Governance

Chair of Remuneration Committee

• Joined the Board of Ambient Support as Chair in August 2020.
• Senior social policy journalist with management skills and high-level governance experience.
• Public Services Editor for The Guardian since 2004, overseeing multi-media organisation’s interface with public services in both editorial and commercial contexts.
• Previously Editor of Society Guardian, responsible for weekly supplement and editorial team. Prior to that, Social Affairs Correspondent/Editor for The Guardian, responsible for day-to-day coverage of issues including NHS policy and finance.
• Held several non-executive positions including Recovery Focus group of mental health and addiction charities founded by Richmond Fellowship; NDTi (National Development Team for Inclusion); 2Care; Mental Health Media and Housing 21.
• Holds a BA in Economic History from Exeter University and a Diploma in Journalism from City University.

Member of Quality Improvement & Safety Committee
Member of Organisational Development & Resources Committee
Member of Remuneration Committee

• Joined the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in October 2013 and appointed Deputy Chair in July 2017. Also appointed as a Trustee of Community Options in October 2013 until December 2016.
• Now retired and chairs Guideline Development Committees for NICE including the prevention of falls in older people and services for older people with learning disabilities. Has substantial experience in the voluntary sector. Is currently Vice Chair of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) and Trustee of Phase Worldwide which works in Nepal.
• Previously Director of UK Service Development at the British Red Cross where she oversaw transfer of four care homes to Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) and played a lead role in developing the Society’s health & social care offer as well as the organisation’s policy and advocacy strategy. Prior to that was Deputy Chief Executive of the Refugee Council.
• Worked in the NHS for several years managing and developing services for people with learning disabilities, older people and community health services.
• CIPFA Diploma in Accountancy & General Management, MA in Social Administration & Public Policy, BSc in Sociology, Certificate in Global Health Studies

Chair of Business Improvement & Financial Performance Committee

• Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support in September 2022.
•  Currently Group Financial Controller/Head of Group Finance at ED&F Man, an agricultural commodities trader.
• Trained at the big 4 accountancy firms and has extensive experience of working at a senior level (Financial Controller/Group Financial Controller) for multinationals in a range of industries.
• Extensive experience in leading key finance areas such as acquisitions, finance function transformations, fund raising, forecasting & planning and business partnering.
• Proven ability in building high-performing teams and engaging individuals at all levels to drive change and deliver results.
• Chartered Accountant (England & Wales and India) who holds a Batchelor of Commerce from the University of Bombay and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from Warwick Business School.

Member of Business Improvement & Financial Performance Committee

• Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in December 2018.
• Barrister with over 20 years’ experience specialising in competition law, public/administrative law, public procurement law, EU law and sectoral regulation.
• Experience of advising and representing charities and third sector organisations, and in helping public bodies develop new models of service provision (e.g. mutual).
• Member of the Attorney General’s ‘A’ Panel of Counsel to the Crown, the highest tier of barristers providing advice and representation to central government departments.
• Deputy (part-time) High Court Judge.
• Holds Practitioner’s Certificate in Data Protection.
• Trustee of a think-tank focused on social care funding

Member of Quality Improvement & Safety Committee

• Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in June 2019.
• Currently Business Support Advisor/Consultant working 3 days per week for a domiciliary homecare provider in North West London (since July 2020).
• Completed Level 2 qualification in self-harm and suicide prevention in December 2022.
• Co-founding Managing Director of 1st Choice Properties Ltd, a lettings and property management business, started in 1994 and sold in 2019. Working as part-time consultant to new owner until July 2019.
• Former roles as a voluntary Nursing Assistant at St Clare Hospice, Harlow and a Carer Trainer for Carers in Hertfordshire, assisting with interviewing candidates for the BSc & MSc Nursing and Social Care degree courses at the University of Hertfordshire.
• Previously held positions as a voluntary Ice Hockey Manager (Level 2 qualified) and Financial Advisor/Office Manager. Also, a registered Financial Advisor with responsibility for arranging mortgages, pensions and life assurance policies. Holds a Certificate in Financial Services obtained from The Chartered Insurance Institute.
• Experience of different client groups via family and personal connections, including learning disabilities, dementia, macular degeneration, physical disabilities etc. Undertaken various online courses on health and wellbeing including courses on dementia, diabetes, addiction, patient handling and general nursing.

Member of Quality Improvement & Safety Committee

• Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support in June 2023.
• Samantha has significant healthcare and health & safety experience within regulated environments and has worked in compliance, qualitative audit and risk & incident management.
• Recently held the role of Director of Risk Management at Cygnet Health Care, a large national provider of inpatient/residential services for individuals with mental health needs, autism and learning disabilities.
• Previously Interim Head of Quality Governance at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust and Interim Patient Safety Lead at Croydon University Hospital.
• Prior to this held roles of Assistance Director of Compliance and Property Risk & Governance Manager/Head of Property Risk & Audit at Metropolitan Thames Valley Housing.

Member of Organisational Development & Resources Committee
Member of Remuneration Committee

• Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in June 2017.
• Expert in the retail and service sectors across Transformation, Operations and Human Resources.
• Former Director roles for Tesco Stores plc across Human Resources, Transformation, Operations and Business Improvement.
• Former Management Consultant for Capgemini Invent focusing on the retail sector.
• Member of the Executive Committee and Director of Business Improvement for Pets at Home Group plc 2019-2023.
• Holds BSc (Hons.) in Environmental Science/Economics at University of East Anglia and a Postgraduate Certificate in Business Administration.

Chair of Organisational Development & Resources Committee

• Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support in June 2023.
• Senior Business & HR Leader, Organisational Transformation Specialist, Board Advisor and Fellow of the CIPD.
• Over the past three years has held posts of Interim Joint Chief Executive and Executive Director of People & Transformation at The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), focusing on strategy, performance, technology, legal & governance, risk and ED&I, and led a major enterprise-wise transformation programme.
• Previously held HR Director roles at PRS for Music and The Law Society.
• Prior to this Pamela ran her own company providing a range of interim management and consultancy solutions in HR/People and change management in the UK and internationally holding contracts with several high-profile companies including Legal & General, Talk Talk, BP, Ernst & Young and Schroders Asset Management.
• Currently holds a number of Non-Executive and Advisory roles for charity, not-for-profit and healthcare organisations.

Member of Business Improvement & Financial Performance Committee
Member of Organisational Development & Resources Committee
Member of Quality Improvement & Safety Committee

• Appointed to the Ambient Support Board (formerly Heritage Care) in June 2018.
• Experienced CEO with strategic, commercial and operational track record in the healthcare industry, and currently runs own healthcare consultancy – clients include private diagnostic providers (SYNLAB, Preventx and Prenetics) and primary care provider Modality.
• Previously was CEO at Viapath for 6 years, a joint venture pathology services provider jointly owned by the NHS and Serco.
• Prior to this held senior Director roles at Spire Healthcare/ Bupa Hospitals and St Martin’s Healthcare (The London Bridge Hospital).
• Began early career in healthcare with the NHS General Management Training Scheme and management roles at the NHS before joining Bupa.
• Holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Leicester, a Diploma in Health Economics from the University of Aberdeen and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Cranfield School of Management.

Holds a BA in Social Sciences from the University of Leicester, a Diploma in Health Economics from the University of Aberdeen and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Cranfield School of Management.

Member of Business Improvement & Financial Performance Committee

• Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in December 2018.
• Currently Managing Partner for TPXimpact.
• Previously Director of Digital Transformation for the UK Department of Health and NHS England.
• Experience working in private industry in digital design, including developing on-line media for magazines as well as digitising systems for Nuffield Health’s consumer gyms and hospital ‘Self-Pay’ businesses.
• Worked as a Senior Reporter before developing a passion and understanding of the mechanics of on-line publishing and moving into digital industry.
• Holds BA in English from the University of Bedfordshire.

Chair of Quality Improvement & Safety Committee
Member of Organisational Development & Resources Committee

• Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in June 2019.
• Previously Director of Quality and Assurance at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, having been Director of Nursing previously, with responsibility for professional nursing, midwifery and allied health professional practice. Responsibility for litigation, complaints and claims, risk and compliance, board assurance framework, patient safety and quality improvement, regulatory and statutory compliance e.g. CQC.
• Previous experiences as Chief Nurse, Director of Quality and Director of Operations in a number of different NHS Trusts.
• Trustee for Keech Hospice since 2010 and also a Trustee for Samaritans. Volunteer for both organisations and previous Director for Healthwatch.
• Holds an MA in Health Care Law, an MA in Management Studies, Post Graduate Diploma in Management, Advanced Diploma in Midwifery, Registered Nurse, Registered Midwife.

Member of Quality Improvement & Safety Committee
Member of Organisational Development & Resources Committee
Lead Member for Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

• Joined the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in July 2011.
• Acting as Co-optee to Amber Housing from January 2017.
• Appointed as a Trustee of Community Options in April 2013 and as a Director of Amber Housing from October 2014; both appointments ceased in December 2016.
• Extensive experience in strategic communications, marketing, training and development. Has worked across the NHS, government, commerce and charities. Designed and delivered training and development at all levels.
• Formerly Regional Head of Communications with the Department of Health and Public Relations Manager at the London Borough of Bromley.
• Experience at Board level, senior management and of running her own business.
• Former Member and Chair of Governors of a local primary school.
• BSc (Hons) Social Sciences degree from the Open University.

Member of Quality Improvement & Safety Committee

• Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support in March 2023.
• Experienced Consultant Psychiatrist  and Neuropsychiatrist who has Clinical Excellence Awards within the NHS.
• Having both experience in the NHS and the private sector, Dr Sholinghur years of experience as a Consultant Psychiatrist and about 20 years in Psychiatry.
• Currently the Group Medical Director and Responsible Officer for Equilibrium Healthcare involved in Organisational Strategy, Clinical Leadership, Clinical Governance and KPIs.
• Consultant Neuropsychiatrist for TRU (Transitional Rehabilitation Unit).
• His interest is in Female Personality Disorders, Neurodevelopmental disorders, Psychiatric and Neuropsychiatric Rehabilitation, Neuropsychiatry and Adult ADHD.
• Active interest in Leadership, Research and Medical Education having published in peer reviewed journals and teaching medical students/ trainees/ nurses from University of Manchester and Liverpool.
• Previously the Medical Director of Cheadle Priory Hospital, Manchester (150 bedded hospital) taking a service from RI (Requires Improvement) to Good.
• Completed Postgraduate degrees including degrees in Ireland and USA and is currently pursuing his Masters in Executive Medical Leadership in Bayes Business School, London.
• Served as an honorary lecturer in Liverpool Medical School.
• He is also a member of the UKAAN (UK Adult ADHD Network), BNPA (British Neuropsychiatric Association), PRA (Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, USA) and ISSP.
• Marathoner – completed 40 marathons so far.

Member of Business Improvement & Financial Performance Committee

• Appointed to the Board of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) in June 2017.
• Established his own business consultancy company giving business advice to local businesses and has assisted with partnership arrangements between not for profit and commercial businesses.
• Retired international business executive with extensive experience at Director and Senior Management level within Rolls-Royce and British Aerospace and other associated companies.
• Holds BSc (Hons) Production Engineering from Aston University and an MBA from Cranfield University. Has also been through the Columbia Senior Executive Program.
• Previously held a directorship at Treetops Hospice Trust in Derbyshire.

Deputy Chair of Amber Housing
Member of Business Improvement & Financial Performance Committee

• Appointed as a Director of Amber Housing in April 2012 and Acting Chair from January 2018 – December 2019. Reverted to previous role of Deputy Chair from January 2020.
• Board Member of Ambient Support (formerly Heritage Care) from January 2012 to December 2016 but continuing as co‑opted member from January 2017 subject to annual review.
• Substantial experience in senior operational management in the private and public housing sector and care & support services.
• Currently working as a consultant at London Borough of Camden, developing an exemplary multi-use building, for a range of people with complex needs that use social care services: Autism, PMLD, Mental Health and Dementia.
• Previously worked for the Mace Group as Lead Advisor to Local Authorities, bidding for LANP funding to develop LA affordable housing programmes, and as Head of Region at Genesis Housing Group.
• MSc in Health and Social Services from The London School of Economics and Political Science.