Name

Job title

Reflections

Nigel Batey

Head of Business Intelligence

Yorkshire Ambulance Service

The WYAAT Placement has allowed me to build some future relationships within the WYAAT group and see how services operate outside of YAS and part of the system. I work as Head of Business Intelligence so I’ve met people from across different functions. My placement around Hospital Handover times will continue and spread across Yorkshire in the next year looking at data collection and improving performance. I’ve already had some very positive talks with partners and completed some site visits in Bradford, Leeds and St James’s Hospitals understanding the different ways in which they operate and work with YAS.

Nazzar Butt

Moving to Outstanding Lead

Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust

I have a MSc in Quality and Performance Management with 20 years+ experience working in quality, patient safety and risk having previously worked my up to Director level. I work at BTHT within the Quality Governance Team supporting the Trust to embed the quality governance agenda. I have managerial and senior corporate responsibility for assurance and regulation across the organization. My goals are for career advancement and for me to continue to expand on my skills and experience leading to an Executive position. 

Chris Davies

Deputy Director of Estates and Facilities

Bradford Teaching Hospitals Trust

I chair and champion the region for my engineering institute, I’m working closely with the Exec E&F WYAAT directors, I’m currently developing an Estates apprenticeship programme with Leeds College of Building – this will give young people of Yorkshire to opportunity to join a bespoke NHS / healthcare programme at a grass roots stage with a career path growth to management / engineer and beyond.

This programme and specifically the mentoring and networking has helped my confidence and understanding of the wider leadership thinking across the system to enable me to navigate through difficult topics and proposals. The above apprenticeship programme being one of many

Paul Dernley

Assistant Director, Workforce.

Locala

Tom Donaghey

Head of Estates

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust

I have gained a huge amount of experience from the SLP programme and made some great connections and networks which I will use as my career progresses. I have enjoyed the cohort sessions and gained invaluable insights into system leadership. I find the NHS fascinating and enjoy seeing the passion of my colleagues, we are all here for the same reason and that really shines through in all the sessions we have completed within this programme.

Rob Eames

Deputy Director of People and Culture.

Harrogate District Hospital Trust

Being new to the WYAAT System the course has been a fantastic opportunity to develop my system leadership skills. But more importantly my network and has helped me make solid two-way connections that will undoubtably help system delivery longer term.

Emma Godfrey

Deputy Director of Operation, Pathology & Women’s

Mid Yorkshire Teaching Trust

I really enjoyed the course, especially the interactive sessions and the speakers. It was a great opportunity to network and share experiences.

Anokh Goodman

Clinical Lead for Cultural Connection, Transformation and Belonging / Psychotherapist.

Bradford District Care Trust

The WYATT Senior Leadership Programme has been a transformative experience, deepening my growth as a systems leader. Its multifaceted design has expanded my network, placing meaningful relationships at the core of my leadership approach. This journey has enriched my placement experience by offering valuable frameworks, theory, and mentorship, empowering me to lead with insight and intention.

Michelle Gough

Head of Service Delivery (Capacity Planning)

Yorkshire Ambulance Service

The placement (WY Community Collaborative – Proactive Care) has given me exposure to the wider system and allowed me to demonstrate my leadership capabilities in a new and unfamiliar environment. Mentorship has given we the opportunity to think about my own personal development, providing coaching and support with the placement and in my role.

There have been some inspiring speakers at the events. Overall, the programme has developed my self-belief and given me confidence in my capabilities.

Jo Hilton

Deputy Chief Nurse / Director of Nursing.

Bradford Teaching Hospitals

Sarah Johnson

Assistant Director, Clinical Quality

Locala

The experience of the placement was fantastic, and I enjoyed being involved in something totally different to the day job. I would like to say thank you for the support the team have provided throughout the course.

Rebecca Le-Hair

Associate Deputy Director Patient Safety, Compliance and Risk

Bradford District Care Trust

The programme has given me insight into how our system leaders collaborate to tackle the ever-increasing challenging healthcare economy, landscape and environment. I found the personal stories shared by executives and other leaders to be thought provoking and encouraging, in that each took a different path. I particularly enjoyed the session provided by Monique Carayol which was motivating and inspiring; and the mentor sessions were very much valued, helping me work through any challenges encountered. My main takeaways from the programme have been undertaking regular reflection and having confidence in my own experience and ability to succeed.

Leanne Likaj

Associate Director of Midwifery

Harrogate District Hospital Trust

Being on the Senior Leadership Programme has reinforced to me the principles of system working and the presentations from speakers working in senior executive positions in the NHS were invaluable in demonstrating that progression to those senior positions is possible. My placement gave me an invaluable opportunity to learn about a Lead Provider model and how to engage moving from a collaborative system working model to a different model whilst maintaining healthy working relationships. Mentoring provided the opportunity to reflect on this and consider my personal growth and needs for future progression. I have valued the opportunity to learn and develop.

Jason Matthews

Deputy Chief Finance Officer

Mid Yorkshire Teaching Trust

Although I have already been involved in collaborative programmes in WYAAT, the catalyst sessions and on-line learning modules have given me many new perspectives on how I can lead change more effectively.  The programme has been really well put together and given me valuable network relationships I can work with in the future.

Caroline McGrath

Deputy Director of Operations Division of Surgery & Cancer Services

Mid Yorkshire Teaching Trust

Thank you to WYAAT for the opportunity to be part of the SLP.  My placement provided me with exposure and learning in an area of system working that I would ordinarily not have been able to access so closely. It has been a great experience to develop my knowledge and skills and support my future career path.

Jenny Nolan

Deputy Director Nursing and Midwifery and AHP’s.

Harrogate District Hospitals Trust

I’ve had an extremely varied career in the NHS, both in England and Scotland over the last 30 years. Originally starting out in critical care in London before moving to Scotland and making my way back down South via Oxford and finally ending up back up North, in Yorkshire in the mid 2000’s. 

After reviewing my career 12 years ago I realized that I wanted to develop my skills and focus on nurse leadership, so I went and did something completely out of my comfort zone, which led to other opportunities, including working with a national project, and eventually leading me to my current deputy role. I am extremely proud to be a nurse and love a challenge!

John Oram

Associate Medical Director (Risk Management) / Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Gemma Puckett

Director of Midwifery.

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust

I have been a midwife since 2000. I have worked in various leadership positions across acute hospital, public health and commissioning services since 2014 and in various parts of the country which has given me great opportunity and exposure to differing leadership styles, organisational cultures and teams.  I currently am the Director of Midwifery at CHFT, an organisation that I hold dear to my heart and has supported me to develop a as a leader earlier in my career and again now I have returned through this programme.

Saj Sathyan

Deputy Chief Nurse.

Airedale NHS Foundation Hospital Trust

The SLP programme helped me developing the skill for system level leadership and refining organisational strategies. The executive mentorship was extremely useful to gain the insights drawn from experience and it helped understanding complex systems, the challenges and making informed decisions. The programme helped me build confidence and encouraged strategic thinking. I am sure the skills I gained will benefit me in driving large scale changes effectively in a unitary board.

Mussarat Suleman

Head of Employee Health & Wellbeing

Yorkshire Ambulance Service

The programme has been very informative and insightful. It has positively challenged and developed my confidence in my own abilities. The catalyst sessions and e-learning modules helped set the evidence base around system leadership whilst creating a safe space to reflect, share learning, challenge thinking and network. Placement and mentoring provided me with a great opportunity to learn and develop and work with senior leaders across the system.