Governor spotlight: Steve Dunn
Deputy lead governor Steve Dunn spoke to us about his role
"My motivation for becoming a public governor is rooted in both a sense of civic duty and personal development.
"Originally from Tyneside, I relocated to County Durham in late 1999 and have now spent nearly half my life here.
"I take great pride in living in the North East and am deeply grateful for the exceptional emergency services that serve our community, including the North East Ambulance Service. I am fortunate to have the skills, qualifications, and professional capacity to contribute meaningfully, and I welcome the opportunity to give back by supporting NEAS in the role of Public Governor.
"I have served as a public governor for the Durham area since 2019. I take great pride in representing and serving the Durham community.
"This is my second term serving as a public governor. My initial term began in November 2019, shortly before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time, I have gained insight into both the routine operations and the exceptional challenges faced by the trust.
"As well as serving as a public governor, I have also volunteered as a community first responder for NEAS since 2011.
"Through both roles, I think I get to satisfy two opposing traits, altruism and selfishness. Helping others is great and is my main driver, but my CFR training means I have a better chance of keeping a loved one alive or give them the best chance of a good outcome using my up-to-date training and CFR equipment that I have on hand; the insight and experience I gain in governance enhance my professional capabilities and broaden my understanding of strategic oversight and public service.
"One of the aspects I value most about being a public governor is the opportunity to be part of such an outstanding organisation and to meet its dedicated and inspiring staff. I feel privileged to serve as a link between the Trust, its membership, and the wider community of service users—helping to ensure that voices are heard and represented.
"Alongside my voluntary commitments, I hold a full-time position as Best Practice Director at a nationally operating engineering maintenance company based in the North East. In my role, I am responsible for overseeing the company’s Compliance, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives. I work to ensure our team of 300 employees consistently delivers an exceptional experience for our clients, while also maintaining a strong focus on staff wellbeing and career development. Outside of my professional and voluntary roles, I enjoy spending quality time with my supportive family and my partner, Julie. One of our favourite pastimes is taking long walks with our energetic cockerpoo.”