About our Board
We want to make sure that as many people as possible can share their voice and stories with us, so we continue to take steps to involve the public and volunteers in our governance and decisions about our work.
Our Board of Trustees are all volunteers appointed for having a mixture of skills, which includes lived experience and knowledge of health and social care. They govern our activity and by setting priorities are responsible for the strategic oversight of Healthwatch Hertfordshire. The Board ensures that we use our resources wisely and that we keep to our charitable purpose.
Our independence is fundamental to the work that we do, so Board Members are required to disclose any conflicts of interest. Decisions are made by the Board as a whole and will take account of any conflicts as needed.
The Board meets six times a year with four public meetings and two strategic sessions for Board members only.
Our Chair
Neil Tester
Neil’s professional focus is on making people’s voices heard in health and social care policy and practice. From 2015 to 2019 he worked for Healthwatch England and since then has been Director of The Richmond Group of Charities, bringing together major health charities to help them make more difference through collaboration. He also understands how the world looks to health professionals, having worked for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.
Neil’s personal experience of how the health and care systems affect people comes from years of long-distance caring for parents with multiple conditions, as well as his many months of treatment and rehabilitation following an accident.
Neil became Chair in October 2023.
Our Board
Treasurer - Alan Bellinger
In addition to his role as a Healthwatch Trustee, Alan Bellinger is a patient representative on the West Herts Diabetes Steering Group and member of the Hertfordshire Diabetes Conference Steering Group.
After retirement from a successful career in the private sector (working in both training and Information Technology), Alan wanted to get involved in supporting local health issues and improving the patient experience.
Alan, a widower, has lived in St Albans for almost 70 years; he has two children and he especially enjoys the company of his four grandchildren – all of whom live in Hertfordshire.
Eve Atkins
When a close family member became affected by mental illness, Eve witnessed first-hand the facilities, treatment, system support and various institutions that some people affected by mental illness endure in the mental health care system.
A need to share observations, accumulated knowledge and the drive to improve patient experiences encouraged Eve to join Healthwatch Hertfordshire (HwH). A Governor at HPFT representing HwH, Eve is involved with various groups reviewing mental health care processes and practices. Eve is also a Mental Health Act Manager and as such, attends statutory hearings where service users can appeal against their detention under the Mental Health Act.
Alex Booth
Alex is a Programme Manager working for a large retailer and has extensive experience delivering change impacting large numbers of customers/employees, developing strategy and managing stakeholder communications. He cares about developing the skills of others and putting individuals at the heart of decision-making.
Outside of work, Alex is an approved foster carer/adopter. Through this role and his family's own experiences, he has experience of both the children and adult social care sector, as well as the NHS. He is also a volunteer leader in a local scout group.
Alex is passionate about ensuring that service users are at the heart of decision-making and that the experiences of users of the diverse/lesser known services across health and social care are heard.
Ryan Heard
Ryan is a Development Manager for Hertfordshire County Council, focussing on addressing inequalities for residents who are deaf or hard of hearing, visually impaired, or deafblind. He has 6 years’ experience in a range of project, data, and performance roles across local government, bringing a strong knowledge and understanding of local government and the need to involve residents in every stage of the decision-making process.
Ryan works closely with colleagues from across Health & Social care to ensure residents with a sensory need can play an equal role in society. It is only through a strategic approach involving all partners and residents that these long-standing issues can be tackled.
Amanda Hutchinson
Amanda had worked in health and social care improvement and regulation for 20 years before retiring from the Care Quality Commission in March 2024. Her career has included producing national reviews and reports focussing on the care of people with long term conditions and older people, work to set up Healthwatch England, and the Healthwatch network, as well as introducing ratings for health and social care services, including Primary Care.
A long-term resident of Hertfordshire, she is strongly committed to improving care and ensuring that health and care organisations understand and listen to the views of people using services and are organising care in ways that are accessible and meet their diverse needs.
Enoch Kanagaraj
Enoch founded One Vision in 2018. He is a psychology graduate and has a wealth of experience working in retail. He is passionate about networking and bringing communities together and believes that together we can work more effectively for the greater good.
Enoch’s passion is engaging with local community groups, charities and public services on issues which concern us all – equality, health, welfare, faith, and youth. Working together ensures a smart approach to the sharing of resources, information and skills. His collaborative efforts reduced duplication as well as enhancing each group’s delivery capability. Enoch continues to work diligently in the community to promote the message of being ‘stronger together’ and to strive to gain positive outcomes for those in most need.
In addition to his work at One Vision, Enoch is a Community Liaison leader and Stanborough Primary School’s Governor. He is a family man and values time with his wife and two children.
Sally Orr
Sally developed an interest in children’s services when her own children were young. She started her career in the voluntary sector as an early years tutor, and then service development officer, before joining Hertfordshire County Council in 1997.
As the children’s commissioner, Sally is now responsible for ensuring that services are accessible, good quality, value-for-money and responsive to the needs of children, young people and their families. Her passion for improving outcomes for families facing inequalities is only exceeded by her passion for her 4 grandchildren, all of whom live in Hertfordshire.
Having received treatment for 2 primary cancers and as a carer throughout her life, Sally has first hand experience of health and social care services in Hertfordshire.
Ramone Samuda
Ramone currently works as a Senior Commissioner for a London Borough and has gained over 20 years’ experience in housing, health, and social care. Ramone is passionate about improving health outcomes for the wider population and preventing ill health. In her current role she focuses on improving services in collaboration with residents, using project management and analysis skills to do so.
Working part-time as a health and fitness trainer, Ramone has supported those with learning disabilities, older people and those with mental health issues to increase physical activity and maintain good health outcomes.
Jan Taylor
Jan worked in the NHS for over 30 years as a Therapeutic Radiographer, and retired from her role as Radiotherapy Service Manager in 2006. While in that role she gained a wide experience of cancer service provision, local, regional and national strategic planning, training and education.
Since then, she has been involved as a member of the Board of Governors at the United Hospitals Bath NHS Trust, volunteered with Healthwatch Wiltshire, and upon moving into the area with Healthwatch Hertfordshire. Jan has also worked part-time as Programme Manager for the Soldiering On Awards, honouring the achievements of armed forces veterans.
Jan brings a wealth of knowledge and experience of many aspects of service provision to the Board, as well as an appreciation of the challenges faced by health & care services.
Amy Willcox-Smith
Amy works as an Assistant Director of Customers and Communities in social housing. She has over 20 years of experience in community engagement roles in the public sector. She is an experienced trustee with a broad understanding of the importance of good governance in public life. She is passionate that statutory and local voluntary services work together to achieve the best results for residents. She is also keen to ensure equitable outcomes for marginalised groups and to ensure that learning is implemented from lived experiences.
Having lived and worked in south-west Herts for over 20 years, Amy has a broad stakeholder network.