North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust is delighted to welcome two new members to its Trust Board, Prem Gabbi and Katie Laverty (pictured above).
Prem Gabbi has been appointed as a Non-Executive Director and will take on the role of Chair for the Audit Committee and Vice Chair of the Charitable Funds Committee. Prem will also be a member of the Quality Committee.
Prem is an experienced board member with expertise in governance, strategy and financial oversight across various sectors, particularly in the energy and property industries. Prem has held several board positions including Board Director at National Grid Property, Board Director and Chair of Audit Committee at Victoria Academies Trust, and Trustee at National Grid Sports and Social Club. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and holds a B.A. (Hons) in Accounting and Finance. Prem will bring his strong skills in strategy, risk management, financial oversight, and governance to the Trust Board. Commenting on the appointment, Prem said:
“I am delighted to have been appointed Non-Executive Director at North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust. I have my own personal lived experience of growing up in a deprived area and navigating the challenges that can arise when trying to access the right care.
“I want to work with the trust to use my 25-plus years of corporate experience to support those who may be in a similar situation. I am passionate about putting patient experience at the centre of decision making and ensuring Combined Healthcare continues to provide the best possible care.”
Katie Laverty has been appointed as Associate Non-Executive Director and will sit as a member of the Finance and Resource Committee. Katie will also be a member of the Quality Committee.
Katie has worked in Higher Education for over 20 years, beginning her career at Liverpool John Moores University and going on to work at The University of Manchester, The University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University and Keele University, where Katie is currently the Director of Student Services and Success.
This role requires her to lead on a range of professional student support services at Keele, including counselling and mental health, residence life, disability support and inclusion, chaplaincy and faith, student experience and support, student discipline, accommodation and customer service delivery, student futures, financial support, sexual violence and domestic abuse support, and safeguarding.
Katie has been a member of the Executive Committee at Keele University since 2021 and has worked in a range of roles within both academic schools and professional services across her career, but always with a student experience focus. Katie also completed a master’s in International Higher Education while working at the University of Nottingham.
Katie said: “Having dedicated over 20 years to Higher Education, primarily in roles focused on supporting students, with significant experience in senior leadership roles, I am eager to leverage my experience to benefit another sector that prioritises the health and wellbeing of individuals and the community.
“Becoming an associate non-executive director for North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust offers me the chance to continue my professional and personal growth while contributing to the strategic oversight of the trust, aligning with my commitment to making a positive impact.
“I am thrilled to join North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare NHS Trust and contribute to a sector that prioritises the health and wellbeing of our community, and I look forward to applying my experience to support the delivery of the trust’s strategy.”
Janet Dawson, Trust Board Chair, commented on the appointment and said: “We are delighted to welcome Prem and Katie to the Board. They have impressed us all immensely with their passion and dedication toward making a real contribution to the trust, our staff and the people and communities we serve. I look forward to working with them both going forward.”
Combined Healthcare has also welcomed Nicola Bullen to the Trust Board on a placement with the trust as a NExT Programme Director for the next 12 months. The NExT Director Programme “gives candidates a unique insight into the role and responsibilities of being an NHS non-executive director by supporting senior people in bridging knowledge gaps”. The trust is looking forward to Nicola’s contributions and supporting her continued career development.
