Our Board
Our board members are passionate about patient care and shaping the future of the NHS. They are all experts in their respective fields and have a wealth of experience in healthcare and other, related industries.
Ian Green OBE
Chair and Non-Executive Director
Ian has held high-profile leadership roles in the voluntary, health, local government, housing, and social care sectors, in both executive and non-executive roles. He has been involved in the YMCA for over 25 years, including as Chief Executive of YMCA England. He served on the executive staff team of the World Alliance of YMCAs located in Geneva and, more recently, he was Chief Executive of the Terrence Higgins Trust, the UK's leading HIV and sexual health charity.
For over 20 years, Ian held a number of positions of public office in the London Borough of Ealing: as an elected member of the Council, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Housing, and as Mayor. He has also held a number of non-executive roles in the National Health Service.
For five years, Ian was Chair of Ealing Hospital NHS Trust and was previously a member of the board of West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group - the body responsible for commissioning health services for a population of over 500,000 people.
For two and a half years, he was Chair of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust and is currently Chair of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin NHS Integrated Care Board. He also Chairs the National Joint Commissioning Committee for the NHS in Wales.
He was awarded an OBE in 2022 for services to charity and public health.
Ian cares passionately about ensuring that all citizens receive the care that they need and that health inequalities are not only understood but tackled. As someone who has a long-term health condition, he knows firsthand how important it is to have access to high-quality health care when required. He knows that the NHS isn't perfect but believes that he can add value as a Non-Executive Chair to bring about change and transformation.
Outside of his work roles, he loves reading, going to the theatre, travelling and spending time with his husband, Paul, and their wayward spaniel.
Simon Whitehouse
Chief Executive
Simon has been Chief Executive Officer of NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin since 2022. With more than 30 years’ experience in the NHS, he brings a wealth of expertise from both clinical practice and senior leadership roles.
Simon began his career as a Physiotherapy Assistant in North Staffordshire, before qualifying as a Physiotherapist from Keele University in 1995. After several years in clinical practice, he joined the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, where he worked to support members across England. He then moved to the Department of Health NHS Modernisation Agency, where he held a role working across the country on the introduction of the NHS Agenda for Change pay system.
He has since held several senior leadership roles, including Chief Executive of two Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Groups, and Director of the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Sustainability and Transformation Partnership in June 2017.
Simon holds a master’s degree in leadership and change management from Manchester University. He is passionate about integrating clinical, professional, and non-clinical leadership to transform services across the entire care pathway.
Simon is committed to focusing on improving outcomes for local people and ensuring accountability to them.
What inspired you to work in health and social care?
Somewhat stereotypically, this came from my own personal experiences and injuries. As a result of quite a bad footballing injury (fractured ankle), I spent a significant amount of time undergoing rehabilitation with a physiotherapist. I was genuinely interested in the work that they did with me and found myself asking lots of questions. My desire to work in the NHS grew from that point and I was fortunate to be able to have a career in an area that I was interested in and really enjoyed.
What are your passions outside of work?
You will find me out with my dog Aero every morning irrespective of the weather. I try and ensure that I have at least an hour out with him every day of the week and that helps my mental wellbeing as much as it helps with the physical exercise.
I have 2 grown up daughters that keep me busy and we still enjoy family meals out and family holidays.
When not walking Aero, I really enjoy a wide variety of sports (predominantly watching now rather than playing!). I am an avid Liverpool FC supporter and will go to as many games as possible with my eldest daughter. Linked to my interest in sport, I am also a Trustee for the Foundation at Port Vale Football Club. Throughout my career I have always looked to give something back and to volunteer my time to support a charity or a local community group.
Non-Executive Directors
Trevor McMillan
Non Executive Director and Chair of Strategic Commissioning and Transformation Committee
A Biomedical Scientist by background, Trevor spent the early part of his career researching the biological basis of radiotherapy for cancer and the role of UV light in skin cancer. This was largely at the Royal Marsden Hospital/Institute of Cancer Research and at Lancaster University. He has worked with clinicians for most of his career and has lectured on radiobiology in many hospitals and universities around the world.
Trevor became the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost at Keele University in January 2014, before being appointed as Vice-Chancellor in August 2015. His tenure in these roles has been marked by growth in student numbers, enhanced visibility and reputation, improved student experience and an increased role for the University in supporting communities across the region.
Trevor is chair of the Midlands Innovation Board; a board Member of the Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire Local Enterprise Partnership; and chairs Network Staffordshire - a group of public sector leaders.
He also has past NHS NED experience with the North Lancashire Teaching Primary Care Trust (2008 - 2012), and with the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust (2012 - 2013).
Trevor received an OBE for services to Higher Education in the Platinum Jubilee Honours list in 2022.
What inspired you to work in health and social care?
I have worked with clinicians for most of my career and the interface between science and the clinic has always intrigued me. The effects of environmental radiation has been an important part of my work and this is relevant to population effects and public health.
My previous NED roles highlighted the significant issues of variation in health and treatment outcomes across quite small geographical areas and these continue to be critical issues.
At Keele University we support disadvantaged members of society in a whole variety of ways and we get huge satisfaction from the transformational impact we can have on people’s lives.
What are your passions outside of work?
There doesn’t seem much time outside work. Mainly family and a rediscovery of golf after a few years give me a lot of pleasure.
Cheryl Etches
Cheryl was a nurse in the NHS for 38 years. Having trained in Nottingham, she specialised as an Emergency Department nurse, spending five years in Saudi Arabia. Cheryl was awarded an OBE for services to nursing in 2012 and received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Wolverhampton in 2013.
Later in her career she served as Director of Nursing and Chief Nurse for 13 years at The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, and Deputy Chief Executive.
Working closely with the Infection Prevention team at the Trust, Cheryl helped to make significant improvements for patients, resulting in the Trust gaining national and international recognition for its standards and innovations in infection prevention.
While at the Trust, Cheryl was at the forefront of innovation, with projects such as dementia care, Care of the Dying Project and the Safe Hands Patient and Staff Tracking system.
She retired in 2019 and, in 2020, returned to support the Trust in an infection prevention role during COVID-19. Cheryl remained with the Trust for over two years before finally retiring for the second time in November 2022.
What inspired you to work in health and social care?
From a young age, Cheryl was deeply fascinated by the complexities of healthcare and the incredible ways it can transform lives.
This curiosity grew into a strong desire to be part of a profession where she could make a meaningful difference every day. Nursing was a natural career choice for Cheryl —combining hands-on care with compassion, science, and human connection.
Her passion for improving people's lives fuelled her commitment to nursing, supporting people through some of their most vulnerable moments, advocating for their well-being, and contributing to better health outcomes.
Choosing to become a nurse was not just a career decision for Cheryl, but a calling rooted in a drive to help others.
What are your passions outside of work?
Cheryl has multiple interests that take up her time outside of her role with the organisation.
She volunteers two mornings a week at the Greyhound Trust, where she dedicates her time to caring for the dogs, helping to home them into loving families and fundraising for the charity.
Her passion for animal welfare is matched by her enthusiasm for fitness—she regularly goes to the gym, swims, and enjoys running to stay in shape.
After retiring, Cheryl embraced her long-standing interest in dance by taking up ballet and joining the Silver Swans, as well as Latin and ballroom dancing.
A Manchester United supporter from the age of 5, she also enjoys following her favourite football team, even though it hasn't been easy of late!
Shokat Lal
Chair of People, Culture and Organisational Development Committee
Shokat Lal joins the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) from Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council where he has worked since May 2020 as Executive Director of Core Services, Deputy Returning Officer and Senior Information Risk Owner.
Overseeing a directorate of nearly 900 people, he is responsible for IT, Customer Services, Human Resources and Organisational Development, Legal, Elections, Governance Services, Finance, Revenues and Benefits, Audit, Commercial, Communications and Marketing – in addition to overseeing the council’s transformation programme.
For the previous four years, Shokat was Assistant Chief Executive at Rotherham Council where he was part of the senior leadership team responsible for bringing the council out of intervention. This followed three years at Coventry City Council as Assistant Director for Human Resources and Workforce Services.
Shokat also worked as a lay member and non-executive director for various NHS boards and was most recently Vice Chair and Lay Board Member at Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group from 2013 to 2019.
Roger Dunshea
Non-Executive Director and Audit Chair
Roger was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care System in March 2022. Roger is a chartered public finance accountant and former member of the Senior Civil Service. He was director of finance and operations at Ofwat, the economic regulator of the water sector in England and Wales for over fifteen years. Previously he held clinical, operational management and executive director roles in the NHS.
In the last ten years Roger has developed his non-executive expertise in audit and risk assurance. This has included working with the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Medical Research Council, the Geological Society, the Welsh Government, the Judicial Appointments Commission, the Defence Electronics and Components Agency and the NHS. In recent years he has taken on leadership and governance non executive responsibilities relating to health research, innovation, digital and artificial intelligence.
What inspired you to work in health and social care?
In 1980 I joined the NHS in Glasgow as a student nurse because I wanted to help and care for people suffering ill health. Since then my career has evolved gaining experience in health services management, regulation and broader public service. This has given me the privilege of working alongside service users, partners and colleagues in local and central government, voluntary organisation and the NHS. My goal is always to improve and develop services that should be tailored to the needs of individuals, notably those who are vulnerable or are disadvantaged by inequality.
What are your passions outside of work?
I enjoy the outdoors, notably rambles around Shropshire with our three dogs and further afield in the mountains of the UK and some overseas. My first degree was in geology, so anything rocky is always fun with my new interest developing in planetary geosciences. For a number of years I have volunteered with Natural England at the SSSI bog at Fenns and Whixall moss, our goal is to recreate the bog to act as a massive carbon sink and protect rare plant and animal species. In 2021 we were very privileged to become Natural England's Volunteer Team of the Year.
Mike Lawton
Vice Chair and Chair of Finance Committee
Mike Lawton, has substantial experience in global business transformation, commercial strategy and customer focussed initiatives and a proven track record in developing and implementing commercial and organisational strategies across diverse markets and cultures. Mike’s background in social housing and community care aligns well with ICB’s mission and challenges.
For 16 years, Mike served on the boards of five prominent housing associations in the Midlands, working alongside care professionals, local authorities, healthcare providers and regulators.
Despite his global career, Mike has lived and worked in Staffordshire almost all his life, growing up with the family pottery business, developing his managerial skills at Wedgwood and other Stoke-on-Trent based retailers.
He has a deep-rooted commitment to social justice and is driven by a desire to address health inequalities by ensuring universal access to health and care services, leading to better outcomes for the local population.
Executive Directors
Claire Skidmore
Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Finance Officer
Claire has worked in the NHS for over 25 years and is an experienced NHS Chief Finance Officer, holding executive positions in commissioning organisations for more than 10 years. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and holds an MBA from Warwick University.
Claire’s experience extends well beyond finance as she feels privileged to have been responsible for a wide range of functions in her time as an executive. In 2021 Claire also spent some time as Accountable Officer for Shropshire Telford and Wrekin CCG.
What inspired you to work in health and social care?
I joined the NHS straight after college and enjoy being able to use the skills and knowledge that I have gained over my career to support and drive service improvement. I am a keen advocate of the NHS and am proud to be part of a diverse and multidisciplinary team. I value the opportunity that my role brings to work with great people across health and social care.
What are your passions outside of work?
I enjoy a variety of pastimes outside of work from tap dancing and pilates to eating out and socialising with friends. I love to travel, both within the UK and abroad.
Phil Smith
Chief Officer: System Development & Integration
Phil has a proven track record of delivery in a variety of oversight, performance and planning roles across the health and social care sector over the last 18 years. He joined the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Shadow Integrated Care Board as Delivery Director in February 2022 to coordinate oversight of operational delivery across the county. This appointment was on secondment from his role as Assistant Director of Strategic Transformation for NHS England and NHS Improvement.
Staffordshire born and raised, Phil has held a variety of roles in acute, community, social care, commissioning and regulatory organisations – centred largely around the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent geography.
He is experienced in engaging with local, regional and national leaders across traditional organisational and professional boundaries to facilitate practical solutions to delivery challenges. With a focus on learning and continuous improvement, Phil is adept at bringing partners together to co-produce plans and oversee delivery.
Phil is passionate about the opportunities his new role presents to improve health and wellbeing outcomes and reduce health inequalities for the people of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Dr Lorna Clarson
Chief Officer: Strategy & Improving Outcomes
Dr Lorna Clarson is the Chief Medical Officer for NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and a practising GP by background, based in North Staffordshire. She previously served as Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Clinical Director for the Improving Population Health Portfolio at Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board. She is also a Senior Lecturer in General Practice Research at Keele University, with published work on cardiovascular disease, frailty and musculoskeletal conditions.
Previously, Dr Clarson was Clinical Chair of Stoke-on-Trent Clinical Commissioning Group and Clinical Director for Partnerships & Engagement.
Dr Clarson is passionate about improving health outcomes, strengthening clinical leadership and tackling health inequalities to deliver better care for local communities, and brings extensive experience in clinical practice, research and system leadership.
Vanessa Whatley
Interim Chief Nursing Officer
Executive Lead for children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (aged 0-25), learning disability and autism (all-age) and Down Syndrome (all-age).
About me
Vanessa’s extensive career in nursing and quality improvement spans various senior roles across both acute and community services. Before becoming the Chief Nursing Officer at Shropshire Telford and Wrekin ICB, she held key positions such as Deputy Chief Nurse, Head of Nursing, and Lead Nurse for Infection Prevention at trusts in Birmingham and Wolverhampton. She also worked as a Programme Lead for Infection Prevention and Control at the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority.
Her qualifications include a Professional Nurse Advocate certification, a postgraduate certificate in research, and a master’s degree in healthcare leadership. Vanessa’s professional interests encompass quality improvement, strategic leadership in public health to address health inequalities, the health and wellbeing of healthcare staff, nurse and AHP-led research opportunities, leadership in women’s health, prevention of harm, palliative and end-of-life care, and out-of-hospital services. She is particularly passionate about empowering nurses and AHPs to work at the top of their license and championing quality improvement.
Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys skiing, walking, exploring France, and spending time with her two teenagers and two spaniels.
Dr Rachel Gallyot
Interim Chief Medical Officer
Dr Rachel Gallyot is the Interim Chief medical Officer for the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board (ICB) and continues to serve the community as a local General Practitioner in Uttoxeter.
After qualifying from Manchester University 29 years ago, Rachel spent several years working in hospitals in the North West in Anaesthetics and Accident and Emergency before returning to the Midlands to complete GP training in Staffordshire. Following this, she spent 14 years as a GP Partner and went on to become Clinical Chair of East Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
When Integrated Care Boards were established in 2022, Rachel was appointed Deputy Chief Medical Officer, and since July, has been serving as Interim Chief medical Officer.
Driven by a deep commitment to improving health outcomes for the residents of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent, Rachel has a particular interest in value-based healthcare, clinical governance and multi-professional leadership. She is passionate about fostering collaboration across the health and care system to deliver safe, equitable and sustainable services that make a meaningful difference to local communities.
Mish Irvine
Chief of Staff
Mish has worked in the NHS for over twenty years, and the majority of this time has been spent working within Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. Mish brings with her a wealth of knowledge and has significant experience in HR, workforce planning and organisational development at both Trust and System level.
She has worked across the system in partnerships with local Providers, Higher Education Institutions and Health Education England, to develop collaborative and innovative workforce solutions. Along with her team, they have been instrumental in the COVID-19 response and have also won numerous awards for widening participation and innovative workforce solutions.
Partner Members
Jo Williams
NHS Trust Member and Chief Executive in Common
Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust and Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust
Dr Ian Chan
Dr Ian Chan is a highly experienced healthcare professional, who has worked across the UK and has been with Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICS for more than two years.
Providing strategic oversight on specific ICS initiatives, he helps to ensure that the right projects are commissioned and implemented efficiently, to best serve the needs of patients in the local area.
Dr Chan’s role gives him the opportunity to help shape healthcare services in the area, steering developments that can really make a difference to patients.
Neil Carr OBE
Trust Member and Chief Executive
Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Neil has worked in Staffordshire since 1996 and joined the Trust at its inception in 2001 successfully leading the Trust as its Chief Executive Officer since 2007. Neil originally trained as a nurse in the North East of England and principally worked as a practitioner in general hospitals working in liaison mental health. He has spent his career championing improvements in mental health and learning disability services and is committed to multi-disciplinary/multi agency working.
He has been responsible for developing and establishing a range of specialist services within mental health including eating disorders, perinatal mental health services as well as psychiatric intensive care. He enjoys a real passion for the establishment and development of strong research, innovation and development and has played a significant role in the development of mental health and primary care both within the Trust and Keele University. He is currently Chair of the Clinical Research Network West Midlands.
Over the past 2 years he has led as Senior Responsible Officer the roll out of the Covid vaccination programme in Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent. In 2005 he was awarded an OBE for his services to healthcare and nursing. In 2010 he was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Nursing for an exceptional contribution to leadership and is delighted to be the recipient of Honorary Doctorates from both the University of Staffordshire and Keele University.
What inspired you to work in health and social care
I have always placed a significant emphasis on public services and am passionate in further developing and refining the biological, psychological, social and spiritual models of care.
What are your passions outside of work?
At heart, I am a family man. I have six grandchildren and try to spend as much time as possible with them and my three sons, doing Dad and Grandad things! I am a keen supporter of Warwickshire Cricket and have been a long suffering Newcastle United FC supporter.
