We would like to introduce you to the public, staff and appointed governors who sit on our Council of Governors. Please read the biographies below to learn more about each of them.
Our Council of Governors is chaired by the chair of our Board - Julie Houlder
Lynn Walshaw
Derbyshire
Lynn is a registered nurse, passionate about patient care, who has enjoyed a 40-year career working within the NHS as both a clinician and in senior manager roles working in both acute and community Trusts. After semi-retiring in 2014 Lynn has worked as an independent consultant within the NHS.
Lynn is married and moved from her home county of Yorkshire to Derbyshire 32 years ago. Lynn enjoys a number of interests which include history, art and design, travel and road touring and sings within a local community singing group.
Public governors are local people who have been elected by local people to work with us on behalf of their local communities. They represent local interests and are working with us to improve health services for the future.
Derbyshire
Paul Robertson - Paul is a local government officer who has a varied career spanning 48 years working in allocation, managing and developing affordable housing more recently dealing with insurance and risk management. In that career partnership working with health, adult services and the voluntary sector has been a continuous strand.He has also been active as a volunteer as a school governor and a paitient representative on a GP practice and an Amber Valley group. Paul is married and moved from Yorkshire to Ripley 31years ago.
Lynn Walshaw - lead governor: Lynn is a registered nurse, passionate about patient care, who has enjoyed a 40-year career working within the NHS as both a clinician and in senior manager roles working in both acute and community Trusts. After semi-retiring in 2014 Lynn worked as an independent consultant within the NHS.
Lynn is married and moved from her home county of Yorkshire to Derbyshire 32 years ago. Lynn enjoys a number of interests which include history, art and design, travel and road touring and singing within a local community singing group.
Gillian Harvey: Gill was a GP partner in Dronfield for 35 years, retiring at the end of 2015. During that time she was a GP trainer and medical student educator. Gill was clinical governance lead at North Derbyshire PCT and a clinical advisor sitting on the GP Performance Panel, performing quality visits to GP practices and Chesterfield Royal Hospital, and investigating complaints against GPs.
Gill has lived in North Deryshire for most of her life and has two children and four grandchildren, all of whom live in North East Derbyshire.
Jill Kendrick: Jill is a retired NHS employee having spent 39 years working for the NHS in Derbyshire. A substantial part of her career was spent working closely with our primary care colleagues. Her final position as head of performance and planning involved working with all secondary care providers ensuring NHS targets for patient care were achieved.
Jill has lived in Derbyshire all her life with the last 18 years being in Bolsover. Jill is married with one daughter and one granddaughter. Hobbies include walks with the family dog and taking holidays everywhere.
Charlotte Mochrie: Charlotte is a mother of three and a qualified reflexologist. She is passionate about healthcare, more specifically for women, babies & children. After struggling to gain access to peri-natal mental health support after the birth of her first child, she is passionate about helping new Mother's during the fourth trimester. She was born in Kent but has lived in Derbyshire for the last eight years after leaving a job in the creative industry in London to raise her young family. She enjoys reading, gardening and learning about the history of women's health.
James Laing:
Marie Haywood:
Sivasankaran Munusamy:
City of Derby
Paul Summers
Rest of England
Valentine Oluka:
I am originally from Nigeria. Since arriving the UK, I have gained valuable experience across a range of health and social care settings, reflecting a profound commitment to improving the lives of individuals through dedicated service and compassionate care.
Now stepping into a pivotal role as the NHS public governor for the Rest of England district, I am eager to contribute my insights and passion for healthcare excellence. My journey from Nigeria to the UK and through multiple healthcare roles demonstrates a steadfast dedication to health and social care, underpinned by a strong desire to make a meaningful impact in his new capacity.
Staff Governors represent staff interests and have been elected to work with us to enhance patient care and the working lives of staff.
Meet our staff governors
Tracy Elder
Adam Twyford: I have been working in DCHS for nearly 20 years now, starting as an apprentice electrician and working my way up to my current position as an Estates manager. My leisure interests include spending time with my kids, playing rugby, and mountain biking.
Becky Barton
Along with our Public and Staff Governors, we also have two Appointed Governors. These Governors are nominated representatives from partner organisations we work closely with:
Derbyshire County Council
Dawn Abbott: I became a councillor because I am interested in helping people and making a difference to the community. I love travel and animals, and have a varied working background- I have been a land lady as well as a carer, youth worker and sandwich shop owner. I am the daughter of a Military Policeman and have children and grandchildren of my own.
University of Derby
Navjot Virk: Navjot is a senior academic at the University, heading up Midwifery and Children's Nursing in the College of Health, Psychology and Social Care. Navjot has strong professional history in National Health Service and Higher Education Sector in India and England. She is member of various local, regional, and national professional groups and holds national credibility in the fields of Health Promotion, Safeguarding, Infant Mental health and Speech and Language development. Navjot is well known for her passion in leadership and has supported and coached various health professionals across England. She is passionate about improving quality of services.
In her voluntary capacity as a School governor, she has supported various state funded, Free schools and independent schools and provided strategic direction to improve quality of education. She played pivotal role in setting up Akaal Primary School in Derby which is Sikh Faith Designated Primary school imparting value-based education. In addition, to that she is nationally trained inspector for conducting section 48 Faith Inspections in primary and secondary schools.
Navjot is an active member of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara where she does voluntary service in leading a Punjabi school to teach Punjabi and Sikh Studies to UK born children. Navjot is also Her Majesty appointed Marriage Registrar for Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara Derby to conduct marriages.
Navjot is the proud winner of Vii Media women role model award 2021 where 100 most empowered women were selected across the globe.