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.

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.

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.