Meet your Governors

Andrew Postlethwaite, Teignmouth

Andrew is a retired Managing Director of a local business of over 18 years standing and was a former chairman of the Teignbridge branch of the Federation of Small Businesses, culminating election as regional chairman for Devon.

He continues to work in the field of Expert Witness in Forensic Reconstructions and Virtual Reality, registered with the National Crime Agency and as a member of The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. He is a retired Governor of South Devon University Technical College, Newton Abbot and a Chartered member of the Chartered Management Institute.

Val Browning, Strete

Val has lived in Devon since 1994 and was an active member of the Patient Participation Group (PPG) at her local health Centre which she thoroughly enjoyed. She is keen to take her interest in health and safety issues to a higher level and be of more use to a wider group by being a Trust Governor.

Previously Val was a Purchasing Officer for a large water authority involved regular contact with external companies and authority staff. Prior to that she spent several working years in local government dealing with members of the public.

Dave Cawley, Dartmouth

Dave has worked in the IT field all his adult life and occasionally lectured to NASA scientists in the USA. The National Health Service is very important to Dave and he feels pleased to be representing the South Hams area on the Council of Governors. He has lived in Dartmouth for a long time and witnessed a number of significant changes to health and care services in the area, including the building of the new Health and Wellbeing Centre in Dartmouth.

Dave grew up in Devon and returned here in his 40s. He is a clear thinker, and understands how organisations work. As a Town Councillor, he served as the lead for the £1M Dartmouth Market Regeneration and will use his skills as a Governor to promote improvements in healthcare services delivery not only for the people of South Hams but also the wider Torbay and South Devon area.

Julie Spinks, Totnes

Julie spent 18 years working as a nurse in various areas of medicine. She re-trained as a counsellor, specialising in eating disorders, and has only recently retired from this work.

Julie moved to Totnes in 2010 and has been a member of the Patient Participation Group at her local GP surgery for the last 6 years. She also volunteers at her local memory café.

Her interests are around diet, nutrition and functional medicine. Julie is keen to find an aspect of being a governor where she can best utilize her skills and knowledge.

Eileen Engelmann, Newton Abbot

Eileen is a retired qualified nurse with many years in nursing, including management of her own local care home for elderly people. Since 2004 she has worked for South Devon College as a trainer, assessor and moderator for Health & Social Care qualifications. She has a special interest in promoting services for dementia conditions and volunteers at a Memory Cafe in Torquay.

James Hartley, Newton Abbot

James has lived in the Teignbridge area since 2001, and has worked in the community as a Rugby and Cricket Coach and has been a Director of Newton Abbot Rugby Football Club. He was also on the Committee that helps run Abbotskerswell Cricket Club.

He has been a teacher of Business Studies and Computer Science since 2004 and is now working at Stover School as Head of Business Studies where he also helps run the Combined Cadet Force and was previously a Trustee of Young Art Devon.

He is particularly interested in supporting the education and communication strategies at the Trust.

Michael Joyce, Teignbridge

Michael is a proud Devonian, currently living in Newton Abbot with his wife Sue. He is a qualified Bookkeeper and has a BSc (Hons), which he studied for after retirement in 2006. He is President of the Newton Abbot Branch of the Royal British Legion, and Chair of the Newton Abbot Patients Locality Group. He is a Trustee of three charities in Newton Abbot and is a committee member of several more. He enjoys giving something back to the town he calls home.

Micheal previously worked for Allied Breweries, SWW, and finally as a Housing Officer for a housing association in Exeter. He is also a veteran, having served in the Royal Engineers. He was past Chair of Albany Surgery Patients Group, Town Councillor and past Mayor of Newton Abbot Town Council, CSW Co Ordinator, Police Advocate, Vice Chair of DALC (Devon Association of Local Councils).

Micheal wanted to become a governor because his late mum brought him up to be proud of our NHS. He believes all of us in the UK hand our NHS to those we elect to look after it. They are custodians of our NHS and we must always hold them to account. He appreciates it has evolved and is facing many challenges and because of this, he wanted to give something back, to make a difference, to support, question, advise and assist in any way he is able to.

Geoff King, Holcombe

Geoff is a retired Engineer having worked at Board level in a number of roles throughout his career in the rail and power generation industries. A major achievement was being a founder member of a company set up to provide and operate highly efficient power and heat facilities in manufacturing sites which produced paper, pharmaceuticals, oil refining and soda ash. When he left the business, it had grown to 23 sites around the UK having invested some £600m (at 2001 prices). After leaving this company he set up a consultancy which saw him carrying out business turnarounds in large power stations in the UK and abroad. He has also been an advisor to banks and other institutions when they were considering investing in power plants.

Geoff is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and has been a long-time volunteer assessing applicants for registration to Chartered Engineer level.

After retirement he became Chair of the Friends of Dawlish Hospital who provide equipment and services to the Hospital in support of the NHS. A position he still holds. Geoff was involved in the early formation of the Coastal Engagement Group. This Group being set up to assist the NHS in the consultation process when health care in the Dawlish and Teignmouth was being reconfigured. He now is Chair of this Group as it continues to provide a communication mechanism between the health volunteer sector, PPG’s, Friends and the NHS.

Geoff is very keen on ensuring the NHS continue to engage the public in understanding their priorities.

James Osben, Newton Abbot

James is a consultant nurse in mental health with over 20 years of experience in the NHS, specialising in older adult mental health care, including dementia care. His career has also included working as a hospital inspector for the Care Quality Commission, giving him a strong understanding of healthcare regulation and quality standards. Alongside James’ clinical work, he is actively involved in research, with a particular interest in improving access to mindfulness-based interventions and psychological therapies for older adults.

James has lived in Newton Abbot since 2011 with his wife, who is a radiographer at Torbay Hospital, and their two young children, who attend school in the town. As a long-term resident, he cares deeply about the health and wellbeing of the community and the services that support it.

James is passionate about ensuring high-quality, accessible, and innovative health and social care services. His previous experience includes standing twice as a Labour parliamentary candidate for Newton Abbot in 2017 and 2019, which gave him insight into the political and systemic challenges of healthcare provision alongside other socioeconomic challenges. However, James is now independent of any political party, and his focus as a governor is on using his professional and personal experience to make a meaningful and positive contribution to the NHS and the people it serves.

In these challenging times, James believes that innovation, creativity, and curiosity are fundamental to improving services. As a governor, he hopes to foster this kind of thinking and work collaboratively with colleagues, staff, and the local community to support the development of effective, sustainable healthcare services for Newton Abbot and beyond.

Loveday Densham, Torquay

Loveday has been a medical secretary in the NHS for the past thirty-eight years, and has previously been a staff governor at RD&E Hospital. Loveday currently works for five physicians in the Renal Unit at the Royal Devon & Exeter in a team which is linked with Torbay. She brings with her a lifetime’s experience of dealing with the difficulties in NHS administration and has experienced first hand how these problems directly affect patients and clinical staff. Her aim is to support a drive for integrated IT services for the whole of the South West region and improved parking/park and ride facilities for patients and staff.

John Kiddey, Torquay

John’s career was in television journalism and he spent many years working for the regional ITV companies Westcountry Television and TSW. As Editor of Special investigations, John won two Royal Television Society awards for his work. Having spent half his life living and working in Devon, John has gained a depth of knowledge of the issues facing people here and hopes to use that knowledge in his new role of governor. After retiring early, John went on to become a magistrate in South Devon and served for 18 years in adult, youth and family courts. He is married to royal historian Rachel Trethewey and he has four children.

Alison Ramon, Torquay

Alison has been employed in the NHS and social care services almost all her working life. She was a Human Resources Officer at Torbay Hospital, and has also managed a project across Devon that involved service users and carers in the design and delivery of learning and development programmes for health and social care staff.

She was also a contract manager for the Citizens Advice Bureau in the Midlands where she was responsible for helping the clients of local community mental health services to access benefits.

More recently she has been an assessor for Devon Partnership Trust which involves monitoring the conditions and environment of mental health wards including Haytor and Beech at Torbay.

After retiring Alison became the primary carer for her parents and she has a keen interest in the health and welfare of older people.

Andrew Stilliard, Torquay

Andrew is a recently retired procurement manager having worked across the South West NHS for over 40 years. Achieving value for money remains his goal. He has held voluntary roles before as a hospital visitor and chaplaincy assistant and is an advocate for blood donation. Locally he is very involved within various Christian ministries which help fulfil his active lifestyle, which he needs to maintain as a Trust cardiac patient. He is passionate about listening to patient’s needs and ensuring they get heard.

Lee Thomas, Torquay

Lee’s career has been diverse and exciting, having worked on various UK and international tours within the entertainment industry where he gained extensive experience and knowledge.

Lee’s commitment to the community is evident through his involvement in various initiatives and organisations, including Torbay Hospital Radio. As the Chairman of Torbay Hospital Radio, he has worked tirelessly to ensure that the hospital radio station continues to provide comfort and entertainment to patients and staff alike.

Vincent Williams, Torquay

Residing in Torquay since 1999, Vince is a seasoned project manager with a wealth of experience. Throughout his career, he has successfully led numerous high-value, high-impact projects in both the private and public sectors, most recently several projects for the South West Ambulance Service and University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trusts. Presently, Vince is employed by Kettering General Hospital NHS Trust, leading several digital implementation projects for their Electronic Patient Records Programme.

Vince holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and a Master’s degree in Project Management. He is a member of the Chartered Association for Project Management and is actively pursuing qualification as a Chartered Project Professional, further solidifying his standing in the field. He is particularly interested in supporting the Trust’s digital strategies to deliver more effective patient care.

Beyond his professional endeavours, Vince is a devoted music lover, with an established background in music and television production. His eclectic interests extend to Kendo, photography, woodworking and collecting vintage clocks.

NHS Devon Integrated Care Board: Karen Barry

Karen works for NHS Devon Integrated Care Board as the Locality Director covering South and West Devon. She has always lived in Torbay and has worked in various NHS management and leadership roles in Devon since 1990. Karen brings experience of working across primary care, commissioning, operational delivery, strategy development and implementation and is passionate about the health of the population in Devon. She has a special interest in developing staff and teams to provide the best service to patients and loves spending time with her two daughters and five grandchildren and is a keen Torquay United Supporter!

University of Exeter, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences: Jo Bowtell

Jo completed her PhD examining the effects of nutrition and exercise on protein turnover at Dundee University in 1996. Since then, she has spent over 25 years teaching and conducting research at Loughborough University, London South Bank University and since 2011 at University of Exeter, where she is Professor of Exercise Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism. Jo’s research focus is on exercise and nutrient-induced changes in human physiology and metabolism, and their effects on exercise performance and recovery, as well as their potential to support human health. Her BioActivEx research group are currently investigating the effects of a range of natural bioactive compounds such as polyphenols on athlete performance and healthy aging and the underpinning molecular mechanisms.

Jo served as Head of the Sport and Health Sciences Department for 5 years during which they were ranked first for research quality in the Research Excellence Framework assessment. She is now Deputy Pro Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.

Teignbridge Council: John Nutley

John moved to Devon 37 years ago and is a retired Company Director of a joinery firm in Newton Abbot. John was appointed in June 2023 as the representative for Teignbridge District Council to serve on the Council of Governors.

John is a District Councillor for the Ashburton and Buckfastleigh Ward first being elected in 2007, where he is the Executive Member for open spaces, leisure, sport, resorts and tourism. He has been a Dartmoor National Park Authority Member for 11 years.

John is a member of the Ashburton Town Council and has been Chairman and Mayor for Ashburton twice, and was the 1199th/1200th Portreeve of Ashburton for the Courts Leet and Baron Juries. He is also Chair of the Ashburton and Buckfastleigh League of Friends.

He has been a committee member on the Ashburton Emergency Climate Change Group (ACE) and considers the environment and saving our planet to be vitally important for future generations.

Torbay Council: David Thomas

David Thomas is the Leader of Torbay Council and has served as a dedicated councillor since 2007. With a strong background in business, he has operated several enterprises across the Bay, including roles as a hotelier and restaurateur. He continues to run his successful printing business, Gold Print.

A passionate musician, David spent a decade touring the world as an entertainer before settling in South Devon from his native Lancashire. His wide-ranging experience across both the private and public sectors brings a unique and valuable perspective to his leadership at the council.

Alongside his professional and civic commitments, David is also a dedicated volunteer. He has held various roles within the community, notably supporting Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. His involvement began during the “Beast from the East” snowstorm, when he volunteered as part of the 4×4 emergency response team. Since then, he has continued to give his time to the hospital community, training with Torbay Hospital Radio and regularly assisting with their outside broadcasting events.

Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry: Louise Winfield

Louise qualified as a nurse in 1989 and has worked across the NHS and private sector within the critical care environment.

She changed the focus of her career, moving into education initially at Wolverhampton University and then after moving to the South West, she joined the University of Plymouth. She has undertaken Associate Head of Internationalisation & Innovation, Deputy and Head of School roles. Louise now works part time as an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Health, Plymouth University.

South Hams District Council and for Dartmouth and East Dart: Ged Yardy

Ged is an elected representative for South Hams District Council and for Dartmouth and East Dart, and a member of the Devon Health and Wellbeing Board. As Member of Dartmouth Town Council Ged has led on health and wellbeing issues locally.

Ged has previously worked as an innovation and sustainability manager at the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and worked for more than 20 years in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

Sal Aziz – Children and Family Heath Devon

Sal began his NHS career in 2020 with Devon Partnership NHS Trust, and in 2022 he joined Children & Family Health Devon as a Personal Assistant. He has also held a number of voluntary roles in the NHS including extreme weather driving and as a member of the CAMHS Charitable Funds Committee.

Sal has a particular interest in driving collaboration between partner organisations and ensuring that all staff and service users across the South West of England have a voice at the Board level. In his spare time he likes travelling and competing in motorsport events, and he regularly travels across the UK as a volunteer motorsport marshal.

Vacancy- Staff Governor for Planned care and surgery

Yvonne Paulucy – Staff Governor for Professional support services staff

Yvonne is a registered nurse by background and has worked in private healthcare organisations and NHS hospitals in the North East of England as well in the United Arab Emirates.

Her nursing experience is mainly within critical care and the operating department, specifically general surgery and cardiothoracic specialties. On moving to the United Arab Emirates she developed an interest in patient safety and quality improvement. She assisted and led in many quality improvement projects which contributed to the hospital acquiring gold standard awards by the Joint Commission International Accreditation organisation after each of the triennial accreditation surveys.

Since returning to the UK, Yvonne has made Torbay her home and has continued her passion for patient safety by joining the Patient Safety team in 2021. Outside of work, Yvonne enjoys travelling, reading, and spending time with family.

Vacancy – Staff Governor for Medicine and urgent care

Radia Woodbridge – Staff Governor for Families and communities

Radia worked in Health and Social Care in Devon and Torbay in various roles since 2016. In the past she worked with families, young children, young people, Citizens Advice Bureau, and she held various managerial roles in electronics and petroleum industries. Currently, Radia works in adult social care, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust as a Project Coordinator and Transformation Delivery Manager within Delivery, Markets, Contracts and Quality Team (DMCQ). Radia champions good practice protocols where people are empowered and engaged in choice and control over the support they receive.

Radia was elected as a staff governor in March 2021. This has given her the opportunity to participate and have a say on decisions in meetings, to voice her opinion and concern and to work with her governor colleagues to protect the interest of the patients / clients, and staff and to ensure that TSDFT is working effectively to achieve its purpose. Since 2021, Radia worked with extraordinary governors who have dedicated their spare time on a voluntary basis to support and champion the work of TSDFT while contributing to its service improvement and transformation. Radia was delighted to have been re-elected in March 2024 to continue with her role as staff governor to enable her to further contribute and give back to the wider community for the benefit of patients / clients, staff and the trust.

Radia is a member of Paignton Canoe Club and enjoys fitness and yoga classes. Other pastimes include reading, travelling, studying and learning new languages.