Who's who

Glen Burley 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 Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive to Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and joined South Warwickshire in 2006, initially as Interim Chief Executive. He was formally appointed in 2008.

Between 2015 and 2017 Glen was the National SRO for the Emergency Care Improvement Programme alongside his role in the Trust.

Adam Carson became Managing Director of the Trust in April 2023. He 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 it’s formation.

Kim is a Business Studies graduate and began her public sector career with the Audit Commission as an external auditor. Kim qualified as a Chartered Public Finance Accountant in 1995 and joined Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust a year later, working in a number of finance roles, including their Private Finance Initiative business case for a new hospital.

Kim joined South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust as Deputy Director of Finance in 2006 and had a key role in the Trust's financial turnaround, its successful Foundation Trust application and the integration of Community services.

In 2011 Kim became a Director of our wholly owned subsidiary SWFT Clinical Services Limited.

Kim, who is originally from Coventry, now lives in Worcester with her husband and daughter.

Fiona Burton commenced in post as Chief Nursing Officer at SWFT in 2019, 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 a 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. As Chief Nursing Officer, Fiona’s portfolio includes professional accountability for all Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Healthcare professionals, Patient Experience, Infection Prevention, Patient Safety and Clinical Governance.

Gertie oversees HR, Organisation Development, workforce, recruitment, staff benefits and health and wellbeing.

As the Director of People at George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust as well, Gertie has a wealth of knowledge and experience having worked across a number of Trusts delivering a strategic and professional advisory service in respect of health & wellbeing, staff experience and engagement, people management, development and education.

Dr Charles Ashton started as the Trust's Medical Director from January 2014. He graduated with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery after studying at Middlesex Hospital Medical School between 1976 1981. Dr Ashton is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians.

Previously, Dr Ashton has held the post of Medical Director for 14 years in Worcestershire and has extensive experience of service review having clinically led the recent one in Worcestershire.

Dr Ashton also chairs the Solihull clinical reference group for urgent care and is a secondary care representative on the Solihull Clinical Commissioning Group.

From a clinical perspective Dr Ashton was a Consultant Physician with a special interest in care of the elderly, stroke and clinical pharmacology. As well as the acute sector he has worked in stroke rehabilitation at Evesham community hospital and has also worked closely with primary care providing clinics at local health centres.

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 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.

In the role, Sophie is responsible for delivery of the capital programme, strategy/business development and Communications/Fundraising.

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.

Harkamal is responsible for the daily operational delivery of the in hospital, out of hospital and children, young people and family services.

Becky Hale is the Assistant Director for People Strategy and Commissioning for Warwickshire County Council. Becky joined South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust in 2022 as the Chief Commissioning Officer (Health and Care).

Becky will support the Trust to respond to the new Health and Care Bill due to be adopted in July 2022, which confirms the creation of Integrated Care Systems (ICS) as statutory NHS bodies with a focus on greater collaboration between NHS bodies and local authorities.

Becky will be part of the Executive Team and will also be a member of the Trust Board of Directors.

Russell Hardy joined the Trust as Chair of the Board of Directors from 1 August 2023. Russell, who is also Chair of Foundation Group partner organisations; George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and Wye Valley NHS Trust, has a wealth of experience from working in NHS trusts and private companies, with a firm understanding of working in large organisations and overseeing strategic developments.

Simon Page joined the Trust as a Non-Executive Director in February 2016.

He has over 20 years of wide ranging leadership experience in the private sector as Chairman, Managing Director and Director. Simon's career has centred around retailing and manufacturing businesses operating within the consumer and building products markets.

He has a strong background in marketing, sales and commercial leadership, working for some well known blue-chip brands, in both the prestige branded and mass-market arenas; these include Aga, Fired Earth, Villeroy & Boch and Rangemaster. This has given him a clear insight into working for complex international organisations, change management, strategy development and delivery, and of the importance of delivering success with and through others, especially in periods of change.

Simon lives in Stratford upon Avon with his wife, Patty; he has two grown up children.

Sue Whelan Tracy joined the Trust as a non-voting, Non Executive Director in February 2016.

She has a background in retail and corporate banking in the UK, Europe, the Caribbean and Australia. Her last executive post before embarking on a non executive career was Marketing and Customer Engagement for Barclays in the UK. Her specialisms are customer experience and marketing, along with commercial leadership of products and channels, including digital.

As a non executive Sue works nationally, across sectors with organisations committed to delivering high standards of customer experience.

Sue lives in Leamington with her husband, Virgil and two teenage children.

Yasmin has extensive leadership experience in private, public and charity sectors. She has held senior roles across the breadth of healthcare including primary care, acute care, professional regulation and medical education. She has significant experience in business model innovation, complex system change and digital transformation.

Currently, Yasmin works as Chief Operating Officer of the Federation of the Royal Colleges of Physicians. She is responsible for developing overall strategy and directing operations in the UK and across the world.

She is passionate about empowering women, educating girls and ending domestic violence and is a Trustee at Solace Women’s Aid which provides services to the survivors of male violence against women and girls.

Yasmin is an alumna of Warwick University and London Business School. She has an MBA and Masters in English Literature and is pursuing a doctorate in digital innovation and transformation.

She loves cooking with her daughter and enjoys travelling.

David qualified from Birmingham Medical School in 1981 and now has 40 years of continuous service within the NHS. For the past 35 of those years he has been a GP at a local practice in Kenilworth which has a strong commitment to teaching the doctors and specifically GP of the future along with providing high quality clinical care. It is currently rated as outstanding by CQC. He was elected Fellow of the Royal College of GP in 2012 for services to Primary Care.

He also has significant experience in clinical leadership with past roles at national level with the GMC and NICE, regionally with the Royal College of GP and more locally with Primary Care Trusts and most recently CCG. He stood down from being Chairman of South Warwickshire CCG after 8 years in that post in March of 2021 after leading the CCG through the worst of the Covid pandemic and merging the then three Coventry and Warwickshire CCG.

David has lived in Kenilworth since 1986 with his wife. He also shares his life with a chocolate labrador with whom he enjoys long walks across the countryside. In addition he has what some call an obsession with the motor car and all things mechanical, he still holds a valid motorsport competition licence.

He is determined to keep the patient at the centre of healthcare decisions and is passionate about providing safe and effective healthcare for all in society particularly those with disabilities. Whilst at the CCG he championed the cause of those with learning difficulties and intends to continue this as Non-Executive on the board at South Warwickshire University Foundation Trust.

Richard Colley joined the Trust as a Non-Executive Director in March 2022.

An English and Canadian qualified Chartered Accountant, and former partner with PricewaterhouseCoopers, he has over 40 years experience as a Chairman, Group Finance Director and Corporate Finance adviser in international businesses and fast growing smaller companies.

He has a strong background in mergers and acquisitions, strategy and skilled at helping teams to develop strategic plans. He has led several management buy-outs, and involved in complex business transformations and turnarounds. He was previously a Non-Executive at the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement in Warwick.

He lives in Wellesbourne and is married with 3 grown up children. He is partially retired with time to put back his knowledge and experience, visit his grandchildren, volunteer in village life and fund raise for Shipston Home Nursing.

He is a commercially astute Director with over twenty years of general management experience gained in the energy industry, at global energy company E.ON. He brings to the board strong experience in Commercial, Transformation, Digitalisation and has passion and expertise in Sustainability (ESG) and Net Zero.

He lives in Solihull with his wife and two young daughters.

Paramjit is Professor of General Practice, University of Warwick, NIHR Senior Investigator and brings a wealth of experience in primary/community care. He joined the Non-Executive Team in April 2022 and is passionate on promoting research and training in this role as well as addressing inequalities in care.

Bharti Patel has joined as an Associate Non Executive Director in October 2023. Having lived within the area for most of her adult life, Bharti and her family have benefitted from a wide range of NHS and social care services from maternity all the way through to chronic condition management and elderly care.

Bharti has over 30 years experience in public and private healthcare sector, with senior roles in procurement, commercial, operations, strategic business development and general management, predominantly at Board level.

Her extensive experience across NHS commissioning, Homecare, National and Independent retail pharmacy, global medical technology solutions and life sciences, has given her a strong understanding of the healthcare environment, which she uses to support organisations nationally through her healthcare consultancy,

She delivers value through her authentic leadership style, collaborative approach and building strategic relationships to help deliver improved patient pathways and outcomes.

Bharti is passionate about leveraging her breadth of experience to give back to the community in which she has spent most of her life and is excited to support the work of South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust.

Oliver has held a number of leadership roles in supply chain, including Operations Director for Alliance Healthcare, responsible for all aspects of operations across the UK, and Supply Chain Director for the UK, Ireland and Nordics at Mondelez International. He has significant operational and leadership experience across all aspects of supply chain. He is also a trustee and Chair of Bath and Wells Multi Academy Schools Trust.

Oliver is a keen football fan, supporting Aston Villa, and also loves live music. He’s married with two grown up children, and has lived in Leamington Spa for 25 years. He also volunteers at Helping Hands Soup Kitchen.

Oli Hiscoe joined as an Associate Non-Executive Director in October 2023.

Oli has worked in the charity sector for over 16 years, primarily in community and event fundraising, as well as philanthropy and corporate fundraising. He brings a wealth of experience in community engagement, co-design and working with volunteers to the Trust. Oli has worked for a range of national and local charities, primarily within the health sector including an Air Ambulance, Medical Research Charity, Motor Neurone Disease Association and is an Associate Director of a Hospice in the South East.

He lives in Leamington Spa with his daughter and enjoys cooking and cycling with his time off.