A new non-executive director has been appointed to join the Board of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust.
Chris Balch, who lives in Totnes, joined the Trust in April 2019 for a three-year term.
Chris is an Emeritus Professor of Planning at Plymouth University and is a Chartered Town Planner and Surveyor.
Prior to his academic career, he held senior executive positions with an international property advisory company, latterly as Managing Director of DTZ UK & Ireland, now part of Cushman & Wakefield.
He has extensive experience of providing consultancy advice to public and private sector clients across the UK and overseas specialising in the planning and delivery of major regeneration projects and programmes.
He was Chair of Basildon Renaissance Partnership, a member of the Council of Essex University, a Director of Torbay Development Agency and was Non-executive Chairman of Hilson Moran, a consultancy specialising in the energy performance of complex buildings. He is currently a member of the Supervisory Board of Ecorys BV, a European policy and research consultancy and is a Trustee of South West Lakes Trust.
Welcoming Chris to the Board, Sir Richard Ibbotson, Chairman of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Our non-executive directors play a vital role in running local health services in Torbay and South Devon and Chris’ appointment will help drive further strategic progress across the Trust.
“I am delighted to welcome Chris to the Trust – he has a fantastic breadth of experience which will complement our Board and provide another strong voice to our organisation. I am certain that the Board, and ultimately our patients, will benefit immensely from his expertise.”
Speaking following his formal appointment, Chris said:
“My interest lies in managing positive change within professional organisations and communities so I am delighted to be supporting the Trust in this role where I can assist in the continuation of developing services to meet the needs of local people now and in to the future.”
The role of non-executive directors includes contributing to the overall strategy of the Trust, scrutinising performance and making sure that financial controls, governance and assurance systems across the organisation are robust and transparent. They also work in partnership with the Trust’s governors who represent both staff and public members in local communities.
The appointment has come following the completion of Jacqui Marshall’s three-year term as non-executive director, in April 2019.
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