Meet our Executive and Non Executive Directors

Meet our Executive Directors

Alison Marshall.png 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.

Steve Russell Chief Exec.jpg 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.

Rob Clarke.JPG Rob joined the Trust in October 2025 as Financial Improvement Director before stepping into the role of Interim Chief Finance Officer in January 2026.

Rob brings extensive senior leadership experience from across the NHS. Prior to joining the Trust, he served as Chief Finance Officer at Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and as Deputy Chief Finance Officer (Strategic Planning) at Barts Health NHS Trust. He also worked as an Improvement Director for NHS England and NHS Improvement, supporting organisations to exit special measures. During the COVID‑19 pandemic, Rob took on the role of Director of Finance at the NHS Nightingale Hospital London.

Before beginning his NHS career, Rob spent more than 15 years in healthcare consultancy, most recently as a Partner in a firm specialising in clinical productivity and efficiency.

Rob is a Chartered Accountant with experience across audit, strategy development, operational restructuring, clinical transformation, cost reduction and detailed financial management.

Lorraine Nelson - Executive Director of Operations.jpg 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.

Shafie Kamaruddin.jpg We'll share more about Shafie Kamaruddin soon.

We'll share more about Gill Hunt soon.

Anna Telfer.jpg We'll share more about Anna Telfer soon.

Meet our Non-Executive Directors

Martin Knowles 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 Crampsie 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.

Lisa Quinn - cropped.jpg 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.

Steve Crosland.jpg 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 Jackson NED.jpg 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.