Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors (which includes Non-Executive and Executive Directors) has overall responsibility for the running and management of our organisation and services, including strategy and performance. 

Chair: Darren Best

Appointed October 1, 2023

Darren's experience includes 30 years as a Police Officer. He worked in senior police leadership roles for over a decade, including as Head of Professional Standards, Area Commander, and Head of the Criminal Investigation Department at Cleveland Police; Temporary Assistant Chief Constable at Durham Constabulary; and Assistant Chief Constable and Deputy Chief Constable at Northumbria Police. Darren was also Chair of the Teesside Safeguarding Adults Board from October 2021 – April 2024.

Before becoming Chair of the Board, Darren served as a Non-Executive Director and Vice-Chair at CNTW.

Vice-Chair: Brendan Hill

Appointed October 1, 2021

Brendan is a Registered Mental Health Nurse, with extensive experience in cross-sector partnerships and service innovation. He has spent more than 30 years working in health and care, and held senior positions at mental health and wellbeing organisations, including 17 years as CEO of Mental Health Concern. 

Appointed January 16, 2019 (appointed as Senior Independent Director from 15 January 2025)

Michael is a Qualified Solicitor and former partner of a large UK-based law firm, holding a BA Hons in Law from Oxford University. He is an experienced Non-Executive Director and Board Member.  Michael served as Company Secretary and Group Legal Director at the Sage Group PLC for 15 years.

Appointed October 1, 2021

Louise has spent 37 years working in healthcare and 17 years working in Higher Education, with extensive experience in nursing education, clinical governance, and strategic planning. She holds a PhD on the subject of service users' experiences of Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment services. Louise has held senior roles as Head of Nursing, Health, and Professional Practice at University of Cumbria; Non-Executive Director for Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust / North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust; Chair of Carlisle and Eden MIND; and as an advisor for Borderline UK.
 

The Chairman, on behalf of the Board of Directors, regularly reviews the size, composition, and succession planning of the Board in alignment with the Trust’s strategic objectives. Recommendations are made to the Council of Governors through the Nominations Committee as appropriate. The appointment and reappointment procedures for Non-Executive Directors, overseen by the Nominations Committee and Council of Governors, formally recognise the intention to address gender and ethnic minority imbalances within the Board, wherever feasible.

Chief Executive: James Duncan

Appointed February 1, 2022

James has over 25 years experience holding NHS Board roles, and has led major transformational programmes across NHS Trusts and healthcare systems. Before being appointed as Chief Executive, James held the role of Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of Finance for CNTW for many years.

Governors

Governors are responsible for ensuring the views of our diverse local communities and members are considered in decisions about how we develop our services. They are elected by the public, which includes service users, carers and staff. The Governors hold the Board of Directors to account, as well as carrying out many other duties.

Public Governors

  • Newcastle / Rest of England / Wales: Mahdi Hassan, appointed December 1, 2024
  • South Tyneside: Heather Lee, appointed December 1, 2024
  • Gateshead: Jamie Rickelton, appointed January 1, 2023
  • Sunderland: Jodine Milne-Reader, appointed January 1, 2023
  • Cumbria: Tom McLaughlan, appointed December 1, 2024

Carer Governors

Adult Services: 

  • Roy Fussey, appointed December 1, 2024
  • Anita Kniveton, appointed December 1, 2024

Children and Young People’s Services: Shannon Fairhurst, appointed December 1, 2023.

Older People’s Services: Jessica Juchau-Scott, appointed January 1, 2023.

Learning Disability Services: 

  • Rosie Lawrence, appointed December 1, 2023
  • Fiona Regan, appointed January 1, 2022

Neuro Disability Services: Neil Newman, appointed December 1, 2024.

Service User Governors

Adult Services: 

  • Kaye Totts, appointed May 12, 2025
  • Tom Rebair, appointed March 1, 2021

Learning Disability Services: Russell Stronach, appointed January 1, 2022.

Neuro Disability Services: Russell Bowman, appointed January 1, 2023.

Local Authority Governors

  • Northumberland County Council: Cllr Wendy Pattison, appointed July 1, 2021
  • Newcastle City Council: Miriam Mafemba, appointed May 1, 2023
  • North Tyneside Council: Jane Shaw, appointed July 1, 2023
  • South Tyneside Council: Ruth Berkley, appointed July 1, 2023
  • Gateshead Council: Vacant 
  • Sunderland City Council: Cllr Kelly Chequer, appointed July 29, 2019

Staff Governors

Clinical: 

  • Amber Cormack, appointed December 1, 2023
  • Adrian Anim, appointed December 1, 2024
  • Doreen Chananda, appointed January 1, 2023

Medical: Dr Thomas Lewis, appointed January 1, 2022.

Non-Clinical: 

  • Gemma Miles, appointed December 1, 2024
  • Siobahn Watson, appointed December 1, 2023
  • Emma Silver Price, appointed January 1, 2023

Governors from partner organisations / the Community and Voluntary Sector: 

  • Bea Groves-McDaniel, appointed December 19, 2023
  • Julia Clifford, appointed June 1, 2023

Governors from local Universities 

  • Northumbria University: Sithandazile Masuku, Appointed December 1, 2023
  • Sunderland University: Yitka Graham, appointed January 1, 2023
  • Newcastle University: Andrew Kingston, appointed December 1, 2024
  • Cumbria University: Vacant