Nigel Foulkes
Independent Director
Nigel worked in the pharmaceutical industry for 25 years and gained a great deal of insight into how the NHS works – its successes and its difficulties. Nigel was actively involved in the Healthwatch Bowel Cancer Awareness Programme and has now taken on the role of Healthwatch Representative on the West Sussex Safeguarding Adults Board. Nigel is keen to utilise his experience to benefit patients and improve health care for all in West Sussex and the wider region.
Ali Khan
Independent Director
Ali has over 15 years’ experience in leading and managing learning and development and medical education in the NHS. He's passionate about developing and embedding an inclusive culture that values human differences and similarities at all levels of the organisation while challenging health and social inequalities. Ali is an expert in workforce race equality standards and also the founder and chair of the NHS wide Ethnic Minorities Staff Network Chair’s Forum. He advocates for equality and social justice and advises organisations at developing, refining processes, policies and programs that support an inclusive work culture. Ali is the founder of Learning & Development Professionals Club.
Kathryn Loughnan
Member Director
Kathryn has a broad experience of diverse industries and sectors. A generalist, with a proven history of effective management, communication skills and an entrepreneurial attitude with over 16 years in the education/community sector. Kathryn is a multi-award winner for social enterprise projects with recognition at the Cabinet Office, No. 10 (Big Society Award 2011), Buckingham Palace and the United Nations. Volunteering, charity and social enterprise work have always featured in her life. In 2022 she became a Member Director providing bespoke support to individuals and answering the wider needs of the community.
Mark Sharman
Member Director
Mark gained a degree in Applied Social Services at Coventry Polytechnic. During his time as a student, Mark developed an interest in the voluntary and community sector, particularly in supporting people whose voice was not heard. Over the last 38 years, Mark has led Help & Care from a local community initiative to become a major, regional charity and social enterprise. Mark was also awarded the OBE in the new year Honours list 2003 and an Honorary Doctorate from Bournemouth University in November 2003.
Steven Cooper
Chair
Steven lives in West Sussex and spent his working career in IT running global business divisions for McDonnell Douglas, Northgate IS and the Dell Corporation. On leaving Dell he joined West Sussex County Council as an independent member of their Remunerations Panel and Standards Committee and also joined the South Downs National Park Authority as an independent member of their Standards Committee. Steven is also Chair of Chichester College Group, an educational organisation based in West Sussex.
Jeremy Gardner
Vice Chair
Jeremy is a former journalist, working on local newspapers in West Sussex and Portsmouth early in his career, and later a director of communications and engagement in the NHS. He was involved in organising community engagement and consultation on major hospital and primary care changes in London as well as working with local diverse communities and groups to ensure their voice was heard and acted upon by NHS organisations. He worked on NHS contingency plans around the 2012 Olympics and led a series of public health campaigns to help east Londoners improve their health and well-being.
Sue Morton
Board Member
Sue lives in Horsham West Sussex. She was a former nurse who trained at St Bartholomew's Hospital London. After working at several teaching hospitals in London moved to West Sussex. She worked at Horsham hospital managing 3 Outpatients departments for Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust until retirement.
She has been a volunteer for Healthwatch since it began and before that for Link. She has built up excellent relationships with the numerous Trusts in West Sussex. She has taken part in well over 150 PLACE inspections. She is also a member of her Surgery Patient Experience group.
Patrick Brady
Board Member
Patrick began his clinical and data management career at 17, working for several clinical institutions within the NHS. He specialised in Pathology, Medical Microbiology and Transfusion Science. He qualified in each discipline widening his knowledge base through clinical research. He went on to become Clinical Director of Informatics for a large London Hospital. He went on to develop clinical data management protocols, data storage models and computerised electronic patient records becoming Director of Clinical Informatics.
Patrick established his own technology company in 2010 which supported many of his technology projects. Upon retirement Patrick volunteered to support the local Parkinson ‘s group becoming Chairman in 2014. Patrick also volunteers for West Sussex Healthwatch. He represents the county in several capacities; Patient Representative at Quean Victoria Hospital, Sussex Cancer Network; Sussex Cancer Inequalities Programme and more recently the Healthwatch West Sussex Leadership Board.
Jane Collins
Board Member
Jane has been a volunteer with Healthwatch for a number of years, following a career in Primary Care as a GP Surgery Practice Manager. Since retiring, Jane has volunteered in a variety of roles including a Samaritans Listening Volunteer, Connect & Support Volunteer with Age UK and a Liaison Representative and Authorised Representative with Healthwatch West Sussex.
Jane is a Research Champion with University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust and when she does have any spare time, enjoys spending time with family and caring for her grandchildren. Jane joined the HW Board in 2025 and is pleased to be able to support our ongoing, with a particular focus on ensuring local people's voices are heard by system leaders.
Board Meetings and Past Board papers
We make the papers for our public Board meetings available online. We also publish a summary of what was discussed. Check out our past meetings to read more.
