Who our governors are

Council of Governors

Patient constituency

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 coronavirus (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 have been leading an independent charity that supports children, young adults and parents for over 10 years. In this time, I have met thousands of people and have listened to their stories and shared their journeys. My 14-year-old son also has a complex and life limiting congenital heart condition. He has undergone 4 open heart surgeries, as well as many other operations and procedures.

I know the medical world well, from a carer and professional point of view, and work hard to keep up to date on current events.

I sit on several boards and NHS committees and have led public campaigns representing the views of parents and carers.

I believe passionately in advocating for patients and their families, being a voice for anyone who finds it hard to speak, and helping to make change where needed.

I am dual qualified as both a social worker (adult mental health and substance misuse) and solicitor, volunteering and advocating across areas including social work, housing, education, employment and disability issues. I am also a graduate of the Jo Cox leadership programme 2018.

In my recent past I have been politically active, working closely with my local Labour party to provide equal access and positively raise the profile of people with disabilities.

I am a committee member of the Law Society's lawyers with disabilities division. My most recent achievements include a successful campaign to persuade the Law Society to go purple in November and December this year in as part of the Disability Confident campaign.

I am honoured to have been listed in the 2018 Power 100 List of the most influential disabled people in Britain by the Shaw Trust. My interest as a patient governor, is to review and improve the experiences that all vulnerable people may face.

I am a qualified and experienced teacher with a background in education and health.

I was an Oxleas governor for 6 years and a school governor for 3 years.

Many years ago (1976) I worked at Guy's Hospital so I feel that I already have a connection with this great hospital.

I have recently used both Guy's and St Thomas' services and would like to give something back. I feel that I have the passion, skills and experience to make a positive difference. 

Peter Harrison was elected to the Council of Governors in July 2022.

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.

Public constituency

I am a medical doctor and have been working in health technology for the past 9 years between the UK and Chinese markets.

I am a Schwarzman Scholar and World Economic Forum global shaper and have experience of making change in challenging environments.

I am a co-founder and former chair of the London Forum of Science Policy, a think tank bridging the gap between academia and policy.

I also founded PocketNurse, an award-winning company that was inspired by the flaws within the current clinical education system. 

I believe that health technology has the potential to completely transform how we interact with healthcare and look after ourselves and that patient safety and trust need to remain at the centre of innovation.

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust is a global health technology leader and I hope to use my experience and skills to make sure the Trust continues to engage with patients.

My professional background is in the social work profession; having practiced adult, children and families social work and safeguarding since the 1970's. I worked to senior management and specialist level. I hold a CQSW and MSc degree. My voluntary experience goes back many decades, while working full time. For 15 years I pioneered a 'not-for-profit' organisation in Waterloo providing services for the homeless, now supporting some living in their home, and aid their rehabilitation. I work with organisations supporting young people to divert them from gun, knife crime and gangs. I also support elderly Caribbean WWII war veterans.

I enjoy being a new public governor for Guy's and St Thomas'. As a people's person I listen to service users. Also wanting to support the Directors and hard working hospital staff, by ensuring excellent patient-centred services are at the forefront of the planning and implementation of policies, procedures and service delivery. 

I was born at St Thomas' Hospital and have lived in Lambeth all my life. I have a strong connection to the Trust as I have received outpatient treatment at both Guy's and St Thomas' Hospitals for nearly 30 years.

Professionally, I have held many senior positions within global financial institutions over 25 years. While at Thomson Reuters I was co-chair of the black employees network. My interest in community issues has led to a career in politics. Elected a Lambeth Councillor in 2018, I am currently vice-chair of overview and scrutiny, leading on health and adult social care, chair of a scrutiny committee on Lambeth Hospital's redevelopment, and vice-chair of our healthier south east London joint health overview and scrutiny, a cross-party 6 London borough committee. These positions have all required an understanding of race, racism and socio-economic factors in health inequalities.

I am excited to be elected a governor at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and increase the opportunities for Black, Asian and minority ethnic voices to shape the design and delivery of health services.

With experience of NHS staff remuneration and workforce issues and having recently retired from the senior civil service I have the time, enthusiasm, and skills needed to represent the interests of members and support the board in delivering top-quality healthcare to local communities.

I am a psychodynamic psychotherapist and clinical supervisor. I manage my private practice and I am employed by Fegans Charity, managing a team of counsellors supporting children in primary and secondary schools in Lambeth.

I am also a local ward councillor and the cabinet member for equalities and culture in the London Borough of Lambeth, with responsibility for the strategic approach to Lambeth's rich and diverse cultural and tourism sectors. I work with community groups to support the thriving arts and cultural communities. I am responsible for Lambeth's library services and for maintaining our fantastic parks and open spaces.

I am a community champion for Diabetes UK, supporting both young and older people in the community living with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. I set up the first Lambeth and Southwark young person's diabetes support group.

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.

Staff constituency

I am the clinical lead for the homeless and high intensity user service.

I specialise in marginalised groups, such as people experiencing homelessness. I am interested in improving public health and staff experiences in the workplace.

I have a background in emergency nursing and cardiology and have worked in the community since 2011. Recognising the importance of public health, primary care and the role of health prevention is key to the patient journey.

I have experience in:

  • project development
  • staff management
  • leadership

I have an interest in clinical development and believe that developing the knowledge and skills of others will deliver better patient care. I advocate for equality and inclusiveness for all staff and patients.

I enjoy growing rare, international tropical plants because I find it relaxing to be around nature.

Mark was elected as a governor in July 2021.

Elfy Cheverton, governor, staff constituency

I am a consultant ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon who has worked at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust since 1993. In 1997 I developed a dedicated multidisciplinary voice service. This developed into a specialised laryngology unit supported by speech and language therapists specialising in voice, airway, cough and dysphagia. I was lead clinician of the service until 2019.

I qualified from St George's Hospital, London in 1978 with an intercalated Honours BSc in pharmacology at King's College. I completed a Master of Surgery in 1989 as a lecturer and honorary registrar at The Royal London Hospital and as a research assistant in the department of experimental pathology at St Mary’s Hospital Medical School, London. I received the Zimmer Fellowship Prize in 1991 for my master of surgery research.

I have published over 40 articles in peer reviewed medical and scientific journals, as well as a large number of abstracts, and authored 3 book chapters about ENT. I encourage junior doctors to engage in audit and research to advance the speciality.

I am an honorary senior lecturer in the department of surgery. I take an active part in the teaching and training of undergraduate students. I was the lead in ENT education at the Trust for 23 years and a clinical advisor to the Guy's, King's and St Thomas' School of Medicine. I train postgraduate doctors and I am both a clinical and educational supervisor engaging in the ISCP process. I am an MRCS examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons. I ran a biannual national ENT clinical meeting called the 'Semon' Club for 23 years, one of the oldest and a prestigious national meeting for trainees. I am an active member of the British Laryngological Association and was one of its founding members.

 

Sian Flynn, governor

I have worked for Royal Bromford and Harefield Hospitals since March 2006. First working in recruitment and general human resources, I moved into occupational health in May 2014.

I am also an apprentice mindfulness-based cognitive therapy teacher and have been studying with the Oxford Mindfulness Centre for many years.

During the pandemic my role changed and I focused on wellbeing in the occupational health service. I trained as a mental health first aider and peer facilitator as well as delivering mindful meditations. 

I have been involved in the very successful 'track and trace' programme and the staff vaccination clinics at Harefield.

I joined Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust as a children's respiratory consultant in 2017. Before this, I spent 3 years at Great Ormond Street Hospital where I worked in areas including children's sleep and lung transplantation.

I started my PhD thesis at the Trust in 2011 and I am an honorary clinical senior lecturer at Imperial College London.

Working in children's services across London in many different hospitals for almost 2 decades, has made me aware of what makes this Trust unique in what it offers to patients. I am looking forward to representing children's services on the council of governors and making sure we support the interests of young people and their families.

Raksa Tupprasoot, governor, staff constituency

I joined Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust in 2018 as a consultant anaesthetist with a specialist interest in children's anaesthesia. I work mostly at the Evelina London Children's Hospital. My area of interest is children's airway and I am currently the airway lead for the department of paediatric anaesthesia as well as lead for equipment and remote sites.

Born and raised in London, and having worked in several inner city London hospitals during my training, I believe that I am well placed to represent the views and interests of our large diverse workforce and communities of patients and their families. I am excited at the prospect of advocating for children's services, particularly as Evelina London is expanding. The global pandemic has demonstrated the importance of staff wellbeing and I am keen to make a meaningful contribution for my colleagues as well.

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.

Partnership constituency

I have a background in business following a 30-year career in international trade.

I was elected to The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Council in 2016. From 2018 until recently I was the cabinet member for adult social care and public health leading the Council's response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, working closely with the NHS and other statutory and voluntary sector providers. Before that, I chaired the Family and Children's Services Scrutiny Committee.

I have a particular interest in:

  • the transition from children's to adult services
  • reducing health inequalities
  • mental health
  • the health and wellbeing of patients and staff together with a focus on providing good quality integrated healthcare

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.

Wisia Wedzicha, governor, partnership constituency

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 an entrepreneur and restaurateur.

I'm an active organiser for the Turkish and Kurdish community in London and the UK.

I'm also a Labour Party politician and was the Mayor of Lambeth. I am the councillor for Waterloo and Southbank.

I am the founder of:

  • SME4Labour
  • the Centre for Turkey Studies 
  • the Centre for Kurdish Progress
  • Lambeth Life Newspaper
  • London Kurdish films festival
  • the British Kebab Awards
David Phoenix, partnership constituency governor

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

With over 250 publications, he has held a range of visiting posts including visiting professor at King’s College London and Sichuan University, China. His research focuses on molecular engineering and soft matter modelling. He is 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 he 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.

He has 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.

He is also a Director of the National Centre for Universities and Business as well as London Higher. He has 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.

He has worked extensively overseas, developing and leading on an overseas campus in Cyprus and a research institute in China. He 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 his outstanding contribution to the country’s economic and social development.

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