Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Kwame Opoku-Fofie

Executive Medical Director and Responsible Officer

Karen Phillips

Executive Director of People and Organisational Development

Karen brings over 17 years of experience in Human Resources, the majority of which has been within the healthcare sector, with a particular focus on Mental Health Services. Prior to joining the Trust, she held key roles at Navigo Health and Social Care CIC, North East Lincolnshire Care Trust Plus, and North East Lincolnshire Council. She also gained valuable experience in the education sector through her work in Further Education colleges. A Chartered Member of the CIPD, Karen is committed to continuous professional development and is particularly passionate about advancing the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion agenda, as well as promoting Health and Wellbeing across the workforce.

Lynn Parkinson

Deputy Chief Executive / Chief Operating Officer

Peter Beckwith

Executive Director of Finance, Resources, Estates and Digital

Sarah Smyth

Executive Director of Nursing, Quality and Professions/Caldicott Guardian

For the last 12 years, Sarah has worked at Board/Sub board level and was part of the 2023 cohort of Aspiring Chief Nurses and has a MSc in Health Leadership. Sarah is highly driven and ambitious for the local people she serves and is driven by the desire to make a real difference by improving person centred care and promoting excellence in all areas.

Andrew Brown

Non Executive Director

Caroline Wollerton

Non Executive Director

Carrie has over 35 years of experience working in the NHS across various sectors . She started as a Community Staff Nurse and District Nurse in East Yorkshire, before moving into service development roles including working jointly with a local authority. Carrie has managed women and children's services within an acute trust followed by 7 years as a specialised services commissioner. From 2012 to 2019 Carrie worked as Executive Nurse in a local Clinical Commissioning Group leading on patient safety, clinical effectiveness, quality, clinical governance and safeguarding adults and children. Carrie has also led on change programmes including developing the primary care workforce and commissioning a new community services contract. Prior to joining Humber NHS Foundation Trust in April 2026 , Carrie worked as a Non-Executive Director and Vice Chair of Locala CIC, a social enterprise providing health and social care across large parts of West Yorkshire, Bradford and Greater Manchester. Carrie’s experience also includes working for 10 years on an ad hoc basis, as an Independent External Professional Adviser for the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman on complaints relating to continuing health care. Carrie became the Chair of the People and Organisational Development Committee on joining Humber and is the Wellbeing Guardian and NED Champion for Freedom to Speak Up. She is also a member of the Mental Health Legislation Committee and the Quality Committee.

Dr Phillip Earnshaw

Non-Executive Director

Phillip is chair of the Quality Committee and is a member of the Mental Health Legislation Committee, People and Organisational Development Committee and Remuneration and Nomination Committee. He is also the Doctors Disciplinary NED Champion/ Independent Member .

Kathryn Smart

Non-Executive Director

Keith Nurcombe

Non-Executive Director

Keith is the Chair of The Avalon Group (a charity which supports adults with disabilities, mental health needs, autism and dementia) and is a Crown Representative working for the Cabinet Office focusing on supporting the NHS and key strategic suppliers. He has had a thirty-year executive career working in healthcare markets in the UK, Europe and globally for the likes of GlaxoSmithKline and Telefonica. Keith has specialised in digital delivery and transformation including rolling out Shared Care Record systems and Electronic Patient Record (EPR) programmes within the NHS. Keith has a degree in Climatology and Meteorology and when not working, enjoys spending time with the family, skiing and sailing. Keith became the chair of the Finance Committee from September 2024 and is a member of the Audit Committee, the Quality Committee, the Remuneration and Nomination Committee and the People and Organisational Development Committee.

Stephanie Poole

Non-Executive Director

In 1999, Stephanie became the Managing Director of Shared Interest, an award winning £30 million social investment business which tackles poverty in developing countries through fair trade. In 2005, she was appointed Chief Executive of Seachange Community Trust which supports communities on the North Yorkshire coast, working in partnership with local groups and charities. She joined Charities Aid Foundation in 2012 as Director of Social Investment, using her experience to deliver new products and publish research in the field. She served as a Non-Executive Director of NHS North Yorkshire and York until 2012. Latterly, Stephanie has served in front line roles with North Yorkshire Police. This experience has given her insight into service delivery to the most vulnerable in society and a real understanding of the safeguarding and resourcing issues for people working in criminal justice and the health and social care sector. Stephanie became the chair of the Mental Health Legislation Committee from September 2024 and is a member of the Audit Committee and Collaborative Committee. She is also the NED champion for Emergency Preparedness.