Linda Hughes JP (Chairman/Trustee)

Linda's career has been a portfolio one, working across the public and private sectors – firstly in financial sector, then the NHS. Since 2002 when she re-located to Devon, she has worked part-time as a management consultant, specialising in health. She is a Justice of the Peace and serves as a non-executive Director/Trustee on a number of Boards, including Devon & Cornwall Housing Trust, where she chairs the group's Audit Committee.
Linda spent seventeen years working for North American banks, latterly as a senior manager for the Royal Bank of Canada and Manufacturers Life. She helped establish a number of new organisations in the NHS, firstly i n Bristol , and the n in London. From the role of Director of Contracts and Information for University College London NHS Hospitals Trust, (one of the country's largest hospital groups), in 1994, Linda became Chief Executive of one of the country's largest primary care Multifunds in East London . She was the n appointed Chief Executive of the Newham Primary Care Group, which won the first national Primary Care Group of the Year award. Linda is a trained opera singer and is completing an OU Classics Degree.

Debbie Scott OBE FRSA DL
(Non-Executive Director/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 find and keep a job.

Debbie 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).

Tomorrow's People campaigns on a cross party basis for improvements to welfare to work policy and, as such, Debbie is Deputy Chair of the Social Justice Policy Group. 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.

John Greenfield (Company Secretary/Trustee)

John is Executive Chairman of Small House Homes (SHH), one of the largest employers in the care industry in the south west. SHH provides community care for young adults and children with learning and behavioural difficulties and offers a safe and secure home for the m to live within the community. The company specialises in looking after young people with Autism and Aspergers Syndrome. John is Headteacher of the company's Special School and former Vice Principal of one of the UK 's largest Special Schools.

John started his career with the Metropolitan police, graduating from the Detective Training College before moving to teaching. He is studying for a master's degree in 20 th century art and music.

Dr Jim Murray FRSM (Non-Executive Director/Trustee)

Dr. James R Murray is President of Hunter-Fleming Ltd, 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 Ne the rlands , 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 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. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Breast Cancer Campaign and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of World Traders. He is also 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 Cassidy (Non-Executive Director/Trustee)

Paticia CassiPatricia Cassidy is Chief Executive of the Nuffield Hospitals, a charity and not-for-profit organization which has been providing healthcare services in the UK since 1957.  Mrs Cassidy joined Nuffield Hospitals in January 1999 as Hospital Manager at Nuffield Hospital Exeter. Prior to that she worked for Newham NHS Community Health Services Trust where she held a number of roles as Director of Service Development and Assistant Director of Contracts and Marketing. She is also a Registered General Nurse and progressed to the position of Senior Sister at the Royal Hospitals Trusts.




Mrs Cassidy was appointed to the NDO Board in March 2008.