Helen Thomson DL

Non Executive Director

Helen was appointed as a Non Executive Director in May 2019. She is Vice Chair of the Trust, Chair of the Quality Committee and a member of the Business Committee.  Helen is also the Trust’s Senior Independent Director which includes duties such as providing support to the Chair, co-ordinating the Chair appraisal process, intervening to resolve issues of concern on the Board, and taking part in the succession planning process
for the Chair role where a reappointment or new appointment is necessary.

Helen holds an MA in Leading Innovation and Change from York University and a first degree in management from Leeds University. She is a Registered Nurse and Midwife and a Registered Midwife Teacher as well as a qualified coach.

After beginning her nursing career in Leeds she has held clinical, management and education posts across West Yorkshire. She held a number of NHS Board posts since 1993 as Director of Operations, Chief Nurse and CEO until her retirement in 2014.

She is a former Council member of the University of Huddersfield where she Chaired the Audit Committee and a former member of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Helen is now an independent healthcare consultant and a Trustee of the charity Sue Ryder where she chairs the Health and Social Care Sub-committee.

She was appointed Deputy Lieutenant for West Yorkshire in 2012 and Vice Lord Lieutenant in 2022.