Term of office: 18.12.2025 – 29.02.2028

An IHCD Ambulance Technician currently based at our Tangmere Make Ready Centre, Frank has more than two decades of dedication to public service and community care.

His journey with the ambulance service began around 2000, with Sussex Ambulance Service. Driven by a passion for improving emergency response in local communities, Frank campaigned tirelessly for the creation of a Community First Responder (CFR) scheme.

Thanks to his determination, and a lot of constructive conversations, the very first CFR scheme in Selsey launched in 2003. It has continued to grow and thrive ever since, becoming an essential part of local emergency response.

Alongside his continued commitment as a CFR, Frank qualified as an ambulance technician, working initially with South Central Ambulance Service for a private provider.

In 2019, he joined SECAmb full‑time, continuing the work that has shaped much of his professional life.

Frank has witnessed many changes and his long‑standing involvement fuels his drive to contribute positively wherever he can, always striving for improvement and better outcomes for staff and patients alike.

A strong believer in inclusion and diversity, his approachability, integrity, and passion for community safety remain at the heart of everything he does.

Declared interests: None

Term of office: 01.03.2026 – 28.02.2029

After previously working in the Emergency Department at Worthing hospital, Spencer Hildrew transitioned into the ambulance service and has been based at Brighton Make Ready since 2024.

He is currently nearing completion of his Associate Ambulance Practitioner (AAP) programme.

Spencer has a strong belief in accountability, transparency, and doing what is right, not only for patients, but also for staff and the wider health system.

He is passionate about building trust, supporting colleagues, and ensuring that the voices of frontline operational staff are heard. Spencer feels a deep sense of pride in representing staff and contributing positively to the future of the Trust.

Declared interests: None

Term of office: 01.03.2026 – 28.02.2029

Michael Whitcombe is a Paramedic with extensive frontline and management experience across urgent and emergency care.

Michael currently works as Shared Care Records Clinical Manager and Urgent Care Practitioner (Paramedic) within SECAmb, leading work to improve operational access to patient records and supporting digital integration, governance and service improvement that enable safe clinical delivery.

Michael has worked across the NHS since 2009 in Ambulance Services, Urgent Treatment Centres, Integrated Care, vaccination leadership and primary care. As an elected Staff Operational Governor, he represents operational staff across the emergency operations centres, NHS 111, frontline crews and clinical hubs, ensuring their voices and operational realities are reflected at Board level.

Michael brings strong expertise in governance, digital transformation, incident learning and service change. He is committed to transparent decision‑making, staff engagement, and workforce wellbeing during organisational transition.

Declared interests:

• Shared Care Clinical Records Manager, SECAmb, 2024 – present

Term of office: 01.03.2022 – 28.02.2025

Kirsty is the Business Support Manager for the Medical Directorate and has worked for the Trust in a variety of roles for over 20 years.

Kirsty notes that non-Operational staff provide a vital service to the Trust and are often the forgotten workforce as without these staff, our operational workforce would not be able to deliver the care they do for our patients.

Kirsty is particularly interested in improving systems and processes and supporting the wellbeing of all our staff.

Declared interests: Bank contract for NATS and caseworker for SSAFA

Term of office: 01/04/24 – 31/03/27

I am from Brighton in East Sussex, and I am at the beginning of my career in the vast
healthcare world.  Now, in addition to studying a paramedic science degree at the University of Brighton, I work as a lifeguard and volunteer for St John Ambulance,

From a young age, I have admired the Ambulance Service and all who are a part of it with my future goal to join them as a Paramedic. I have lived in the Brighton area all my life and I am excited to work with others and represent the local community with SECAmb.

Related Interests: Healthcare and Constructive Planning & Paramedicine

Declared Interests: none.

Term of Office: 01.03.2025 – 29.02.2028

Mark Rist retired as Director of Response & Resilience from Kent Fire and Rescue Service in December 2024, after 31 years of dedicated service. His career spanned roles in East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, the London Fire Brigade, and Kent Fire & Rescue Service.

Throughout his service, Mark worked closely with ambulance service colleagues in frontline operations and later in planning multi-agency responses, including support for SECAmb during the COVID-19 pandemic. This experience provided him with valuable insights into the workings of the ambulance service and the dedication of its staff to delivering excellent public service.

In 2021, Mark was appointed as a Governor for SECAmb, finding the role both informative and rewarding. Governors actively contribute to the service by supporting the board, particularly the Non-Executive Directors. Upon retiring, Mark chose to continue his support for SECAmb and was elected as a Public Governor for Brighton & East Sussex.

Mark continues to work part-time, mentoring and developing the next generation of Fire and Rescue Service commanders.

Declaration of Interest: A Trustee for the Charity Kent Search & Rescue

Term of office: 01.03.2026 – 28.02.2029

A resident of Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex since 2000, Mr Thirugnanam Sureshan brings a varied professional background, having worked in airport security before progressing to a parking supervisor role and later establishing and running his own business.

He is actively involved in volunteering and community engagement. His roles include working with adults in the community, serving as an NHS East Sussex Ambassador, sitting on the Orbit Housing Engagement Committee, and acting as a Local Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator.

As a long-term user of the Trust’s services, Mr Sureshan has experienced first-hand the high-quality care provided by the service. This inspired him to apply to become a Governor, with a view to supporting its continued development.

He believes his lived experience, strong community insight and commitment to public service position him well to contribute meaningfully to the Trust’s ongoing improvement.

In his spare time, Thirugnanam enjoys keeping up to date with local and international news, engaging with local political matters and broadening his understanding of medical topics.

Declared interests: 

• NHS Ambassador Health Watch Sussex, Adult Social Care Sussex, 2023 – current

Term of Office: 01.07.2025 – 30.06.2028

Paul has previously served as a public governor at t East Kent University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Canterbury.  He chaired the Kent Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for six years, including time chairing the Kent and Medway Health Scrutiny Committee.  Paul has been working as an accountant in the City of London since 1988, starting at Arthur Andersen and now works at Insight Investment and will retire in 2026.

His experience includes working in local government which has enabled him to see things from a broad perspective, and he expects to build a good working relationships with the non-executive directors and management team to provide oversight and support the governance of SECAmb.

Term of Office: 01.07.2025 – 30.06.2028

Steve retired from full-time employment in 2021. Currently, he has a small portfolio of interests: ET panel member, trustee at Folkestone School for Girls, leadership coach and volunteer CIPD mentor.

Organisations Steve has worked for during his career include Surrey Police, HMICFS (the police inspectorate), Border Force and the National Crime Agency. All were delivery focused, funded by the taxpayer and subject to close scrutiny. These experiences have helped him understand the expectations and obligations that apply to those who serve their communities.

Steve has more than 20 years board level experience and specialises in organisational change and leadership development. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Term of Office: 01.07.2025 – 30.06.2028

With a professional background in legal auditing and governance, Richard brings experience from sectors including healthcare, legal, financial, and housing. He has also contributed extensively as a volunteer scrutiny expert, championing accountability and ensuring that the public voices are heard.

A long-standing supporter of the NHS, Richard has held various voluntary roles, including serving as a Community First Responder, (CFR), which sparked his enduring passion for healthcare.

He is particularly committed to the areas of governance and scrutiny, where he believes in the power of constructive challenge and acting as a critical friend – supporting positive change while staying grounded in the needs of patients and staff.

Richard holds an honours degree in Law and is currently studying part-time for a degree in Computer and Data Sciences. He is passionate about harnessing data, evidence, AI, and technology to improve public services. His approach is rooted in fairness, transparency, and active listening, always striving to represent the public with integrity and diligence.

Declaration of Interest: None

Term of office: 01.03.2025 – 29.02.2028 – 2nd Term

Martin has been a resident of Surrey for 26 years. From 2004 to 2019 he worked for the London Ambulance Service as a Service Development Manager then as a programme/project manager. Prior to this he had a career in the Post Office then Royal Mail.

He has user experience of ambulance services, and believes this two-sided perspective, as an NHS worker and as a patient/relative, gives him a broad perspective on the challenges to the ambulance service.

He is particularly interested in the Trusts recruitment and retention work and is keen for the council to embrace the ‘critical friend’ role while acting as the voice of the public in a constructive way. This is Martin’s second term of office at SECAmb.

Declared interests: Lay representative NHS England Training and Workforce Directorate, Kent, Surrey and Sussex – 2022 – 2027

Term of office: 01.03.2025 – 29.02.2028

Aidan is an experienced NHS operational leader with more than 10 years’ service in acute NHS providers across Surrey. He has previously served as a staff governor at Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Currently, Aidan is Head of General Medicine at Royal Surrey County Hospital and is keen to support SECAmb as a key partner organisation.

 In his spare time, Aidan serves as a Commissioned Officer in the British Army, leading medical teams as a Troop Commander in the Royal Army Medical Service.

He has deployed alongside military paramedics and combat medics both domestically and internationally to support their development and capabilities.

 Aidan has a strong interest in NHS leadership and decision-making. He is currently undertaking PhD research in this field, aiming to enhance how NHS leaders evaluate complex environments and make decisions.

Declared interests: Employed full time with Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Term of office: 01/03/2023 – 28.02.2026

Peter served as a Public Governor at the Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in East Grinstead for the maximum term of six years, including five years on the Appointments Committee, two years as Governor Representative on the Finance and Performance Committee, and the last three years as Lead Governor. Prior to his retirement Peter performed several senior employed and consultancy roles in the field of Human Resources in the NHS, in both hospital and primary care sectors. He also has wide experience working with local communities in both a professional and voluntary capacity and is currently chair of two community-based charities in the theatre arts. Peter is looking forward to contributing to the effective Governance of SECAmb.

Declared interests: Member of GP Practice Patient Participation Group from 2022 to present

Term of office: 01.03.2026 – 28.02.2029

An accomplished treasury professional, Conor Maher has a 35-year history in corporate banking and treasury, working for multi-national companies and financial institutions.

With his senior leadership experience, Conor is keen to constructively challenge and support the Trust as it moves forward with its strategic plans to transform patient experience and outcomes.

He is passionate about creating a working environment which attracts, develops and retains staff, which in turn encourages them to bring the best of themselves to work.

Conor has been a SECAmb Community First Responder (CFR) for the past 11 years and is currently the Woking CFR Team Leader. He also volunteers as an Emergency Responder for both SECAmb and the London Ambulance Service.

In his spare time, Conor enjoys mountain biking, walking and sailing.

Declared interests:

• SECAmb CFR, 2014 – current
• Emergency Responder, London Ambulance Service 2022 – current
• Director – Deise Consulting Ltd, 2025- current

Term of office: 01.03.2025 – 29.02.2028 – 2nd Term      

Andrew lives in Crawley and leads the Crawley Community First responder scheme which he set up in that area.

Previously he had a successful business career as Chief Executive of three companies.

His involvement with the Trust goes back for over thirty years as he has been a St John Ambulance volunteer for decades. In that role, he assisted the Trust by providing emergency ambulance support in peak times. Throughout the pandemic he has continued to support the Trust on a St John Ambulance weekly attending mainly C3 calls.

Andrew is keen to work constructively and support, question, challenge and help the Trust to move ahead and improve where needed.

Andrew was elected, by his peers, to be the Lead Governor from June 2024 to June 2025

Declared interests: none

Term of office: 01/03/2023 – 28.02.2026

Harvey has previously been a Governor for SECAmb so knows what the role involves. He has also worked alongside SECAmb providing first aid and event management with St John’s Ambulance. Harvey says “I firmly believe that only through the people can SECAmb deliver the services you rightly expect, and that will be my main focus as Governor. For me, meeting and engaging with SECAmb people, members and patients is a crucial part of this role”.

Declared interests: none.

Term of Office: 01.03.2025 – 29.03.2028

Born in Ayrshire, Scotland, Andrew has dedicated more than two decades to the fire service, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to emergency response and public safety.

He has lived in West Sussex for more than 23 years, where his career in firefighting first began with West Sussex Fire and Rescue.

Currently serving as a Station Officer at Paddington Fire Station within the London Fire Brigade, Andrew plays a crucial role in leading crews, managing emergency incidents, and ensuring operational readiness.

His professional development and achievements include training in Tier 3 fire investigation and emergency response driving, equipping him with the skills to assess fire scenes and make critical decisions under pressure.

Andrew has managed many high-profile incidents and consistently drives high standards in his daily work. With a deep commitment to public safety, leadership, and continuous learning, he has built a reputation for reliability, integrity, and excellence in his field. His extensive experience in fire service operations has made him a respected figure among colleagues, always striving to uphold the highest standards of safety and professionalism.

Declaration of Interest: Secondary employment – Station Officer with London Fire Brigade

Term of office: 08 March 2024 – 08 March 2027.

Ellie is a Governance Officer at Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Working as part of the corporate governance team she provides support to the Trusts assurance committees, ensuring information flow from ward to board and sound decision-making. She believes that robust governance systems and practices are fundamental in the provision of high quality patient care.

Ellie joined QVH in August 2022 from East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service and has spent much of her career working in governance roles within local authorities. She is currently studying with the Chartered Governance Institute for her Advanced Certificate in Health Service Governance.

Declared interests: Governance Officer at Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Term of office: 19 March 2024 – 19 March 2027

Stephen is the Hospital Director for Worthing and Southlands Hospitals, part of University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Appointed in March 2023 he is responsible and accountable for the management and leadership of the Hospitals, including delivery of safe and high-quality clinical care and the best possible patient experience. He delivers hospital performance and effective day-to-day flow whilst working with the clinical leadership teams to deliver local and national performance targets and standards. Prior to joining the Trust, Stephen was a Captain in the Royal Navy where he served for 33 years as a Logistics Officer.

Declared interests: Hospital Director at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.

Term of office: 25.04.24 – 24.04.27  

Andy is a qualified social worker who has held a variety of leadership roles within health and social care for almost 30 years. He is currently the Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Within his roles he has supported the development of a Single Point of Access (connecting with 111) for people who have poor mental health and Safe Havens within Surrey (drop-in services for people that reduce presentations to Emergency Departments). He has a keen interest in how all of the public sectors can work together to support marginalised and vulnerable groups of people.

Andy is a Surrey resident and away from work has a keen interest in watching sports and enjoys time attempting to keep fit!

Declared interests: Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Surrey and Boarders NHS Foundation Trust.

Term of office: November 2024 – November 2027

Matt is responsible for delivery of Kent Fire and Rescue Service’s operational response, our fire stations, fire and rescue control centre, and national resilience assets.

Matt’s areas of responsibility also include health and safety, fleet and equipment, business continuity, and emergency planning arrangements.

Matt has served with KFRS for 20 years. Prior to becoming director, Matt served as an area manager and then assistant director in KFRS, leading the response function. He began his career as a firefighter and has also worked in our fire and rescue control centre.

Matt has additional roles with the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) as the lead officer for transport and infrastructure. He has also recently been appointed as a trustee of Kent Search and Rescue (KSAR).

Matt holds a BA in War Studies and History, an MA in Management, and is also a Member of the Institute of Fire Engineers.

Matt deputises for the chief executive as required.

Declared Interests: Matt is also Director of Response and Resilience for Kent Fire and Rescue Service, which has several partnerships and arrangements with SECAmb.

Term of Office: 18 June 2025 – 17 June 2028

Hilary is Acting Head of Department for the Department of Education and Community Studies at the University of Greenwich. She lectures on the undergraduate degree programmes of childhood and youth studies and education studies, specialising in the history of education, the history of childhood and youth and social enterprise.

She also lectures on the Masters in Education specialising in the principles and practices of youth and community work. Hilary has led the strategic development of Social Enterprise within the department of Education and Community Studies and written and developed core social enterprise modules which are embedded within two undergraduate degree programmes in the department.

Prior to becoming a senior lecturer in 2007, Hilary was a professionally qualified youth and community worker. She worked across London and nationally on a variety of projects including youth arts, youth centres, young offending institutes, motor offending projects and managing alternative education provision. Hilary is passionate about social change and developing sustainable communities.

Declare Interests: Associate Dean of Student Success, University of Greenwich

Term of Office: 18 December 2025 – 17 December 2028

Dr Locke has extensive expertise in public health, health inequalities, community engagement, and inclusive leadership. She is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Diversity House, a Kent-based charity established in 2007 to promote community cohesion, social inclusion, and equality.

Under her leadership, the charity has become a trusted organisation working across health, local government, and the voluntary sector to support marginalised and underserved communities through advocacy, mentoring, health promotion, and skills development initiatives.

She holds a PhD in Health and Wellbeing, alongside masters and postgraduate qualifications in public health, community cohesion, addictive behaviours, and modern languages.

Her academic background is complemented by a diverse professional career spanning education, banking, administration, bilingual communication, community development, and health promotion.

She sought appointment as a Governor for SECAmb because of her long-standing commitment to addressing health inequalities and ensuring equitable access to urgent and emergency care.

She was motivated to join SECAmb’s Council of Governors to help ensure that these lived experiences inform service design, engagement approaches, and strategic decision-making.

She is committed to strengthening community voice, promoting inclusive and culturally-competent services as well as supporting SECAmb in delivering high-quality, safe, and patient-centred care for all communities across the South East.

Declare Interests: CEO of Diversity House