Linda Hughes JP
(Chairman/Trustee)
Brought up in Hong Kong before continuing her education in York and Edinburgh, Linda’s career has been a portfolio one, working across the public, private and third sectors.
Linda has served as a non-executive Director/Trustee on many Boards, including recently Devon & Cornwall Housing, where she has chaired the group’s Audit Committee since 2007. Linda has been a Vice Patron of unemployment support charity, Tomorrow’s People, since 2002 and worked specifically with the organisation to develop its GP surgery model, as well developing relationships with health organisations. One of the founders of New Devon Opera, she has been its Chairman since 2004. She is also a Justice of the Peace.
A banker by training, Linda spent seventeen years working for North American banks, latterly as a senior manager in the UK Head Office of the Royal Bank of Canada and of Manufacturers Life.
In 1990, Linda moved into the NHS where she helped establish a number of new organisations, firstly in Bristol (at Frenchay Hospital) and then in London, as Director of Contracts and Information for University College London NHS Hospitals Trust.
IN 1994, Linda set up one of the country’s largest primary care Multifunds in the East London borough of Newham, one of the UK’s most deprived and ethnically diverse areas. Subsequently, she was appointed Chief Executive of one of the largest Primary Care Groups in the country. Under her leadership, Newham Multifund and PCG won a number of awards including the prestigious national Primary Care Group of the Year award, for the organisation’s highly innovative and beneficial work on behalf of patients and health professionals.
Throughout her working life, she has consistently provided volunteer support for a number of charities. Linda is a trained opera singer, a passionate supporter of Welsh rugby, of English cricket and, is trying to find time to complete her OU Honours Classics Degree.
Baroness Stedman-Scott OBE FRSA DL
(Vice Chairman/Trustee)
Debbie Scott is Chief Executive of Tomorrow’s People, a national employment charity founded in 1984. The charity works in some of the most deprived communities around the UK, where it helps long-term unemployed people overcome the barriers that prevent them from working and from finding and keeping a job.
Debbie is Deputy Chairman of the Centre for Social Justice. She is a founder member of the Employment Related Services Association (ERSA) and was its first Chair until April 2007. Debbie is also a member of the Association of Chief Executives of National Voluntary Organisations (ACEVO). In addition, Debbie is a member of the Employment Advisory Group of the CBI and its Public Service Industry Forum (PSIF). She is a member of the Advisory Board for the International Centre for Drugs Policy (ICPD) and the Chair of its Fundraising sub-group. Debbie is also a Fellow of the Royal Society.
In August 2007, Debbie was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of East Sussex. Debbie was named Charity Principal of the Year at the UK Charity Awards 2005. This award is made by the Charity Times publication to an individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and management skill in the running of a charity.
Debbie joined the Board of New Devon Opera in 2006, bringing her warm enthusiasm and ‘nothing is impossible’ attitude into helping NDO grow and prosper.
Dr Jim Murray MBBS, DRCOG, MRCGP, FFPM
(Non-Executive Director/Trustee)
Dr. James R Murray is a Director at Cutest Systems Ltd, Cardiff, a company testing new skin products for manufacturers. He was previously a Director at Hunter-Fleming, a biopharmaceutical company specialising in developing new treatments for degenerative diseases. From February 1999 until October 2006, he was Chief Executive Officer responsible for the development of 5 projects (3 now in clinical trials) and the raising of £29m of funding. Until February 1999 he was with Shire Pharmaceuticals Group PLC. He joined Shire at the company’s formation as Medical Consultant, becoming full-time Research Director in the summer of 1990 and Scientific Director in 1996, just prior to Shire’s successful flotation in February 1996. In January 1998 he took up the role of Business Development Director. He was a full Board Member of the Group.
Dr. Murray has over 31 years experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including some 15 years with Gist-Brocades (now Astellas, Europe) in the Netherlands, Belgium and the UK. Positions held included Head of International Clinical Research, Head of Strategic Planning, Director of International Scientific Affairs, Director of Licensing, Medical Director for UK (with Board position), Belgium and Australia. He has a wide Boardroom experience from highly successful to problematic companies.
He has degrees in Medicine and Surgery (Charing Cross Hospital, London), is a Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Joint Royal Colleges of Physicians, holds Diplomas in Obstetrics and Family Planning and Reproductive Medicine of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, and is a Member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and of the American Academy of Dermatology, and a member of the South West of England Regional Development Agency’s Science and Industry Council. For six years he was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Breast Cancer Campaign and he is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of World Traders. He was for ten years a member of the Advisory Board of Bristol University’s Research, Enterprise and Development Centre.
Dr Murray joined the NDO Board in March 2007
Patricia Lee
(Non-Executive Director/Trustee)
Patricia Lee is Chief Executive of Nuffield Health, the UK’s leading health charity which has been providing healthcare services in the UK since 1957. Nuffield Health operates a range of health and wellbeing facilities including Nuffield Health Hospitals and Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing Centres. Ms Lee trained as a nurse and worked in the NHS before joining Nuffield as a hospital General Manager – becoming a Regional Director, Commercial Director and even acting as Clinical Director during a period of significant change.
Ms Lee was appointed to the NDO Board in March 2008.
Graham Wood
(Non-Executive Director/Trustee)
Mr Wood was appointed to the NDO Board in September 2009
AJ Venter
(Non-Executive Director/Trustee)
AJ Venter is an associate in the corporate finance team of leading UK law firm Burges Salmon LLP. AJ works with both public and private companies and advises on a range of corporate matters including acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, takeovers, schemes of arrangement, Eurobond listings, admissions to trading on AIM, corporate governance and general aspects of company law.
AJ was appointed to the NDO Board in June 2011.
