Health Board members re-appointed

Hywel Dda Health Board is pleased to announce the re-appointment of Chairman, Chris Martin and four of its independent members who represent specialist fields on the Board.

Chris Martin, formerly Chairman of Hywel Dda NHS Trust, is also currently Chairman of the NHS Confederation in Wales. Born and bred in Pembrokeshire, Chris gained an honours degree in pharmacy in the former UWIST in Cardiff and, after pre-registration training, opened his own pharmacy chain in Bristol, Bath, Yate and Chippenham. He later set up another small chain of pharmacies in Pembrokeshire.

Don Thomas lives in Aberystwyth and is currently Chief Executive (previously Finance Director) for the Welsh Agricultural Organisation Society Limited. He is also Chief Executive of Welsh Lamb and Beef Producers Limited. He is a qualified accountant and has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and is a Member of the Institute of Risk Management. He holds several non-executive directorships in the private sector.

Melanie Jasper is Professor of Nursing and Head of the College of Human & Health Sciences at Swansea University and has special interests in staff development and quality of care. She graduated from the University of Manchester in 1977, became a nurse educator at the University of Portsmouth, completed her Masters at the Royal College of Nursing in 1994 and was awarded a doctorate in 1999. She became Editor of the Journal of Nursing Management in 2002 and has written seven books and numerous journal articles.

Julie James has extensive experience gained during her career in the airline industry and the education system. Following retirement in 2000, Julie has held non executive director posts with the Welsh Ambulance and Pembrokeshire & Derwen NHS Trusts and served as a lay board member for Health Professions Wales. Julie is currently Chairman of Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, an Assessor for Welsh Government’s Corporate Health at Work Standard, a Trustee of the National Botanic Garden of Wales, an Independent Member of the Audit Committee of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Wales and a Member of the Marie Curie Cancer Care Wales Advisory Board. Julie lives in Capel Isaac, Carmarthenshire with her Welsh GP husband.

Margaret Rees-Hughes lives in Penygroes and began her Nursing career in the NHS at Morriston Hospital in 1967. Margaret has 45 years of experience working in the NHS at all levels. She was Director of Nursing for 12 years at Morriston Hospital and was formerly Nurse Non-Officer for Carmarthenshire Local Health Board from 2006-2009. She has a Master of Science degree in Healthcare Management.

Chairman Chris Martin said “I am pleased to be re-appointed to my role as Chairman of Hywel Dda Health Board and look forward to continuing the journey we have been travelling over the last few years. I am equally delighted that Don Thomas, Julie James, Margaret Rees-Hughes, Melanie Jasper have all been re-appointed into their roles as Independent Board Members. They will continue to contribute to a strong team of Independent Members who, with a great deal of experience and expertise behind them, will help shape the future of health services in our region, whilst representing the our public and key stakeholders.”