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Forums

Connections by role and interests,

Content

Our forums connect members by role, interest or task-and-finish groups on key issues, creating spaces to shape solutions on the issues that matter most. Participation is exclusive to members. 

The selection listed below are open to all members. We also provide others open exclusively to members of our sector netoworks.

Why participate?

  • Influence policy and practice: Contribute your expertise to shape the healthcare landscape.​

  • Stay informed: Receive timely updates from regulators and national bodies.​

  • Connect with peers: Engage in open, honest discussions under Chatham House Rule.​

  • Learn from experts: Hear from thought leaders and participate in panel discussions.​

  • Reflect and recharge: Take time away from daily demands to gain fresh perspectives.

A group of NHS leaders engaged in discussion around a table at a one of our networks.

A very useful meeting - good variety of formats, topics and speakers, efficiently chaired. Good opportunities for networking. Came away better informed and with things to reflect on.

ChairSurrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust

Find your community

NHS Leaders Forum (successor to NHS Providers' Chairs and Chief Executives Network
  • ·   Open to chairs and chief executives from across NHS trusts, ICBs, community CICs, primary care collaboratives in England.
  • Meet twice yearly with all system leaders invited.
  • There will also be two other yearly meets for sector-specific groups – e.g. NHS trust chairs and chief executives only, chairs and chief executives in Wales and Northern Ireland. 
NHS Non-Executive Directors Forum

Open to all non-executive directors from across NHS trusts and ICBs.

NHS Workforce Leaders Forum

Open to directors of HR, workforce and organisational development.

NHS Digital Innovation Leaders Forum

Open to: 

  • Digital and innovation leaders at board level across trusts and ICBs.
  • Digital primary care senior leaders.
  • Board-level non-statutory members providing NHS funded patient care. 
NHS Quality and Safety Forum

This forum will consist of a series of webinars for board-level leaders on key issues relating to quality and safety. 

NHS Communications Forum

Open to:

  • Directors of communications and engagement across trusts, ICBs and other parts of the system. 
  • Other senior communications leaders.
NHS Work and Health Forum

Open to:

  • Broad ICB membership, including ICB work and health leads, strategy and workforce leads and chairs. 
  • Non-ICB membership, including NHS trusts, local/strategic authorities, DWP, VCSE and national colleagues. 
Neighbourhood Leads Forum

This forum is open to primary care, acute, community, mental health and ICB neighbourhood health leads who are responsible for making neighbourhood working a reality at place and system. 

Outpatient Reform Forum

Open to: 

  • NHs trusts, community trusts, primary care, and neighbourhood ICB. 
  • Anyone involved with outpatient pathway design.
NHS BME Leadership Forum

This forum is open to Black and minority ethnic leaders, aspiring leaders and allies from across the NHS. 

NHS LGBTQ+ Leadership Network

Open to LGBTQ+ leaders, aspiring leaders and allies from across the NHS. 

NHS Women Leaders Network

Open to women working at all levels across health and care. 

NHS Disability Leadership Forum (launching soon)

More details will be available soon. 

EDI Directors Forum

Open to directors, associate directors and high-level strategic leads for EDI or health inequalities within NHS organisations. 

Step into the conversation

Don’t miss your chance to connect, collaborate, and influence change. Discover practical insights, share your expertise, and recharge your leadership perspective in a trusted environment.

View all upcoming events
NHS trust leaders in discussion around tables at a forum event.

Forum chairs

Kate Jarman

Kate Jarman

Chief Corporate Services Officer

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Kate Jarman

Kate Jarman

Chief Corporate Services Officer

Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Communication Leads Network chair.

Lauren Barnard

Lauren Barnard

Executive Director of Corporate Governance

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Lauren Barnard

Lauren Barnard

Executive Director of Corporate Governance

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Company Secretaries Network co-chair.

Paul Howard

Paul Howard

Director of Corporate Affairs and Risk Management

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Paul Howard

Paul Howard

Director of Corporate Affairs and Risk Management

Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

Company Secretaries Network co-chair. A registered paramedic, Paul Howard began his NHS career in 2001 with North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust, undertaking a range of clinical roles before moving into corporate governance. Since then Paul has worked in corporate governance roles in both the health and education sectors and joined Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust in January 2025.

Richard Kirby

Richard Kirby

Chief Executive

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Richard Kirby

Richard Kirby

Chief Executive

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Richard is the lead for the Birmingham & Solihull Community Care Collaborative developing partnerships to deliver integrated care in neighbourhoods and localities.

Jason Bradley

Jason Bradley

Chief Digital and Data Officer

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Jason Bradley

Jason Bradley

Chief Digital and Data Officer

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Digital Boards Leadership Network co-chair.

Kate Warriner

Kate Warriner

Chief Transformation and Digital Officer

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Kate Warriner

Kate Warriner

Chief Transformation and Digital Officer

Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Digital Boards Leadership Network co-chair.

Lucy Davies

Lucy Davies

Chief Operating Officer

East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

Lucy Davies

Lucy Davies

Chief Operating Officer

East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

Director of Operations and Chief Operating Officers Network co-chair.

Stephanie Lawton

Stephanie Lawton

Chief Operating Officer

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Stephanie Lawton

Stephanie Lawton

Chief Operating Officer

The Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust

Directors of Operations and Chief Operating Officers chair.

Mark Orchard

Mark Orchard

Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Executive

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and Isle of Wight NHS Trust

Mark Orchard

Mark Orchard

Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Executive

Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and Isle of Wight NHS Trust

Finance Directors and Commercial Leads chair.

Bridget O'Kelly

Bridget O'Kelly

Chief People Officer

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Bridget O'Kelly

Bridget O'Kelly

Chief People Officer

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

HR Directors co-chair.

Amanda Rawlings

Amanda Rawlings

Executive Chief People Officer

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

Amanda Rawlings

Amanda Rawlings

Executive Chief People Officer

University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

HR Directors co-chair.

Andrew McLaren

Andrew McLaren

Chief Medical Officer

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Andrew McLaren

Andrew McLaren

Chief Medical Officer

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Medical and Nursing Directors co-chair.

Diane Sarkar

Diane Sarkar

Chief Nursing Officer

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Diane Sarkar

Diane Sarkar

Chief Nursing Officer

Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust

Medical and Nursing Directors co-chair

Karen Taylor

Karen Taylor

Chief Executive

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Karen Taylor

Karen Taylor

Chief Executive

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust

Mental Health Leaders co-chair.

Therese Patten

Therese Patten

Chief Executive

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust

Therese Patten

Therese Patten

Chief Executive

Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust

Therese Patten is NHS Providers' Mental Health Leaders network co-chair. She has extensive NHS board level experience, gained working across community, mental health, acute and specialist healthcare in the NHS, and has been chief executive of Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust since September 2020. Alongside her chief executive role, Therese is the place lead for the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, and national director for place development working within the system architecture team of NHS England. She is a trustee on the board of NHS Providers where she represents the interests of mental health trusts.

David  Williams

David Williams

Group Director of Strategy and Partnerships

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

David  Williams

David Williams

Group Director of Strategy and Partnerships

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust and Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Strategy Directors Network chair.

How to join a forum

If you're a member of The NHS Alliance and would like to join a forum, or learn more information, please contact our Forums team.