Public Governors

Owen Fear

Passionate about improving healthcare services for our community, Owen is currently working with BCHC in bank and voluntary roles. As an 'expert with lived experience' co-trainer, Owen delivers training to health and social care staff as part of the Birmingham and Solihull Oliver McGowan mandatory training in learning disability and autism team. 

Additionally, Owen contributes to social care research as a member of the lived experience panel at the University of Birmingham.

Beyond this, Owen has been actively involved in patient-led assessments of the care environment (PLACE), ensuring that NHS facilities meet high standards. Furthermore, he was a member of the stakeholder panel for the recruitment of a new learning disability group manager and contributed to our essential care awards clinical accreditation group, ensuring high-quality care standards were met.

Owen has always been passionate about making NHS services accessible, inclusive, and safe for all. As a governor, he is committed to ensuring that everyone’s voices are heard, and that feedback helps shape our services.

 Andrew Lloyd
Andrew Lloyd had a prosperous 46-year career in the private sector, where he spent the last 14 years as Regional Director, supporting businesses across the entirety of the UK. His role was multifaceted, focusing on employee development and business growth.

In 1996, Andrew, his wife Mandy, and their two daughters relocated to Birmingham. Mandy's early career was within the NHS before she transitioned into primary education as a Teaching Assistant. She dedicated 25 years of service in the Sutton Coldfield area. Mandy’s background in the NHS influenced their elder daughter to join the NHS, where she has accumulated 22 years of service thus far!

In 2024, Andrew opted for early retirement to volunteer his expertise and contribute to the community in Birmingham—a city that has shown him great kindness. Andrew is enjoying serving as a Public Governor for North & East Birmingham, bringing his wealth of experience and dedication to the role.

Pauline Moore
Pauline's career spans many different roles but all of them have required herto engage with others, either as a manager, peer or within the community.  She is passionate about education, health and justice, which being a BCHC governor allows her to indulge, those passions alongside fulfilling the role and supporting the North and East of Birmingham

Errol Oliver
Errol began his career as a software engineer developing remote supervisory systems, before moving into healthcare.  Retired with over 30 years of healthcare experience in the UK and California, he became a senior civil servant and director of information for the West Midlands NHS Executive.

Errol has also been a chartered engineer, a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology, a project management professional and an associate member of the Institute of Physics. While in California, he chaired a group for parents of children on the autistic spectrum.

As a Pentecostal minister and former pastor, Errol has extensive experience in pastoral care. Passionate about the future of the NHS, he is committed to equitable access to healthcare for all members of the community.

Bernice Amao

Bernice brings over 36 years of continuous nursing experience, with a strong background in clinical practice, leadership, and operational management. She has worked both in the independent sector and within the NHS, where she currently serves as a Senior Nurse. Her career spans local, national, and international healthcare settings, giving her a broad perspective on system-wide collaboration and strategic delivery of care.

As an internationally educated nurse, Bernice has experience working with healthcare policies in both developed and developing countries. Her leadership includes mentoring through the NHS Inclusion Pilot programme and serving as a Principal Nursing Officer in Nigeria. These roles have equipped her with deep insights into governance, workforce development, and equitable service delivery.

Passionate about inclusive and high-quality healthcare, Bernice is committed to ensuring equitable services for all, regardless of ethnicity or location. A long-term Birmingham resident, she is honoured to contribute to shaping services that reflect the needs of local communities, working closely with fellow governors and the BCHC Board to support the Trust’s vision of delivering the best care for all.

Jacqueline Robinson

Jacqueline Robinson, known as Jac, has been elected unopposed to represent the South Birmingham Constituency.

As a disabled woman, Jac brings a wealth of lived experience, both as a patient and a passionate advocate within the community. She has been actively involved in advocacy across health, housing, and social services, alongside a diverse career that includes roles as a Business Management lecturer and a Holiday Representative responsible for a resort catering to 10,000 guests per week.

Jac is a dedicated campaigner for the NHS through her memberships with Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC), Keep Our NHS Public (KONP), and Unite Community. She has played an active role in NHS campaigns across the UK and has served as a trustee for Accessible Transport Ltd (Ring & Ride). She is a vocal advocate for social justice and has spoken out publicly on critical issues, including inequities in healthcare, domestic violence, Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders, and the Assisted Dying Bill.

Having personally experienced the challenges of the pandemic — spending time between hospitals and care homes — Jac has firsthand insight into both the successes and shortcomings of healthcare services. She is deeply aware of the importance of physical and mental well-being and applies her knowledge of remedial therapy and meditation to support others.

Her educational background spans Human Rights Law, Business Management, Teaching, and Holistic Therapies. She is a lifelong learner with a keen interest in diverse social issues and has actively challenged Birmingham City Council on budget cuts and rights-related matters.

Jac is known affectionately as the "Wheelie Warrior", a testament to her relentless advocacy and dedication to making a difference.

Naeem Qureshi

Naeem’s ambition is to be part of a decision-making structure that addresses the health inequalities across Birmingham, empowering communities, breaking barriers, and driving change.

He is passionately committed to tackling inequalities and breaking down barriers that prevent people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, from accessing the support and opportunities they deserve.

With 30 years of experience as a community representative, Naeem has worked tirelessly to amplify voices of ordinary people, ensuring they are heard and valued. His lived experiences give him insight into systemic challenges and the structural changes needed for real transformation.

Since July 2023, Naeem has been a proud member of Community Connexions, supporting measures to address health inequalities across inner city Birmingham, working with stakeholders including academics, Third Sector organisations, and businesses to drive innovative, community-led solutions.

Naeem is committed to acting as a critical friend to BCHC and strengthening patient/provider relationships. He aims to support BCHC in becoming a leading force for change, enhancing public and patient engagement and creating an inclusive healthcare environment where patients, staff, and stakeholders feel valued, empowered, and inspired.

Azra Rasool

Azra has worked in inner city communities in Birmingham for over 30 years and has a good understanding of the health and wellbeing needs of these communities. She lives in Small Heath and has first-hand insight of the struggles the inner city residents face when accessing health care. By profession, she is an adult learning tutor, with over 25 years of experience. 

In 2020, Azra started her own community interest company - Refugee Alliance Integration -  working predominantly with refugee families from Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine to provide education, training and wellbeing activities to support the integration process. Through her work, she has a good understanding of the disadvantaged communities in Birmingham and how health issues impact their day to day lives and challenge their efforts to strive for better opportunities.  Azra believes she can provide realistic insight and be the voice of the communities she serves, providing feedback to BCHC. Her organisation has worked in partnership with BCHC for two years and believe that by reaching out, educating and informing individuals of the services and opportunities that are available to them, overall wellbeing will be enhanced.

Degigha Walcott

Degigha is a lifelong resident of Great Barr. Appointed Governor for Birmingham Central and West, her passion lies in community healthcare, welfare, and wellbeing. Additionally, as the founder of a small not-for-profit organisation dedicated to promoting good health and raising awareness about mental wellness, she has been actively involved in various initiatives. 

Over the years, Degigha has collaborated with Birmingham City Council's Holiday And Food Fund (HAF), community libraries, and diverse community groups across our constituency, as well as in the wider Birmingham and the West Midlands region. Her focus areas include mental health, diversity, and inclusion, all of which are integral to building stronger, healthier communities. She is deeply committed to being a voice for the people and believes that contributing to community research presents a rewarding opportunity to make a positive impact on our collective future. Degigha is enthusiastic about the prospect of getting involved and working collaboratively to help shape the direction of community healthcare, welfare, and research.

Aqil Zada

Having been part of an NHS trust in this community for over 15 years, Aqil has seen first-hand the immense challenges our NHS faces. Lengthy waiting times for appointments and procedures have, regrettably, become the norm, often leading to unnecessary stress and poorer health outcomes. 

Aqil is committed to strengthening our NHS and, combined with his leadership experience, believes he is well-suited to serve as an NHS governor. Aqil aims to work in partnership with patients, hospital administrators, and healthcare professionals to develop practical, people focused solutions.  

Aqil believes meaningful improvements can be achieved to NHS service delivery through innovative thinking and dedicated governance. Azil is committed to driving real, measurable change in his governor role, helping to develop sustainable strategies to address long waiting times and missed appointments and ensuring that high-quality, timely healthcare remains accessible to all.

Kamaljit Padam

Kamaljit Padam has been elected unopposed to represent the West Midlands Constituency.

A lifelong resident of Birmingham, Kamaljit has dedicated her career to the health and social care sector. Now, she is eager to give back to the community that has given her so much.

Having come out of retirement to continue her work with children — a cause she is deeply passionate about — Kamaljit understands the daily challenges faced by individuals and communities, particularly in diverse settings. She believes in the importance of listening to people, especially children, as their voices will shape the future.

Her experience in social care includes auditing work and collaboration with Ofsted to improve outcomes for children and families. She has played a key role in developing training programs for staff and advising on ways to enhance health outcomes for children. She recognises that achieving meaningful change requires timely access to the right resources, strong collaboration with professionals and organisations, and joint decision-making—skills she has honed throughout her career.

Kamaljit’s strengths as a Governor lie in her diverse background, extensive experience, strong communication skills with both adults and children, and her ability to adapt to the evolving needs of the community. She is committed to making a positive impact and ensuring the voices of the people she represents are heard.