Two new Non-Executive Directors have been appointed to our Board.
Debbie Forster and Karen Clements were recruited following a competitive process and Trust Chair, Graham Russell, said their skills and experience will make them a huge asset to the organisation.
He said: “We are delighted to welcome Debbie and Karen to our Trust Board. They each have a unique skillset which will prove of huge benefit at a time when we are needing to transform many of our services to improve the support and care we provide to our communities. We are thrilled to have them joining us.”
Debbie Forster MBE has a background in technology, skills, innovation and inclusion. She is currently Board Member and Chair of Diversity Committee at the Institute of Coding, as well as a member of the UK
Debbie Forster MBE Non Executive Director
Government’s Digital Skills Council. She also has Non-Executive experience with the Lending Standards Board, Temenos (a Swiss technology company), and the British Council and has been a member of the UK Government’s National Cyber Advisory Board, Money and Pensions Service Advisory Board and Digital Economy Forum.
Debbie’s most recent role as Chief Executive was with Tech Talent Charter, where she worked between 2017 and 2024 and earlier in her career she spent five years as CEO of Apps for Good (a technology education charity). In 2019 Debbie was recognised as the Most Influential Woman in UK IT in 2019 by Computer Weekly magazine and was awarded an MBE for services to Digital Technology.
Debbie, who will Chair our Resource Committee, said: “I’m delighted to join Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust’s energy and ambition is truly inspiring, and I’m looking forward to working alongside the board and executive team to support the digital transformation programme and help ensure it delivers meaningful improvements in patient care and experience across all of Gloucestershire’s communities.”
Karen Clements currently serves as a Non-Executive Director with NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board and brings extensive senior leadership experience spanning more than 35 years across the insurance, banking and commercial real estate sectors.
She has over two decades of experience in strategic business planning and delivery, with a strong track record in identifying opportunities for improvement, setting clear strategic direction and delivering sustainable organisational change.
Karen also brings significant practical experience in improving employee engagement and securing the commitment of colleagues to deliver meaningful change. She will bring this strong people-focused approach to her role as Chair of the Trust’s Great Place to Work Committee.
Karen Clements Non-Executive Director
Karen said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as the lead Non-Executive Director for Great Place to Work. I am passionate about recruiting, developing and retaining talented people, and about harnessing their insights, ideas and energy to drive positive change. I look forward to working together to strengthen GHC’s reputation as a great place to work, learn and build a career, while making a positive difference for everyone who uses our services.”
To read more about our Board and its members, click here: Board and Governors > Glos Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust
