Geoff Brown: Final Reflections and Farewell

Looking back over more than ten years, it has been a privilege and a joy to lead Healthwatch Hertfordshire. I am grateful for the many opportunities we have had to ensure the public voice is heard and people’s experiences are fed back to health and social care decision-makers. 

Our independent and collaborative approach, driven by a clear purpose to help improve services, has enabled us to have an enormously positive impact in my time as Chief Executive. The development and growth of our research team in this time has enabled us to provide powerful and robust evidence that could then be used to improve services. We have often been complimented that we are ‘punching above our weight’ as our work impacts policy-makers on a regional and national level. 

I would like to thank the people and communities that have given their views to us and all the partners we have worked with who have been equally committed to the shared goal of improving services for people in the county. This includes patient representatives and NHS, social care and voluntary sector colleagues, who all work tirelessly to provide services and support to people in Hertfordshire. 

I am very pleased to be handing over to Ivana Chalmers, who will be joining as Chief Executive in September. She is committed to taking the organisation forward and building on what we have achieved so far. I am able to leave safe in the knowledge that the organisation is in a strong position to continue its vital work, with the support of the Board and a dedicated, compassionate and passionate team whose values and behaviours, insight and drive make Healthwatch Hertfordshire the organisation it is.

Geoff Brown
Healthwatch Hertfordshire CEO, 2012–24