Meet the Governors

 

The Council of Governors consists of 13 Public Governors, four staff Governors and eight Partnership Governors. 

Public - Merseyside

Graham Barker

Graham was born and raised in Liverpool. Both he and his wife are patients of The Walton Centre, and understand what it means to support a loved one living with paraplegia alongside managing their own neurodiversity and its challenges. For the past 20+ years he has worked in the voluntary sector mainly working in community education settings.  In 2007, he and his wife set up a community education project for adults with disabilities. He has also worked in community learning centres and more recently managed community based digital inclusion projects as well as chairing and serving on several voluntary sector boards, always with a focus on giving local people and service users a voice. Graham is passionate about working with others, listening, and making a difference and leading with compassion, fairness, and resilience. 

Donna Ellis-Connell

Donna is a specialist brain injury Lawyer and committee member of Headway Sefton. Through both her professional work and voluntary involvement with Headway Sefton, Donna advocates for individuals and families affected by some of the most life changing neurological conditions, whether acquired or traumatic. She has seen first-hand the lifelong impact of neurological conditions, including emotionally and socially, and is aware of how excellent, patient-centred care can make a significant difference.   

Donna's legal experience has given her insight into the complex challenges that neurological patients, and their families, face as well as experience advocating for vulnerable individuals and collaborating with medical professionals, case managers, and families to create practical, long-term solutions.  

Donna said "I want to make a difference, ensure every patient’s voice is heard and that their care is delivered with the dignity and excellence they deserve."

Hilary Peel

Hilary has recently finished three terms as a Public Governor for Merseyside at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust, prior to which she was a Staff Governor for Nursing for eight years. She has a great interest in quality and safety and as a retired Ward Manager with over 40 years nursing experience, she is confident and knowledgeable in ensuring a focused culture within a healthcare setting. Hilary has taken part in various assessments over the years including PLACE which assesses how the environment supports clinical care in such areas as privacy and dignity, the needs of those with a disability, cleanliness, the quality and provision of food and building maintenance.

Hilary said "I want to ensure that patient voices are heard and their needs met and to support the Trust in maintaining its outstanding reputation."

Joanne Pepper

Joanne became a Trust Governor to give something back to the NHS and to ensure the people of Merseyside are truly represented in decisions about access to health services. Over the past 30 years, Joanne has built a career rooted in patient access, information quality and service improvement, culminating in a degree in health informatics. She is passionate about ensuring that innovation and technology work cohesively to support patients in accessing the best care the NHS has to offer.

Joanne said "I believe that every patient deserves the best experience in their health journey, and I’m committed to making that a reality through inclusive, forward-thinking governance."

Belinda Shaw

Belinda was born in New Zealand and moved to Liverpool when she was four years old. She was previously a Patient/Carer Governor at Alder Hey Children's Hospital and is excited to be a Governor at such a specialist Trust. Belinda is currently unemployed but enjoys spending time with her three grandchildren and researching her family history.

Helen Jones

Helen qualified as a nurse in 1988 and retired in 2021. Both as a private citizen and a life-long critical care professional, she is passionate about equitable and excellent standards of care and the protection of the NHS. During her professional career she was employed by Cheshire and Mersey Critical Care Network as a local service improvement lead for The Walton Centre critical care unit. She was chair of Cheshire and Mersey Critical Care Network practice educators for many years, and an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in critical care at The Walton Centre. She innovated and led many service improvements, upheld exemplary standards, and remains passionate about patient safety and the experience of all service users. She said "Everyone who comes into contact with The Walton Centre should be satisfied with their experience and treatment. Everyone who works at the Walton Centre should be within a safe and nurturing environment, I would be honoured to be a part of maintaining that standard."

Public - Cheshire

Gillian Corker

Gillian is recently retired from teaching and is married with two daughters, aged 26 and 16. Before starting her career in education Gillian worked for five years as a manager in the George Henry Lee department store in Liverpool. After leaving retail Gillian completed a degree and then a PGCE and started working as an English teacher. For over 25 years she has been the Head of English in three different high schools, worked for SSAT promoting literacy, been a key note speaker at numerous Optimus Education conferences for educating gifted and talented students and consulted with schools needing improvement as a Specialist Leader in Education. Gillian is an avid theatre lover, reads voraciously and loves to travel - something she plans to do more of, particularly when her husband retires next summer. Gillian has taken early retirement this year so that she can pursue other interests including volunteer work. Her late mum, Margaret, was treated at The Walton Centre, firstly in 2010 and latterly in 2023. Gillian said "When I saw the opening for the position of governor, I knew this would be a great way to apply my skills in a different environment but where similarities prevail as well as giving back to the place where so much specialist care and treatment were afforded to my Mum."

Judith Guthrie

Judith has been a patient of The Walton Centre over many years. She said "I have an insight into the professionalism and compassion that goes into all that they do". Judith is a retired Nurse Tutor and was a Senior lecturer in Palliative care so can understand not just a patients view but of staff too. She has also experience at Board level as a Non-Executive Director at several NHS trusts in Cheshire and a Partner Governor at a community trust. She added "I hope to bring experience and energy to get the best possible patient journey including the comfort and safety for all treated at The Walton Centre."

Public - North Wales

John Taylor - Lead Governor

“Fifteen years after first having major surgery at The Walton Centre, I am currently undergoing another round. Over the years I have met many others who say their lives were either saved, or - like mine - radically improved by the skilled care of Walton Centre staff. They don't only mean the brilliant clinicians; staff at every level make for a 'culture' that delivers a second-to-none patient experience, for which the Trust is rightly known.”
John is currently the Lead Governor and Chair of the Advisory Group. He knows, as a long-time resident of North Wales how important it is to patients to have access to the world-class, specialised - often cutting-edge - treatments at The Walton Centre and the challenges to commissioning and service delivery. After a senior career in the environment sector, both charitable and governmental, he knows about the challenges of running an organisation that aims to be outstanding in all it does. Becoming a Governor is his way to 'put something back' as both a patient and critical friend, helping to keep up The Walton Centre's superb reputation; holding leadership accountable and representing the needs and views of Welsh patients in particular. 

Andrew Wood

Andrew had previously been a governor of the Essex Mental Health Centre and, for eight years, an Essex-assigned governor relaying information and ideas back to the cabinet of Essex County Council, giving them a better insight into what was happening within the mental health providers of Essex. He was also Deputy Chairman of the Health and Overview Committee at Essex County Council, overseeing the health needs and provision of Essex by working alongside some of the senior executive team within the Essex health service, including hospitals and the CCG.

After moving to North Wales, Andrew was elected as governor of The Walton Centre, where his son had previously been a patient. Andrew is married with four children and eight grandchildren, and after 20 years running his own cleaning business, he now works in the rail replacement sector of the railways.

Jan Paterson

Jan is part of a community committed to a better life for everyone affected by neurological conditions, aiming for high quality, accessible healthcare services so people with epilepsy and other neurological conditions have the support they need to manage their condition in the language of their choice, and preferred method of contact and to get access services that they so need to cope on a day to day basis.

Jan has been with Epilepsy Action for six years driving change, linking in with numerous agencies. Over the years, she has seen people differentiate and label socially important human differences according to certain pattern that include negative stereotypes, for example that people with epilepsy or other brain disease are a danger to others; and pejorative labelling, “disabled” and “epileptic”. In neurology, stigma primarily refers to a mark or characteristic indicative of a history of neurological disorder or condition and the consequent physical or mental abnormality. For most chronic neurological disorders, the stigma is associated with the disability rather than the disorder per se.

Jan also sits on the Neuroscience Board, representing the third sector with neurological conditions.

Public - Rest of England and Wales 

Cameron Hill

Cameron has been a patient at The Walton Centre for over a decade, after being diagnosed with temporal lobe epilepsy in 2014 and undergoing brain surgery in 2017. He said "The outstanding care I’ve received—across outpatient clinics, wards, neurophysiology, neuropsychology, the surgical theatre, and intensive care—has given me a profound insight into the vital role the trust plays in improving lives."

Cameron previously served as a Walton Centre governor between 2019 and 2022, contributing to the Trust's strategic oversight during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continuity of care for patients while adapting to emerging healthcare needs. He has worked as a public health analyst in Public Health England and DHSC, is currently a trustee of Epilepsy Action and is a member of the University of Liverpool's research ethics committee focused on psychology and public health research.

Lorna McCrae

As an organisational and learning development consultant/interim specialist, Lorna brings strong listening, communication and engagement skills plus objectivity and thought leadership, supported by data analysis. She also likes to reconnect people and their work with strategic aims, encouraging the application of appreciative enquiry for recognition and understanding.  This and other interventions are particularly beneficial after traumatic events and ongoing stress.

Lorna said "As an outpatient, I enthusiastically recognise The Walton Centre for its superlative services and the friendly professionalism of staff. Having worked with board members means I understand the need for continuous objectivity, data analysis, and the earned credibility to influence decisions. Despite interest in non-clinicians, it nevertheless includes relationships and work with clinicians, patients and the public."

 

Staff Governors

Professor Andrew Brodbelt - Medical

Professor Andrew Brodbelt is a Consultant Neurosurgeon at The Walton Centre and the lead for cancer at the Trust. He is passionate about The Walton Centre, and its role and development for the future.  

Jayne Parsons — Nursing

 

I am proud to serve as the Nursing Staff Governor for The Walton Centre. My focus is on supporting high quality patient care, staff wellbeing and continuous improvement by ensuring effective communication from front line staff to decision makers. I look forward to working with staff and patients to help shape the future of our services

Dave Bannerman - Non-clinical

I've worked at The Walton Centre for 13 years , in both clinical and non-clinical roles It's my pleasure and privilege to work alongside some of the most amazing staff I've come across and worked with in the health industry. I became a Governor as I want to support my colleagues wherever I can and gain a deeper insight into how the trust works and what can be done, however small an act, to make it better for staff and patients. I'm keen to ask the questions they want answers to, as well as bringing their ideas to higher management, in an effort to improve The Walton Centre experience for both staff and patients.

Partnership Governors

Emma Hughes - Parkinson's UK

Emma is an Area Development Manager at Parkinson’s UK. Her primary focus is to engage and understand what matters to the Parkinson’s community locally, and to enhance and expand the support network for those navigating life with Parkinson’s. Emma works closely with and collaborates with a range of different stakeholders to make this happen, including working with the NHS to safeguard health services and influence and advocate for meaningful improvements. Emma is also a member of the Cheshire and Merseyside Neurological Alliance and the Lancashire and South Cumbria Neurological Alliance. Emma has worked in the charity sector since 2008 and has been with Parkinson’s UK for the past eight years.

Jane Johnson-Cree - Neurotherapy Centre North Wales

As a Chartered Physiotherapist Jane has been involved in rehabilitation for over 38 years, working in a variety of settings within the NHS as well as in the private and voluntary sectors. She has been the senior physio and CEO of The Neuro Therapy Centre, based in Saltney, near Chester since 2012, where the mission is 'to improve the quality of life for people impacted by neurological conditions through tailored and inclusive services which support physical and emotional wellbeing'. The focus is on people living with degenerative neurological conditions, along with their carers, and the aim is to empower them through access to tailored exercise and wellbeing opportunities.

Jane has a wealth of experience around collaboration and believe that real partnership work can make positive change, which coupled with my understanding of these conditions and the insight into the challenges they pose allows me to champion the voice of the service user to try and ensure that services reflect their needs and are accessible.

 
Carol Roberts - Liverpool University

Carol is currently Head of Research Development and Delivery, within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, at the University of Liverpool. She gained her undergraduate master’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Oxford and her PhD in Gastroenterology from the University of Liverpool. She then embarked on postdoctoral research, gaining experience in academia and industry, alongside clinical trial management. Prior to her current role, Carol was Portfolio Lead for Partnerships at the University of Liverpool, where she developed collaborative research partnerships between the University and outside organisations.

Julia Garner - Sefton Council

Julie is a research scientist at Bristol Myers Squibb. Her responsibilities include compliance and quality risk management activities within the analytical supply operations group.

She is also the site mental health lead and the cancer support network UK site lead. She has previous governor experience as a school governor and unit management trustee of a sea cadet unit. Julia lives in Litherland with her husband and two grown up children, and her hobbies include reading, baking, cooking, attending the theatre and live music.

 
Amanda Miller - Edge Hill University 

Dr Amanda Miller is the Head of Simulation and Skills Education at Edge Hill University. Amanda joined Edge Hill University in October 2022 and is a Reader in Simulation. She qualified as a Children's Nurse in 1997 and before beginning her academic career worked in a variety of practice areas, including paediatric accident and emergency, children's community, and children’s oncology/haematology. In 2006, she joined the University of Salford as a Lecturer in Children and Young People’s Nursing and during her time there, completed her PhD and developed her expertise in the use of simulation-based education in healthcare.

Patricia O'Keefe - Northwest Coast Clinical Network

Trish is the Programme Manager for the Cheshire and Mersey Integrated Stroke Delivery Network (ISDN) which is part of NHS England. She has 15 years’ experience in the NHS and previous to her current position, held several management and quality improvement roles across inpatient and outpatient settings within Cheshire and Merseyside. As ISDN Programme Manager, Trish works with providers and clinicians to quality improve stroke services for patients in Cheshire and Merseyside from prevention to life after stroke. Trish is an advocate of the patient and public voice (PPV) and regularly chairs the PPV meeting for stroke patients in Cheshire and Merseyside. She lives on the Wirral with her husband and two children and has two dogs who keep her and her family busy.

Corporate Secretary

Tel: 0151 556 3477

Membership Manager

Tel: 0151 556 3484

Email: Nicola.Troy@nhs.net