Our Board

Sue Douthwaite : Chair, NHS Business Services Authority

Sue is a non executive director (NED) of The Melton Building Society, Chair of Nexa Finance Ltd and NED at British Business Investments Ltd. She is also Chair of the International Advisory Board of Queen’s Management School at Queens University, Belfast.

Sue is a Chartered Banker and has enjoyed an extensive career in financial services working in retail, corporate and SME banking. Roles undertaken have included Managing Director of Santander Business in Santander UK and Head of SME Strategy for Virgin Money.

She has been involved in transformational fintech projects and alliance partnerships in the UK and Europe and the successful delivery of new operating models, systems, and culture. She has been actively involved in the diversity agenda for many years.

.

Debra Bailey, Non-Executive Director

Debra currently works as Chief Information Officer for Royal Mail. Debra has held a number of executive leadership roles including Chief Information Officer at Telefonica UK, and Chief Information Officer and Director of Operations and Delivery at Nationwide Building Society. Debra had responsibility for IT Architecture, Run and Change, Security, Product Operations and Operational Resilience. 
 
Debra has worked in a variety of sectors including retail, public and telecommunications. However, the majority of Debra’s career has been in financial services where she held senior roles at Barclays and Woolwich plc.

Karen Seth, Non-Executive Director

Karen currently works full-time at the Canal and River Trust as People Director. Before joining the Canal and River Trust, Karen worked at Co-op and Sainsbury where she held a number of senior leadership roles within HR across both generalist and specialist disciplines.
 
Karen is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Kathryn Gillatt, Non-Executive Board Member

Kathryn is a graduate of Nottingham University and is a Chartered Accountant by profession. Her career includes Finance and Corporate Services Director and Non-Executive Director roles across the public and private sectors.

She brings broad experience of running demand-led services through periods of financial growth and challenge, all areas of corporate services, governance, risk and assurance.

Sectors include frontline NHS and children’s services, customer facing Department for Transport services, community pharmacy services and the leisure industry, chemical manufacturing, and audit and tax.

Mel Tomlin, Non-Executive Director

Mel joins NHSBSA from Royal Mail Group, where she was Chief of Staff and a member of the Group Executive Board. Mel has spent much of her career in the logistics sector, holding a number of senior executive roles with group-wide responsibility for Strategy, HR Centres of Excellence and Customer Experience.

In addition to her work with NHSBSA, Mel is a trustee of a charity and undertakes Board advisory assignments and mergers and acquisition activities in Europe and North America.

Mel holds an MBA, with professional qualifications in accountancy, HR and marketing.

Michael Brodie, Chief Executive Officer

Chief Executive Officer Michael Brodie joined the NHSBSA in September 2019. In his previous role, Michael held the role of Finance and Commercial Director at Public Health England before taking over as CEO when Alistair McDonald retired from the role in the summer of 2019. 

Michael has extensive experience at Board level and across the public service and held the role of Finance Director at the NHSBSA before taking up his post at Public Health England in April 2013.

Allison Newell, Executive Director of Strategy, Business Development and Growth

Allison is the Executive Director of Strategy, Performance, Business Development and Growth and an Executive Board member. Allison is a key member of the Leadership Team with collective Executive accountability for delivery of the NHSBSA Strategy. Allison is responsible for directing and developing the strategy, business development and growth of the NHSBSA and is ultimately accountable for leading the business development and growth agenda, developing relationships with partner organisations to create new business opportunities and increased value to the wider health system. Allison is also the NHSBSA Caldicott Guardian - the senior person responsible for protecting the confidentiality of people's health and care information and making sure it is used properly and is a member of the National Caldicott Guardian Council.

Allison has worked at Board and Director level in UK and international public and private sectors of health and social care, including payer, provider and indemnity organisations as well as in financial services. She has a wealth of experience in strategic planning, development, establishing joint ventures and launching new products and services in the UK and globally. Her experience also includes leading on the design and implementation of a new health and social care insurance system for an international government.

Allison has an MBA, Advanced Diploma in Managed Care, and is a Registered General Nurse (RGN).

Andy McKinlay, Executive Director of Finance and Commercial Services

Andy leads the NHSBSA's financial, corporate and property services and is responsible for the organisation's financial strategy. He joined the NHSBSA from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and has been involved in the NHSBSA’s finances from the Department’s point of view over recent years. He has a wealth of experience in the workings of government, public sector finance and commercial services and has been involved in Pharmacy, the NHS Electronic Staff Record and sat on the Board of DHSC companies.

Mark Dibble, Executive Director of People and Corporate Services

Mark was appointed to the Board in September 2017. Within his role, Mark is responsible for People, Communications and Marketing, Governance, Risk and Assurance, Safety, Health and Environment, and Information Governance and Security.

Mark has over 25 years of experience across health in both the private and public sector, working in NHS provider and commissioner organisations.

Brendan Brown, Chief Operating Officer

Brendan joined the Board in September 2022 with extensive health sector leadership experience, as well as experience from the commercial sector and Local Government.

He is responsible for all operational services delivered by the NHSBSA with a passion for engaging and supporting teams, great customer service, delivering exceptional performance, driving efficiencies, and reducing costs. He believes in the power of the team over the individual and works proactively to uplift capabilities in teams and he encourages organisation-wide collaboration.

Brendan combines his broad operational knowledge with strategic planning to provide senior leadership and strategic oversight to the development and delivery of the objectives of the NHSBSA.

Darren Curry, Chief Digital, Data and Technology Officer

Darren leads the NHSBSA’s Data, Digital and Technology directorate responsible for identifying, designing, delivering, and managing all Data, Digital and Technology services across the organisation. He is responsible for ensuring that services are delivered in a way which ensures they are accessible for all users and that they provide people with the outcome they need.  

Darren joined the organisation in 2001 working as a Data Entry Processor and has worked in many areas and roles across the NHSBSA building up a vast knowledge of the organisation and how our services operate as well as having experience in GP practice management.  

Darren combines his broad Data, Digital and Technology knowledge with strategic planning to provide senior leadership and strategic oversight to the development and delivery of the objectives of the NHSBSA. 

Supporting the Board

The Board is supported by David Jukes, the NHSBSA's Head of Governance and Corporate Secretary.