Ambulance Service appoints new Chair

North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Professor Stuart Corbridge as its new Chair.

Throughout his career, Stuart has held several senior leadership positions including Vice Chancellor and Warden at Durham University; Provost and Deputy Director at London School of Economics and Political Science; and been a Board member of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, BALTIC Trust, Stray Aid, Board member and director of The Russell Group and Honorary President of Durham Women's Football Club.

He is currently a Governor and Senior Independent Advisor at Derwentside College, Honorary President of the North East Prison Aftercare Society, and a member of the international advisory board for Chandigarh University in India.

Stuart said: “It is a great privilege to be appointed to Chair the North East Ambulance Service. This service delivers a vital part of the urgent and emergency care provided by the NHS and the public depends and relies on this, especially during vulnerable and worrying times in their lives. I am looking forward to joining a talented workforce; not just those on the frontline, but everyone who helps make this organisation tick.”

Chief Executive Helen Ray added: “We’re looking forward to welcoming Stuart to NEAS and supporting us to move our service to the next stage. He brings a strong track record of leadership combined with a passionate commitment to the North East region.

“Stuart’s wealth of experience will support our Board in helping to shape and deliver our next five-year strategy and future thinking. I am delighted with his appointment and very much look forward to working with him.”

Helen also paid tribute to departing chair Peter Strachan, who has steered the Board over the last six years through the pandemic and some of the Trust’s most challenging times of recent years. Peter will chair his last Board meeting on 21 November.

Stuart starts in his new role as Chair at NEAS on 22 November.