South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is pleased to announce the appointment of two new Independent Non-Executive Directors.
Harbhajan Singh Brar and Dr Karl Khan will begin their three-year terms on 1 March 2026.
SECAmb would like to thank non-executive directors, Max Puller and Howard Goodbourn for the commitment and expertise they have provided the Trust as they step down at the end of February and March respectively when their three-year terms come to an end.
Also serving as non-executive director at neighbouring South Central Ambulance Service, Harbhajan is employed as Director of Human Resources (HR) at Imperial College, London. He has more than 40 years’ experience in HR and has previously been Director of HR at the Department of Health and a number of NHS trusts.
Harbhajan, who will Chair SECAmb’s People Committee, has also worked as Research Fellow at the Centre for Research in Ethnic Relations based at Warwick University and has served on the Policy Boards of NHS Employers and NHS Professionals.
A former Trustee and Chair of DAAP (Drugs and Alcohol Project) and a Trustee of the Sodexo Foundation, Harbhajan also serves as a Justice of Peace.
Dr Khan has more than 25 years’ experience in the public service including recently as Chief Operating Officer for the Financial Ombudsman Service. He was previously Director of Finance, Planning and Performance and then Interim Director General, Customer Services Group, HMRC, responsible for the strategy and delivery of customer-facing operations. He has also held senior roles in other central government departments, including the Department for Work and Pensions and the UK Health Security Agency.
He currently provides independent advice to both public and private sector organisations covering transformation, operational effectiveness & efficiency and leveraging AI opportunities.
SECAmb Chair, Michael Whitehouse said: “I warmly welcome both Harbhajan and Karl in their new roles. The many years’ experience they each bring will be of huge benefit to SECAmb and I look forward to working closely with them.
“I would also like to thank Max and Howard for their committed guidance and contributions over the past three years and I wish them all the very best for the future.”
Harbhajan said: "I am absolutely delighted to be joining the SECAmb Board. I am looking forward to helping bring our Group Model to life, working across both Trusts and building on the collaborate work already underway as we continue to make improvements for our patients, staff and volunteers.”
Karl said: “I am really pleased to be joining SECAmb as a non‑executive director. As a senior civil servant, I have seen the impact that truly citizen‑focussed services can have, and I am looking forward to bringing that experience to the Trust. I am committed to working with colleagues to deliver the service that provides the right patient outcomes and experience, while helping to build a culture where people feel engaged, valued and able to do their best work.”