Council of Governors

As I have used and benefited from the NHS I am convinced that good communications are essential between patients and those within the health system and greater understanding will benefit both sides.

My experience includes being a member of the Integrated Care Board for Virtual Wards and working closely with the NHS through my current position as Founder/CEO of a charity that specialises in providing services for those living alone including carers.

My career was in Finance, listed stock exchange companies at senior level, and the disciplines of that profession become excellent tools when working closely with large conglomerates. I am committed to try and improve efficient productivity from those providing a service and this includes ensuring adequate protection is in place not only physical but including verbal attacks.

It is necessary to understand the situations that staff are working in and monitor the system whereby staff can notify and obtain satisfaction from any unpleasantness.

Though I am classified as a senior I still manage a 50 hour week and believe that having responsibility is a good reason to continue serving the public.

It is a great privilege to have been elected a governor, and I will do my best to promote the views of staff and service users throughout my term. 

I am the former Head of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Centre for Quality Improvement. I led the development of its quality networks and have visited and reviewed most specialist mental health services. I have also led national health service research and programme evaluation projects. I have authored/edited two books on clinical governance and an online training module series on quality in healthcare. 

I am also past president of the Royal Society of Medicine’s Quality in Healthcare Section and former Chair of the UK Health and Social Care Accreditation Forum. 

I have a keen interest in human rights and global health. I co-founded the Royal Society of Medicine’s Global Health Film Initiative and was a long-term member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' International Advisory Committee.

I have an abiding passion for health and equality. Historically, mental health, learning disability and neurodevelopmental services have not had parity with other services. I am committed to playing a part in developing services fit for the future. I have both professional skills and personal experience beneficial to being a governor.

Sussex Partnership serves the community when we are at our most vulnerable and I am keen to play a role as a public governor in steering those services.

I trained as a General Nurse and then as a Registered Mental Nurse in London during the 1980s. I have seen much change in the NHS and embrace learning and development. I have worked in hospital care, on the West Sussex Mental Healthline, as a specialist advisor in Further Education and in the Voluntary Sector.

My current role is within GP services for people who are homeless or insecurely housed. I have personal experience as a carer for a young person with a mental health issues and understand the tough challenges facing carers. My family also has lived experience of neurodivergence and learning disabilities. As a former local Councillor, I have well developed scrutiny and communication skills. I am experienced in committee work and a team player. I have training in Safeguarding, confidentiality, record keeping and data protection.

Since starting as a consultant psychiatrist in Chichester District in 1983 I have consistently wished to support the mental health of service users, their family carers and staff in their work. I believe this showed in how I worked in community psychiatry and addictions all through my career. I retired from the NHS in 2009 but continued part-time in addictions, and since 2016 in military psychiatry for a Portsmouth charity. Though I have now retired from active practice, my continued good health and interest in supporting the local community mean that I have time and energy for the role.

A drive to help the community by supporting those under greatest stress; a dislike of divisions in society; a continued wish to keep up to date professionally, particularly in areas like trauma-informed care, military mental health and joint working between agencies especially in mental health and substance misuse; and a strong interest in training everyone from service users, carers & volunteers to staff including medics in up-to-date models of care. My other community involvement e.g., leading a bid for full fibre broadband in our rural locality shows my broad community interest.

Without caring and committed yet dispassionate and balanced oversight, from a broad group of people dedicated to ensuring best care within available resource, any organisation risks becoming insular and developing too narrow a perspective on its work. A vigorous group of Governors should ensure the best (innovative yet safe) governance.

I wanted to become a Governor because I am committed to improving healthcare services and ensuring patients, particularly neurodivergent people, receive compassionate, inclusive and effective care. I am a retired Occupational Therapist with 40 years’ experience across the NHS and social care, giving me extensive knowledge of patient needs, multidisciplinary working and service delivery across inpatient and outpatient settings. Throughout my career, I have focused on improving patient experience and supporting people to access appropriate care and support.

Alongside my professional experience, I also bring lived experience as a family member of a late-diagnosed autistic person. This has strengthened my understanding of the barriers neurodivergent people can face when accessing healthcare and public services. I am a member of the Brighton and Hove Autism Partnership Board, where I helped co-produce the city’s autism strategy with autistic adults. I also sit on the police sub-group, working to improve custody arrangements and outcomes for neurodivergent people.

In addition, as Disability and Neurodiversity Officer for Hove Labour Party, I advocate for greater inclusion, accessibility and equality. I would bring strong communication, collaboration and advocacy skills to the Governor role, alongside a genuine commitment to improving services for patients, carers and staff.

I have extensive experience as a parent carer of a daughter with multiple and complex needs. I also work in local authority children’s services, collecting and analysing data. I'm on the steering group of the disabled workers and carer’s network, raising awareness of invisible disabilities and the importance of reasonable adjustments, kindness and understanding in Brighton and Hove Council.

I'm a member of the Brighton and Hove Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Partnership Board, and carry out extensive analysis and reporting on special needs data on children and young people.

I was on the Sussex Partnership Lived Experience Advisory Panel for the measurement of quality of life in family carers of people with dementia, and was a consultant on the Time for Autism project. I was chair of Governors at Saltdean Primary school for seven years and prior to that I was on the Board of the Women’s Refuge Project (now RISE).

My commitment as a Carer Governor, is to hold leaders to account in improving services, systems, use of data and really understand the needs of the people we are here to support. This is especially important for those who are neurodiverse or have learning needs. I also share lived experience of what it is like to have a child 'in the system' and the transition to adult services. The system is currently not working for people who have medical, neurodiverse and mental health needs. Ultimately, we need to save lives and improve the quality of life for those living with mental health challenges.

I am an Engineer with technical mindset, lean six sigma and project management for the NHS by trade, I want to see the best possible service given studied constraints delivered to all of my hometown. Volunteer with adults and children, Support Worker experience, I want to give back, tweak and improve the inefficiencies I come across and enable all members of the public to live a full and meaningful life.

Leading by example, mental health can mean you can live a full and vibrant, responsible (charity Vice Chair) and independent life - except when you need help. We all need help sometimes, we all have brains, some, more than others, but we can share the weight and support each other on our journeys. Whether that be in a cafe, in an office, in a formal role, or governor.

I am full of ideas and experiences to move the service into the neighbourhood framework and beyond.

I am a parent of a child who has used Sussex Partnership services for over seven years under CAHMS and now adult services. During those seven years, I have seen some of the best and worst the services have to offer; I am passionate about ensuring the best practices are celebrated and shared while highlighting the not-so-good practices to eradicate them.

The current system of accessing services during a mental crisis needs improving, and I will strive to fight for a better point of access for those in crisis.

I believe that the teams working in mental health are amazing people who need support to deliver the outstanding care they strive to achieve. With this in mind, I fully intend to be a force for positive change. 

Thank you for supporting me as your Carer Governor for East. Sussex. I have certainly felt the past six years has gone by very quickly and I am delighted to have been elected for another three year term. During my time with SPFT I have worked tirelessly to voice the concerns at Board and Council meetings of the plight of Carers who are supporting loved ones afflicted with mental health. I understand the needs of Carers who face challenges each day, as I am supporting my own adult daughter who has schizophrenia, Autism and other complex needs.

I have developed my role outside the organization by training as an Authorised Representative in Healthwatch to better understand the needs of health services in East Sussex. I trained as an Expert by Experience (EBE) so that I could use my carer experience to ensure the needs of those with autism are being appropriately supported coming into mental health services. My EBE role has also led me to become involved in the development of a psychosis support group for families in East Sussex.

The next three years I intend to prioritise the following :

• Impact of CAMHS wait time on families
• Promoting safety of clinical areas for those with Autism and Learning Disability
• Highlighting the amazing role of Carers and ensuring they are supported and included.

I wanted to be a Governor to voice the opinions of so many of my aquatintists who like me have mental health issues .They feel that there are a lack of services available to them in Worthing during the day and i want to address this matter. I've already made some inroads, by contacting Cathy Glynn- Davis the Major and Bob Smytherman the town crier who both show an interest in mental health and are willing to support me. My organizational skills are very good, which i mainly put to use doing fund raising events, these have included raising money for Stone pillows, My sisters House, young career's at CFT, Children in need, The Heena Foundation and a couple of events for the residential home I'm in now.

I'm also an Expert by Experience for West Sussex, which has lead me to be involved in projects such as CAMHS, PCREF and Women's blended services. In the past I've sat on interview panels, interviewing people for various  mental Health posts. I've also done many talks at mental health conference and have had articles published in Nursing Times and Mental Health Practice. in my life I've been through the mill but feel this has made me more resilient and an open minded person who is willing to listen to others. I'm good at working as a team member but also on my own initiative.

I am standing as a Parent/Carer Governor because I bring lived experience of supporting my own young person who uses Sussex Partnership services. I understand how vital compassionate, responsive, and well-coordinated care is, not just for children and young people, but for families advocating and navigating the system alongside them.

As well as being a West Sussex mum , I am also experienced through other previous NHS roles in ensuring services meet the needs of local children, young people, and their carers. I will listen carefully to the voices of families and parent/carer groups, advocate for improvements where needed, and help ensure that services are shaped by those who use them. I am particularly passionate about transitioning to adult services, accessibility, communication and pathway improvement, and improving the experiences of healthcare navigation.

I will approach the governor role with empathy, curiosity, and a commitment to learning, making the most of all opportunities. I am confident in speaking up, asking questions, and working collaboratively to hold the Trust to account while supporting its vision of delivering great care and improving outcomes together.

I have skills in navigating political and sensitive change, I can bring a mix of strategic, financial, analytical, and people skills to the board, with ability to ask challenging questions and support collective decision-making. I have experience with co-design, an understanding of SEND law, data analysis, risk management.

I am an experienced mental health nurse committed to improving care and advocating for patients and staff. I am passionate about improving mental health services and ensuring that staff, patients, and their families have a voice in how care is delivered. Having worked for the Trust since 2019, I have developed a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within our services and want to use this insight to contribute to positive change at a strategic level.

As Ward Manager for Palmeira Ward, I bring frontline experience and a strong appreciation for the needs of both patients and staff. I have previously worked on a male acute ward and in a male Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), giving me a broad perspective across different service settings. These roles have given me first hand experience of the pressures our teams face, as well as the resilience, innovation, and compassion that define our work.

I am committed to advocating for safe, effective, and inclusive mental health care, and I believe in the power of collaboration between clinicians, service users, and the wider community. I hope to bring a practical and balanced voice to being a governor, grounded in everyday clinical experience and driven by a desire to help shape a more responsive, and more positive future for our Trust.

I am a committed Psychology professional who will work hard to ensure views of staff and services users are represented.

I have worked for Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation trust (previously East Sussex Healthcare trust) for over twenty years and over that time have demonstrated a passion for supporting staff and the people who use our services to have a voice in their support and care. I believe strongly in holding our services to account and would value being part of the mechanisms which have a mandate to contribute to this.

I believe that I have strong communication skills to elicit and represent the views of members and people who use our services, representing their ideas, needs and hopes for the trust strategic direction.

I have a keen interest in national developments across the health service and value supporting SPFT in using best practice and evidence to inform the developments as we move forward with our organisational strategy.

I am strongly committed to team working and have a specialist interest in patient safety and delivering effective, quality care which puts our staff and services users at the centre of everything that we do.

I was keen to be a governor in order to represent and support staff working in West Sussex.

In these challenging times it's important to have representation and opportunities for us to express our views but it is also important to provide balance and perspective during conversation about patient care and service changes.

I work as the lead nurse for Specialist Older Adult Mental Health Services (SOAMHS) and have worked for Sussex Partnership, in a variety of roles for nearly 20 years.

I feel I have the knowledge of services and connections within them to represent our staff and the confidence to challenge when its required.

I am an enthusiastic NHS staff member who advocates passionately for staff and users of our services.

My experiences of working in the trust as a Mental health Practitioner and Forensic Social Worker have encouraged me to put my name forward for the role of staff governor in the specialist division. I was inspired when attending a talk on the role at the annual forensic carers day. I am motivated to apply myself to the role with a drive to improve the experiences of those working in and being cared for by the trust. I feel it is imperative when in a leadership role to speak with people face to face and if elected as a governor, I will ensure I visit services within the specialist division and hold a space for an open flow of communication.

I have experience in board membership having been on the board of committee members for a charity, where I was also the safeguarding lead. I have previously undertaken radio interviews as a representative of another trust.

My aim as a governor is to advocate for all, highlighting our achievements, putting learning into practice and having a role in improving the trust for staff and users of our services. I also bring my skills and knowledge as a frontline NHS staff member to help inform decision making. 

I am the Lead Nurse for Physical Healthcare and Infection Prevention and Control at Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (SPFT), driving improvements in physical health outcomes and leads on infection prevention strategies across the organisation.

In my role as Staff Governor for Corporate Services, I bring a strong clinical voice to the Trust’s governance, representing the views and experiences of corporate staff while championing safe, equitable, and person-centred care.

With a passion for bridging the gap between physical and mental health, I am committed to shaping services that are responsive, inclusive, and rooted in high-quality clinical practice.

Councillor Andrei Czolak brings a multidisciplinary background spanning research and project management across e‑commerce data analytics, pharmaceutical research, and Media Joint Industry Currencies. His work has focused on using data-driven insights to inform decision-making, improve outcomes, and support evidence-based practice across complex sectors.

He holds degrees in History, Criminology and Criminal Justice, and Law, reflecting a strong foundation in both analytical thinking and social policy. Councillor Czolak is particularly passionate about the provision of mental health services and their intersection with social justice, advocating for equitable, inclusive care that addresses the broader social determinants of health.

 I’m the Chief Executive of West Sussex Mind, an independent local mental health charity working across West Sussex and part of the national Mind Federation. I strongly believe that we will be able to deliver better support and experience to people through closer partnership across the system.

Having worked closely with SPFT in my current role and in my previous career as a Probation Officer, I look forward to bringing a voluntary sector and community perspective to the Council of Governors, alongside a commitment to tackling health inequalities. 

Laura is Head of Therapeutic Services at the YMCA Downslink Group, a leading charity in Sussex and Surrey dedicated to preventing youth homelessness and supporting the emotional and mental health of children and young people.

Laura has been in post since July 2024, and prior to this was the Head of Health and Counselling at the University of Brighton. Laura is a qualified Therapist and  Clinical Supervisor and maintains her practice in Brighton and across the UK.

My research investigates biological mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of affective disorders, employing a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates diverse brain imaging modalities (such as quantitative MRI, MRS, PET) within experimental paradigms to study neurometabolic and neuroimmune alterations in people suffering from disabling affective symptoms. This works aims to generate mechanistic knowledge and also informs the development of novel treatment targets and approaches to rescue such abnormalities.

I have both a clinical and academic background. I graduated in Medicine at University of Milan (2004) and completed specialist training in Psychiatry in Milan (2008) and at the Maudsley General Adult Psychiatry Higher training programme in London. My research interests stem from academic experience in disciplines such affective neuroscience, neuroimaging, neuropsychopharmacology, neuroimmunology and metabolic psychiatry through doctoral and post-doctoral positions at Maastricht University (2005-09), Imperial College London & Imanova/invicro (2009-13), and King’s College’s IoPPN (2013-16).

I have been in the Department of Clinical Neuroscience, at BSM, University of Sussex since late 2016.My clinical roles include being consultant psychiatrist in OpCourage, Sussex Partnership NHS Trust, a NHS mental health specialist service dedicated to provide specialist clinical care for military veterans, and Consultant & clinical lead for the SPFT Immunopsychiatry Research clinic, an innovative specialist service focusing on interactions between mood disorders and inflammation.

I became a young governor to use my lived experience of mental health services, combined with my (almost) finished Neuroscience Degree to provide insight into what accessible, diverse care looks like, putting emphasis on neuro-affirming, individualised treatment plans that enable long term management and recovery without labelling individuals with comorbid disorders as "complex."

I have been involved in many projects within the last two years of my working as lived experience role within SPFT, from interview panels creating staff training resources I want nothing more than to make treatment within our services truly outstanding, and be a voice for young service users who have so much knowledge to share.