth of knowledge in a wide range of areas… continue reading

Alan Duffell - Group Chief People Officer

Alan Duffell

Group Chief People Officer

Alan has a wide range of experience within the NHS – incorporating organisational development (OD)… continue reading

Simon Evans - Group Chief Strategy Officer

Simon Evans

Group Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Strategy Officer

Simon has worked in the health and care sector for 20 years and has held a number of senior management… continue reading

Board members Debra Hickman

Debra Hickman

Chief Nursing Officer

Debra started her Nursing career in Wolverhampton in 1987. She then went on to train as a Midwife, qualifying… continue reading

Dr Brian McKaig - Chief Medical Officer

Dr Brian McKaig

Chief Medical Officer

Brian qualified from Glasgow University in 1991 and undertook postgraduate training as a gastroenterologist in… continue reading

Gwen Nuttall - Chief Operating Office and Deputy Chief Executive

Gwen Nuttall

Managing Director

Gwen has over 20 years’ experience working across a diverse range of acute hospitals, having previously… continue reading

Kevin Stringer - Group Chief Financial Officer and Group Deputy Chief Executive

Kevin Stringer

Group Chief Financial Officer

Kevin is a qualified accountant with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), and holds… continue reading

Non-Executive and Associate Non-Executive Directors


Board Members Rachel Barber

Rachel Barber

Associate Non-Executive-Director

Rachel has considerable board experience in the public and private sector and holds several non-executive director and advisor roles… continue reading

Board Members Dawn Braithwaite

Dawn Brathwaite

Non-Executive-Director

Dawn is a solicitor and former partner in a national law firm. For the past 20 years she has advised NHS bodies… continue reading

Lord Patrick Carter - Special Advisor to the Board

Lord Patrick Carter

Special Advisor to the Board

Patrick was educated at Brentwood School and Durham University, from which he joined an investment… continue reading

Lisa Cowley - Non Executive Director

Lisa Cowley

Non-Executive-Director

Lisa brings a wealth of experience gained in large, national and regional, health, social care and third sector… continue reading

Umar Daraz - Associate Non Executive Director

Dr Umar Daraz

Associate Non-Executive-Director

Dr Umar Daraz, PhD, is a Director of Innovation at Birmingham City University (BCU). Educated at Harvard… continue reading

John Dunn - Deputy Chair and Non-Executive Director

John Dunn

Deputy Chair and Non-Executive Director

John’s professional life was spent almost exclusively in the telecoms sector, and he has extensive experience… continue reading

Allison Heseltine - Non Executive Director

Allison Heseltine

Non-Executive-Director

As a registered nurse who trained at St Bartholomew’s Hospital London, Allison has had an extensive clinical and… continue reading

Julie Jones - Non Executive Director

Julie Jones

Non-Executive-Director

Julie is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. After 15 years in external audit… continue reading

Professor Martin Levermore - Non Executive Director

Professor Martin Levermore

Non-Executive-Director

Professor Martin Levermore MBE DL, is a Visiting Professor for Health, Education and Life Science at Birmingham… continue reading

Professor Louise Toner - Non Executive Director

Professor Louise Toner

Non-Executive-Director

Professor Louise Toner is a nurse, midwife and academic by professional background. She has a wealth of experience… continue reading