Our Member CEOs

Dr Waqar Azmi OBE

Chief Executive Badger

Waqar was appointed as Badger’s Chief Executive in 2022, and aims to build on the consistent and reputable services Badger has offered since its creation in 1996 as a renowned GP Out-of-Hours provider. As Chief Executive, Waqar has overall responsibility for the leadership and management of Badger Health Group. Additionally, he is the CQC Registered Manager and the Senior Information Risk Owner (SIRO) Lead. Waqar has a comprehensive national profile, serving previously as Managing Director of TMP Worldwide, listed in NASDAQ with a turnover of $1.4 billion and was also Chairman and Managing Partner of Waterhouse Consulting Group. He was the UK Government's Chief Talent & Diversity Advisor in the Cabinet Office and EU Ambassador for Intercultural Dialogue, as well as a former Member of the Foreign Office Advisory Group. In 2001, Waqar received an OBE in recognition of his contributions to the UK.

Jonathan Pearce

Chief Executive BrisDoc Healthcare Services

Jonathan is an experienced leader, manager and problem-solver in the health and social care sector, with early-career experience in journalism, publishing and law, plus an interest and qualification in data science. He focuses on strategic development, organisational growth and modernisation, particularly for groups and communities facing significant health or care challenges. Jonathan is passionate about using data to improve decisions, unlock insight and create competitive advantage, grounded in first-hand experience that executive decision-making is only as strong as the underlying metrics and evidence. He has worked nationally and internationally, in both large and small organisations, leading projects and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams. Known as a change-maker, he drives evidence-based improvement, transformation and sustainable growth. Jonathan is interested in working with organisations that have complex problems to solve, where uncovering and communicating the “story” in their data will be part of the solution.

Ross Brand

Chief Executive Cumbria Health

Ross Brand brings over 25 years’ leadership across NHS, social enterprise and independent healthcare. A HCPC-registered paramedic, Ross combines frontline credibility with executive experience spanning ambulance services, emergency departments, urgent treatment centres, NHS 111 and integrated urgent care. He spent the past decade leading Partnering Health Limited, delivering significant growth, service integration and quality improvement across complex, 24/7 NHS-commissioned services. Known for calm, values-driven leadership in high-pressure environments, Ross builds trusted relationships with commissioners and regulators while translating strategy into measurable outcomes. His expertise lies in urgent and emergency care systems, organisational turnaround and sustainable scale-up, underpinned by a deep commitment to improving patient experience, clinical quality and workforce culture.

Ann Convery

Chief Executive Dalriada Urgent Care

Ann joined the staff at Dalriada in August 1996. Prior to this, she worked in the health sector since leaving university. Ann is part of the management team and her role in Dalriada involves overseeing the running of a large organisation with 500+ P/t time covering the Northern area. Ann’s ongoing aim is to develop and improve Dalriada and is keen to be involved in future projects and Regional work.

Stephen Bateman

Chief Executive DHU Health Care

Stephen joined DHU as Chief Operating Officer on 6th January 2014, he was promoted to Chief Executive Officer in July 2014. Stephen has had a successful career in healthcare where he has previously worked for Allied Healthcare Group and Saga Healthcare. He has a wealth of operational, finance, customer service, project management, and commercial experience in the UK and abroad. Stephen is a Chartered Accountant (CPFA) and Member of Association of Accounting Technicians (MAAT). Stephen resides in Nottingham and is married with 3 children. He is interested in football, cricket, golf, gardening, travel and DIY.

Matt Widdows

Acting Chief Executive EBPC

Matt joined EBPC in October 2022 as Head of Operations and Data Protection Officer with responsibility for all aspects of EBPC operations. Matt has spent the last 20 years in the ambulance service operating in both 999 emergency operations and 111 transformation and development regionally and nationally. Matt is passionate about high performing operational delivery to support patients, their families and our people. Matt has extensive experience in using technical innovation to collaborate with other providers and mentor to develop individuals and teams to succeed.

Lee McGlynn

Chief Executive FCMS

Lee is a people-focused CEO who brings energy, empathy, and authenticity to everything he does. Lee has a broad range of healthcare experience gained in Community and Hospital Pharmacy, Primary Care Commissioning and Modernisation at a PCG (and then a PCT), leaving the NHS in 2004, he was a founding member of a Community Diagnostics start-up. That start-up, merged with FCMS in 2007, where Lee has remained ever since, fulfilling roles such as Service Development Manager, Director of Business Development, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Futurist and now Chief Executive Officer. Known for building strong, genuine relationships, Lee takes pride in understanding the needs of those around him - whether colleagues, commissioners, patients or partners - and creating an environment where everyone feels valued and supported. He is passionate about helping others grow, celebrating successes, and making a positive impact both professionally and personally.

Tim Summerley

Chief Executive FedBucks

Tim joined FedBucks in November 2024 as Chief Operating Officer and became Chief Executive a year later. He is a highly experienced COO and Finance Director with more than 25 years of board-level leadership, specialising in operational efficiency, financial management and strategic growth across sectors including property and financial services. Tim’s strengths include driving performance through change management, strategic planning and building high-performing teams. He has a proven track record of restructuring operations, implementing scalable systems and aligning financial and operational strategies to deliver sustainable profitability. He also leads large-scale transformation programmes, including integrations, operational restructures and digital initiatives such as implementing company-wide CRM systems and integrating acquisitions into unified operating models. Tim’s leadership focuses on developing talent, fostering accountability and creating structures that help businesses scale, improve customer experience and deliver long-term success. He is passionate about delivering the best patient experience for Buckinghamshire across Urgent and Primary Care.

Dr Andrew Catto

Chief Executive IC24

Andrew joined IC24 in 2017 as Chief Medical Officer and was promoted to Chief Executive in 2020. Andrew’s background is a Geriatrician and General Physician, and he has a wealth of experience in multiple, senior medical leadership roles across primary and secondary care. Following his academic career with the Medical Research Council, Andrew moved back into clinical practice joining Airedale Hospital as a Consultant in Stroke and Elderly Care, delivering care in a community setting before progressing to Medical Director at the Trust. In 2009, Andrew was appointed as Medical Director at Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (HEFT), moving into an Interim Chief Executive role before being appointed as Deputy CEO. In March 2015, Andrew became an Associate Director at NHS England, gaining experience of developing new models of care and system transformation, such as the four West Midlands Service Transformation Plans. Andrew’s leadership style is ‘leading from the front’ and he strongly believes in empowering others and is extremely supportive of employee development.

Helen Carr

Chief Executive Local Care Direct

Helen leads the executive team to develop strategic plans in association with other partners and to ensure these are delivered and, as an integral member of the Board, reviews performance and oversees effective governance of the company. A key priority is to champion patient services and standards, as well as influencing and supporting national, regional and local healthcare policy and decision-making. Helen is also a financial specialist in Internal Control Environments and Procedures and has experience in internal audit, negotiation, organisational set up, acquisitions, quality assurance. Helen has worked with audit, legal and banking professionals at PLCs, private companies, social enterprises and charitable organisations.

Tessa Harvey

Chief Executive LCW

Michaela Buck

Chief Executive Mastercall

Experienced leader with more than 25 years experience in urgent ‘out of hospital’ healthcare; passionate about providing high quality, safe patient centred services and being a caring and nurturing employer. Specialising in the development and delivery of innovative services, embracing the use of digital technology, with a specific focus on hospital admission avoidance and early supported discharge to improve patient outcomes, reduce inequalities and maximise return on investment for the benefit of the NHS. Michaela is also a director of the Greater Manchester Urgent Primary Care Alliance (in partnership with Bardoc and gtd Healthcare) and has been instrumental in the collaborative partnership approach to developing the Greater Manchester Clinical Assessment Service (CAS) and dental helpline.

Lucy Dadge

Chief Executive NEMS

Lucy became NEMS Chief Executive in October 2024. She has held senior civil service roles and NHS Executive Director posts in acute and mental health/community provider Foundation Trusts. For five years she was the Nottinghamshire CCGs lead executive, responsible for commissioning all health and care services. Most recently, Lucy served as Director of Integration and Accountable Emergency Officer for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB. She is also an experienced Non-Executive Director, having sat on Boards across social housing and primary and further education, and she has chaired a GP Federation joint venture with an NHS Foundation Trust. Closely aligned with NEMS’ core values, Lucy is passionate about eradicating health inequalities and tailoring services for people most at risk of exclusion and discrimination. She is delighted to join NEMS and work with UHUK members to support essential reform of out-of-hospital health and care services. Lucy is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS) and a Member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb).

Dr Caroline O'Keeffe

Chief Executive NHUC

Caroline is a GP by background and is the HIOW ICB Clinical Lead for Virtual Wards as well as being NHUC's Chief Executive. Working with colleagues across the ICB she has been instrumental in building and developing the vision for Virtual Wards across HIOW, and encouraging innovative thinking.

Steve Rubery

Chief Executive PELC

Steve has over 35 years’ experience of working in the NHS, beginning his career as a pharmacist and working up to being a Trust Chief Pharmacist before moving into senior management. Steve joined PELC as CEO in May 2022 from North East London CCG (NEL) where he was Director of Planning and Performance. Prior to this he was Director of Commissioning and Performance and Deputy Chief Executive of Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge CCGs (BHR). Steve has a wealth of experience in the Urgent and Emergency Care arena having been the commissioning lead for UEC while at NEL and BHR and having managed ED Services at both Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust and Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust. Steve lives in Ilford and is married with two grown up children and two dogs.

Dave Horsfield

Chief Executive Primary Care 24

Dave Horsfield is the CEO at Primary Care 24, a not-for-profit social enterprise. Primary Care 24 provides a range of Urgent and Primary Care services, including out-of-hours GP services, GP practices in Liverpool and Sefton, and Community Services, covering 1.6 million residents across Merseyside and Cheshire. After 20+ years working in trading standards, workplace wellbeing, programmes, commissioning, and transformation for various local authorities and NHS Trusts across the North West, Dave joined Primary Care 24 as Chief Executive Officer in 2022. With a deep understanding of the digital transformation needed to improve patient care across all healthcare services, Dave champions the role Primary Care plays in the NHS. Working exclusively with NHS contracts, Dave’s goal is for Primary Care 24 to help improve patient care across Merseyside, Cheshire, and beyond.

Steven Pink

Chief Executive SELDOC

Since joining SELDOC in 2017, Steven has delivered his new strategy successfully, substantially improving performance clinically, operationally and commercially. Throughout the Pandemic Steven has led the team to deliver new and improved services while supporting SELDOC staff and colleagues at a challenging time. Steven’s ‘patient first’ values permeate the organisation which has built a strong reputation with local GP Surgeries, NHS Commissioners and partner organisations. SELDOC is known for its service quality, ability to mobilise quickly and dedication to patient care.

Dr Dawood Anwar

Chief Executive SPCT

Dawood is a clinician by background, holding membership with the Royal College of General Practitioners as well as the Royal of College of Surgeons. He has been working with Salford Primary Care Together since September 2018. He is a proven healthcare leader and possesses strong communication skills, empathy, adaptability and ability to inspire and motivate others. He has proven himself to be a strategic thinker and has a commitment to growth and development for himself and others around him. He is currently undertaking an MBA in healthcare leadership. Dawood has recently led on significant development and transformation within SPCT to ensure it remains a strong and sustainable organisation. He has developed a keen interest in primary urgent care service provision, especially the integration of services to simplify the patient journey. Other than urgent care, Dawood’s clinical interests include MSK medicine in both primary and secondary care settings.

David Pannell

Chief Executive Suffolk GP Federation

David is the Chief Executive of Suffolk GP Federation which he helped form in 2012. The Federation is one of the leading GP owned organisations enabling primary care to work at scale. The Federation runs a series of innovative services including most of the diabetes in North East Essex, ultrasound, Lymphoedema, community cardiology and pain. David has worked with a variety of primary care organisations in Suffolk since 2007. Prior to working in health he spent fifteen years as a management consultant with Price Waterhouse and as Director of Research at Durlacher, an investment bank in the City of London. He has a BA Economics from Manchester University, MA in Political Sociology from Leeds and an MBA from Strathclyde Graduate Business School.

Dee Ward

General Manager Western Urgent Care

Details to follow

Richard Bowen

National Programme Director NHS 111 Wales

Richard has over 25 years NHS experience having originally joined as a National Management Trainee (1992). He spent the early part of his career in various operational roles within acute hospital and primary care organisations in NHS England and Northern Ireland. Since 2007, Richard has held a number of senior roles within NHS Wales, initially as the Director for the Delivery and Support Unit and then promoted to the Director of Operations, NHS Wales based in Welsh Government. Latterly, Richard was the Executive Director of Planning for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and since January 2015, was appointed as the National Programme Director for 111 /out-of-hours service. This service will ensure that all Welsh patients who have an urgent need for health advice and support will be able to do so via a free telephone line and /web based support and also access out-of-hospital services.

Liam Quinn

Chief Executive Northdoc Medical Services

Liam Quinn is Chief Executive of northdoc Medical Services. Involved from the very start, his initial contract was to set up the company on behalf of the local North Dublin GP population. He was subsequently appointed Chief executive. He is passionate about service delivery that is underpinned by the best governance at all levels and by seeking innovative ways of improving primary care in out of hours. He believes that standing still is not an option and that we must continue to assess our performance by seeking the input of GPs and patients, and all the staff involved in the organisation. Since joining Northdoc he has invited MPS audits, the introduction of Clinical audit, and web-based support for GPs in out of hours, and linking Northdoc in with UHUK. His background in not for profit includes the setup of housing and drug addiction services to the homeless in Dublin with The Peter McVerry Trust and in fundraising.