Our People

Our people and partners are at the heart of everything we do

Directors
Professor Dr Durka Dougall

Professor Durka Dougall

Chair
Durka is a medical consultant and public health specialist who has been working in the NHS for 25 years. Durka is passionate about transforming the approach of the health and care system in England so that it is much more joined up, equitable, effective in preventing as well as treating ill-health, and focussed on enabling people (patients, families, staff and communities) to be as healthy as possible for as long as possible. For the last 10 years, Durka has been leading efforts through a variety of roles on population health and tackling health inequalities across UK and more globally. She has supported many individuals, organisations and systems to progress their efforts forwards for this and is proud to be recognised as a trusted leader in this space. Durka is the Chief Executive of the Centre for Population Health, a Non-Executive Director for NHS Trusts, and an Academic supporting University College London and University of East London.

Merron Simpson

Chief Executive
Merron is a national and local advisor on people, places, health, housing, systems change. She has extensive senior-level experience often across professional domains. A former Head of Policy at the Chartered Institute of Housing, Merron has worked with local authorities, primary care networks, housing associations, Kings Fund, NHS England, NHS Property Services, Royal College of General Practitioners, Health Foundation, National Housing Federation, Local Government Association, Royal Town Planning Institute and others. She started her career clinical diagnostics R&D after studying biochemistry before changing direction, embarking on a Masters in Housing Studies. Merron’s passion is to bring congruence between policies, services and the reality of people’s and communities’ lives. She blends her influencing and thought leadership capabilities, cross-sector knowledge, experience working in complex environments and deep interest in people to shift power and drive tangible change.

Dr Brian Fisher MBE

Brian has been a GP in south east London for 42 years. Brian has been interested in user involvement in the NHS for a long time. He was successful in getting Department of Health funding for the ground-breaking Health Empowerment Leverage Project (HELP) which developed a business case for community development in health, based on the highly successful ‘7 Step Model’ developed by former health visitor Hazel Stuteley in several deprived areas of Devon and Cornwall. Brian was awarded an MBE for community development in 2007.
Lynne-Bowers

Lynne Bowers

Non-Executive Director
Lynne has 30 years NHS experience and a life-long commitment to advocacy for a range of charities, including The British Red Cross, The Gates Foundation, Help for Heroes, The Children’s Society and Autism UK.
Donna McLaughlin

Donna McLaughlin

Non-Executive Director
Donna McLaughlin is Director of Social Value Creation at Northern Care Alliance NHS Trust which provides a range of specialist, acute, community and integrated health and social care services across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, and Salford. She participated in the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme and has worked in the NHS for over 25 years including a decade serving Trust Boards in Merseyside and Greater Manchester as Director of Operations/ Chief Officer. She is a trained executive coach, caring passionately about empowering people and communities to create a more inclusive society.
peter-hay

Peter Hay

Treasurer
A social worker by training, and an experienced leader of social care services to adults and children, Peter is curious about ways of building good lives, developing people’s control over their care and health, and fascinated by the demands upon leadership styles that support these aims.
Neil-McGregor-Paterson

Neil McGregor-Paterson

Director of Communications
Neil is an accomplished communications professional with over 30 years experience in providing communication, advocacy and policy counsel to the lifesciences and associated sectors. This includes Managing Director roles with some of the UK´s leading PR agencies.
Team Members

Roberto Bertuol

Web and Content Manager
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Rabina Begum

Financial Officer