Healthwatch Hertfordshire welcomes Ivana Chalmers as our new Chief Executive

Our AGM marked the launch of the 2023-4 annual report. Here we celebrated the difference Healthwatch Hertfordshire has made under Geoff’s leadership and the signing of a new, long-term contract with Hertfordshire County Council that guarantees we will be around to help people make sense of public services for at least the next three-to-five years. 

Reflecting on his time with Healthwatch, Geoff said: “Our independence and collaborative approach, driven by a clear purpose to help improve services, has enabled us to achieve a great deal of positive impact in my time as Chief Executive. 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. I know this work will continue with the dedicated team whose values, insight and dedication make Healthwatch Hertfordshire the organisation it is.”

Ivana joins the organisation in early September, bringing with her skills and experience from a variety of public sector and charitable organisations, with a passion for social justice and inclusion. 

Healthwatch Hertfordshire’s chair, Neil Tester, said: “Everyone at Healthwatch Hertfordshire is grateful for and proud of the way Geoff’s led our team to make such a difference for people, including through the testing times of the pandemic. We know that there are changes on the way for health and social care, which means Healthwatch Hertfordshire needs to do a great job of making sure people’s voices are heard so services can work better for us across the county. I’m delighted that Geoff’s leadership has got our organisation to a stage where we have a real legacy of achievement to build upon as Ivana takes the reins. We all wish Geoff the very best for his retirement and are looking forward to working with Ivana in the years ahead.”

Ivana said: “I’m excited to be joining Healthwatch Hertfordshire at a time when NHS and social care decision-makers see just how increasingly important our role is in helping them meet their obligations to people across the county. You only have to look at the new annual report to see how we help tackle the big issues that really matter to people, involving communities to improve services and make care fairer.”

We look forward to working with Ivana and wish her all the best in her role!