Meet the Board

Our Board of Directors has responsibility for the strategic management of the Trust.

The Board of Directors comprises both Executive and Non-Executive Directors, and is responsible for the delivery of high quality NHS care, financial efficiency, forward planning and innovation.

Meetings are held once a month (publicly every two months), allowing the Directors to approve new policies, receive reports on performance and make decisions about how the Trust is run.

Click here to open our Board of Directors’ Register of Interests (dated March 2024).

To contact Jonathan Coulter, Chief Executive of HDFT, please email [email protected]

To contact Sarah Armstrong, Chair of HDFT, please email [email protected]

Sarah Armstrong

Sarah Armstrong

Chair

Sarah is an experienced leader in the charity sector, and was appointed to the Board of Directors in October 2018 and became Chair of HDFT in April 2022.

Read more
Jonathan Coulter

Jonathan Coulter

Chief Executive

Jonathan has contributed significantly to the success of the Trust, both within his role as Finance Director, and Deputy Chief Executive. Jonathan took on the role of Chief Executive in March 2022.

Read more
Emma Nunez

Emma Nunez

Executive Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) and Deputy Chief Executive

Emma is passionate about nursing and midwifery and about promoting the profession through demonstration of professional standards, values and behaviours. Emma has been Deputy Chief Executive since March 2022.

Read more
Russell Nightingale

Russell Nightingale

Chief Operating Officer

Russell enjoys working through operational challenges, and is passionate about enabling teams and supporting colleagues to excel while challenging the status quo and always seeking improvement.

Read more
Dr Jacqueline Andrews

Dr Jacqueline Andrews

Medical Director and Executive Lead for Digital

Jackie has a focus on helping to improve the safety culture of the organisation and also a culture of innovation, to ensure we are continuously improving, every day, everywhere and led by everyone.

Read more
Matt Graham

Matt Graham

Director of Strategy

Matt joined the Trust in September 2021 after four years as Director of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT). Matt enjoys supporting teams to solve problems and to seek improvement and innovation.  He is passionate about building a culture of continuous improvement throughout the organisation.

Read more
Angela Wilkinson

Angela Wilkinson

Director of People and Culture

Angela joined the Trust as Director of People and Culture in November 2018. She brings a wealth of experience and skills to the role.

Read more
Jordan Mckie

Jordan Mckie

Director of Finance

Jordan took on the role of Acting Director of Finance in February 2022, following years working at the Trust in both Finance and Operational Roles. Jordan is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, having qualified as an Accountant in 2009.

Read more
Jeremy Cross

Jeremy Cross

Non-Executive Director

Jeremy is Chair of Mansfield Building Society and has previously held senior positions at Lloyds Banking Group, Asda and Boots the Chemist.

Read more
Andrew Papworth

Andrew Papworth

Non Executive Director

Andrew has a deep background in financial management, business leadership and transformation.

Read more
Laura Robson

Laura Robson

Non-Executive Director

Laura trained as a nurse and midwife in Sunderland before going on to work in clinical and managerial roles for various hospitals in the North East.

Read more
Wallace Sampson OBE

Wallace Sampson OBE

Non Executive Director

Wallace is passionate about public service delivery and the need to work within partnerships to join up service delivery.

Read more
Chiara De Biase

Chiara De Biase

Non-Executive Director

Chiara is the Director of Support and Influencing at Prostate Cancer UK. She oversees the charity activity for direct services to men and their families and works alongside the clinical community across the UK.

Read more
Azlina Bulmer

Azlina Bulmer

Associate Non-Executive Director

Azlina Bulmer is currently the Interim Director of Membership & Engagement at the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII) where she has the oversight of CII's global membership activities and engagement programmes.

Read more
Kama Melly

Kama Melly

Associate Non-Executive Director

Kama Melly KC has been a barrister since 1997 and was appointed a King’s Counsel in 2016. Kama has a particular interest in issues of Diversity and Inclusion and facilitating the evidence of vulnerable people.

Read more