Our Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is responsible for managing the Trust on a day-to-day basis and planning for the organisation's future.
The Board is made up of:
- Executive Directors, who are usually full-time staff and have a permanent contract
- Non Executive Directors (NEDs), who are usually part-time and have a fixed term of office
Our Senior Team
Karen joined HPFT in 2012 and became Chief Executive on 1 December 2021.
She is also Joint Chair of the Hertfordshire Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Neurodiversity Health and Care Partnership, the Senior Responsible Officer for the Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Programme across the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System, and Lead CEO for the East of England Provider Collaborative.
In addition, she sits on the Central East ICB Board as Mental Health Partner and is also a Board Member of NHS Alliance.
Karen began her career in 1998 on the NHS Management Training Scheme and has a breadth of experience across the NHS, holding a number of senior roles including Director of Operations of an acute hospital trust and Chief Operating Officer/Deputy Chief Executive of a community services trust. Karen is passionate about ensuring that people with mental health issues and learning disabilities can receive the care and support they need to help them live their best possible life.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Click here to follow Karen on Twitter.
Sarah joined HPFT as a non-executive director in 2014. She became Deputy Chair in 2019 and was appointed as Chair in December 2020.
Sarah is a lawyer with significant non-executive experience in the NHS. She held a number of senior executive commercial roles at BT and has also acted in a consultant capacity with small businesses supporting them on strategy and growth development.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Executive Team
Emma joined HPFT in July 2024 as Chief Nursing Officer and was appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer in 2026. Previously serving as National Deputy Director for Mental Health Nursing at NHS England, she is also a Visiting Professor at the University of Surrey and brings nearly 30 years of extensive strategic and technical experience across a wide range of health settings
Enthusiastic about the provision and transformation of effective and recovery based mental health services she has led the development of new and innovative services for the most vulnerable in our society. During COVID, she was the clinical lead for the National Mental Health, response cell, and technical advisor to WHO, providing expert clinical oversight during the pandemic.
Emma is committed to social justice and improving patient mental health care especially those from marginalised groups and is particularly skilled in the development of national policy and translating research into practice. During her career she has specialised in the prevention of suicide and promotion of health and wellbeing, for both communities and healthcare staff, including the development of national suicide prevention toolkits and the implementation of professional Nurse advocates to all healthcare settings.
Most recently she has contributed to the ICN Guidelines on Mental Health nursing and is committed to increasing the visibility and impact of those working within mental health services.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Phil joined HPFT in April 2023 from East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, where he had been the Chief Finance Officer for the last five years. Prior to this, he held the role of Chief Finance Officer at Kent and Medway NHS Partnership Trust; and Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust.
Phil has previously worked for the NHS in a number of regions including the West Midlands, London, East of England and the South East.
He graduated from the University of Sheffield with a degree in Biological Science and joined the National NHS Financial Management Training Scheme in 2000.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Helen joined HPFT in 2019. She is responsible for advising the Board and the organisation on all aspects of governance, ensuring the Board and its sub committees act fairly and with integrity. She manages the Trust’s Corporate Office, is the primary point of contact and advice for the Non-Executive Directors and Trust Governors and is also the Trust’s Counter Fraud Champion.
Helen has worked in the NHS for nearly 30 years in a range of managerial roles, including as Director of Corporate Affairs and HR in an ambulance Trust and Associate Director of Governance in a large clinical commissioning group. She has worked in the Hertfordshire health and care system for over 10 years in both commissioning and strategic planning organisations, most recently in the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care System.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
David joined HPFT in May 2022. He is responsible for strategy development, business planning and development and communications. He leads the development of integrated care across the Trust, working with partners in the wider health and social care system.
David has worked in health and social care commissioning for more than 12 years, most recently as Managing Director of Herts Valleys Clinical Commissioning Group where he was responsible for planning, commissioning and delivering services to support the health needs of people in west Hertfordshire.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Katy Healy was appointed Chief Operating Officer in April 2025 having first joined the Trust in 2023 as Divisional Director for Acute and Urgent Care Services. In her role as Chief Operating Officer, Katy is responsible for the operational delivery of all Trust services, as well as the involvement of service users and carers in shaping services.
Katy has worked within the NHS in Hertfordshire since 2017, leading operational services and driving transformational change in services for children and young people, as well as developing the Health and Care Partnership (HCP) in the south and west of the county.
Before joining the NHS, Katy worked as a management consultant at KPMG, specialising in healthcare and leadership. Prior to that, she held policy development roles at the Department of Health, contributing to a range of health and care initiatives. Katy began her career at the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, where she worked on scientific policy development, drawing on her academic background and PhD in molecular genetics.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Jo joined HPFT in April 2023. She leads on developing innovative People, Culture and Organisational Development strategies that support the Trust’s aims of providing great care and great outcomes for our service users; and which enable our people by developing a workplace where people grow, thrive and succeed.
Jo has been a board level director for 20 years, working on people and culture strategies and transformation programmes in manufacturing, retailing, public transportation industries and latterly with NHS Acute Trusts. Most recently she was Director of People at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kings Lynn. She has a background in Workplace Psychology and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Hillary joined HPFT in November 2024 as the Chief Innovation and Improvement Officer. She brings unique experience shaped by a transcontinental leadership journey spanning health system in both the United States and the United Kingdom. Hillary is responsible for the continuous quality improvement, transformation and performance across the Trust.
Hillary joined the NHS in 2021 and has held several senior roles including Divisional Director of Operations, Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Director of Transformation and Improvement within acute trusts. Prior to joining the NHS, Hillary’s 20 years of acute nursing experience included senior nursing roles such as Director of Emergency Services and Executive Nurse in a multi-hospital, healthcare organisation in California. Hillary is passionate about leading change that positively impacts the care and outcomes for service users and families.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Asif joined HPFT in 2013 as Clinical Director for Learning Disability and Forensic services. He was appointed as Executive Director of Quality and Medical Leadership in 2017. Asif is responsible for the clinical elements of the Trust’s quality management approach, as well as medicines management, research and development and medical appraisals and revalidation for doctors. He is also the professional head of HPFT’s medical staff and is responsible for medical teaching and training.
Asif began his career in the UK in 1994 and held several senior posts before joining HPFT. At HPFT, he has overseen the transformation of learning disability services, developed the Trust’s research strategy and led on improving the safety and quality of services.
Asif is a regional advisor to the Royal College of Psychiatrists and a Council member of the NHS England East of England Clinical Senate, where he sits on independent clinical review panels. He is also an author of book chapters and academic papers on epilepsy and service evaluations for peer reviewed journals.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Non Executive Directors
Anne joined HPFT as a Non-Executive director in 2021. She has more than 30 years’ experience in general and financial management in both the public and private sector. She was Managing Director of BBC World News, the BBC’s commercial international news channel.
Anne has held a variety of non-executive roles, including as Vice Chair of Central London Community Healthcare NHS Trust and Dimensions, one of the largest not-for-profit providers of support to people with learning disabilities. She is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ACA).
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Tim joined HPFT as a non-executive director in 2021. He is a qualified mental health nurse with a broad range of clinical and managerial experience in commissioning and service delivery. Tim was Executive Director of Nursing at Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust for ten years from 2002 to 2012.
Tim now works as an independent healthcare consultant on a wide range of projects, most recently for the London Cavendish Square Group on safety improvement and Health Education England on learning disability nursing. In 2010, he co-founded the Blue Smile children’s charity in Cambridgeshire and was Chair of Trustees for eight years. Tim is a member of the National Mental Health Nurse Directors Network, Cam-MIND, COPE and Rethink in Cambridgeshire.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Carolan joined HPFT as a Non-Executive Director in 2022. She has a background in marketing, communications and policy influencing in the charity and medical research sectors and has held senior roles at the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council. In 2020, she was named one of the UK’s Top 100 Marketers. Carolan now combines a portfolio of board roles with her own executive coaching and coach supervision practice, working with senior and aspiring leaders as well as independent coaches and in-house coaching teams.
Carolan was previously a Non-Executive Director at East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Haider joined HPFT in May 2025 as a Non-Executive Director. Haider has over 25 years of experience in healthcare information technology, consulting, and professional services, and has led international and multidisciplinary teams delivering digital transformation projects and implementing electronic patient records systems and currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Healthinnova Limited, a health-tech consultancy. Prior to joining Healthinnova, Haider served as Vice President and General Manager for Caradigm's European business and was responsible for leading Caradigm's growth and operations in Europe.
Haider has also held roles leading software implementations and driving operational improvements for customers while working at Microsoft and GE Healthcare as well as smaller software providers and consultancies such as IDX Systems and LogicaCMG (now CGI). Haider is a member of the board of the UK Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), his local university hospital NHS foundation trust (Milton Keynes), and is the Chair of the British Standards Institute (BSI) Healthcare Organisation Management committee (TC304).
Haider is a trustee for Madad and the World Wars Muslim Memorial Trust. Haider holds a BSc in Medical Informatics as well as a Masters in Informatics from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. He is a trained ISO auditor and Six Sigma BlackBelt.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Jon became a Non-Executive Director of HPFT in 2021, having served as a Governor for six years and as Lead Governor for three years. John had a long career in publishing as Managing Director and Non-Executive Chair of global and regional businesses at John Wiley and Sons, specialising in resources for professionals and students in healthcare and other disciplines.
Jon is an Independent Board Member of Ravensbourne University London and a Trustee of the homelessness charity Accumulate.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Andrew joined HPFT as a Non-Executive Director in 2022. He has worked in housing, homelessness, supported housing, community development and wider social policy and practice for over 30 years, both in the UK and internationally. He is the Chief Executive of the Housing Associations’ Charitable Trust (HACT), a UK-wide charity which partners with organisations across the housing sector to encourage innovation and foster collaboration. He is an expert on the integration of housing and health for people with mental health needs, learning disabilities and autism. Andrew was awarded an OBE in the Kings New Year Honours List 2023 for services to housing.
Andrew was previously a Non-Executive Director at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Matt joined HPFT as an Associate NED in April 2025. He is a qualified accountant and currently performs the role of Executive Director of Finance for Letchworth Heritage Foundation. Matt has spent much of his career working in finance / leadership roles in social housing or the broader charity sector.
Matt has previous experience of working as NED, Audit Committee Member and Committee Chair and has performed a range of Board member roles with housing associations since 2017. He is currently a NED for Thrive Homes and an independent member of the Bromford-Flagship Audit Committee having served on the Board of Flagship from 2020 to 2025.
Contact
Email: corporate.office@nhs.net
Tel: 01707 253800
Board committees
There are four committees which report to the Board:
- Audit Committee
- Finance and Investment Committee
- Integrated Governance Committee
- Nomination and Remuneration Committee
The Audit Committee provides assurance to the Board. It is responsible for:
- Overseeing the probity and internal financial control of the Trust, working closely with external and internal auditors.
- Reviewing governance
- Risk management and assurance
- Approving the external audit plan, the internal audit plan and accounting policies
- Reviewing draft annual accounts before they are submitted to the Board.
The Executive Director of Finance and appropriate internal and external audit representatives normally attend meetings. Other Executive Directors are invited to attend when the Committee is discussing areas of risk or operation that are their responsibility. The Chief Executive is invited to attend at least annually to discuss with the committee the process for assurance that supports the Statement on Internal Control.
Anybody concerned about a matter of corporate governance or probity can contact any member of the Audit Committee in confidence
Members
Matthew Peak, Non-Executive Director (Chair of the Committee)
Tim Bryson, Non-Executive Director
The Finance and Investment Committee provides assurance to the Board that all Board members have an adequate understanding of key financial issues. In particular it reviews investment decisions and policy, financial plans, and reports and approves the development of financial reporting, strategy and financial policies, consistent with the foundation trust regime.
Members
Anne Barnard, Non-executive Director (Chair of the Committee)
Jon Walmsley, Non-Executive Director
Phil Cave, Chief Financial Officer
Asif Zia, Chief Medical Officer
David Evans, Chief Strategy and Partnerships Officer
The Nomination and Remuneration Committee reviews and makes recommendations to the board on the composition, skill mix and succession planning of the Executive Directors of the Trust. All Non-Executive Directors are members of the committee and the Chief Executive, Company Secretary and the Director of People and Organisational Development normally attend.
The Integrated Governance Committee leads the development and monitoring of quality and risk systems within the Trust to ensure that quality, patient safety and risk management are at the heart of all Trust activities. The committee ensures that appropriate risk management processes are in place to assure the Board that risks are being identified and managed within the Trust. It also develops systems and processes to ensure that we are compliant with the registration requirements of the Care Quality Commission.
The committee makes sure that the treatments and services that we provide are appropriate, reflect best practice, represent best value for money and are responsive meet people's needs.
The committee also ensures that service users' views and experiences are reflected in the way our services are delivered.
Members
Tim Bryson, Non-executive Director (Chair of the Committee)
Jon Walmsley, Non-Executive Director
Anne Barnard, Non-Executive Director
Asif Zia, Chief Medical Officer
Phil Cave, Chief Financial Officer
Jo Humphries, Chief People Officer
Board meetings and board papers
The Trust's quarterly Board Meetings are open to the public.
Board of Directors Meetings
Venue: Trust Head Office, The Colonnades, Beaconsfield Road, Hatfield AL10 8YE
Chair: Sarah Betteley.
Members of public - Attending meetings
The HPFT Board meeting is not a public meeting, but a meeting in public. Meetings are held in person and members of the public are welcome to attend and observe the meeting.
If you are unable to attend the meeting in person, we will provide you with a Microsoft Teams (MS Teams) link into the room. Members of the public joining in this way are asked to keep their cameras off and remain on mute during the meeting. If you would like to attend remotely please email corporate.office@nhs.net
The meeting is not recorded.
Members of public - Asking questions
Questions from the public are welcome and there will be time at the end of each Board meeting to address as many questions as possible.
Questions at the Board must be related to agenda items and be asked in a respectful way and not be defamatory. We encourage you to submit your question in advance to ensure we have best opportunity to answer as completely as possible.
To submit a question please email: corporate.office@nhs.net.
Please note that a question will not be answered at Board if it:
- is not about a matter for which the Trust is responsible
- is not about an agenda item
- has been asked in a previous Trust board meeting held in public.
- requests the disclosure of information which is confidential or exempt
- names, or clearly identifies, a member of staff or any other individual.
If your question does not relate to an agenda item, please contact our PALS team on hpft.pals@nhs.net
If you would like to join the Board meeting please email corporate.office@nhs.net
For a copy of the Board Papers from previous meetings please click here
2026/27
| Date | Time | Room | Type of meeting |
| 30 April | 09:30 - 10:15am | Da Vinci | Private |
| 21 May | 10:30 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 22 June | 11:30 - 12:30pm | Da Vinci | Annual Accounts |
| 16 July | 11:30 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 24 September | 11:00 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 22 October | 09:30 - 10:15am | Da Vinci | Private |
| 26 November | 11:00 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 17 December | 09:30 - 10:15am | Da Vinci | Private |
| 28 January | 10:30 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 25 February | 09:30 - 10:15am | Da Vinci | Private |
| 24 March | 10:30 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
There is no meeting in August in 2026
2025/26
| Date | Time | Room | Type of meeting |
| 24 April | 09:30 - 10:15am | Da Vinci | Private |
| 22 May | 10:30 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 5 June | 09:30 - 10:15am | Da Vinci | Private |
| 20 June | 11:30 - 12:30pm | Da Vinci | Annual Accounts |
| 17 July | 11:30 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 18 September | 11:00 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 16 October | 09:30 - 10:15am | Da Vinci | Private |
| 24 November | 11:00 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 18 December | 09:30 - 10:15am | Da Vinci | Private |
| 22 January | 10:30 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 12 February | 09:30 - 10:15am | Da Vinci | Private |
| 26 March | 10:30 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
There is no meeting in August in 2025
2024/25
| Date | Time | Room | Type of meeting |
| 11 January | 09:30 - 10:15am | Da Vinci | Private |
| 8 February | 10:30 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 29 February | 09:30 - 10:15am | Da Vinci | Private |
| 28 March | 10:30 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 18 April | 09:30 - 10:15pm | Da Vinci | Private |
| 16 May | 13:30 - 16:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 18 July | 13:30 - 16:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 18 September Annual General Meeting | 15:00 - 17:00pm | Da Vinci | AGM |
| 19 September | 10:30 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 17 October | 09:30 - 10:15am | Da Vinci | Private |
| 21 November | 10:40 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 12 December | 09:30 - 10:15am | Da Vinci | Private |
| 23 January 2025 | 10:30 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
| 20 February | 09:30 - 10:15am | Da Vinci | Private |
| 20 March | 10:30 - 13:30pm | Da Vinci | Public |
There is no meeting in August in 2024
Register of interests
Register of interests declared by the Board of Directors including HPFT Staff
Gifts and Hospitality Register for HPFT Staff