Council of Governors
Our Council of Governors
Our Council of Governors acts as a link between service users, carers, staff, the general public and the Trust’s Board of Directors. They support the Board of Directors in setting the long-term vision for our organisation and hold the non-executive directors to account for the actions of the Board.
There are 28 governors on the Council comprised of:
- 15 elected by public members in the areas we serve.
- 8 stakeholder governors appointed by local organisations.
- 5 staff governors elected by different staff groups.
All elected governors serve a three-year term on the Council of Governors.
Governors have an important role in making an NHS foundation trust publicly accountable for the services it provides. They bring valuable perspectives and contributions to its activities. If you are interested in becoming a governor, vacancies will be advertised here or you can contact us to find our more via governors@stgeorges.nhs.uk
Meet our Council of Governors
Mark Lowcock – Chairman
Elected Governors – Merton
Nasir Akhtar – 01.02.2020 – 31.01.2029
I have been a resident of Merton for more than 18 years, during which time my family and I have benefited greatly from the vital services provided by St George’s. I am deeply passionate about the NHS and the essential role it plays in shaping the social fabric of our society.
I bring strong professional experience from industry, having worked closely with board members to support strategic development, alongside over 20 years of volunteering to support local communities.
Luisa Brown – 01.02.2025 – 31.01.2027
With extensive experience in staff and patient engagement, quality improvement, and cross-system collaboration, I am well placed to represent your views and advocate for meaningful change.
As a Divisional Patient Experience Facilitator and Quality Improvement Coach, I support staff to deliver exceptional care and have contributed to highly praised initiatives, including the remobilisation of the New 5 Borough Haemoglobinopathy Service, improving sustainability, patient safety, and experience.
I believe collaboration, accountability, and a patient-centred approach are essential for the Trust to thrive.
Hann (Hannibal) Latuff – 01.02.2025 – 31.01.2027
I have lived in the Merton Constituency for over 20 years and have long admired St George’s Hospital, from the birth of my daughter to a more recent health incident from which I fortunately recovered. I became a member of the Trust many years ago with the intention of becoming more involved when the time was right. With early retirement now on the horizon, I feel well placed to use my 35 years of professional experience to serve and represent the St George’s community, to which I am deeply grateful.
I am a qualified attorney with over 30 years’ experience across the private and public corporate sectors, bringing skills and insight that would support the work of the Council of Governors. I have also volunteered at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and with a charity working in collaboration with St Thomas’ Hospital in London.
Elected Governors – SW Lambeth
Ifeanyi Nwike 01.02.2026 – 31.01.2029
I am an International Development professional and Independent Consultant with over four decades of experience across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. My expertise spans Monitoring and Evaluation and Results-Based Management, with senior leadership roles delivering programmes in health, education, agriculture, infrastructure and humanitarian sectors.
I hold a PhD in Agricultural Economics and have worked at senior level with organisations including the World Bank, United Nations, Commonwealth Secretariat, Millennium Challenge Account, EU/ECOWAS and national governments. Having relied on St George’s Hospital services for over 25 years, I am honoured to serve as a Governor, championing patient-centred, transparent and continuously improving care.
Elected Governors – Wandsworth
Afzal Ashraf – 01.02.2020 – 31.01.2029
I am proud of Wandsworth’s health facilities including the outstanding hospitals and other services provided by the Trust – which were superb on the rare occasions when my family have needed them. However, this complex and dispersed organisation needs high governance standards, particularly to improve value for money and engagement with patients and Trust members.
Jane Curley 01.02.2026 – 31.01.2029
As a long-term Wandsworth resident, I am committed to supporting the delivery of high-quality healthcare in the borough. My background spans frontline clinical practice and leadership roles. I trained and worked as a nurse for nine years, gaining first-hand experience of patient care and service pressures.
I later pursued a career with the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, where I spent the last ten years leading the Health and Welfare team, supporting staff in complex and demanding environments. I am currently an Associate Researcher at UCL, focusing on workplace trauma, reflecting my ongoing commitment to staff wellbeing and resilience.
I strongly believe that supporting and valuing staff is essential to delivering safe, compassionate, and high-quality care, and I am proud to contribute to this work as a Governor.
John Hallmark – 01.02.2021 – 31.01.2027
A local resident for over 25 years, I have experience of St George’s as both an inpatient and A&E attendee. My professional background is in communications and marketing having worked in the Civil Service for many years and at the RSPCA’s Head Office. I now have my own company specialising in press, public relations and Parliamentary Affairs. I was previously a Wandsworth Councillor for 16 years.
Lucy Mowatt – 1.02.2023 – 01.02.29
As a Wandsworth resident for over 16 years, I am deeply committed to the local community and a strong advocate for the NHS. I have a keen interest in the effective running of local health services, particularly St George’s, and in supporting the Trust to balance competing priorities while maintaining high-quality, patient-centred care.
I have worked on the NHS frontline for 14 years as a Registered Dietitian, including four years at St George’s (2012–2016) in cancer services and critical care. I also served as an elected Councillor for Wandsworth Borough Council from 2018–2022, including membership of the Adult Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, helping to monitor St George’s and other local health services. As a registered carer for a family member with an acquired brain injury, I also bring valuable first-hand experience of navigating healthcare services at St George’s.
Augustine Odiadi 01.02.2024 – 31.01.2027
l have lived in Battersea since 1978 and over the past 30 years, my family and I have received the highest standard of healthcare provided by St. George’s Hospital. We are grateful to the hardworking staff at St. George’s for the exceptional healthcare we have received. Becoming a governor is my way of saying thank you.
I have a recent legal career as a solicitor with wide experience in Family, Housing and Immigration Law practise.
Jackie Parker – 01.02.2024 – 31.01.2027
I am a passionate supporter of the NHS. My father worked for St George’s for many years before he died and my son is currently training to be a doctor, and I am very proud of them both. As a result, I have some insight into the challenges being faced by the service.
I have a Business degree and a Masters in Voluntary Sector Organisation and my last paid job was as Deputy Director of Amnesty International UK.
Since leaving my job to care for my three children I have undertaken a lot of voluntary work including director roles on the boards of three charities and I served as a governor at Glenbrook Primary school in Lambeth for many years, including terms as Chair and Vice Chair. I am proud to serve as a representative of my community in Wandsworth.
Rest Of England
Ashok Bhat –01.02.2025 – 31.01.2027
I have lived in SW London for over 40 years. I, and members of my family, have been treated at St George’s on various occasions, for which I am very grateful. I have huge respect for the work the Trust does and value the chance to contribute something back.
Professionally I started my career as a biostatistician at St George’s, in the Medical School, where I worked for 10 years doing research before I moved into the global tech industry focusing on healthcare and life sciences. I have been on several boards and aware of the need to have good governance and to oversee the successful implementation of strategy and to monitor operational performance. In particular I am passionate about the patient experience and patient outcomes.
My whole career has been in healthcare related areas and understand what an incredibly vital role that St George’s plays in the local area and indeed more widely.
Jim Bourlet – 01.02.2024 – 31.01.2027
From my family’s and my own experience of in-patient and out-patient services I have formed a high opinion of St George’s Hospital.
As an 81 year old economist, I have long followed the old saying “Physician or fool by forty”. Therefore, I have taken a lively non-professional interest in health issues whilst following my career directing the London-based Economic Research Council and lecturing on public and corporate sector policy making as Professor at The University of British Columbia in Canada, in London’s Guildhall University and at Keio University in Tokyo.
Munir Dean 01.02.2026 – 31.01.2029
I have a deep-rooted connection to Wandsworth, having lived in the borough for most of my life, with long-standing family ties to the local community and St George’s Hospital. Several generations of my family have been cared for by the hospital, strengthening my commitment to its future.
I bring nearly 40 years of global investment management experience, with strong expertise in corporate governance and senior-level engagement across international financial institutions. Alongside this, I have volunteered locally for many years, including supporting Barkers Chemist in Tooting, working closely with the community and healthcare professionals.
I currently serve as Vice Chair of the HR Committee of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community UK and am actively involved in global health initiatives through its charitable organisation, Humanity First. As a Governor, I am committed to supporting inclusive, high-quality care that reflects the needs of our diverse population.
Xavier Fernandes 01.02.2026 – 31.01.2029
I am proud to be an elected Public Governor at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. I have a background in NHS support services and community-facing roles, and I am particularly interested in patient experience, staff wellbeing, and ensuring equal access to services. I am committed to representing the views of local communities and contributing to constructive scrutiny within the Council of Governors.
Staff – Nursing and Midwifery Staff Constituency
Dympna Foran – 01.02.2024 – 31.01.2027
I have a long-standing connection with St George’s, having served as a Nursing Sister from 1987–1997 and returning in 2015, currently working as a Cardiology Nurse Practitioner. My professional relationship with the organisation therefore spans several decades.
Throughout my career, I have demonstrated a strong commitment to transparency, accountability, and patient-centred care, supported by a deep understanding of the challenges facing the healthcare system. I am keen to use this experience to contribute meaningfully to the governance process and support positive change at St George’s.
Alongside my clinical career, I have been involved in school governance since 2008 across four primary schools, including serving as Chair of Governors for three schools and as a National Leader of Governance from 2014–2019, giving me a strong appreciation of the impact of effective governance.
Staff – Allied Health Professionals and Other Clinical and Technical Staff Constituency
| Vacant |
Staff – Medical and Dental Constituency
Abul Siddiky – 01.02.2024 – 31.01.2027
I am a Consultant Transplant & Dialysis Access Surgeon and was honoured to be appointed to the Trust in early 2020 at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, with my first duties being to support the Trust’s response in dealing with this unprecedented situation. I then helped to kickstart our transplantation programme within the pandemic, becoming the first adult London Unit to do so on site. I am also an active member of the Trust’s Organ Donation Committee and I am the surgical representative to the London Kidney Network, helping to improve and develop renal care at our Trust within the collaborative framework of the city and beyond. I am passionate about our staff feeling valued and heard and will be acting as a Freedom to Speak Up Champion at the Hospital.
Staff – Non-clinical
Khalid Khan – 01.02.2026 – 31.01.2029
I have worked at St George’s NHS for over 24 years across a wide range of clinical and non-clinical roles, including community services, on-site clinics and technical workshops. I began my career at the Queen Mary’s site as a Design Engineer developing rehabilitation medical devices, following completion of a BSc (Hons) in Design Technology, and later gained a degree in Clinical Technology and an MSc in Executive Leadership. I currently work as a Biomedical Engineer in the Medical Physics Department at the main St George’s site.
I was born at St George’s Hospital and have lived in the local community all my life. Several generations of my family have received care here, strengthening my commitment to the Trust. I am an active staff volunteer, including roles as a Culture Champion, Freedom to Speak Up Champion, Recruitment Inclusion Specialist, REACH network member and Schwartz Round facilitator.
As a Governor, I am committed to strengthening the link between staff and the Board, championing staff wellbeing, and ensuring frontline experience informs Trust-wide decision-making in line with the Trust’s values.
Appointed from stakeholder organisations
Alfredo Benedicto (Lead Governor)
Appointed Governor Healthwatch Merton
01.02.2018 to date
After retiring from a long career in Consumer & Financial Services across several location in Europe and America, I have devoted my time and energy to voluntary roles in the health & social care sectors for the past 8 years. On top of my role as Governor in St George’s, I am currently the Chairman of Healthwatch Merton and a trustee and member of the executive team of Merton Mencap.
I have been a resident of Merton for the past 30 years and a carer of a daughter with learning disabilities
Sarah Forester
Healthwatch Wandsworth 01.02.2021 to date
I am an elected member of the Healthwatch Wandsworth Committee, having retired recently after a career in the NHS and Local Authority Children’s Services. My professional background is as a qualified Nurse and Health Visitor. I have also worked at a national level as a professional officer with the CPHVA, a professional body and trade union. This involved working with Government departments, statutory regulators and professional bodies, to develop policies and good practice standards for Health Visitors and Community Nurses. I have lived in Wandsworth for over 40 years and both myself and my family have used St Georges on many occasions, across a wide range of services, including midwifery, the emergency department, orthopaedics, orthodontics, skin cancer and the stroke unit.
Cllr Judi Gasser – Wandsworth Council
Judi has been a Wandsworth councillor, representing Furzedown ward, for 12 years and is currently Cabinet Member for Children; previously Cabinet Member for the Environment.
She is passionate about ensuring all Wandsworth residents have access to the best possible services.
Julian Ma
St George’s University of London 01.09.2022 to date
I am the Hotung Chair of Molecular Immunology. I also hold honorary Consultant appointments in Oral Medicine at King’s College London and in Infection and Immunity at St George’s. I was Director of the Institute for Infection and Immunity from 2014-2024.
In 1983 I graduated in dentistry at Guy’s Hospital and went onto gain my PhD in immunology. After a post-doctoral fellowship at The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California I returned to King’s College London as a Wellcome Trust Advanced Fellow to establish my independent research group. Since 2003, I took up the Chair at St. George’s University of London in 2003. My research explores applications of plant biotechnology for prevention of global infectious diseases, particularly those affecting the poor in developing countries, including HIV, rabies, Chikungunya virus and now SARS-CoV-2
Georgina Sims
I have 38 years of experience as a midwife and have worked clinically at Epsom, St Helier, and St George’s Hospitals.
For the last 20 years, I have worked as a midwife academic at Kingston University and currently, I am an Associate Professor and a Lead Midwife for Education.
Because of my clinical and academic roles, I have the necessary expertise to provide insights into maternity services, ensuring that the voice of users of the service and students is heard by the senior team at St George’s.
I am keen to use my experience and expertise in my role as an appointed Governor to the board.
Cllr Shuile Syeda – Merton Council
Born and brought up in Merton, GESH has provided healthcare to my family and I continuously.
I have worked in the NHS many years and am honoured to be part of the family.
I am indebted to St Georges’ s for saving my life, and I feel privileged to be a governor for GESH alongside my role as a councillor of the London Borough of Merton.
I have done various voluntary roles as well as paid roles predominantly working with people from all backgrounds and the protected characteristics under the Equality Act.
I look forward to being involved in the journey of GESH reaching its true potential.
Associate Governor (Young People)
Sophia Agha
‘I was born in SW London and have lived here with family all my life. I have an integrated master’s degree in Neuroscience from King’s College London. I currently work in data and AI within the public sector at Atos. Alongside my professional work, I have led outreach initiatives aimed at supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds to access careers in tech.
As a passionate advocate for youth engagement and inclusive healthcare, I am proud to be the first ever Associate Governor for Young People at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. I hope to bring a unique perspective and use my background to amplify the voices of 16–25-year-olds and ensure that the Trust’s services and membership better reflect the needs of younger people.’
Contact Us
You can now contact your Governor by using one of the email addresses below:
governors.wandsworth@stgeorges.nhs.uk
governors.merton@stgeorges.nhs.uk
governors.swlambeth@stgeorges.nhs.uk
governors.restofengland@stgeorges.nhs.uk
Become a Member
Our Governors represent the interests of our members and partner organisations, you can find out more on becoming a member.