Governors

Christopher Morley is a long-standing community volunteer and advocate for meaningful public involvement in health service development. Based in Ashford since 1992, he believes that residents should have clear, accessible information about community health services and play an active role in shaping them — especially as health and social care systems become more integrated.

From 2016 to 2022, Christopher served as the Lay Member for Public and Patient Engagement with NHS Ashford CCG, where he worked to ensure services reflected public needs. He regularly engaged with patient groups and contributed to key projects, including proposed changes to acute care in East Kent.

He continues to attend KCHFT East Kent Community Engagement Group meetings and is impressed by the trust’s work. Professionally, Christopher is an IT Business Systems Manager for a national charity and also serves as a parish councillor and Trustee of the Ashford Volunteer Centre.

Chris is a young dad, university lecturer and city councillor living in Whitstable. He has spent more than fifteen years working in housing and youth work charities and is vice chair of governors in the largest primary school in the district.

Over the last couple of years, he has helped coordinate the town’s response to the pandemic.

Chris says NHS services play a vital part in people’s lives but how they are run is complicated to most people. He’d like to help bridge the gap and help more people have their voice heard.

Chris aims to utilise the links he has built across the district supporting those with special educational needs, helping parents fight cuts to children’s services and as a co-ordinator of local warm spaces provision, to engage the trust with grassroots organisations providing a safety net for some of the most vulnerable in the community.

Sharon is a ‘born and bred’ Dartfordian, with a passion for community wellbeing.

Having been an active leader in various community initiatives, Sharon is keen to build strong relationships between healthcare providers, patients and the wider community.

She is committed to advocating for the interests and needs of our diverse community, making sure all voices are heard.

Her background is in delivering public health interventions and community development initiatives, which has equipped Sharon with valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing our healthcare system.

Sharon said she is passionate about the wellbeing of local people and committed to upholding the values of transparency, accountability and inclusivity in all aspects of her role.

Les Posniak brings a distinctive blend of technical expertise and NHS experience to the role of governor. An engineer by training, Les has worked in NHS administration since 2001, serving in Primary Care Trusts, Clinical Commissioning Groups, and currently the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board. For the past decade, he has managed the 111 Directory of Services, a vital yet often unseen resource that supports countless residents across the region.

Les works closely with service providers — including KCHFT — to improve the 111 experience, balancing the needs of patients, commissioners, and providers to develop practical, real-world solutions. His values have long aligned with those of KCHFT and he brings deep insight into how services function on the ground.

A Dover resident for over 20 years, Les is now looking to give back to his community.

Jill Mew brings over 40 years of experience in healthcare, with two medically related degrees and a distinguished career in osteopathy. She has taught at the British School of Osteopathy, examined final-year students and assessed GPs for clinical competence. Jill also trained in acupuncture in Beijing and ran her own practice, working closely with GPs and gaining insight into international healthcare systems through time spent living abroad.

Now retired, Jill is an active member of her local Patient Participation Group (PPG) and remains passionate about the NHS. She advocates for practical reforms to reduce waste, improve nurse-led care, and increase meaningful patient interaction. Committed to restoring hands-on, compassionate nursing, she seeks to influence positive, patient-focused change within the NHS.

Vacant

Sarah Powel brings a strong combination of professional expertise and personal experience to the role of Governor. For 13 years, she worked as an independent advocate in Kent, supporting vulnerable individuals across NHS, social care, and community services. Her clients included people with mental health conditions, disabilities, capacity issues and those in prison. Sarah’s creative and flexible approach enabled people to express their views, raise concerns and take part in decisions affecting their care.

As a health complaints advocate, she witnessed how patient feedback can drive meaningful improvements. She also supervised fellow advocates, responded to safeguarding concerns, and built strong relationships with NHS professionals through extensive networking across the county.

Personally, Sarah cared for her elderly mother and is the parent of a teenage son with a rare genetic condition and multiple additional needs. These experiences give her valuable insight into the challenges carers face when navigating community health services.

Gill Harris served as the Governor for Sevenoaks until April 2024, completing a three-year term with Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT). During her tenure, she actively represented local constituents, visiting Sevenoaks Hospital and the Edenbridge Centre, attending Council of Governor meetings and building strong relationships with Non-Executive Directors and Board members.

Professionally, Gill is a qualified HR practitioner, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and personal coach, with a background in finance and medical support services.

She has also dedicated over 25 years to voluntary service, including 10 years as a Magistrate, nine years as a legal adviser with Citizens Advice and three years volunteering at Sevenoaks Hospital.

Gill remains committed to keeping Sevenoaks residents informed about KCHFT’s work.

Jide is a seasoned professional with a career spanning more than two decades in the private sector. With expertise in management, operations, finance, and compliance, Jide has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence and a passion for making a difference.

Throughout his career, Jide has successfully navigated the intricate landscape of the private sector, gaining invaluable insights into the dynamics of various industries. His multi-faceted experience has honed his ability to strategize, implement efficient systems, and foster a culture of compliance and transparency.

What sets Jide apart is his unwavering dedication to bridging the gap between the NHS and the individuals who rely on its services. Recognising the significance of patient experience and equality, Jide’s involvement with the Patient Experience and Equality Committee at KCHFT showcases his commitment to advocating for the rights and needs of the community.

Jide’s exceptional listening skills enable him to connect deeply with patients and members of the public, ensuring their voices are heard and their concerns addressed. His empathetic nature and genuine desire to understand the experiences of others position him as a true advocate and a reliable conduit between the community and the healthcare institution.

With an ardent belief in the power of collaboration and dialogue, Jide embraces his role as a representative of the people, ready to carry their perspectives and insights to the board of KCHFT. His goal is to facilitate a harmonious relationship between the NHS and its users, fostering an environment of mutual understanding and continuous improvement.

Jide’s journey is characterised by his professional acumen, his dedication to inclusivity, and his unyielding commitment to enhancing the healthcare experience for all.

Reverend Iris White has been involved in hospital chaplaincy and has previously been an NHS governor over two, three-year terms.
She is passionate about the NHS and at the age of 17, worked on hospital wards and saw first-hand what it means to be a nurse.

She is keen to help bring about positive change in the NHS and to support staff.

Reverend White said she is dedicated to being a Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust governor and representing Thanet.

Rachel Knight has lived in Tonbridge and Malling for over 20 years and is a passionate supporter of the NHS. Her appreciation deepened when her husband underwent emergency open-heart surgery and following a stroke, began receiving long-term care — much of it through Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT). Rachel has also recently experienced KCHFT services first hand following her own osteoarthritis diagnosis.

Professionally, Rachel works in communications and has spent the last decade supporting various NHS organisations across Kent and Medway. Her strong communication skills and understanding of NHS systems make her well-equipped to represent the views of local people as a public governor.

She also serves as a Trustee for the Folkestone Leas Lift Charity, where she reviews financial and operational reports — experience she believes will be valuable in the governor role. Rachel is committed to giving back to the NHS and ensuring community voices are heard.

Jane has been a member of the Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust (KCHFT) People’s Network since October 2014.

Jane has worked in the NHS as a nurse, midwife and health visitor. Returning to work after starting a family she retrained as a lecturer, delivering and managing health and social care courses in a further education college.

Jane joined KCHFT after her retirement, keen to make a difference to how people experience our services.

Jane has worked alongside KCHFT colleagues from many services including, sexual health and infection prevention and control. She has sat on staff interview panels, helped co-design training courses for staff, co-chaired the People’s Network and is a member of the healthy communities and learning from experience groups.

Alongside other People’s Network members and KCHFT colleagues, Jane has completed inspections in our community hospitals and taken part in reviews of services.

She has lived in Tunbridge Wells for the past 40 years.

Dr Paul Driscoll-Evans has a strong leadership background within academic healthcare education settings and the NHS, having held several senior positions. His experience shows his commitment to providing students with an excellent experience, working in partnership with external stakeholders to develop creative workforce solutions.

Dr Driscoll-Evans is currently the Head of School of Nursing at Canterbury Christ Church University, having joined the organisation in 2024; prior to this he held senior academic positions at the University of Suffolk; most recently he was Pro Vice-Chancellor (Health and Wellbeing) where he led on many successful projects including the founding of an NHS-dental social enterprise.

Paul is deeply committed to the promotion of seamless integrated care and ensuring that service users, and their carers received the very best possible care.

I am married with two children and grew up in the Midlands before moving to Kent with my parents in 1988. My career began in residential care, supporting adults with physical disabilities. While the work was deeply rewarding, it was also emotionally demanding, leading me to explore a new career path. I transitioned into dentistry but soon realised it wasn’t the right fit for me.

Returning to health and social care, I joined a company with multiple residential homes. Over time, I was promoted to the position of Registered Manager, where I gained valuable experience. After eight years, I applied for the role of Chief Officer at Age UK Hythe, a decision that shaped my career.

I have been with the organisation for 18 years, during which time we’ve grown and merged with other Age UK branches, becoming Age UK Hythe, Lyminge, and Ashford. Alongside this, I work with organisations across Kent to improve services for older people.

In October 2020, I was honoured to receive the British Empire Medal on the Queen’s Honours List, a recognition I hold dear.
My journey reflects a lifelong commitment to supporting older adults and enriching my community.

This position is vacant.

Jan has worked in the NHS since 1976; starting her career as a nursing auxiliary at Sevenoaks Hospital. She qualified as a state enrolled nurse in 1981.

Jan’s passion then was A&E. She worked at the Kent and Sussex Hospital for many years. During that time, she became registered nurse and then qualified as a nurse practitioner, before hanging up her uniform and moving into emergency planning in 2009.

In her spare time, Jan volunteers as a custody suite visitor, sings in a choir and is trustee of a charity, which focuses on people who may not have had the opportunities to sing together.

Maria-Loukia has worked in children’s therapies for the past 12 years, including Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust since it was created in 2011.

She started her career as a speech and language therapist and has worked her way up to become a clinical manager for children’s therapies.

Maria-Loukia believes her years of experience have made her appreciate the demands and pressures, as well as the rewards and benefits for service users and staff.

She is passionate about making sure accessible, high-quality care is always offered and that the trust works to establish effective collaborations with stakeholders.

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