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Cara Charles-Barks
Group Chief Executive Officer
Cara was appointed as BSW Hospitals Group Chief Executive Officer in November 2024. Prior to this she was Chief Executive Officer of RUH Bath from September 2020, and SFT from January 2017 to September 2020.
A nurse by background, Cara has over 30 years' experience in senior leadership roles gained in private and public healthcare sectors, and has been named as one of the NHS's top 50 Chief Executives six times.
In June 2019, Cara was awarded an MBE for inspirational and outstanding leadership, in recognition of her leadership of SFT during the Novichok incident. She was also appointed Honorary Colonel of 243 Multi-Role Medical Regiment (MMR), part of the Army Reserve Medical Services, in the same year.
Cara has a proven track record in delivering complex, organisational change. Her drive and commitment to collaborative working and creating a culture where people feel included, innovation thrives and the people that work in our hospitals and the people we care for have an exceptional experience.
Declared interests:
- Group CEO for Royal United Hospitals, Great Western Hospitals and Salisbury Foundation Trust.
- Honorary Colonel of 243 Multi-Role Medical Regiment (MMR), part of the Army Reserve Medical Services
- Director of Chatham Row Management Company Ltd.
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John Palmer
Managing Director
John was appointed as Managing Director 1st September 2025. He has 30yrs' experience in public services, including Executive roles in Local Government, Senior Civil Services and the NHS.
Prior to joining the RUH, John was Chief Operating Officer at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust between 2021 – 2025 and led the development and delivery of a major reset and recovery programme to reduce elective and cancer waiting lists and restore urgent flow.
John has also held roles as Deputy Group Chief Executive and Site Chief Executive at King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. For ten years before that, he was Chief Operating Officer in the Welsh Valleys at Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.
John is a Salzburg Global Fellow, a LEAP Digital Fellow and an alumni of Sciana, the European Healthcare Leaders network.
Declared interests:
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Simon Wade
Group Chief Finance Officer
Simon has over 6 years' experience as a Board Director and was appointed Group Chief Finance Officer in November 2026.
He has significant leadership experience gained in senior finance roles across the NHS, prior to his appointment he was Chief Financial Officer at Great Western Hospitals from 2020, and Deputy Director of Finance at the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust from 2015.
Simon is also the Executive lead for Estates, Facilities and Strategic Redevelopment and is focused on using resources wisely to support high-quality care and long-term sustainability. He is a Member of Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
Declared interests:
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Jonathan Hinchliffe
Group Chief Digital and Information Officer
Jonathan took up this role in April 2025. He has led significant national digital transformation and national services and programmes within NHS Digital/England, Ministry of Defence, Home Office and across central government organisations.
Jonathan previously worked at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and has extensive experience in digital strategy and innovation, including digital services delivery, EPR implementation, new hospital programme and digital strategy for the future of healthcare delivery.
Declared interests:
- Delivery Director at St Vincents Consultancy.
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Jude Gray
Group Chief People Officer
Jude is a seasoned HR executive with over 20 years of leadership experience across the BBC, His Majesty's Prison & Probation Service, and the NHS.
From reshaping the BBC's operating model for the digital age, to implementing the government's Transforming Rehabilitation programme, and now supporting the delivery of the NHS's 10 year plan, Jude's experience has been about leading people-centred, future-focused transformation, and navigating large-scale change.
Jude's leadership is focused on building a compassionate, inclusive, and high-performing workforce that delivers excellent care.
Declared interests:
- Trustee, ICP Support
- Trustee, Gympanzees
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Mark Ellis
Group Chief Risk Officer
Mark has over 20yrs leadership experience across finance, governance, and risk. He holds a Master's Degree in Engineering Science from the university of Oxford and is a Chartered Management Accountant.
He was appointed Chief Risk Officer in January 2026, and prior to this was Chief Finance Officer at SFT for three years. Mark champions culture and capability and has mentored emerging leaders in continuous improvement to help bring risk and performance capability across clinical and corporate teams.
Mark is passionate about enabling colleagues to turn insight into action for our population and workforce.
Declared interests:
- Director Posts at Salisbury Trading Ltd (wholly owned laundry subsidiary of SFT) and Sterile Service Ltd (joint venture between SFT and Steris)
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Andrew Hollowood
Group Chief Clinical Transformation Officer
Andy was appointed into the role of Group Chief Clinical Transformation Officer in Sept 2025. He is a Cancer surgeon with extensive clinical expertise and leadership experience gained over 20 years.
He was appointed as Group Chief Clinical Transformation Officer in October 2025. Prior to this Andy was Interim Managing Director for the RUH from 1 November 2024 and Chief Medical Officer for the RUH from November 2022.
Andy is passionate about patient-led service transformation and innovation.
He has extensive experience in leading complex change, he was Clinical Strategy lead at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston, and site Chief Medical Officer for Weston General Hospital where he led a significant program to transform services to ensure they were sustainable and based on population need.
Declared interests:
- Married to a GP
- Daughter is a Resident Doctor
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Judy Dyos
Group Chief Strategy Officer
Biography coming soon
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Dr Kheelna Bavalia
Interim Chief Medical Officer
Kheelna joined the Trust in February 2025 on a secondment from NHS England South West. She qualified as a doctor from King's College London in 1997 and completed her GP in London in 2001.
She has a Master's level degree and is a Health Foundation Generation Q Fellow. Clinically, she has held various general practitioner roles across South London, the longest as a GP Principle serving a diverse and largely deprived population in inner city London.
She is a keen educator and learner, committed to professional development and continuous improvement. She worked as Deputy Post-Graduate Dean and Deputy Medical Director in the London region before taking up the role of Medical Director for System Improvement and Professional Standards, and Responsible Officer for NHS England South West in 2021.
She is interested in healthcare systems and strive to improve health services in ways that make sense for patients and service users. She is committed to better working across organisational boundaries, serving the needs of the population, and maintaining a strong focus on quality improvement and equity.
k.bavalia@nhs.net
Declared interests:
- Trustee of Shooting Star Children's Hospice since February 2023
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Bernie Bluhm
Chief Operating Officer
Bernie joined the Trust in April 2025 as Director of Urgent Care Recovery before taking up the role of Acting Chief Operating Officer in July 2025
She has worked in the NHS for many years and started her career at the RUH, where she specialised in emergency care nursing, spending 12 years in the Emergency Department as a senior nurse. Since leaving in 2004, she has held a number of Executive Chief Operating Officer roles and has worked with NHS England's national team as Director for Planned Care Recovery.
Prior to coming back to the RUH in April 2025, her most recent role was as Director of Transformation for Planned Care at Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.
Declared interests:
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Toni Lynch
Chief Nursing Officer
Hello, my name is Toni and I am the Chief Nursing Officer here at the RUH. I joined the Trust in April 2021 from Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, where I was Deputy Chief Nurse and acting Chief Nurse providing leadership to 7000 nurses and midwives through the first two waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I have also previously held senior roles both in clinical and operational management. I hold a Masters' degree in Advanced Nursing Practice and have completed the Nye Bevan Executive Leadership programme.
antonia.lynch4@nhs.net
Declared interests:
- Spouse is a Matron at Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
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