Annual Report and Accounts - The Great Western Hospital

5.2 Board of Directors
5.2.1 The Board of Directors
The Board of Directors or Trust Board, is the decision making body for strategic direction and the
overall allocation of resources. It has delegated decision making for the operational running of the
Trust to the Executive Directors. The Board takes decisions consistent with the approved strategy.
Brief biographies for the Non-Executive and Executive Directors on the Board in 2011/12 are given
below.
5.2.2 Biography of individual Directors
Bruce Laurie, Chairman
Bruce was Chair of Newbury and Community PCT from 2001 until 2006 where he established the
new West Berkshire Community Hospital working closely with West Berkshire Council. He was
appointed a Non-Executive Director of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, leading on
commercial matters and saw the transition to Foundation Trust. He is also a Trustee Director of
Connexions Berkshire, working with young people on employment, education, training and support
and is a Fellow of the University of West London where he leads a Masters Course in Managing
Technological Innovation. Bruce joined the Trust in February 2008 and led it successfully to
Foundation Trust status and is proud to be associated with the acquisition of Wiltshire Community
Health Services in June 2011.
Prior to being involved in the NHS he was Group Services Director of BG plc having held a number
of board level positions in the gas regions and in the international business.
Bruce is Chair of the Mental Health Act / Mental Capacity Act Committee and is a member of the
Remuneration Committee. Bruce has been Chair of the Trust since 1 February 2008. In 2011 Bruce
was re-appointed Chairman of the Trust for a further term of two years ending 31 January 2014.
Nerissa Vaughan, Chief Executive (from 1 October 2011)
Nerissa Vaughan joined the NHS in 1991 as a Graduate National Management trainee. She
trained in Birmingham and after completing the Training Scheme took up her first post in
Birmingham Family Health Services authorising developing GP commissioning.
After a few years in commissioning at Birmingham Health Authority, she took up her first hospital
management job in Dudley Road Hospital in Birmingham as Divisional Manager for Clinical Support
Services, which included A&E, Pharmacy, Theatres, ICU, Therapies and a range of other support
services.
Nerissa became Project Director for the Wolverhampton Heart Centre, setting up a new Cardiac
Tertiary Centre from scratch. Following this, she became interested in capital development and
moved to Hull as Director of Planning. She oversaw a £200m capital programme which included a
cardiac development and oncology PFI scheme.
Keen to return to the Midlands, she took up post as Deputy Chief Executive at Kettering General
Hospital. Moving to her first CEO role at King’s Lynn nearly four years ago, she led the Trust to
Foundation Trust status. Nerissa became Chief Executive of this Trust in October 2011. Nerissa
originates from Llanelli and holds a BA Degree in Theology and a Master of Science Degree in
Health Service Management from Birmingham University.
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