Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is run by a Board of Directors made up of Executive and Non-Executive Directors. The Trust Board of Directors has a responsibility to make the best use of financial resources and deliver the services people need, to standards of safety and quality which are agreed nationally.
Read on to learn more about individual directors and the Board's overall responsibilities.
Trust Board meetings
Meetings of the Trust Board are held in public. Details of upcoming meetings can be found on our events page and a list of Board papers and agendas can be found in our Board Meetings section.
Can I submit a question to the Board of Directors?
Yes - questions will be considered by the Chair if they are sent by email to the Board Secretary up to 48 hours before the meeting. If the Chair believes the question is relevant to an item on the meeting's agenda, a response will be provided by the Board at the meeting. Email your question to our Board Secretariat.
Our Executive Directors
Our Executive Directors are responsible for the day-to-day operation of the organisation. This includes managing committees and staff as well as developing business plans in collaboration with the Non-Executive Directors on the Board. Click on one of the drop-down accordions below to learn more about an individual Executive Director.
Mark became Chief Executive of Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust on 3 April 2023.
Prior to commencing with the Trust, Mark worked as Managing Director and Deputy Chief Executive at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. Mark, who lives in Derby, was appointed after a rigorous national recruitment process.
Mark has over 20 years’ experience of working in the NHS and previously worked for Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as Chief Operating Officer, leading the Trust’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Previously Mark has worked as Executive Director of Operations at Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. He also has experience of working in public health, developing community health improvement programmes for children with obesity. He has also worked in acute, community and mental health commissioning through a previous role at South Staffordshire Primary Care Trust.
Contact
Mark Powell
Chief Executive
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Ashbourne Centre
Kingsway Hospital
Derby
DE22 3LZ
Telephone: 01332 623700
Vikki Ashton Taylor began in post as the Trust’s Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Transformation on 1 June 2022 and was appointed as Deputy Chief Executive in March 2024. She became Deputy Chief Executive/Chief Delivery Officer in April 2024.
Vikki has worked in the NHS for 25 years undertaking a range of both operational and strategic roles across acute, commissioning and regulatory organisations, including a number of years as an Executive Director.
Vikki’s most recent role was the Lead Director for Joined Up Care Derbyshire and she brings a wealth of system-related experience and expertise.
Vikki lives in Derbyshire and volunteers as a Magistrate for the Ministry of Justice.
Contact
Vikki Ashton Taylor
Deputy Chief Executive/Chief Delivery Officer
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Ashbourne Centre
Kingsway Hospital
Derby, DE22 3LZ
Telephone: 01332 623700
Dr Chidambaram was appointed the Trust’s Medical Director in October 2022. 
A Forensic Consultant Psychiatrist by background, Arun was previously Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Locality Medical Director at Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust.
Arun has previously worked as a Deputy Medical Director across a number of organisations, including being the Interim Medical Director and Medical Director for Operations at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Arun holds two masters degrees in psychiatry and a postgraduate certificate in Healthcare Leadership. He has a wealth of clinical experience in addition to leadership expertise within a healthcare setting.
Contact
Arun Chidambaram
Medical Director
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Ashbourne Centre
Kingsway Hospital
Derby, DE22 3LZ
Telephone: 01332 623700
Justine Fitzjohn joined us as Trust Secretary in June 2019. She was appointed Director of Corporate Affairs and Trust Secretary in April 2024.
Justine joined the Trust from University Hospitals of Derby & Burton (UHDB) NHS Foundation Trust, where she was the Deputy Director of Governance. She brings a broad range of experience in regulation, statutory and legal compliance.
Justine’s responsibilities include arrangements for the Trust Board, Board Committees and Council of Governors, alongside membership, legal affairs, Freedom of Information and Freedom to Speak Up.
Contact
Justine Fitzjohn
Director of Corporate Affairs and Trust Secretary
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Ashbourne Centre
Kingsway Hospital
Derby, DE22 3LZ
Telephone: 01332 623700 ext 31212
Dave commenced in post as the Trust’s Interim Director of Nursing and Patient Experience on 30 October 2023. Dave was appointed Interim Director of Nursing, Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) and Patient Experience in April 2024.
Dave qualified as a registered mental health nurse in 1995 and has 28 years’ experience of working in the NHS, predominantly within secure mental health services throughout the Midlands. He has worked in several professional nursing and operational leadership roles, most recently at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust as Associate Director of Nursing, Quality and Patient Experience.
Dave is committed to improving the experience that patients and carers have of our services. He has previously established involvement and improvement partnerships which have enabled patients to drive improvements in services and believes it is a privilege as a nurse to be able to contribute to the lives of people, often in times of their greatest need.
Contact
Dave Mason
Interim Director of Nursing, AHPs and Patient Experience
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Ashbourne Centre
Kingsway Hospital
Kingsway
Derby, DE22 3LZ
Telephone: 01332 623700
Previously Rebecca worked as Deputy Director of People and Inclusion before taking the temporary role of Interim Director of People, Organisational Development and Inclusion. 
Rebecca has worked in the NHS in Derbyshire for 20 years, working across a range of HR and Corporate teams, including Organisational Development, Service Improvement and Communications. Rebecca joined Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust in 2021, having previously worked at Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust leading the Organisational Development function across both organisations.
Rebecca holds an MBA in senior leadership and a postgraduate certificate in clinical leadership.
Contact
Rebecca Oakley
Interim Director of People, Organisational Development and Inclusion
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Ashbourne Centre
Kingsway Hospital
Derby
DE22 3LZ
Telephone: 01332 623700
James commenced in post as the Trust’s Director of Finance on 5 February 2024. 
James joined the Trust following over eight years in post as the Deputy Director of Finance, Procurement and Contracting at Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust. He was also Director of Finance at South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for a year, through a secondment arrangement, where James also led performance, informatics, digital teams and was the Trust’s Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO).
A Chartered Accountant by background, James commenced his career at Leeds Teaching Hospitals, having originally been a placement student there as part of his degree before moving to Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. James is a member of The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and completed his Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) qualification in 2004.
As Director of Finance, James is responsible for the Trust’s strategic financial planning; establishing the financial framework within which the Trust operates, the financial control and the financial performance of the Trust, and ensuring that the Trust meets its statutory and regulatory financial requirements. James will also lead the Trust’s procurement and estates functions.
Contact
James Sabin
Director of Finance
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Ashbourne Centre
Kingsway Hospital
Derby, DE22 3LZ
Telephone: 01332 623700
Our Non-Executive Directors
Our Non-Executive Directors (or NEDs) are members of the Trust's Board of Directors but are not members of the executive management team. They provide independent oversight, both at the Trust Board and by serving on Board committees. Click on a drop-down accordion below to learn more about an individual Non-Executive Director.
Selina Ullah became Chair of Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust on 14 September
2021. This followed a comprehensive recruitment process.
Selina had been a Non-Executive Director at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust for six years and became its Vice Chair and Senior Independent Director in 2019. Selina’s appointment was approved by the Trust’s Council of Governors in its meeting on 6 July 2021.
Selina is a Board member for the Muslim Women’s Council, having previously been its Chair for 10 years. She is also a Lay Board Member at the General Pharmaceutical Council.
Contact
Selina Ullah
Trust Chair
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Ashbourne Centre
Kingsway Site
Derby, DE22 3LZ
Telephone: 01332 623700 ext 31205
Tony Edwards joined the Trust as a Non-Executive Director on 1 August 2022. He is chair of the Trust’s Finance and Performance
Committee. Tony holds a BA in Accounting and Finance and is a Charted Accountant. Tony spent the first half of his career in senior finance roles in manufacturing and then a further 17 years in business unit leadership roles with Filtrona plc and Luxfer Holdings plc. Tony spent 11 years as a Governor at Nottingham Trent University and is currently a Governor at University of Derby, where he sits on the Strategy, Finance and Planning Committee and chairs the Governance oversight board for the new Business School development project.
Tony has been appointed for a three year term of office ending 31 July 2025 and has also been appointed as Deputy Chair on 11 January 2023.
Contact
Tony Edwards
Deputy Chair and Non-Executive Director
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Ashbourne Centre
Kingsway Site
Derby, DE22 3LZ
Geoff Lewins began in post as a Non-Executive Director at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust on 1 December 2017.
A qualified accountant by background, Geoff is the chair of the Trust’s Audit and Risk Committee. He joins colleagues on the Board of Directors in ensuring the organisation provides effective and high quality healthcare services to the local community and is governed properly and that patient interests are fully represented. Geoff is also the Freedom to Speak Up NED lead.
Geoff has more than 30 years’ experience in finance, IT and governance, having recently worked as Director of Financial Strategy for Rolls-Royce. He is also a Trustee of The Arkwright Society, an educational charity devoted to the rescue of industrial heritage buildings in Derbyshire.
Geoff was re-appointed for a second three-year term until 30 November 2024.
Contact
Geoff Lewins
Non-Executive Director
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Ashbourne Centre
Kingsway Hospital
Derby, DE22 3LZ
Telephone: 01332 623700 ext 31201
Ashiedu Joel took up her role as a Non-Executive Director on 23 January 2020. She is the Trust Non-Executive Director lead for equality, diversity and inclusion and Chair of the Trust's Mental Health Act Committee.
Ashiedu Joel is an engineering graduate who runs her own business consultancy and training firm across the East Midlands. She has recently participated in the NExT Director Programme with Leicestershire Partnership Trust and is also a Justice of the Peace.
Ashiedu is an elected member of Leicester City Council and has experience of supporting organisations, groups and individuals to engage constructively across racial, cultural and socio-environmental boundaries, while promoting opportunities for shared learning and collaboration.
Ashiedu has also held a number of Non-Executive posts and continues to be Executive of Clarion Voice, a charity working with young disadvantaged African heritage children through education, and a Trustee of The Bridge, which provides sustainable housing support, advice and solutions for homeless and vulnerable people in Loughborough and Leicester.
Ashiedu has undertaken a further three-year term of office as a NED from 23 January 2023.
Contact
Ashiedu Joel
Non-Executive Director
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Ashbourne Centre
Kingsway Hospital
Derby, DE22 3LZ
Telephone: 01332 623700 ext 31201
Deborah Good was appointed as Non-Executive Director at Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust on 1 March 2022.
Deborah, a former Housing Director, holds a BA and a Postgraduate Diploma in Housing. She has spent most of her career in the social housing sector, working to improve the quality of services for local communities. 
Deborah has experience of serving on various multi-agency boards, including in her role as Executive Director of Customer Experience and Business Support at Solihull Community Housing and as Non-Executive Director at Derwent Living.
Deborah lives in Derbyshire and is a current Trustee of Artcore, a provider of visual arts to diverse communities across Derbyshire.
In her role as Non-Executive Director, Deborah will be a member of the Finance and Performance Committee, overseeing all aspects of financial management and operational performance. She will also sit on the Audit and Risk Committee, which ensures that the Trust has an effective system of integrated governance, risk management and internal control.
Deborah has been appointed for a three-year term of office, ending in March 2025.
Ralph Knibbs joined the Trust formally as a Non-Executive Director on the 1 July 2022. He is the chair of the Trust’s People and Culture Committee and Senior Independent Director.
For over 20 years, Ralph has operated as a Strategic Senior Human Resources Business Partner, with experience of working in both the public and private sector, as well as within complex international matrix organisations such as Rolls-Royce plc. Highly skilled at delivering people transformational change programmes to improve business performance. Possesses a deep understanding of team working through his extensive experience of professional sport. He is a passionate ally of equality, diversity and inclusion.
Ralph is currently the Head of Human Resources at United Kingdom Athletics Limited where he has been since 2011. From 2020, he has also undertaken a volunteer role as Vice-Chair of the RFU Diversity and Inclusion Implementation Working Group at the England Rugby Football Union with the aim to increase diversity and inclusion in the leadership and governance structures within the game.
He lives in Derbyshire and was appointed for a three-year term of office, ending on 30 June 2025.
Contact
Ralph Knibbs
Non-Executive Director
Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Ashbourne Centre
Kingsway Site
Derby, DE22 3LZ
Email: ralph.knibbs@nhs.net
Lynn first joined in a designate role in the Autumn of 2022 as part of a handover for the clinical Non-Executive Director role before joining formally as a Non-Exectuve Director on 11 Janaury 2023. She is the Chair of the Trust's Quality and Safeguarding Committee.
Lynn’s roots are in Scotland where she qualified as a Registered Nurse before moving to the Midlands where she has worked in healthcare since 1987. Lynn has gained qualifications in nursing and NHS management and has a Master’s in Health Policy.
Throughout Lynn’s nursing career she has always worked in roles requiring ongoing professional, clinical and governance knowledge and skills. Lynn’s most recent post was on the Board at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust as Executive Director of Nursing and Patient Care and lead for quality, with a portfolio responsibility including quality improvement, patient experience and safety, safeguarding and infection control.
Lynn has a strong commitment and passion to improving quality and experience for all patients and staff. Working with the East Midlands Strategic Health Authority and with the national NHS Teams, Lynn has gained an excellent understanding of healthcare and the requirements for regulation.
Lynn has lived in Derbyshire for over 20 years, enjoys running in South Derbyshire and the Peak District and was appointed for a three year term of office.
Role and Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
The Trust Board of Directors has a responsibility to make the best use of financial resources and deliver the services people need, to standards of safety and quality which are agreed nationally.
The role of the Board of Directors is to manage the Trust by:
- Setting the overall strategic direction of the Trust within the context of NHS priorities
- Regularly monitoring our performance against objectives
- Providing effective financial stewardship through value for money, financial control and financial planning
- Ensuring that the Trust provides high quality, effective and patient focused services through clinical governance
- Ensuring high standards of corporate governance and personal conduct
- Promoting effective dialogue between the Trust and the local communities we serve.
Our Trust Board meets monthly to discuss the business of the organisation. This meeting is held in public and anyone is welcome to attend and hear about our latest developments and performance.
Responsibilities of the Board of Directors
The Board of Directors ensures that good business practice is followed and that the organisation is stable enough to respond to unexpected events, without jeopardising services, and confident enough to introduce changes where services need to be improved.
The Board of Directors carries the final overall corporate accountability for its strategies, its policies and actions as set out in the Codes of Conduct and Accountability issued by the Secretary of State. In order to discharge its responsibilities for the governance of the Trust, the Board has established a number of Committees of the Board.
Our Current Directors
To find out information about our current Board of Directors, please view their profiles above.
In making the most recent Non-Executive appointments, the Nominations Committee has taken account of the skills requirement advised by the Directors. The Trust Board is satisfied that all Directors are appropriately qualified to discharge their functions effectively, including ensuring management capacity and capability.
The Trust Board’s composition and range of skills and experience has been revisited as vacancies arise.
