Non-Executive Directors and Associate Non-Executive Directors
Non-executive directors are not full-time employees of the Trust. They help to ensure the Trust is accountable to the people it serves. They are people who live or work in the area and have shown an interest in the provision of health services for the local people. The Board of Directors is accountable to the Board of Governors for the running and performance of the Trust.
Chair: Deborah Evans
Deborah is an experienced Chair with 25 years Board-level involvement in health and social care. Notable appointments from her executive career include Chief Executive of NHS Bristol; Chief Executive of Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire PCT cluster; and latterly Managing Director of West of England Academic Health Science Network, which convened 21 NHS Trusts/CCGs, 3 universities and other stakeholders to promote innovation and spread improvement in the NHS. Since 2017, Deborah has been Trustee and Chair of Brunelcare, a housing and social care charity providing nursing homes, re-enablement, home care, and supported living.
Vareta Bryan
Vareta has over 25 years’ leadership and senior management experience in Social Care, Health and the voluntary sector.
She has expertise in health and social care service provision, partnership working across the health and social care system delivering service transformation that improves services and outcomes for patients, service users and staff. She also has a strong background in and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in service provision, employment practice and organizational development.
Formerly a Lay Member with Gloucestershire NHS Clinical Commissioning Group, and a Trustee with North and West Gloucester Advice Bureau. Vareta has a longstanding commitment to the voluntary and community sectors having both worked and held voluntary positions on a range of boards in the sector.
Vareta’s interests are gardening, healthy lifestyle coaching, teaching plant based cooking, travelling, reading and enjoying her grandchildren.
Jaki Meekings Davis
Jaki has more than thirty years’ experience in the NHS in both commissioning and finance roles including Director of Specialist Commissioning for the South of England and Director of Finance of the South West Regional Health Authority.
Prior to joining the NHS she had a successful career as an accountant in local government and the water industry. She has lived in Gloucestershire since 1998.
Jaki is a former president of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and the Healthcare Financial Management Association and is currently a member of Cipfa’s Practice Oversight Panel and Nomination Committee.
An experienced Non Executive Director and Trustee, her recent roles include Non Executive Director and Chair of the Audit and Charitable Funds Committees at North Bristol NHS Trust and Trustee of The Cheltenham Trust and Friends of the Wilson charities.
John Cappock
John Cappock lives in Bristol. He is a Chartered Accountant and is originally from Dublin.
A graduate of University College, Dublin, John undertook his professional accountancy qualification at the University of the West of England, Bristol.
John has spent the bulk of his career within Higher Education and has served as University Secretary and Chief Operating Officer at a number of Universities.
He was a Non-Executive Member, deputy Board Chair and Chair of Finance of Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) NHS Clinical Commissioning Group. He is an Independent Non-Executive Member and Chair of Audit and Risk for the BNSSG NHS Integrated Care Board. John also serves as an independent member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the General Optical Council, which is the regulator for the Optical profession.
He has previously served as a non-executive in Higher and Further Education and on the Board of a Housing Association.
Sam Foster
Sam is the Executive Nurse Director for Professional Practice at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), where she has been leading a comprehensive review of advanced nursing and midwifery practice and quality assurance of education programmes,
Sam previously worked at Oxford University Hospitals NHSFT, where she was Chief Nursing Officer for five years. Sam's portfolio included the professional leadership and education of over 5,000 Nurses, Midwives and AHPs. In addition to the executive leadership of the Trust Estates and Facilities services, delivery of the capital programme and leading the Urgent Care programme across the Oxfordshire system.
Sam’s previous roles include Chief Nursing Officer at the Heart of England NHSFT and the delivery of a number of clinical operational and educational roles. Sam’s clinical background is intensive care nursing, where she proudly undertook clinical practice during the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Sam has a particular interest in education, research and advancing practice and has a MSc in Advancing Critical Care Practice. Sam also has a drive to influence maternity and neonatal safety and held the role of Board Maternity and Neonatal safety champion in her role at Oxford.
Marie-Annick Gournet
Marie-Annick Gournet has over 20 years’ experience of working in senior leadership roles both in higher education and the voluntary sector. Her formative years in teaching started in two Bristol secondary schools in 1987. She worked at both; the University of Bristol for five years, while completing her PhD there and the University of the West England (UWE) for 25 years. There she occupied a range of senior leadership roles, including Programme Leader, Director of Widening Participation and Disability, and Director of the Learning for All Hub.
Throughout her professional career she has volunteered with a range of organisations in diverse Non-Executive Director roles including Governor at South Gloucestershire and Stroud College, Chair of the Strategic Advisory Group for Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Chair of Governor at Bristol Future Academy, Chair of the Black South West Network and Trustee at St Georges Bristol where she chairs the Education sub-committee.
In September 2017, Marie-Annick set up MAG Consulting which offer services in pedagogy, diversity and intercultural communication. She is passionate about diversity and inclusion and this sits at the heart of her professional approach. She enjoys working collaboratively and is always thriving to learn more.
John Noble
John is a highly experienced senior executive and non-executive board member with a strong background in national security, technology, and public service. He has lived in Gloucestershire for the past 20 years and has a deep commitment to contributing to patient care.
John has strong senior leadership experience across government and the private sector, with particular expertise in technology, digital strategy, and governance. He sits on the National Cyber Security Centre’s Management Board, has been a board member for two successful tech start-ups, and is a Non-Executive Director at NHS Digital and NHS England. Awarded a CBE for his work preparing for the Olympics, John has led responses to major cyber attacks and helped secure Europe’s largest healthcare computer network. They have also played a key role in shaping NHS technology strategies, including cloud migration and the Federated Data Platform. Passionate about public service, education, and diversity, he is dedicated to improving patient care and mentoring future leaders.
John hopes to bring a wealth of experience in technology, governance, and strategic leadership to the role. With this background in national security and NHS digital transformation, combined with their local connection to Gloucestershire, makes him well-equipped to contribute to the Trust's technological advancement and overall strategic direction.
Professor in Health and Care Education: Sally Moyle
Professional Doctorate Education (EdD), MA in Higher Education, BSc (Hons) Health Studies, RN
As a Professor in Health and Care Education, Sally has over 20 years’ academic experience of developing and leading innovation and change within Higher Education. She provides academic leadership to the Academic Schools of Nursing and Midwifery, Allied Health and Community, Medicine, Sports and Exercise, Science and the Environment and Psychology with a focus on delivering an outstanding academic experience for all students, enhancing research and enterprise, and developing the University's educational offer. She previously worked in a range of senior leadership roles at the University of the West of England, Bristol.
Sally brings a wealth of experience in healthcare education, leadership, and governance to the role. Her background as a nurse, combined with extensive experience in higher education and as an Associate Non-Executive Director, makes her well-equipped to contribute to the Trust's strategic direction, particularly in staff development, innovation, and quality improvement.
Kaye Law Fox, Associate Non-Executive Director
- Appointed January 2023
- Qualifications MSc Health Management, MSc Rural Resources Management, BSC Management Systems
Kaye Law-Fox has over 20 years of public sector executive and senior management experience. Skilled in designing and delivering complex national and regional change programmes in regulated sectors; she has worked for agencies of the Home Office, and the London Ambulance Service, as well as in the private and charity sectors. Her expertise and interest are in right-sizing regulatory regimes, strategic governance and corporate systems of internal control and risk management.
Kaye is also Chair of Gloucestershire Managed Services, the Trust’s wholly owned subsidiary estates and facilities company, and is the Senior Independent Director of a registered provider of social housing in Wales. Since 2003, she has been an independent board member for housing associations varying in size and complexity, and a sector skills body. She has chaired Boards of a social housing and care provider, a commercial asset management and development subsidiary company, operations, audit and risk, remuneration and professional standards committees, and numerous task and finish groups and executive recruitment panels.
Kaye has a first degree in management systems, and higher degrees in health management and rural resource management.
Andrew Champness, Associate Non-Executive Director
Andrew is a highly experienced professional with a strong background in public service, governance, and legal matters. He has lived in Gloucestershire for over 30 years and has a deep commitment to serving their community.
He is a qualified Barrister and Chartered Manager (FCMI) with extensive experience in public sector governance, especially in policing and criminal justice. Andrew has held senior roles, including Chair of Local Criminal Justice Boards, Chair of APACE, and Non-Executive Director positions at Place Partnership, Rise (Chair-elect from March 2025), and Sport England’s Audit Risk and Governance Committee. With expertise in financial management, strategic planning, and organisational transformation, they are skilled at leading complex partnerships and delivering successful business change.
Andrew brings a wealth of experience in governance, strategic leadership, and public sector management to the role. With this background in law, policing, and criminal justice, combined with their deep understanding of Gloucestershire's community needs, makes him well-equipped to contribute to the Trust's governance and strategic direction.
Raj Kakar-Clayton, Associate Non-Executive Director
Raj is a recent graduate of the Gatenby Sanderson Insight Programme for NHS Non-Executives, which provided him with valuable experience in NHS board operations and governance. They have a strong background in business, finance, and charitable work, bringing a diverse perspective to the role.
He has a strong background in business, finance, and governance, with experience as a trustee for charitable organisations and work in complex environments. Raj completed the Gatenby Sanderson Insight Programme for NHS Non-Executives and brings strengths in strategic planning, financial management, and community engagement. Passionate about improving patient care and driving positive change, he is committed to effective, inclusive governance and continuous learning, with a collaborative and innovative approach to leadership.