The Board's Non-Executive Directors share the corporate responsibility for ensuring that the Trust is run efficiently, economically and effectively.

They use their expertise, interest and experience to scrutinise the performance of management, monitor the reporting of performance, and satisfy themselves as to the integrity of financial, clinical and other information. The Non-Executive Directors also fulfil their responsibility for determining appropriate levels of remuneration for Executive Directors.

Mahmud Nawaz, Chair

Mahmud Nawaz, Chair

Mahmud has been Chair of Chesterfield Royal Hospital and Royal Primary Care NHS Foundation Trust since February 2024. He combines that part-time role with being a Senior Leader at Lloyds Banking Group.

Previously, Mahmud has also been a Non Executive Director at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust, a Charity Chair at Relate Bradford and Leeds, a School Governor and a Multi-Academy Trust Director and brings varied and rich experience from the public, private and third sectors.

Mahmud’s professional career has been focused on both management consulting and the financial services sector, where he has built a strong track record in leading on customer strategy, segmentation, experience and transformation. 

Mahmud is passionate about tackling health inequalities and ensuring everyone has the right access, experience and outcomes that they deserve, and for twenty years has been an active organ donation campaigner and is also an Organ Donation Ambassador for NHS Blood and Transplant.  He has been recognised at the end of 2023 by his peers as one of 75 national ethnic minority health leaders by both the Seacole Group (BAME NHS Non Executive Directors Group) and APNA NHS (South Asian NHS Leaders Network), and most recently in September 2024 he has been named as one of Europe’s Top 50 Influential Muslims in Europe by Equality X.

Mahmud lives in Wakefield with his wife Sarah and 11 year old daughter Gracie.

Current term: 1 February 2024 to 31 January 2027.

Jayne Stringfellow, Senior Independent Director

Jayne has worked in the NHS as a nurse for more than 40 years and gained professional qualifications in nursing, midwifery, health visiting and NHS management. Throughout this time Jayne has always worked in roles requiring ongoing clinical knowledge and skills. Most recently Jayne held the post of Chief Nurse working with several clinical commissioning groups across a period of six years. 

Jayne has worked in the NHS as a nurse for more than 40 years and gained professional qualifications in nursing, midwifery, health visiting and NHS management.  Throughout this time Jayne has always worked in roles requiring on-going clinical knowledge and skills. Most recently Jayne held the post of Chief Nurse working with several clinical commissioning groups across a period of six years.  This involved being a Board member and also the Executive Director lead for quality with a portfolio responsibility including quality assurance and improvement, patient experience, safeguarding, infection prevention and control, medicines management and primary care.

Jayne has extensive experience in clinical governance, analysing performance and quality data as well as interpreting financial information.  She has previously worked with the Trust as a commissioner and Partner Governor.  Jayne also has a wealth of experience in primary care having worked with general practice in Derbyshire for over 15 years including working as Assistant Clinical Director with Derbyshire County PCT.  Jayne has been a member of a number of health and social care partnership boards and was also the senior responsible officer for maternity transformation within the Derbyshire STP.

Current term: 24 September 2023 to 23 September 2026.    

Ian Ailles

Ian holds a number of Non-Executive and Trustee roles across housing, care homes and hospices as well as with the Royal College of Emergency Medicine.  

Current term: 11 October 2024 to 10 October 2027.

Dr Delroy Beverley

Dr Delroy Beverley holds Non-Executive and Trustee roles across various sectors, including, arm’s length businesses, third sector and education. Throughout his career he has also advised organisations and boards on how to provide strategic advice on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion and considers this, both a privilege and a profound responsibility.

Current Term: 3 January 2025 to 2 January 2027.

Archana Makol

Archana joined the Trust in June 2025. She is a lawyer with a background in health and safety, claims management and client liaison. Archana brings a wealth of commercial experience, having worked in-house at BT PLC and also in private practice, including setting up a regulated commercial subsidiary at BT.

 She has led large, complex teams through transformational change, providing practical and strategic business support and engaging across multiple stakeholders. 

Archana is an experienced NED in the housing sector and has chaired Audit and Risk Committee and held a Senior Independent director role. 

Outside of work Archana is passionate about spending time with family and friends, enjoying the beautiful Peak district and going to the theatre. She is an active member of a local community environmental group.

Paul Wood

Paul has worked a General Practitioner in the NHS for over 30 years. He undertook his training in Nottingham, Derby and Leicestershire and settled in Derbyshire being a GP partner in Derby from 1993, until retiring from the practice in 2022.

Whilst being a GP he embraced other roles in Primary Care Trusts and Clinical Commissioning Groups. Paul was part of Southern Derbyshire CCG from its inception and became was Chair between 2016-2019.This CCG commissioned healthcare for over half a million people in Derby and Southern Derbyshire. In addition to chairing SDCCG he was Interim Chair of Joined Up Care Derbyshire (JUCD) for two years until 2019.

Paul has worked a General Practitioner in the NHS for over 30 years. He undertook his training in Nottingham, Derby and Leicestershire and settled in Derbyshire being a GP partner in Derby from 1993, until retiring from the practice in 2022. Whilst being a GP he embraced other roles in Primary Care Trusts and Clinical Commissioning Groups. Paul was part of Southern Derbyshire CCG from its inception and became was Chair between 2016-2019.This CCG commissioned healthcare for over half a million people in Derby and Southern Derbyshire. In addition to chairing SDCCG he was Interim Chair of Joined Up Care Derbyshire (JUCD) for two years until 2019.

His main areas of interest have been in Primary Care Development and Urgent and Emergency Care Delivery and Transformation, having previously chaired the A&E Delivery Board in Southern Derbyshire. 

In addition to his role as a Non-Executive Director at Chesterfield Royal Hospital, he continues to work as a sessional GP and Urgent and Emergency Clinical Lead for Derby and Derbyshire ICB.

Outside of work his passions are family, walking in the Derbyshire Dales and being a season ticket holder at a local football club.

Current Term: 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2026.

John Somers

John joined the board as a Non-Executive Director in August 2023. He is an experienced leader who has more than 22 years’ board level experience in public and private sector organisations.

His most recent position, until retirement in July 2022, was as Chief Executive Officer of Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, which he joined in 2014. Prior to that he has worked in various senior NHS roles across commissioning, community services and acute hospital care.

John joined the board as a non-executive director in August 2023. He is an experienced leader who has more than 22 years’ board level experience in public and private sector organisations.

His most recent position, until retirement in July 2022, was as Chief Executive Officer of Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, which he joined in 2014. Prior to that he has worked in various senior NHS roles across commissioning, community services and acute hospital care.

John held a regional leadership role in an Integrated Care System and a local leadership role in a Place-based Accountable Care Partnership with a track record of successfully delivering transformational change by partnership working. He has also worked as an executive reviewer for the CQC as part of their well led inspection reviews.

John, who trained as a chartered accountant, has a passion for the NHS and is keen to utilise his experience to improve services for the residents of Chesterfield and the wider Derbyshire area.

In retirement, John has continued to run around the beautiful Derbyshire countryside in all weathers and is looking to improve his golf handicap. A visit to a local gallery in December 2022 sparked an interest in art and John has converted an upstairs room to a studio to accommodate his expanding collection of paintings.

Current term: 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2026.

Nicola Haywood-Cleverly

With a background in engineering, Nicola has successfully led large-scale, complex change initiatives, often digitally enabled, to drive improvements and transformation across the public sector, including integrated care systems. She has served as a Chief Information Officer in both the NHS and policing.

Nicola has also been a Governor in education, including at Sheffield Hallam University, and has participated in national technology councils. Currently, she balances her public appointments, which include serving on the boards of social housing associations and other NHS Trusts, with her role as a strategic advisor to the health tech industry.

Born, raised, and residing locally, Nicola is neurodiverse and a carer. She is committed to ensuring that the diverse needs of our local communities are met, that people receive the highest quality care, and that health inequalities are addressed.

Married with three grown-up sons, including a pre-admission emergency doctor, Nicola finds joy in walking with her dogs in the Peak District.

Current Term: 16 January 2025 to 15 January 2028.

Elaine Jeffers

Elaine brings a wealth of experience from her 40-year career within the NHS, where she has held senior and director roles across a variety of organisations and services. Her extensive background has provided numerous opportunities to influence the strategic direction of organisations and to shape how clinical and non-clinical teams approach their roles and responsibilities in delivering safe, high-quality care.

Over the past decade, Elaine has dedicated her career to supporting hospitals and clinical services facing significant challenges. She has led improvement programmes in organisations under special measures, facilitating the necessary changes to enhance care delivery. Additionally, Elaine has chaired several CQC Inspections, giving her a comprehensive understanding of regulatory requirements and the ability to translate these into meaningful practices for staff, patients, and their families.

Current Term: 3 January 2025 to 2 January 2027.