The powers of the Trust are exercised by the Board of Directors. Any of those powers may be delegated to a committee of directors or to an executive director.
The Board meet every month, click here for details.
Meet our Executive Directors
Richard Parker OBE, Chief Executive
Prior to becoming Chief Executive in January 2017, Richard served as our Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Quality. He began his NHS career as a student nurse, qualifying in 1985, and went on to hold a number of senior leadership roles at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals – including Deputy Chief Nurse in 2005, Deputy Chief Operating Officer in 2010, and Chief Operating Officer in 2013. He held this post until joining us in October 2013.
As a former nurse, Richard is particularly interested in the delivery of high-quality care and is a strong advocate for clinical excellence at every level – championing standards from Board to ward. He holds an MBA in Health and Social Services from Leeds University and the Nuffield Institute for Health, completed in 1997.
Denise Smith, Chief Operating Officer
Originally from York, Denise began her NHS career over 25 years ago in operational management within Women and Children’s services. Since then, she has held a range of roles across both primary and secondary care, working in commissioner and provider organisations. From 2009 onwards, she has taken on senior operational leadership positions at a number of Acute Trusts across the country.
Most recently, Denise served as Chief Operating Officer at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, a role she held from May 2019 until joining DBTH in January 2023.
Karen Jessop, Chief Nurse
Karen joined DBTH in January 2023, having previously served as Deputy Chief Nurse at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals from October 2017 to January 2023.
She began her nursing career in 1995 at Hull University Hospitals, where she spent over 20 years in a range of clinical and leadership roles across critical care and surgery. During this time, she progressed to become a Matron and later a Divisional Nurse Manager. Alongside her professional development, Karen also qualified as a Registered Midwife and completed a Master’s Degree in Health Care Leadership with the University of Birmingham.
Dr Tim Noble, Executive Medical Director
Dr Noble was appointed Executive Medical Director at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals in 2020.
Born and raised in York, Tim qualified from St Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical School in London in 1989. After completing his medical training, he worked in several hospitals across the south of England before returning to the North in 1995 to undertake a research project at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals. He qualified as a specialist in respiratory medicine in 2002.
Tim joined DBTH in 2006 as a Consultant Respiratory Physician following a period at Barnsley Hospital. From 2010 to 2017, he led the Trust’s respiratory medicine service and held two Clinical Director roles before being appointed Deputy Medical Director in 2017.
Zara Jones, Deputy Chief Executive
Prior to joining DBTH, Zara served as Executive Director of Strategy and Planning at Derbyshire Integrated Care Board (ICB). In this role, she worked closely with partners across the region to lead a broad portfolio spanning acute, mental health, primary and community care services, with responsibilities covering commissioning, performance and strategic development.
A graduate of the NHS Management Scheme, Zara has built a strong background in strategy, commissioning and performance management. She has held senior roles at a number of NHS organisations, including Sherwood Forest Hospitals, Nottingham University Hospitals and The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust.
Sam Wilde, Chief Finance Officer
Sam joined Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals in late 2024 from Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust, where he had served as Director of Finance and Business Intelligence since 2018. He brings a wealth of financial leadership experience across both the NHS and the private sector.
As Chief Finance Officer, Sam is a key member of the Executive Team, responsible for financial management, governance and supporting the Trust’s strategic aims while ensuring long-term sustainability. His portfolio also includes Estates and Facilities, Information Technology and Digital Transformation, and the Project Management Office.
A Chartered Management Accountant, Sam holds a Master of Business Administration and has held senior financial roles across healthcare and industry. During his time at Lincolnshire Community Health Services, he helped to maintain financial stability, deliver efficiencies and support the organisation’s outstanding CQC rating.
Zoe Lintin, Chief People Officer
Zoe joined Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals as Chief People Officer in June 2022. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), she was previously Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development at Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, where she held an executive role from 2016.
With a strong commitment to creating a positive and supportive working environment, Zoe understands the vital link between colleague experience and the delivery of high-quality care. She is Vice President of the Yorkshire and Humber branch of the Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) and a member of the South Yorkshire CIPD branch. She is also a qualified coach, accredited mediator, and trained in psychometric testing and 360-degree feedback.
Zoe began her NHS career at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust in 2006, following roles in HR, organisational development and learning and development within the legal and private sectors. Since 2019, she has also served as a voluntary Trustee on the Board of a South Yorkshire schools academy trust.
Meet our Non-Executive Directors
Suzy Brain England OBE C Dir, Chair of the Board.
Suzy is an experienced board chair, non-executive director, consultant, mentor and counsellor, with a broad portfolio spanning the health, housing, enterprise and finance sectors.
She currently serves as Chair of Derwent Living Housing Association and Chair and Trustee of Keep Britain Tidy. She is also a Lay Representative for Health Education England’s doctor training and recruitment in Yorkshire, a member of the Institute of Directors’ Accreditation and Standards Committee, and founder of Cloud Talking, a mentoring service.
Suzy is a former Chair of Kirklees Community Healthcare Services and has served as a Non-Executive Director at Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. She was awarded an OBE for her work as Chair of the Department for Work and Pensions Decision Making Standards Committee.
Beginning her career as a journalist, Suzy has held a number of executive roles, including CEO of The Talent Foundation and the Earth Centre in South Yorkshire, and Director at the Central London Training and Enterprise Council.
Kath Smart, Non-executive Director.
A Doncaster resident, Kath brings significant experience from across the public sector, having worked in the NHS for over a decade in commissioning roles across Doncaster, Wakefield and Hull. Her career has spanned areas including risk management, governance and external inspections.
A Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) qualified accountant, Kath most recently served as a Non-Executive Director at Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust (RDaSH), where she also chaired the Audit Committee and its associated social enterprise, Flourish Enterprises.
Kath is Deputy Chair of the Board.
Dr Emyr Wyn Jones, Non-executive Director.
Dr Jones qualified in medicine in 1973 and joined the former Doncaster Royal and Mexborough Hospital NHS Trust in 1986, beginning a 24-year career as a Consultant General Physician with a specialist interest in diabetes and endocrinology. He is the author of An Illustrated Guide to the Diabetic Clinic, published by Blackwell Science in 1998 and reprinted and translated internationally.
He went on to serve as Clinical Director of Medicine before being appointed Medical Director in 1998 and Deputy Chief Executive in 2004, roles he held until his retirement in 2010.
Since then, Dr Jones, who lives in Bessacarr, has taken on a number of national leadership roles, including Medical Advisor to the National Audit Office and Clinical Leader for the Summary Care Records Programme at NHS Digital. He was also Secondary Care Doctor Member for NHS Doncaster Clinical Commissioning Group from 2015 until its closure in 2022.
As Clinical Non-Executive Director, Dr Jones serves as Deputy Chair of the Quality and Effectiveness Committee and is one of the Trust’s Maternity and Neonatal Safety Champions.
Mark Bailey, Non-executive Director.
Mark joined the Trust as a Non-Executive Director in February 2020. He spent over 30 years at Rolls-Royce plc, most recently as Group Director for Customers and Services, bringing a wealth of experience from senior leadership and board-level roles in the private sector.
Originally from Armthorpe in Doncaster, Mark now lives with his family in Ashbourne, on the edge of the Peak District. Initially trained as an engineer, he has developed a strong focus on strategic development, business growth and customer service transformation. Throughout his career, he has also led the introduction of innovative digital solutions—an area of particular relevance as the Trust continues to modernise the use of technology in patient care.
Mark is Chair of the Finance and Performance Committee.
Hazel Brand, Non-executive Director.
Hazel Brand is a former Lead Governor and Head of Communications at DBTH. She initially trained as an Occupational Therapist, working in health and social care in and around London before moving into health journalism, holding editorial roles at the Health Service Journal and the British Journal of Healthcare Computing. She later joined the Institute of Health Services Management before becoming Communications Manager at the former Doncaster and Montagu Hospitals, a post she held for nearly 20 years, supporting the organisation through significant periods of change.
Following her retirement in 2012, Hazel was elected as a Public Governor and served the maximum nine-year term, including three years as Lead Governor.
Hazel now serves as a Non-Executive Director at DBTH. She is Chair of the Charitable Funds Committee, Champion for Freedom to Speak Up, and sits on the Quality and Effectiveness, People, and Charitable Funds committees. She is also an elected member of Bassetlaw District Council.
Joanne Gander, Clinical Non-executive Director.
Joanne Gander is a Registered General Nurse with extensive experience across both the NHS and healthcare industry. Most recently, she served as Clinical and Product Assurance Director for Supply Chain Co-ordination Limited, the organisation managing NHS Supply Chain. Prior to this, Jo spent around 25 years working in the pharmaceutical and medical device sector, before returning to the NHS in 2008 as Commissioning Group Director within North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus. She has also held senior roles within the Digital Team at NHS England.
Jo’s professional focus is on patient safety and the experience of care, with a strong commitment to ensuring both patients and health and care professionals are supported to deliver the highest standards.
In her capacity as Clinical Non-Executive Director, Jo is Chair of the Quality and Effectiveness Committee and one of the Trust’s Maternity and Neonatal Safety Champions. She also contributes to a number of other Board sub-committees.
Lucy Nickson, Non-executive Director.
Lucy began her career in nursing over 30 years ago, training in Sheffield and working at Weston Park Hospital before moving into health visiting in Chesterfield and North Derbyshire. She went on to hold a number of NHS management roles, including leading Community Nursing in Derbyshire and serving as Head of Performance at the East Midlands Strategic Health Authority.
In 2011, Lucy transitioned to the charity sector, where she has since held Chief Executive roles across a range of health and community organisations, including a hospice, a home-based end of life care charity, and The Foundation at Club Doncaster. She has also led South Yorkshire-based commercial healthcare organisations. Lucy is currently Chief Executive of Day One Trauma Support, a national charity that supports people affected by major trauma and serious injury.
In her role as Non-Executive Director, Lucy chairs the People Committee.
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