Our Council of Governors

Lead Governor

Term of office: 01/11/2020 - 31/05/2023
Re-elected for further term: 01/06/2023 - 31/05/2026

Geoff is a devoted family man, married with two grown-up daughters and six grandchildren.

During his career he enjoyed roles at various levels within several sectors, including retail, construction, manufacturing and latterly IT. He sold his technology business in 2019 and is looking forward to contributing to the Trust and wider community.

Geoff is an enthusiastic high handicap golfer, his golfing ambitions often exceed his abilities, but sometimes there are moments which make it all worthwhile.

Term of office: 01/06/2024 - 31/05/2027

Although now retired, Frank is still an active member of my community and is currently an invigilator at one of his local schools.

His career in has taken him around the world. He has worked with the military, security services, hospitals, financial organisations and telecommunications providers. Frank's specialty has been in fibre optics and he has championed standards and good working practices. He was Installation Director of the Fibreoptic Industry Association.

Frank has run a number of companies and towards the end of his career became a non executive director of the Chamber of Commerce and chaired the Skills Group. In recent years, he has been involved with apprenticeships and mentoring and counselling young people. He is also co-editor of an IET code of practice for telecommunications in hospitals.

Frank believes his experience and enthusiasm will benefit the hospital and the community.

Term of office: 01/01/2023 - 31/05/2025

Matthew is a Project Manager, working with a Local Authority in England with a focus on adult health and wellbeing.

He has been working with the BAME community in and around South Yorkshire for a considerable number of years.

Matthew’s passion to bolster health and wellbeing and also focus on the improvement of the overall health and social care of The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust and the citizens of Rotherham will bring in the required strategic change outcome, achieved by working collaboratively with the Non-Executive board and other stakeholders.

Term of office: 01/06/2023 - 31/05/2026

Ife is a Ward Support Volunteer at the Trust, who is passionate about improved patient outcomes and satisfaction.

She has over 12 years' extensive experience in healthcare management and technology and did her postgraduate studies at Sheffield Hallam University.

As a Public Governor, Ife seeks to support the Trust with providing a quality care experience, and with her diverse community background, is committed to ensure everyone is happy and ‘proud’.

Term of office: 01/06/2022 - 31/05/2025

Marilyn has lived in Rotherham all her life. After working in Rotherham schools for thirty five years as a teacher, advisory teacher and Head Teacher, she retired and has spent almost sixteen years as a volunteer at Rotherham Hospital.

Her husband was an in-patient for many weeks and as a family they were able to witness the hard work, professionalism, and commitment of staff. Marilyn has also been treated herself on a number of occasions and she wanted to extend her volunteer role into governance, so she decided to stand as public governor for Rotherham South and was elected in  2019.

Marilyn’s aim is to see the hospital continue to provide the safest, highest quality care for the local community.

Marilyn is certain that she has a lot to offer in terms of good organisational and interpersonal skills and she will work with the Trust to continue to improve the patient experience and promote its development.

Term of office: 01/06/2022 - 31/05/2025

After training at Manchester, Mr Zaidi was awarded certificate of Specialist in Ophthalmology. He was appointed Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Rotherham Hospital on 1 October 1979 until his retirement on 31 December 2007. In this role he modernised the Rotherham Eye Unit, introducing new services for patients with Eye diseases and was responsible for training junior doctors, Nurses and Opticians.

During his time at the Trust, Mr Zaidi was appointed Clinical Director for Specialist Surgery, which not only included management of Ophthalmology but also the specialities of Ears Nose and Throat and Maxillofacial.

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists appointed him Examiner for FRCOphth and he was on the “Consultant appointment Panel” for other hospitals.

Having worked 37 years in NHS and 27 years at Rotherham, Mr Zaidi is well aware of the NHS system, constraints facing Hospitals and the requirements and problems faced by the patients. Due to his previous NHS Experience he believes he would be able to contribute to help all parties.

As a public governor, Mr Zaidi’s main aim is to support the improvement of services for patients.

Term of office: 01/06/2023 - 31/05/2026

Matt Skelding is a highly experienced leader, currently serving as the Head of Operations and Development at BPEC since October 2015. In this role, Matt plays a pivotal part in ensuring compliance with regulatory bodies like Ofqual, QiW, UKAS, and IGEM. As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, he leads the business area management, business development, certification operations, and marketing teams. Matt is instrumental in driving a culture of ongoing improvement within the BPEC group, with a strong focus on organisational development and coaching. 

Before joining BPEC, Matt was the Director of Learning at Full Circle Learning (FCL), in Rotherham and Leeds. Prior to FCL he worked at North Nottinghamshire College as a Subject Learning Coach, Lead Internal Quality Assurer/Assessor, and Plumbing Lecturer.

Earlier in his career he gained valuable experience in the security industry and completed an advanced craft plumber apprenticeship.

Matt's diverse and extensive background reflects his versatility and ability to lead and innovate across various sectors. 

With a commitment to continuous improvement, strategic leadership, and community engagement Matt’s aim during his term as a Public Governor it to support the Trust in making improvements, for the benefit of everyone. 

Term of office: 01/06/2023 - 31/05/2026

Awaiting details

Term of office: 01/06/2023 - 31/05/2026

Awaiting details

Term of office: 01/06/2024 - 31/05/2027

Valerie has had a varied career mainly due to a total loss of hearing in her early 30’s while working as a PA. She had studied shorthand and typing lessons from the age of 11 until leaving school. As well as the problems this created in her personal life, she had a nine year old and firefighter husband - both, like my family, very supportive, it necessitated a new start. 

She decided to train as a lip reading teacher having been told by an ENT consultant to learn to lip read. I did this at Manchester Polytechnic and taught in Holmfirth, Bradford and Rotherham. She was also a Housing Management Officer in Sheffield; a role her disablement resettlement officer thought was ‘dangerous’ for a deaf woman but it was a learning curve and she did the job alongside hearing colleagues. 

After having a cochlear implant in 1992, she went to Nottingham Trent University where she did a BA(Hons) in two years by the AIRS (Accelerated Intensive Route System) while also working part time with lip reading classes. Valerie's working life after University was mainly in the voluntary sector as a charity fundraising manager that has seen her travel the length and breadth of the UK including the Shetland Isles, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man. After retirement she has done voluntary work in various areas and recently started in a local school with School readers.

Valerie has had a long relationship with the NHS with personal issues and later parents. It’s an organisation for which she is profoundly grateful but appreciate it’s not perfect. Her interest expanded with caring duties for parents and she became an Expert by Experience (a small part of the CQC inspection teams). She is passionate about the NHS and wants to be able to bring her experience over the years to this role.

Term of office: 01/06/2024 - 31/05/2027

Shane has lived in Rotherham for more than 20 years and is proud to say that his wife has devoted all of her working career to the NHS and currently provides healthcare and support within our community teams.

Shane has two daughters that attend school in Rotherham and they keep us busy with numerous hobbies and interest, including football and aerial silks. As a family, we have many happy memories from our time together in Rotherham, and they have benefitted from great healthcare provided within the borough.

He is a highly motivated, engaging leader with over 30 years’ experience, gained from working alongside stakeholders and managing teams, to deliver customer service in retail businesses across the UK. He's also regarded as someone that personally invests time to deliver upon corporate social responsibility and adds value through volunteering projects.

One of his main passions is fundraising and raising awareness of the incredible difference charities contribute within the community. His fundraising began when he was 7 years old and he has enjoyed participating and organising many charity events, including the National 3 Peaks Challenge, the Paris Half Marathon, London Marathon, the Great North Run and running numerous other half marathons and 10ks over the years.

Shane is actively involved with Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity and proud to have supported with a Christmas gifting initiative and fundraising for the Tiny Toes Appeal by running the Great North Run again. He's looking forward to continuing his journey, by helping to make the difference for all to benefit from now and in future years. He is committed to being part of team that is driven to help deliver positive change within the local healthcare services provided in our community.

Term of office: 01/06/2024 - 31/05/2027

Bio coming soon

Term of office: 01/06/2024 - 31/05/2027

Bio coming soon

Term of office: 01.06.2023 - 31.05.2026

Professional Lead for Medical Imaging, Physics and Illustration

Rachel has worked at the Trust for over 25 years.

Rachel strives to make every experience in the Trust a positive one. She is passionate about the NHS, particularly The Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust.

As a Staff Governor, Rachel hopes to influence the direction of travel the Trust takes in the future.

Term of office: 07.12.2024 - 31.05.2025

Project Manager

Sarah originally qualified as a Podiatrist in 2011 and has worked for the Trust since 2015. She has held a number of roles including Diabetes Lead Podiatrist, AHP Workforce Lead and now a Project Manager supporting the delivery of the Trust's operational plan and cost improvement programme. She is passionate about patient and staff safety, alongside providing exceptional patient care. 

In her role as Governor, Sarah will be an advocate for staff and aims to actively question decision making which effects the workplace, ensuring changes are well thought-out, beneficial and equitable.

Term of office: 01.01.2023 - 31.05.2025

Principal Audiologist and Hearing Therapist

Matt is an Audiologist and Hearing Therapist and has worked in the NHS for since 2008 and at Rotherham since 2015. Matt’s clinical caseload is based around adult hearing rehabilitation, with a specialist focus on the management of tinnitus and hyperacusis (sound sensitivity).

Having a clinical and therapy based background has taught Matt the importance of a person centred care approach to his work and his dealings with people in general, be they patients or the staff constituency that he represents. Matt aims to use these skills and mind-set in his role as a Staff Governor. Matt especially feels strongly about promoting the value of ‘joined up’ clinical care and the importance of that care being continuously evolving in nature to give the best care possible first time, every time.

Outside of work Matt is married with 3 children and is very family focused. He loves holidays to Scotland, reading about history and trying new foods whenever he possibly can.

Term of office: 01.06.2024 - 31.05.2027

Senior Physiotherapist

Sammy was born in Scotland and studied at the University of Cumbria where he graduated in 2020 and started work as a Physiotherapist in the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust.

Now living in Brinsworth with his partner, he has settled down and integrated into the inpatient therapy team at Rotherham Hospital where he holds the position of Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist.

In his role, Sammy works in collaboration with a vast number of wider MDT members which positions him perfectly to discuss, learn and understand concerns or ideas from his colleagues. Sammy is passionate about cultivating a positive working environment for staff which will assist us in continuing to improve the Patient Experience.

When not working hard, Sammy is a big sports fan and a keen, yet distinctly average runner.  

Term of office: 01.06.2024 - 31.05.2027

Ward Manager - B5