Chair & Executive Directors
Chair: Professor Clair Chilvers

Prof Chilvers joined the Trust in January 2011 after four years as Chair of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. With a strong background in academia and the senior civil service, Prof Chilvers’ previous university appointments over 20 years include Professor of Epidemiology at University of Nottingham Medical School and Dean of the University’s Graduate School. She trained originally as a Medical Statistician and spent most of her research career as a cancer epidemiologist at the Institute of Cancer Research, University of London. Prof Chilvers was brought up in Gloucestershire and went to school in Cheltenham.
Chief Executive: Dr Frank Harsent
Dr Frank Harsent commenced his appointment as Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust on May 1st 2008.
Previous to this, he held a position as Chief Executive of the Salisbury Hospital NHS Foundation Trust since 2001 and led it to Foundation status in 2006. He worked his way up to this position through a range of general management positions including the Director of Clinical Services at Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals between 1993 and 1995. He became Chief Executive of North Tees Health NHS Trust in 1995, and in 1999, he took on the role of Chief Executive of Cornwall Healthcare NHS Trust.
Prior to joining the NHS, he spent his early career in the Royal Navy.
Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive: Mrs Evelyn Barker
Evelyn commenced as Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Service Delivery on 1st September 2009.
Prior to joining she was the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer at Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS FT, with 6 months as Acting Chief Executive. Evelyn was a member of the Trust Board since November 2003, as Director of Clinical Services, responsible for service delivery of key national targets, and performance improvement. Prior to this Evelyn held a number of General Management roles and was a Chief Pharmacist, having had 17 years experience as a Clinical Pharmacist in a number of London Hospitals.
Nursing Director: Mrs Maggie Arnold
Maggie Arnold is responsible for the leadership of nursing and midwifery. She also has responsibility for the management of all operational nursing issues including nursing and midwife policies and development. She leads on Safeguarding Adults and Children, Infection Control and Mental Health. Maggie has worked for the NHS for approximately 33 years and 6 years for the armed forces and has experience in managing community hospitals as well as acute services. An experienced trauma nurse she has a MSc in health and social care and is totally committed to improving the patient experience by ensuring the nurses are trained and work to the highest standards.
Director of Clinical Strategy: Dr Sally Pearson
Sally Pearson was appointed as Director of Clinical Strategy in April 2002, following a period of 10 years as Director of Public Health for Gloucestershire Health Authority. She has overall responsibility for strategic direction and planning, partnership with other organisations, research governance, performance management, marketing and programme management. She has joint responsibility for clinical governance with the Medical Director.
Medical Director: Dr Sean Elyan
Sean Elyan was appointed as Medical Director at the end of 2005 and now undertakes this post half time whilst continuing in his clinical post as a Consultant Clinical Oncologist (Appointed to the Trust in 1993). He has overall responsibility for medical leadership and jointly for clinical governance and clinical leadership.
Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development: Mr Dave Smith
Dave Smith has overall responsibility for human resources and organisational development including training and development and occupational health. He joined the NHS and the Trust in April 2009 having previously worked as a Human Resources Director in the banking and finance industry. He has an MA in Strategic Human Resources Management.
Director of Finance: Mrs Sarah Truelove
Sarah Truelove joined the NHS as a National Finance Trainee in 1990. She is a fully qualified accountant and has held two previous Director of Finance posts. She has worked previously in both the acute and commissioning sector within Wiltshire, Dorset, Bath and Gloucestershire.