Emma Woollett has been appointed as the new chair of Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB, taking up the role from 1 September.
Her experience includes being chair of Swansea University Health Board and chair of West Glamorgan Regional Partnership Board. Until recently, she was a member of the board of trustees at the NHS Confederation.
A graduate of the University of Cambridge, Ms Woollett has also worked as an independent management consultant providing strategic support to acute NHS providers. She has also held positions as non-executive director and vice chair at the University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.
Ms Woollett said: ‘I believe the ICB has a clear vision and strong ambitions to improve quality, transform care in the community and address the challenges our NHS services face across acute, mental health and primary care.
‘I am excited to be able to draw on my previous experience to help further the progress that has already been made.’
The new chair of Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB has a particular interest in encouraging the exchange of ideas between different organisations and sectors to find innovative solutions.
‘I look forward to supporting even more collaboration across health and care to achieve the central ambition of improving the health and wellbeing of people in Lancashire and South Cumbria, working with partners across health, care, local authorities and voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise sector,’ she said.
Having been appointed interim chair at Swansea Bay University Health Board in 2019, the position became substantive the following year – a role she held until making the move to Lancashire and South Cumbria.
ICB chief executive Kevin Lavery said he was pleased to welcome Ms Woollett to the team: ‘With her vast experience in supporting public sector and charitable organisations to navigate and embrace change in line with clear strategic goals, I am sure that Emma will encourage a solution-focused approach to the ongoing development of our health and care system.’
He added: ‘Her extensive knowledge of healthcare organisations and the challenges we face will also prove invaluable.’
Ms Woollett takes over from acting chair Roy Fisher, who replaced David Flory in March this year when he was appointed chair of Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust.
