Describe your role as Trustee:
I contribute to the area of governance, to ensure that the organisation is well run. Once we have information, my role is to review it and ensure it points to sustainable organisation. Second, I contribute to the right kind of board practice. We positively challenge each other, and the executive, in our ways of working. I also play a role in the finance sub-committee.
How long in the role?
I have been in the role for 4 years.
What attracted you to the board?
The mission of the organisation: addressing health inequalities. In my previous role I worked in Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe to promote public health outcomes within disadvantaged communities. When I joined BHA it was looking to secure more positive impact in public health. I thought I could contribute to that. Also at that time, BHA was considering work outside the Greater Manchester area. That attracted me to the role too as I am interested in wider social impact.
What would you like to see for BHA?
I would like to see it working internationally, using its skills and systems to improve health outcomes for the kind of communities I worked for in Zambia. BHA works with local government and other partners and does so efficiently and effectively. I would also like to see BHA play a bigger role in local communities. Every time the charity delivers a project it brings about change in those communities; the under-served get served. This is exciting and I would like to see more of that being done. It means I would like to see BHA being awarded more contracts to work with more communities. BHA collects a lot of data and provides analysis. I am keen for this research to influence policy. I would like to see the charity inform local and national government on what is happening with regards to the health of the community. BHA have the capability, but neither the time nor resources to do that currently.
Which achievements are you proud of?
The first that comes to mind is the quality of the administration and how it is run transparently. I consider this to be an achievement of the managers. I have also been proud that BHA has been able to retain contracts and is often invited to tender. This is evidence of its good standing and performance.