Meet our Executive and Non Executive Directors

Alison brings a wealth of NHS leadership experience, most recently serving as Chair of Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, where she helped guide the organisation through the Covid-19 pandemic and played a key role in shaping its long-term strategy. She was also the first Chair of the Great North Healthcare Alliance, promoting collaboration, innovation, and a values-led approach to improving care for patients and staff. Alison is commited to driving improvements and supporting a culture of openness, inclusion, and partnership across the organisation.

Appointed as Chief Executive in September 2025, Steve brings a wealth of NHS experience and a proven track record of working collaboratively with teams to drive improvements in care and services. Steve’s vast experience in national leadership roles include his tenure as Chief Executive of a neighbouring NHS Trust and more recently as Chief Delivery Officer and National Director of Vaccinations and Screening at NHS England. Building on the strong foundations already in place, Steve will focus on fostering a positive and inclusive culture, strengthening engagement with our local communities, and continuing to enhance patient outcomes. 

We'll share more about Shafie, our Acting Medical Director, soon. 

Kathryn Burn brings over 25 years of nursing experience to her Executive Director role at CDDFT. Since qualifying as a nurse in 1996, Kathryn has dedicated her career to healthcare in the North East of England, working in Northumbria and Gateshead before joining CDDFT as a Matron in Surgery.

Over her 15 years with the Trust, Kathryn has made significant contributions within surgical specialties, advancing to Associate Director of Nursing for Surgery in 2016. In 2020, she was appointed Deputy Director of Nursing and later took on the role of Director of Quality in 2023.

Kathryn is committed to enhancing patient experience, driving quality improvement, and fostering talent within the organisation. Her leadership reflects a passion for creating a supportive and high-performing environment that delivers high-quality care.

Lorraine has 30 years' experience in the NHS. She brings expertise and experience from a wide range of functions including finance and operational management. Most recently being divisional director for surgery and elective recover lead at a neighbouring trust. Lorraine is also the Trust's Accountable Emergency Officer.

David Brown became Executive Financial Director in 2017 and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants with many years of experience in NHS Finance. He has held positions within Acute Hospitals, Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and Foundation Trusts.

Ana Naziazena Carvalho de Souza Etchells, Senior Specialist Physiotherapist has been appointed to the newly created role of Associate Non-Executive Director. Ana brings invaluable expertise to support the Trust’s goals in equality, diversity, and inclusion, as well as in reducing health inequalities across our communities. Ana trained as a physiotherapist in Brazil and has gained experience in both the public and private sectors. Ana combines her new responsibilities with her clinical role, continuing her dedication to patient care.

Martin brings a wealth of experience to his role as Interim Non-Executive Director, having previously served as Chief Executive of South Tyneside Homes and Four Housing Group, and as Finance Director at both North Tyneside and North Tees General Hospitals.

He is currently a Non-Executive Director at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, and in recent years roles also include being a Board Member at Advance Northumberland, Vice-Chair of Audit at Sunderland City Council, and with the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service.

Martins focus is on strengthening governance, supporting improvement and helping ensure the Trust is well placed to deliver safe, high-quality services for patients and communities.

Adam is a mental health clinician with around 20 years’ experience spanning the NHS, private sector, and charitable organisations. He is Chief Executive of a national mental health charity and NHS provider based in the North East, leading services locally and nationally through a range of NHS partnerships.

Adam also serves as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Quality and Governance at Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust, and holds several national leadership roles, including member of the NHS Confederation Mental Health Board and board member of the Association of Mental Health Providers.

Adam is passionate about improving quality and governance, supporting staff to deliver great care, and strengthening partnerships that help make a real difference for patients and communities.

Kathryn has been a Trust governor for eight years, including a period as lead governor, working to ensure patients' and carers' concerns are considered when the Trust is developing strategies and work plans.  Kathryn has spent her career in healthcare, qualifying as a pharmacist in 1983.  She has many years' experience working as a community pharmacist, in NHS management and currently as a primary care pharmacist working within GP practices.

Kathryn is also clinical director for a company providing pharmacy support to GP practices.  She also played a key role in setting up the Listening Friends scheme, a telephone help-line for pharmacists under stress and was one of the national co-ordinators for 20 years.

Lisa began her career as part of the finance department of the then Newcastle Heath Authority at the age of 17. She has gone on to develop a broad knowledge and experience of NHS services working in mental health and learning disabilities across several organisations - all in the North East.  Lisa has held posts including deputy director of Finance and executive director at Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Foundation Trust  (CNTWFT) with a wide portfolio that included commissioning, quality assurance, governance, risk and technology.  Lisa also spent seven years as an inspector for the Care Quality Commission.

Appointed 1 June 2018.  Steve began his career in the public sector where he spent ten years working in economic regeneration, bringing inward investment to the North East.  He then took his skills into the private sector working for utility providers, where he developed a specialty in HR, ultimately working at Director level and subsequently working as a HR Director in the aviation sector.

Steve now runs his own HR consultancy, working for clients close to home and as far afield as Kazakhstan.  Steve is also a Non-Executive Director of Port of Tyne and operates his own UK wide mediation practice with a number of UK and European clients in a variety of sectors covering chemicals and processing, transport and logistics. media services, financial services and higher education.  Through a Birmingham-based charity, Steve undertakes mediation for children with special educational needs.

David brings a wealth of experience to his role as non-executive director. He has held roles in retail management and within the media industry. He later became managing director of David Hall Partnership where he led a period of substantial growth. Later taking a key role with A4E, he developed experience and expertise on an international platform before moving his focus to volunteering, serving as a Trustee for various charities and becoming an active member of Rotary Durham.

David chairs the Trust Board Audit Committee, leads on security and business continuity planning, and serves as a workforce wellbeing guardian.