Sarah Armstrong, Chair
Sarah Armstrong is an experienced leader in the charity sector, having also been a senior manager for a national charity leading in volunteering policy and practice and a regional lead for a charity raising aspirations for young people with a disability. In a previous role, she was Chief Executive of York CVS, an ambitious social action organisation.
Sarah is passionate about the value of volunteering and the unique contribution volunteers can make, especially within a healthcare setting.
Sarah was appointed to the Trust’s Board of Directors in October 2018 and became Chair of HDFT in April 2022.
To contact Sarah, please email [email protected]
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 February 2022.
Jonathan is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) having qualified as an accountant in 1993. Since qualifying, he has taken on a number of roles in the NHS, working in various hospital trusts and commissioning organisations across Yorkshire, including being the Director of Finance for North Bradford PCT. During this time, Jonathan also obtained a postgraduate qualification in Health and Social Care Management.
Jonathan was appointed as Finance Director at the Trust in March 2006. Since arriving at Harrogate, Jonathan has contributed significantly to the success of the organisation, both within his role as Finance Director, and Deputy Chief Executive.
Jonathan took on the role of Chief Executive at the end of February 2022 on an interim basis, and was appointed permanently in May 2023.
To contact Jonathan, please email [email protected]
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.
Jacqueline joined HDFT in June 2020, having been Associate Medical Director, Director for Research and Innovation and a Consultant Rheumatologist at Leeds Teaching Hospitals since 2008.
She oversees a broad executive portfolio which includes Clinical Strategy, Professional Standards, Clinical Effectiveness, Clinical Safety, Compliance, Research and Innovation. Jacqueline is also our Director of Infection Prevention and Control.
Jacqueline also oversees our digital services and teams, who work closely with our research, innovation and improvement teams to ensure we deliver our Trust ambition to be a leading organisation for inventing, testing and adopting the best healthcare innovation.
Jacqueline has extensive experience of leading quality improvement programmes and is passionate about developing a safety culture in the NHS, to ensure we all learn when things do not go as we had planned, in a blame free and transparent way.
Breeda Columb, Director of Nursing, Midwifery, and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs)
Breeda provides professional leadership of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals at the Trust. She works in conjunction with the chief medical officer in ensuring high quality, safe and effective care.
An experienced nurse and clinical leader Breeda completed her RN training in Essex. A Coronary Care nurse by background she has however worked in a variety of specialities in her nursing career, including medical, elderly, surgical and Emergency Medicine. She has worked in several Trusts in England and also has international healthcare experience working for two years in California in a senior nurse management position.
Breeda joined Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust from Leeds Teaching Hospitals where she was Deputy Chief Nurse for over two years, working as a Director of Nursing prior to this alongside other senior management roles at Leeds.
She holds a BSc in Specialist Nursing Practice, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management and a Masters Degree. She is also holds the Nye Bevan Award in Executive Healthcare Management. She is currently undertaking the national CNO Safer Staffing Fellowship.
Breeda is passionate about nursing, midwifery and allied health professionals, the impact these professions have on the outcomes for patients and the development of people to deliver outstanding services.
Matt Graham, Director of Strategy (Seconded to County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust for 12 months commencing 1 May 2026)
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.
Matt joined the Trust in September 2021 after four years as Director of the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT), nationally recognised as one of the leading provider collaboratives.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, alongside his WYAAT role, Matt was Chief of Staff for the Nightingale Hospital in Harrogate and led the West Yorkshire vaccination programme. Prior to joining the NHS in 2010, Matt served as an army officer in the Royal Signals for 17 years, including on operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and Afghanistan.
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.
Jordan McKie, Director of Finance
Jordan was appointed as Director of Finance in July 2023. He brings a breadth of experience from across both finance and operational roles within the Trust.
He began his NHS career in 2006 as part of the Graduate Management Training Scheme, gaining valuable experience across a range of financial and operational positions in York and Leeds, before joining Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust. Over the course of his career, Jordan has developed a strong track record in financial leadership, operational delivery, and service improvement, supporting the organisation in achieving its strategic and financial objectives.
Jordan qualified as an accountant in 2009 and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA). His combined financial expertise and operational insight provide a well-rounded perspective in his role as Director of Finance, contributing to the Trust’s ongoing development and sustainability.
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