Our Board

Professor William Pope - Vice Chair

Professor William Pope is the Chair of Connected Together CIC and is currently the interim chair of the Healthwatch Northamptonshire Board. He has a wealth of experience, leadership and expertise gained from senior roles within industry, the NHS and academia, including at chairman and chief executive level. He has significant experience of working with world-leading companies and organisations including BAE Systems, the BBC, BIS, BP, British Nuclear Fuels, Ford, GlaxoSmithKline, Huawei, IBM, the NHS, Shell and Unilever, and was Chief Executive Officer of the UK’s largest integrated health, safety and environmental business for 10 years.  He has been one of the UK’s leaders in managing and developing environmental technology companies over the last 35 years, and is a four times winner of the “Technology Fast 50” awards for the fastest growing companies. Amongst other appointments he was previously director & Chairman of the East of England Regional Development Agency (2006-2012) and Northamptonshire & Milton Keynes Primary Care Trusts (2006-2013), and is now Chairman of the Board at Y&H Academic Health Science Partners (2014-date), a Board member (and now Chairman) at University Campus Suffolk (2014-date), Chairman of Healthwatch Northamptonshire (2013-17) and is a Board member (now Vice Chairman) of East Midlands Pathology (2012-date). Will was educated at St. Mary’s College, the University of Plymouth - where he was awarded the honour of “Best Student” by Prince Charles (1976) - and Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London; he has a 1st class honours degree in Environmental Science (1976), and is a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv 2004). He is a Fellow of the Institution of Environmental Sciences

Dora Shergold

I live in Wellingborough and have been the main carer for my husband. I have given up training, but have spent over 35 years as a first aider, alongside working in accounts as a credit controller. Over the years I have become very aware of a variety of levels of care and how that impacts on the individual being cared for and on their rate of recovery. I have been a member of Carers' Voice for over three years, a member of a Patient Engagement Group (PEG) for two years, and was formerly secretary of the Kettering and District Prostate Cancer Support Group. I have had a real sense of achievement when we have made a difference. I have advanced arthritis and am used by NHS as an ‘expert on disability’ to test premises for accessibility. I want to be part of the Healthwatch drive to improve health and social care.

Dr Marcella Daye

Dr Marcella Daye is Senior Lecturer in Tourism Management and Co-Chair of the race equality network known as the Global Ethnic Majority at the University of Northampton.  As Co-Chair of the GEM, Marcella is the coordinator the annual Black in the Ivory conference at the University of Northampton which is held in observance of Black History Month. Marcella holds a Masters with distinction in Tourism Planning and Development and a Ph.D in Tourism Marketing from the University of Surrey.  Her research interests are in Place Branding, Risk Communication, Participatory Action Research and Race Equality. 

Susan Hills

After a successful career in the world of information science and project management at the British Library, Susan moved into the NHS as Chair and subsequently Non-Executive Director of Primary Care Trusts in Northamptonshire.  She volunteered with Healthwatch Northamptonshire so that she could continue to help join up and improve the health and social care services provided locally. Susan has worked in the voluntary sector with the Citizens Advice Bureau, Northamptonshire Network 50+, and other organisations for some years.  She believes that the voluntary sector can provide a lot to help an individual have a more fulfilled, active and enjoyable life, and wants to further the work of the health professionals with the third sector. Susan is also a lay member with the Employments Tribunals service. She enjoys hill walking, going to the theatre and gardening.

Wendy Patel

Wendy is a retired registered General Nurse with vast experience in nursing and management. She has a particular interest in bringing quality care into the workplace. She trained at Kettering General Hospital where she held a series of senior roles before moving to South Wales where she obtained a degree to teach nursing.  She has held a number of positions including Lead Nurse Education Independent Sector; Investigator of complaints in the health service and Investors in People Advisor. She undertakes a lot of voluntary work including work with the Samaritans, Healthwatch: 15 steps challenge at Kettering General Hospital as well as being a patient representative.

Mark Vincent