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 of 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 is a proven and commitment leader in the health and care sector. Her experience spans over 25 years’ director and senior management roles in local government, Social Care, the NHS and the voluntary sector.
Her expertise spans health and social care service provision, leading partnership working across the health and social care system to deliver 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 organisational development.
Prior to joining the Trust, she held a similar role with Gloucestershire NHS Clinical Commissioning Group and was 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 travelling, gardening, healthy lifestyle coaching, teaching plant-based cooking, 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.
Before 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. Jaki is also a Co-opted member of the University of Gloucestershire Finance and General Purposes 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 was the Executive Nurse Director for Professional Practice at the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), where she led a comprehensive review leading to progressing the work to regulate of advanced nursing and midwifery practice. She also led the improvement work in relation to safeguarding.
Sam has held two Chief Nursing Officer roles, including five years at Oxford University Hospitals. Sam’s portfolio included the professional leadership and education of over 5,000 Nurses, Midwives and AHPs, and joint leadership with Oxfordshire County council for the Urgent Care improvement programme across the system. Sam also held the executive leadership of the Trust Estates and Facilities services, and the delivery of the capital programme. Prior to this, Sam was Chief Nursing Officer for five years at the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust.
Sam’s clinical background is critical care nursing, where she proudly undertook clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marie-Annick Gournet
Dr Gournet is Associate Professor of Lifelong Learning and Inclusive Pedagogy at the University of Bristol. She has over 20 years’ experience of working in senior leadership roles both in higher education and the voluntary sector. She joined the University of Bristol as Director of Part-Time Programmes in August 2019 and in February 2024 was seconded as Programme Lead for the University of Bristol Reparative Futures Mobilisation phase. Before joining the University of Bristol, she worked at UWE, Bristol where she occupied a range of leadership roles. In September 2017, Marie-Annick set up MAG Consulting which offered a variety of consultancy, research, training and coaching services with a focus on diversity and inclusion. In June 2019, she set up the Global Majority Teachers Network, a community of practice bringing together qualified global majority teachers with a focus on staff support, global curriculum, access, retention and progression of global majority people in the education sector.
Throughout her professional career Marie-Annick worked with a range of organisations in diverse Non-Executive Director roles. She is currently F2SU NED Champion, has chaired the Charitable Funds Committee, and now chairs the People and OD committee in the Trust.
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 was one of the founding members of the National Cyber Security Centre’s Management Board, leading the response to a large number of major cyberattacks. He has been a board member for two successful tech start-ups and was a Non-Executive Director at NHS Digital and NHS England. In these roles, he was responsible for assuring the Board on the security of Europe’s largest computer network. He also played a key role in shaping NHS technology strategies. Passionate about public service, education, and diversity, he is dedicated to improving patient care and mentoring future leaders. He was awarded a CBE for his work preparing for the London Olympics,
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.
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 25 years’ academic experience of developing and leading innovation and change within Higher Education. She is currently the Pro Vice Chancellor for Health and Science at the University of Worcester and is a member of the University Executive Board. 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 West of England, Bristol. She is passionate about ensuring that health and care programmes develop practitioners for the future who will have a positive impact in their chosen field. Sally’s professional background is in nursing and her area of expertise is within the field of Emergency Care and Advanced Clinical Practice, with a focus on developing and supporting new roles within the health and care sector. She has extensive experience of working in partnership with external organisations to develop innovative programmes to support workforce needs.
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 25 years’ public sector executive and senior leadership experience. She is the non-executive director Chair of Gloucestershire Managed Services (GMS) the Trust’s wholly owned subsidiary estates and facilities company, and associate non-executive director on the Trust Board.
Prior to focusing on non-executive board roles, Kaye directed and delivered complex national and regional change programmes in regulated sectors, notably for the Serious Organised Crime Agency and Security Industry Authority (both agencies of the Home Office), and the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust. Kaye specialises in aligning strategic governance frameworks to business needs and regulatory requirements, including corporate systems of internal control and risk management. Her business governance experience includes work in the not for profit, charity and private sectors.
Kaye has extensive board level experience and has been an independent board member since 2003. She is currently the senior independent director of a registered social housing provider in Wales and has previously chaired boards and committees of a registered housing association, commercial asset management and development subsidiary company, operations, audit and risk, remuneration and professional standards, and led many executive and non-executive director appointment panels.
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.