Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust

Adam Bateman

Deputy Chief Executive Officer & Chief Operating Officer

Adam joined Alder Hey in 2015 and was appointed Deputy Chief Executive in January 2025, having served as the Chief Operating Officer since April 2018. Since joining the NHS in 2005 through the NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme, Adam has held a number of senior operational manager positions running a range of hospital and community-based services. Adam is an alumnus of the International Hospital Federation, having completed the International Young Executive Programme in 2024. He holds an MSc degree in Healthcare Leadership and an Executive Healthcare Leadership Award with distinction from the Nye Bevan NHS Leadership Academy Programme. He has also completed a Healthcare Information Fellowship at GlaxoSmithKline. Adam is the Executive lead for performance, operations, planning and delivery. He is passionate about innovation and patient-centred service improvement. He is also the Chair of the Cheshire and Merseyside COO Network.

Alfie Bass

Chief Medical Officer

Alfie joined the Alder Hey Board in January 2022 and has worked as a Consultant Children’s Orthopaedic Surgeon for 24 years, having completed specialist training in the UK, Switzerland and Australia. He was awarded the WellChild Doctor Award in 2018 for his service to children. He was the Clinical Director for orthopaedic/spine and gait at Alder Hey for three years, then the Divisional Director for Surgery, during which time his focus was on enhancing patient safety. Alfie was appointed as Alder Hey’s Chief Medical Officer in October 2022; in this role, his focus is on facilitating the greatest access to care provided in the safest way for our patients and staff.

Dani Jones

Chief Strategy and Partnerships Officer (Non-Voting)

Dani Jones is the Executive lead for the Trust’s Strategic Plan, Vision 2030, an award-winning initiative that places children, young people, families, and staff at the heart of strategy through their voices and innovative analytics. Dani leads system-wide health and care partnerships across Cheshire and Merseyside, spearheads the ‘Beyond’ Children and Young People’s Transformation Programme to improve outcomes for children, and champions health equity with key national, regional and local partners. With over 20 years’ experience in NHS innovation and partnership working, including pioneering telehealth, Dani specialises in developing collaborative models for better patient care. She holds a BA in Economics and an MSc in Health Care Ethics from the University of Liverpool and completed the ‘Nye Bevan’ Executive Leadership programme in 2017.

Erica Saunders

Chief Corporate Affairs Officer (Non-voting)

Erica joined the Alder Hey Board in September 2010. She began her NHS career in 1991 through its national Graduate Management Training Scheme. Erica spent over ten years working in primary care and commissioning roles at the regional level and within Liverpool and North Cheshire, before moving to the acute sector in 2003. Prior to coming to Alder Hey, Erica was Director of Corporate Affairs at the Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust for seven years, where she directed the successful application to become the first Foundation Trust in Merseyside. Part of her job includes the role of Trust Secretary, advising and supporting the Chair, Board of Directors and Council of Governors on all aspects of assurance, regulation, compliance, corporate governance and reputation management. Erica is also Executive lead for risk management and legal matters including tribunals and public inquiries. Erica holds an MBA as well as a BA (Hons) degree from the University of Liverpool.

Kate Warriner

Chief Transformation and Digital Officer (Non-Voting)

Kate is Chief Transformation and Digital Officer, the Executive Lead for Transformation, Digital, and Data, and the Board’s Senior Information Risk Owner. She began her NHS career in 2000 and has had a range of leadership roles in primary care, commissioning, shared services and acute care across Liverpool and the wider North West region. Kate is passionate about the NHS and the impact technology and innovation can make on improved clinical outcomes and the delivery of high-quality, safe patient care. Regionally, Kate is the Chair of the North West Digital Skills Development Network, taking a leadership role in developing the digital, data and technology profession and workforce. She has been recognised several times in the CIO 100 list and was named the #1 CIO in the UK in 2025. Kate is a music graduate from the University of Liverpool, holds an MSC in Health Informatics and is a Fellow of the British Computer Society. She is the Chair of the Maghull Wind Orchestra where she is also principal flautist and saxophonist with the Phil Shotton Big Band.

Melissa Swindell

Chief People Officer

Melissa joined the Trust in 2009 and leads the people agenda, with responsibility for culture, leadership, talent, inclusion, staff engagement and workforce wellbeing. With over 25 years’ experience in human resources and organisational development, Melissa began her career in the airline industry after graduating from the University of Liverpool, before joining the NHS. She has held senior HR and OD roles across London and the North West and is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). Melissa is passionate about creating inclusive, high performing and compassionate workplaces and has played a key role in shaping Alder Hey’s organisational culture and colleague experience. Her work focuses on developing strong leadership, supporting talent, advancing equality, diversity and inclusion, and promoting staff health and wellbeing.

Nathan Askew

Chief Nursing, AHP and Experience Officer

Nathan joined Alder Hey in November 2020 as the Chief Nursing Officer, providing professional leadership to nurses and allied health professionals across the organisation. Nathan qualified as a registered children’s nurse in 2003 from the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing, King’s College London. Nathan has worked in various clinical and managerial roles, including time at Guys and St. Thomas, Great Ormond Street Hospital and as Director of Nursing at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust. In addition to his professional qualifications, Nathan holds an MSc in advanced nursing practice and has led system-wide change for children’s services in north-west London and more widely across the capital. Nathan has a passion for ensuring all children and young people get high-quality, safe care in both physical and mental health and for championing the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda. He is the current chair of the Association of Chief Children’s Nurses, working to advocate for children and young people at a national level.

Rachel Lea

Chief Finance Officer (CFO)

Rachel was appointed Interim Chief Finance Officer at Alder Hey in December 2024. She began her NHS career in 2007 through the National Finance Graduate Trainee Scheme and has since held a number of senior finance roles within the organisation, including Director of Finance and Development and Deputy Director of Finance. A Chartered Management Accountant, Rachel qualified with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) in 2010. She has played a key role in supporting Alder Hey’s major capital developments, including the delivery of the new PFI hospital, and has led several high-impact commercial initiatives. Rachel is deeply passionate about the NHS and is committed to driving value and investment in services for children and young people. She also contributes nationally as Chair of the Children’s Health Alliance Finance Group. Rachel is a champion of finance staff development and is committed to fostering an inclusive, empowered, and high-performing workplace culture—efforts that contributed to the Alder Hey Finance Team receiving the HFMA National Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award in 2024.

Bola Owolabi

Non-Executive Director

Bola joined the Alder Hey Board in October 2025. She is a medical practitioner with over 25 years’ experience in the NHS in various roles as GP Partner, NHS England National Director for Healthcare Inequalities, and Clinical Commissioning Lead for Maternity, Children and Young People, to name a few. Bola recently joined the Care Quality Commission as Chief Inspector of Primary Care and Community Services. She has a keen interest in tackling the issue of health inequalities for children and young people and brings a strong network of influence in this regard. Internationally, Bola has twice been a member of the Danish Ambassador’s Tour De Health – a 10-nation healthcare policy leaders’ summit. Additionally, she was the UK representative on the Commonwealth Fund/Academy Health Tour 2023, exploring equity in national health policy across the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. She was recognised in the King’s 2025 Birthday Honours with a CBE for services to reducing health inequalities.

Garth O'Dallas

Non-Executive Director, Board EDI Champion

Garth joined Alder Hey as a Non-Executive Director in November 2021 and subsequently reappointed for a second three-year term to November 2027. He is a Lawyer, Business Consultant, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Specialist and expert in ethical and socially responsible business practices. He is Chair of the Liverpool Commonwealth Association and co-founder of the Good Small Business Awards, the UK’s first Business Sustainability Awards exclusively for small and micro businesses, recognising excellence in small and micro business social and environmental impact and business sustainability. Garth is the Alder Hey Board’s EDI Champion, chairs the EDI Steering Committee and sits on various Trust assurance committees, including the People and Wellbeing Committee and the Futures Committee.

Gerald Meehan

Non-Executive Director

Gerald was appointed as a Non-Executive Director with Alder Hey on 1st March 2024. He has an extensive career in public service, spanning both local government and the NHS across the South West and North West of England. His experience includes a wide range of senior leadership roles in social care, including Strategic Director and Statutory Director of Children’s Services (DCS). Gerald has previously served as Chief Executive of Cheshire West and Chester Council. He also acted as a Local Government Adviser to the shadow NHS Integrated Care Partnership for Cheshire and Merseyside. In addition, he has held several non executive roles within the NHS, including Vice Chair and Interim Chair at Wirral Community Health and Care NHS Trust. Gerald brings particular expertise in addressing health inequalities, with a strong focus on the impact of poverty on health outcomes. He also has significant specialist experience in safeguarding and local government systems. Gerald is a registered Statutory Social Worker.

Jo Revill

Non-Executive Director, Trust Wellbeing Guardian and Chair of the People Committee

Jo was appointed to the Board in October 2022 and has subsequently been reappointed by the Council of Governors for a second three-year term. With a career across government affairs and membership bodies in both the medical and scientific sector, Jo brings considerable knowledge of how to transform organisations to be impactful, have a positive culture and deliver their strategy. Jo is passionate about the mission to improve the lives of children and has previously led on projects including the development of the three-year strategy for paediatrics for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, supporting the efforts to improve equality, diversity and inclusion in paediatrics and governance reviews. She runs a Dorset charity, Mosaic, which supports children and young people who have been bereaved.

John Kelly

Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Finance, Transformation and Performance Committee

John was appointed to the Board in September 2022 and is currently serving his second term of office. A qualified Chartered Accountant, John holds long-standing experience of working with some of the world’s leading companies. He was a senior partner at KPMG and a member of the Liverpool Vision Board. He has worked on strategic change and transformation programmes in a wide range of industries including consumer and retail, healthcare and life sciences and financial services.

Kerry Byrne

Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee

Kerry joined the Alder Hey Board in September 2018 and was reappointed by the governors for a final three-year term to September 2027. She is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, experienced in finance, governance, risk management and internal control through delivery of “Big 4” professional services and as a Non-Executive Director in both the public and private sectors. Kerry Chairs our Audit and Risk Committee and is a member of the Safety and Quality Assurance Committee. She is the Trust’s Senior Independent Director and the NED lead for Freedom to Speak Up. Kerry started her career at Deloitte, where she spent 11 years providing internal audit services before moving to Universities Superannuation Scheme Ltd for three years as Head of Internal Audit, followed by three years as a Director in Internal Audit at Ernst & Young. Kerry then moved into non-executive director roles; she spent nine years at Liverpool John Moores University, where she chaired the Finance Committee and was a member of the Audit, Nominations and Remuneration Committees. She also served as a Non-Executive Director for South Lakes Housing, where she was a member of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Mark Jennings

Non-Executive Director, Chair of the Growth and Opportunities Committee

Mark joined Alder Hey in May 2025, having started his career as a software developer working on critical national infrastructure systems for the UK government. He has retained a strong technology focus throughout his career. Mark spent 25 years at a large global technology consultancy, rising through the ranks to lead its UK and Ireland business for the Health and Public Sector. Previously, Mark also led their European Technology Consulting work and was Chief Operating Officer for the European public sector business, always working closely with public sector clients in health and central government. After leaving big corporate, Mark has focused on healthcare. He got to know Alder Hey well through work with Strasys as their Chief Solutions and Services Officer. It was his admiration for the mission and team at Alder Hey that prompted him to apply for the post of Non-Executive Director. Mark will focus on supporting our work in Transformation, Innovation, and Strategy. Mark is hugely impressed by Alder Hey’s innovation focus and culture, but even more excited about what we can do to improve the health and well-being of children across the country as we lead by example.

Professor Fiona Beveridge

Non-Executive Director

Fiona joined the Alder Hey Board in October 2019, was reappointed for a second three-year term to October 2025, and is currently serving a final 12-month term through October 2026. Fiona is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Liverpool. She was, from 2013 – 2025, Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Liverpool, representing the University in a wide range of fora and leading a number of internal developments and initiatives. Fiona was a Professor of Law, specialising in international and EU law, in particular foreign investment law and gender equality law and policy. She has particular expertise in gender mainstreaming (that is, the idea that gender concerns should be addressed systematically in all areas and by all actors) and in how it is implemented in international institutions, the EU, and individual states. In the UK, this approach is best exemplified by the Public Sector Equality Duty, now contained in the Equality Act 2010. She published a wide range of papers on this topic and completed two studies for the European Parliament FEMM Committee, ‘A New Strategy for Gender Equality Post 2015’ and ‘The EU Budget for Gender Equality’.