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The day to day management of Alder Hey is undertaken by our Board of Directors who work with a Council of Governors elected from our membership base to achieve our strategic aims and objectives.
The Board agreed our overarching strategy in 2011/12 which set out a four year direction of travel until 2016. In December 2015 and following the move to our new hospital, this strategy was refreshed and finalised in April 2016 for the next five years. The Board agreed that Alder Hey’s original purpose and vision remain relevant today and will be unchanged until 2020.
Our priorities are set out in our Strategic Plan, supported by our Operational Plan. Our board of eight Executive Directors, five Non-Executive Directors and our Chair meet 11 times a year to review and shape Alder Hey’s aims and objectives.
Agendas and minutes for board meetings held in the previous twelve months are available to download in the Publications section. Meetings are open to the public and are held in the Boardroom from 10am to 3pm.
Dame Jo joined the board in November 2016 as a Non-Executive Director and was appointed as Chair, succeeding Sir David Henshaw, in February 2019.
She has enjoyed a successful 30 year career in social services in the North West, including ten years at director level, before becoming Chief Executive of the Royal Mencap Society for five years. Dame Jo joined the Care Quality Commission as a Non-Executive Director in 2008 and held the position of chair between 2010 and 2013. In addition, Dame Jo has had considerable experience as a trustee in the voluntary sector, including with the NSPCC.
Over the last decade she has been involved in shaping public policy on a number of issues including in her role as chair of the National Advisory Council on Children’s Psychological Wellbeing and Mental Health and as part of the team that developed the National Service Framework for Children. She was also co-chair of the national working group that led to standards in hospital care for children following the enquiry at Bristol Royal Infirmary. In September 2018 Dame Jo was appointed as Pro Chancellor and Chair of council for Keele.
Dame Jo has received a number of honours in recognition of her achievements, including a CBE for services to Social Services in Cheshire and as President of the Association of Directors of Social Services and a DBE for her work with people with a learning disability.
Louise joined Alder Hey as Chief Executive in March 2008 and successfully led the Trust through a major transformation into Europe's only Children's Health Park, designed by and for children and young people and opened by Her Majesty the Queen in 2016. The Park aims to provide a world leading holistic health and wellbeing environment for all children and young people and comprises a state of the art specialist children's hospital and mental health facilities, a dedicated Children’s Research Institute and Academy, incorporating four University partners, an Innovation Centre working with industry partners to create leading edge technologies, an NIHR Clinical Research Facility and a family support and bereavement centre.
Previously CEO of Liverpool Women's Hospital, Louise first joined the NHS as Director of Business Development at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital in 1993 from KPMG, where she spent four years as a financial and management consultant to the public sector. In addition to her role at Alder Hey, Louise has led a number of National and Regional programmes, including Co-Chair of the National Children’s Hospital Alliance (since 2020), Senior Responsible Officer for the Cheshire and Mersey Children’s Transformation Programme “Beyond” and the establishment of the initial Sustainability and Transformation Programme for Cheshire and Merseyside in 2016/17. She was appointed Chair of the National Children’s Transformation Programme by NHSE in March 2023.
A graduate of the University of Cambridge, Louise has a strong interest in the Arts and was appointed Chair of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Board in November 2022 and plays violin for the Liverpool Mozart Orchestra. Louise was awarded a CBE for services to healthcare in 2017.
John joined Alder Hey in April 2017 as Director of Finance and Deputy Chief Executive. His NHS career began via the National Finance Graduate Trainee scheme, and he has worked in a variety of roles, including the Deputy Director of Performance at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire, and Deputy Director of Finance at South Manchester University Hospital.
He joined The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Foundation (RJAH) Trust in Oswestry as Director of Finance in 2008 and played a key role in supporting the organisation’s successful Foundation Trust application. He also worked with the Strategic Orthopaedic Alliance (SOA) to ensure that the voice of specialist orthopaedic providers is heard within the national financial agenda.
John became Acting Chief Executive at RJAH in October 2015 until taking up the position of Deputy Chief Executive on 1 April 2016. This was the role in which he remained until joining Alder Hey a year later.
In 2019 John won two Finance Director of Year Awards; The Finance Director of a Non Profit Large Organisation (over £100m) award and he was the overall winner of Finance Director of the Year award.
Adam was appointed Chief Operating Officer in April 2018. Prior to this Adam held a number of senior operational management roles in the NHS with responsibility for emergency, medical, surgical and community services.
In 2019 Adam secured the Executive Healthcare Leadership award following completion of the national Nye Bevan leadership programme. He also holds an MSc degree in Healthcare Leadership from the University of Manchester. Through the NHS Leadership Academy Adam successfully undertook a healthcare information fellowship at GlaxoSmithKline.
Adam has a particular interest in quality improvement and has worked on a number of successful projects, including the design and build of new cancer treatment units. He has also played a key role in the development of partnerships in Liverpool to provide high quality congenital cardiac and neonatal services to patients.
Alfie joined the Alder Hey Board in December 2021 and has worked as a Consultant Children’s Orthopaedic Surgeon for 22 years having completed specialist training in the UK, Switzerland and Australia. He was awarded the WellChild Doctor award in 2018 for the service he provides to children. He was the Clinical Director for orthopaedic/spine and gait at Alder Hey for 3 years then the Divisional Director for surgery during which his focus was on enhancing patient safety. He now looks forward to the challenge as Chief Medical Officer where he will focus on facilitating the greatest access to care provided in the safest way for our patients and the staff.
Nathan joined Alder Hey in November 2020 as the Chief Nurse providing professional leadership to nurses and AHP’s across the organisation. Nathan qualified as a registered children’s nurses in 2003 from the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing, Kings College London. Nathan has worked in various clinical and managerial roles including time at Guys and St. Thomas, Great Ormond Street Hospital and most recently as Director of Nursing at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust.
In addition to his professional qualifications Nathan holds an MSC in advanced nursing practice and has led system wide change for children’s services in north west London and more widely across the capital. Nathan has a passion for ensuring all children and young people get high quality, safe care in both physical and mental health and for championing the equality diversion and inclusion agenda.
Erica joined the Alder Hey team in September 2010 as Director of Corporate Affairs. She began her NHS career in 1991 through its graduate management training scheme. Erica spent over ten years working in primary care and commissioning roles before moving to the acute sector in 2003. Part of her job includes the role of Trust Secretary, advising and supporting the Chair, Board of Directors and Council of Governors on all aspects of regulation and corporate governance. Prior to coming to Alder Hey, Erica was Director of Corporate Affairs at the Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust where she directed the successful application to become the first foundation trust in Merseyside. Erica holds an MBA as well as a BA (Hons) degree from the University of Liverpool.
Melissa is the Executive Director of HR and OD, and has worked at Alder Hey since 2009. Following her graduation in Economic and Social History from the University of Liverpool, Melissa started her HR career in the airline industry before joining the NHS. She has worked across HR and OD in a number of NHS organisations both in London and the North West. A Chartered Fellow of the CIPD, Melissa also has postgraduate qualifications in training and a range of personal and team development tools and coaching. Melissa leads the people development agenda at Alder Hey and has a passion for improving leadership, staff engagement and wellbeing.
Mark joined Alder Hey in July 2017 from the UK Charity Beating Bowel Cancer, where he was Chief Executive. He has a degree in Medieval History from the University of St Andrews and has worked for most of his career in the Third Sector in Communications, Campaigns and Policy. Mark has extensive health experience, having worked at senior level in the Royal College of GPs, Royal College of Nursing, Diabetes UK and elsewhere. Mark is responsible for internal and external communications, including media relations, brand, staff engagement campaigns and the website.
David joined Alder Hey as Development Director in December 2012 and has over 30 years’ experience working in the NHS. Prior to his role at Alder Hey, David held Development Director posts in Bristol and London overseeing new hospital programmes. David has a history degree from Manchester University and is a qualified accountant.
Dani joined Alder Hey in October 2017 and is executive lead for our 5 year strategic plan (‘Our Plan’), our range of health and care system partnerships, and our regional Operational Delivery Networks.
Dani began her NHS life in technology and innovation following her BA Hons Economics, and subsequent MSc in Health Care Ethics at the University of Liverpool. Dani achieved her Executive Leadership in Healthcare award through the ‘Nye Bevan’ programme in 2017.
Dani has 16 years’ experience in health and social care in Merseyside and has held lead roles in Commissioning, Provision and an integrated role across health and Liverpool City Council. Prior to joining Alder Hey, Dani was Deputy Chief Operating Officer with responsibility for around 2,500 staff in community services, as well as leadership of IM&T and the largest roll-out of Telehealth in Europe. As deputy COO, Dani led delivery of the trust’s Clinical Strategy, working closely with Community staff, GPs and The Kings Fund.
Dani specialises in development of complex partnerships to improve patient care; examples include her leadership across Primary and Community care, Mental Health, Acute trusts, Local Authorities and Voluntary sector groups to implement multi-agency integrated Community care teams and outcomes-based integrated frailty and diabetes services across Liverpool and Sefton.
Kate is the Chief Digital and Information Officer at Alder Hey (2019) and Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital (2020) where she leads both Trusts integrated digital services - iDigital. Kate is the Co-Chair of the North West Informatics Skills and Development Directors/CCIO Network and is the UK representative on the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) International Advisory Council.
Kate is passionate about the NHS and the impact digital technology and innovation can make on improved clinical outcomes and the delivery of high quality, safe patient care.
Kate began her NHS career in 2000 and has held a range of digital leadership roles in primary care, acute care, commissioning and shared services across Liverpool and the wider North West region.
Kate is a music graduate from the University of Liverpool, and holds a MSC in Health Informatics. She is the Chair of the Maghull Wind Orchestra where she is also principal flautist and saxophonist with the Swingshift Big Band.
Follow Kate on Twitter: @katewarriner
Ian joined the Alder Hey Board in September 2011 and was re-appointed for two three year periods to September 2017. In order to ensure continuity on the Board, the Council of Governors approved Ian’s reappointment for a third twelve month period to September 2020 and subsequently a six month extension to March 2023. Ian is a Chartered Accountant and joined Ernst and Whinney (now Ernst and Young) in 1974 and in 1982, became a partner. In 1988 he became Group Finance Director of the Albert Fisher Group PLC, a leading global food processor and distributor. From 2003 to 2013, Ian held senior positions with VPS Holdings Limited, which was the largest void property services company in the world. Between 2003 and the beginning of 2011 he was Group Chief Executive, during which time the turnover of the business increased from £3m to £200m. Between January 2011 and October 2013 he was a Deputy Chairman responsible for business development. Ian is now the Group Chief Executive of The Clearway Group Limited, a void property services group operating in the UK and France.
Kerry joined the Alder Hey Board in September 2018 and was re-appointed for a second term of three years in September 2022. Kerry is a Fellow Member of the Chartered Certified Accountants and a finance leader with over 17 years’ experience in “Big 4” professional services covering governance, risk management and internal control.
She was a Senior Manager at Deloitte, Liverpool for 11 years where she provided internal audit services to numerous organisations and industries both in the private and public sectors. She then spent 3 years as Head of Internal Audit at Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd: followed by 3 years as the Director of Retail Banking, Internal Audit at Ernst & Young.
Kerry spent 9 years as a Non-Executive Director at Liverpool John Moores University where she was Chairman of the Finance Committee, and a member of the Nominations and Remuneration Committees and Chairman’s Group and also served on the Audit Committee.
She is currently a Non-Executive Director for South Lakes Housing in Cumbria where she is a member of the Audit Committee.
Since leaving EY she has been managing her own portfolio of 11 rental properties in the North West.
Shalni was appointed to the Board in August 2019 and was re-appointed for a second term of three years to August 2025. Shalni is CEO of Savannah Wisdom, a private family charitable foundation. She is a qualified accountant trained at Arthur Andersen and an entrepreneur. She is one of the founders of DxS Limited, a personalised medicine business which she spun out from AstraZeneca and then successfully exited. She works for a number of charities and not for profit organisations through her own foundation, and is on the Board of the British Asia Trust, Transparency International UK, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital Charity, Belong-The Cohesion and Integration Network and is a member of the Network for Social Change.
She recently won a Beacon Award for Philanthropy and has a Masters in Genetics from Cambridge and a Masters in International Development.
Fiona was appointed to the Board in October 2019 and was re-appointed for a second term of three years to October 2025. Fiona is Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Liverpool.
Fiona is a Professor of Law, specialising in international and EU law, in particular foreign investment law and gender equality law and policy. She has a particular expertise in gender mainstreaming (that is, the idea that gender concerns should be addressed systematically in all areas and by all actors), and how this is implemented in international institutions, the EU, and in individual states. In the UK this approach is best exemplified by the public sector equality duty, now contained in the Equality Act 2010. She has completed two studies for the European Parliament FEMM Committee, ‘A New Strategy for Gender Equality Post 2015’ and ‘The EU Budget for Gender Equality’.
Fiona is Chair of the Boards of the University of Liverpool Press and University of Liverpool in Singapore.
Fiona was also a Trustee of the Liverpool Football Club Foundation, the official charity of Liverpool Football Club, from 2012-19.
Garth joined Alder Hey as a Non-Executive Director on 15 November 2021. He is highly respected for his Legal, Business Consulting and Diversity & Inclusion expertise and has a passion for helping businesses develop strategies that focus on making a positive impact on people, places, and the planet, across multiple industries. For over 28 years he has been involved in the research, strategy, design, implementation and management of innovative and cutting-edge strategic business and diverse community projects based on the relationship between diversity and equality of opportunities legislation, diversity best practice, and importantly, sustainable business practices as a force for good in the 21st century global marketplace.
With extensive experience in business, legal and community support, his prominent expertise is providing innovative methods to manage governance, compliance and business strategies whilst keeping efficient financial management. Overall, he has developed a strong career as a Director, Non-Executive Director, Diversity & Inclusion Specialist, Business Sustainability Consultant and Business Community Engagement Ambassador.
He brings his external skills to challenge, support and develop the Trust’s strategy and to ensure that the Board acts in the best interests of children, young people and their families and the wider community.
John was appointed to the Board in September 2022. A qualified chartered accountant, John holds long-standing experience of working with some of the world’s leading companies. He was a senior partner at KPMG and a member of the Liverpool Vision Board. He has worked on strategic change and transformation programmes in a wide range of industries including Consumer and Retail, Healthcare and Life Sciences and Financial Services. John holds two charitable Trustee roles supporting young people including at The Dean Trust and Eureka! John was born on Eaton Road, overlooking the old hospital, so has a very unique connection with the Trust and spent most of his childhood playing football on Springfield Park (with the occasional visit to A&E).
Jo was appointed to the Board in October 2022. With a career across government affairs and membership bodies in both the medical and scientific sector, Jo brings considerable knowledge of how to transform organisations to be impactful, have a positive culture and deliver their strategy. Jo is passionate about the mission to improve the lives of children and has previously led on pieces of work including the development of the three-year strategy for paediatrics for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, supporting the efforts to improve equality, diversity and inclusion in paediatrics and governance reviews.
Alder Hey Children's Charity
