Our Trust Board

Board papers for 2024 

• January 2024 
• March 2024 
• May 2024 
• July 2024 
• September 2024
• November 2024 

Board papers for 2020 - 2023 can be found in our key documents library. 

Melloney Poole, OBE

Chairman

Melloney Poole joined the Trust Board in May 2017 and was appointed as Chairman on 1st November 2017. She was the Chief Executive Officer of the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust until 31st December 2021. She is a corporate, charity and public administrative law solicitor and previously developed the combined legal service department which now supports all the legal and governance matters for the Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Millennium Commission and the Community Fund.

In addition, she has been a Non- Executive Director in the NHS since 1993, serving on the Boards of three NHS Trusts including leading one Trust through the Monitor process, and sat on the Board of the Health Foundation until 31st December 2021. She has also been a volunteer and fundraiser for various charities and a magistrate on the Preston bench. She was appointed to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire as an Officer in the 2010 New Year Honours list in recognition of her contribution to legal and governance services.

Phil Berrington

Non-Executive Director, Vice Chair 

Phil joined Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust in February 2023. He has been a Non-Executive Director with the Isle of Wight NHS Trust since January 2019. He was formerly an Executive Partner in IBM Consulting leading accounts where clients were undergoing large and complex transformation journeys, enabled by technological change.

In his consulting work Phil has experience of working in the public sector, notably with a large central government department helping them transform back-office functions and processes. Most recently, Phil was IBM’s Lead Client Partner for large media production and broadcasting organisation. Phil is a Chartered Management Accountant (FCMA), a Chartered Management Consultant, and holds a postgraduate diploma in Strategy & Innovation from Said Business School.

Christine Slaymaker, CBE

Non-Executive Director, Chair of Finance and Infrastructure Committee 

Christine joined the Board in May 2017. Prior to this she was Chief Executive of Farnborough College of Technology, rated “Outstanding” for Quality and Financial Health. She is a business graduate and has held non-executive positions for a number of organisations including Farnborough Aerospace Consortium, Treloar School and College, a Royal Engineers charity and the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership.

Christine was awarded a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in June 2014. She is from the Portsmouth area and still lives locally.

Martin Rolfe

Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director,  Chair of Quality and Performance Committee

Martin Rolfe is Chief Executive Officer of NATS, the UK’s leading provider of air traffic management services. Previously, he was the Managing Director of Operations at NATS responsible for delivering NATS’ regulated UK air traffic business. Prior to joining NATS, he worked for the Lockheed Martin Corporation where he was Managing Director.

Martin Rolfe holds a Master’s Degree in Aerospace Systems Engineering from the University of Southampton. His career started with the European Space Agency, working in orbital mechanics. Since then, he has worked in the aviation domain for more than 20 years across a number of companies leading large multinational teams across Europe, the US, and Asia with customers that include central government departments, military organisations and air navigation service providers.

Graham Barneston

Non-Executive Director

Graham, a Chartered Management Accountant, has over twenty years’ experience in the maritime, logistics and retail sectors and has held senior leadership positions in SMEs and multi-billion turnover businesses in these industries.  Most recently he was Chief Financial Officer of the cross-Solent operator Red Funnel.

He is also a Non-Executive Director of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership where he sits on the Funding Finance & Performance Management Group and has been a Non-Executive Director and Vice Chair of Maritime UK Solent.

A resident of Cowes on the Isle of Wight, Graham is a Governor of the Isle of Wight College where he is Vice Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Capital Committee. He is also a Trustee of two Island charities, Independent Arts and the Isle of Wight Literary Festival.

A Fellow of the Institute of Directors, Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and Associate Fellow of the Nautical Institute, Graham holds a BSc (Econ) from University College London.

Professor Graham Galbraith CBE

Non-Executive Director, University of Portsmouth representative 

Graham Galbraith has been Vice-Chancellor of the University of Portsmouth since September 2013. He has responsibility for the strategic direction of the University, working with the Board of Governors and senior management team.

He is passionate about higher education and its power to transform the life choices of individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds. He is also committed to leading the University to provide the very best student experience underpinned by internationally excellent research and world class business engagement.

Dr Vivek Srivastava

Non-Executive Director

Vivek Srivastava is a consultant in Acute Medicine at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Hospital and Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow. He led the development and implementation of new roles (e.g. advanced practitioners) in Acute Medicine to provide high-quality clinical services.

He is the founding chair of Pan-London Acute Medicine Network, a clinical community to improve acute care in the region.  He has also contributed to improving physical and mental health services, mental health education and preventing hospital re-admissions.

He worked from 2013-2023 for the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcomes and Death (NCEPOD), where he contributed to reports on the quality of care of conditions like sepsis, pulmonary embolism, peri-operative diabetes care and mental healthcare in acute hospitals.

Vivek is the Director of Quality for MBBS at King’s College London School of Medicine and is closely involved with the new medical school campus in Portsmouth.

Jonathan Plumtree 

Non-Executive Director

Jonathan started his business career at PriceWaterhouse Coopers, where he specialised in the UK/US insurance sector, before becoming Finance Director of a leading health-focused insurance company. He subsequently moved into business leadership, as managing director of two corporate businesses for Zurich Insurance and CEO of Omnilife Insurance. He now focuses on a impactful consulting and NED roles.

Jonathan joined the Trust Board in April 2024 and is Chair of the Audit Committee. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales with over 30 years experience in the insurance and charity sectors. He lives in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and is Vice Chair of Wessex Cancer Support and a Vice President for Young Lives Vs Cancer.

Professor Greta Westwood CBE 

Non Executive Director 

Greta has been the CEO of the Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF), a nursing and midwifery charity since September 2019, prior to that she was the Chief Operating Officer in 2017. She is a Registered Nurse, Florence Nightingale Foundation Alumna (2012 Leadership Scholar) and London Business School Senior Executive Programme Alumna.

Greta qualified as a nurse in 1983 and a midwife in 1987, both in Southampton. She has a PhD in Nursing from the University of Southampton. Greta’ career has spanned general nursing, midwifery, clinical genetics, and clinical academic roles across the Hampshire region.  Her last role in the NHS, completing an NHS career of 39 years was at Portsmouth Hospital University NHS Trust so she is delighted to return to support her now local hospital and excited to be working with new colleagues in the IOW.

In 2021, Greta was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours List 2021 for services to Nursing and Midwifery.

Deborah McKenzie

Non Executive Director 

Deborah is an experienced public sector and private sector leader with a passion for supporting people and organisations to thrive. She has worked in the health sector since 2005, starting as a non Executive director at the Royal Surrey County Hospital before working at the London Strategic Health Authority, followed by the Department of Health and Social Care. Deb joined Public Health England  in January 2013 as it was created, moving to NHSBT in autumn 2021. She has served on the Boards of both NHS Blood and Transplant and Public Health England as Chief People Officer and is a Fellow of the CIPD.

Prior to 2005 she worked as an independent OD practitioner, and before that was an associate partner with Accenture she led a number of large-scale change programmes. Her early career was spent in the private sector. Deb joined the Trust Board in April 2024. 

Steve Shaw 

Non Executive Director 

Steve has had an extensive career as a Chief HR Officer in public and private sector businesses operating across a number of international markets.  He has over fifteen years of boardroom experience in industries such as housing, technology, advertising, and e-Commerce.  He has led large teams as they transform organisations and improve service delivery. 

Steve joined the Trust Board in April 2024.  He is also an NED with the Shaw Trust, a member of the Company of HR Professionals, and a strategic advisor to small businesses.  He has a real focus on sustainability, social mobility, diversity and inclusion.  He recently established an HR consultancy, Wyndham James, that has delivered important programmes to improve diversity, inclusion and representation, most notably in schools.

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, Steve holds an MA in Human Resource Management and MBA. 

Penny Emerit

Chief Executive

Penny joined PHU in January 2018, becoming Chief Executive Officer in March 2021. She subsequently took on the role for IWT as well in June 2023. Penny is an experienced and highly capable NHS leader.  Penny joined Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust in January 2018 as Director of Strategy and Performance and later added the Deputy Chief Executive portfolio to her responsibilities prior to taking on the CEO role. As CEO, Penny led Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust to a second CQC Good rating in July 2022 following a well-led inspection and core service inspection of medicine and urgent care services. She also led the development of the Trust’s ‘Working Together’ strategy.

Penny has many years of experience in healthcare at national, regional, and local levels, covering policy, regulation, and service delivery, with a credible track record of delivery across the NHS in London and the South. Her expertise in strategy development and implementation alongside regulation and performance improvement drives her passion and commitment to delivering sustainable improvement for the benefit of patients, communities, and staff.

Mark Orchard

Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chief Executive 

Mark Orchard has held Board level executive roles in complex NHS organisations for over 15 years, spanning acute and community provision, physical & mental health commissioning and system oversight. Mark joined PHU in September 2019 as Chief Financial Officer before taking up the joint role with the Isle of Wight NHS Trust from September 2023. Mark has also held director roles at Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and NHS England (with responsibility for Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight).

Mark is currently national Chair of the NHS Providers Finance and Commercial Directors’ Network, elected by his peers. Between 2022–2024, Mark also chaired the University Hospital Association National Finance Directors’ Group. During 2016–17 Mark was President of the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and served ten years as a non-Executive Board level Trustee between 2009–2019, with included Board Chair 2016–17 and vice-Chair 2013–16.

Peter Ridley 

PHU Chief Officer

Peter joined in March 2024 as the new PHU Chief Officer. Peter has worked in the NHS for 25 years and brings with him a wealth of experience in senior roles. Most recently Peter held the role of Deputy Chief Finance Officer in the NHS England national team and so has a strong track record in NHS finances, planning, policy and regulation. Before this Peter carried out a number of Board roles in NHS providers. This includes a number of Chief Officer portfolios at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust including strategy, performance, compliance and finance. During this time Peter also worked extensively on setting up the Royal Free’s Group model. Prior to this Peter was the Executive Director of Finance at the Royal Surrey and has worked in a number of NHS organisations including the Royal Marsden, Croydon Health and Haringey PCT.

Joe Smyth

Chief Officer Isle of Wight NHS Trust

Joe was appointed as Isle of Wight Chief Officer in September 2023 and is a member of the Boards in Common between Isle of Wight and Portsmouth Hospitals, he is a voting member of the IWT Board.

Joe joined the Isle of Wight Trust in October 2019 as Chief Operating Officer and assumed the role of Gold Commander for the Trust during the pandemic.

In previous roles he worked with 8 CCGs and 4 acute Trusts to develop an acute clinical site strategy for North-West London. Joe was the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Hillingdon Hospitals for seven years and led on the creation of their Integrated Care Partnership, women’s and children unit and development of a frailty service. He was also the Director of Service Improvement at Epsom and St Helier in South London and spent 3 years at the Royal Bournemouth NHS Trust as their Deputy COO where he led the reconfiguration of their hospital sites.

Kelvin Cheatle

Interim Chief People Officer

Kelvin has spent his whole career in HR spending the last 28 years as a Director in NHS Trusts and the Private sector after an early career in local government. He was HR Director at Broadmoor Hospital and then West London Trust, undertook national work on pay, conditions and Speak Up whilst leading the Capsticks HR Advisory service. Since 2016 he was Chief People Officer for Kingston Hospital, latterly working in partnership with Hounslow and Richmond Community Trust as part of a single Executive team. In 2021 Kelvin was given a lifetime achievement award by HPMA which he treasures as it was voted on by his peers.

Kelvin joined the Board in April 2024 as Interim Chief People Officer to help build an integrated People function and lay the foundations pending a permanent employment.

Professor Liz Rix, MBE

Chief Nurse

Liz was appointed Chief Nurse across both Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust in September 2023, having joined Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust in 2019. After spending the first 20 years of her career working in different NHS Trusts in Wales including several director-level nursing positions in large, integrated Trusts, Liz took up her first Chief Nurse post in 2004 at Swansea NHS Trust, she moved to the University Hospitals of North Midlands in 2009. Liz is passionate about delivering quality safe care for patients through clinical leadership at all levels and improving both patient and staff experience.

In 2019, Liz was made an honorary professor by the University of Portsmouth in recognition of the partnership between the two organisations. With more than 40 years’ service in the NHS, Liz is proud to have led the professional development of nursing, midwifery, and Allied Health Professional (AHP) teams, and in 2023 was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List. Liz is one of the few nurses to graduate from the NHS Management Training Scheme and proud to share her experience. 

Dr John Knighton

Chief Medical Officer

John was appointed Chief Medical Officer (CMO) across the Isle of Wight NHS and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trusts in September 2023. He was appointed as Medical Director for Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust in 2017, serving in that role until his appointment as CMO for both organisations. 

John joined Portsmouth Hospitals as a Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Anaesthesia in 2000, after training in Medicine, Intensive Care and Anaesthesia, including spending a year as Visiting Instructor at the University of Michigan Hospital, USA. His first significant role in medical leadership as a consultant was as Clinical Director for the Department of Critical Care from 2010 to 2016, during which it was rated 'Outstanding' by the CQC. He went on to take further leadership and management roles across the Trust, including as Clinical Service Centre Chief, Associate Medical Director and Deputy Medical Director. Throughout, he has sought to secure excellence in outcomes and patient experience, championing effective, professional and safe multi-disciplinary team working.

Professor Anoop Chauhan, MBE

Chief Research Officer

Anoop was appointed Chief Research Officer for both PHU and IWT in September 2023. He has been the Director of Research at PHU since 2009 and is also a practicising physician in respiratory and general medicine.  

Anoop has developed opportunities for patients throughout the region to participate in high-quality research trials, introduced innovations in clinical pathways, developed new models of care, and helped set up a nationally recognised severe asthma centre in Portsmouth. His research has resulted in a positive impact on disease control, quality of life, healthcare usage and health economic benefits in patients with respiratory conditions.

Anoop has helped multiple small and medium-sized businesses to secure funding, develop high-quality research studies and technology trials in support of the NHS. He has also set up the Portsmouth Technology Trials Unit to allow more health technology companies to work with patients and the NHS.

Dr Nikki Turner

Chief Transformation officer

Nikki was appointed as Chief Transformation Officer for the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust In September 2023.

Nikki started her NHS career in 1998 on the Isle of Wight as a Project Manager. Since then, she has held a variety of roles, leading operational areas across acute, community services, mental health and ambulance services as well as leading in service and system transformation. During her time working within the public services, she has also worked for Portsmouth & SE Hampshire Health Authority, Isle of Wight Council, and the former Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust. Nikki was the Deputy Chief Operating Officer before being appointed Director of Acute and latterly for ambulance services in 2018. In October 2019 Nikki took up the role of Director of Transformation, later becoming Director of Strategy, Partnerships and Digital. Nikki undertook the role of Acting CEO for the Isle of Wight NHS Trust for a period of 6 months in 2022.

Nikki holds a doctorate and is a Prince 2 Practitioner in Programme Management. She lives on the Isle of Wight and is passionate about the care we deliver to patients across Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight.

Lee McPhail 

Interim Chief Delivery Officer 

Lee was appointed Chief Delivery Officer of Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and Isle of Wight NHS Trust in January 2024. Lee has more than 20 years’ experience within the NHS, including leading operational roles at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, Barts Health NHS Trust and, prior to this, North Middlesex University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Before commencing with our organisation, he had been at Croydon since 2018.  He was appointed Chief Operating Officer for that Trust in 2019, with a focus on bringing them and NHS Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group closer together to maximise the resources available for the frontline.

The Remuneration Committee is chaired by our Chairman. It has delegated authority from the Board to determine the remuneration policy and performance management framework and to set individual remuneration arrangements for the Trust’s executive directors.

The Quality and Performance Committee reviews delivery of key national, local and internal performance targets. The committee oversees clinical quality and effectiveness to drive continuous improvement. It scrutinises specific issues identified by the committee or others to seek assurance on their management or resolution.

The committee reviews financial reporting and management, identifying and monitoring progress against risks relating to these areas. It provides assurance to the board on all significant performance aspects relating to finance and infrastructure as well as reviewing financial aspects of investment proposals.

This committee reviews workforce and organisational development, including monitoring implementation of the trust’s workforce and organisational development strategy and compliance with relevant national standards, regulations and local staffing requirements. This includes a particular focus on safe staffing of the hospital to ensure we provide safe, high quality, patient centred care and that the trust’s strategic priorities and ambitions are delivered in an affordable manner.