NHS Staff Council executive members

Meet the staff-side and employer-side executive members of the NHS Staff Council and find out more about their roles.

Representation across the UK

The Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish governments, and the English Department of Health and Social Care, are also represented.

Staff side executive members

Helga Pile

Acting Head of Health, UNISON

Staff-side chair.

Richard Munn

National Officer for Health, Unite The Union

Richard joined the executive in 2020.

Emma Jenkinson

Director for Employment Relations, Royal College of Midwive

Emma is director for employment relations at the RCM and joined the NHS Staff Council in September 2025.

Nathan Holman

National Officer, GMB

Nathan is the national officer for GMB and joined NHS Staff Council in March 2026.

Joanne Galbraith-Marten

Director of Employment Relations and Legal Services, RCN

Joanne joined the executive in November 2021.

Nicky Hughes

Associate Director, RCN Wales

Nicky joined the executive in 2021.

Matt McLaughlin

Unison, Scotland

Matt works for UNISON, Scotland

John-Patrick Clayton

Trade union representative, Northern Ireland

John-Patrick joined the executive in 2026.

Jim Fahie

Assistant Director for Employment Relations, The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy

Staff-side secretary.

Employer side executive members:

Bridget O’Kelly

Chief People Officer, Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust

Employer-side chair and executive of the NHS Staff Council.

Caroline Julien

Chief People Officer, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Caroline joined the executive in 2023.

Lisa Ward

Director of People, North West Ambulance Service

Lisa joined the executive in 2021.

Amy Beeton

Chief People Officer, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Trust

Amy joined the executive in 2024.

Liz O’Hara

Chief People Officer, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Liz joined the executive in 2025.

Sue Green

Director, NHS Wales Employers

Sue joined the executive in 2023.

Claire Smyth

Director of People and Organisational Development, South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust

Claire joined the executive in 2024.

Elaine Watson

Secretary, Management Steering Group, NHS Scotland Employers

Elaine joined the executive in 2026.

Karen Barnard

Assistant Director,  Pay, Reward and Employment Relations

Employer Secretary

An icon of the NHS Terms and Conditions Handbook

Further information on the role of the NHS Staff Council, who are responsible for the Agenda for Change pay system, can be found on this web page.