Meet the team

Find out more about our Executive Team.

 

Chief Executive - Geoff Brown

As Chief Executive of Healthwatch Hertfordshire since it began in 2013, Geoff has shaped and developed a successful organisation with a strong reputation. His work as a consultant advising Councils and the NHS, following a career in local government, gives him the strategic insight and vision to lead on a challenging agenda in health and social care. His career experience is significant and includes corporate leadership roles in areas such as performance, policy, equalities communications and community engagement.

Geoff chairs the East of England Healthwatch Network and represents the Healthwatch Network on the East of England Applied Research Collaborations Board. 

Geoff.Brown@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk

Miriam Blom-Smith - Research Officer

Miriam joined Healthwatch Hertfordshire in 2022, after completing her degree in Sociology. She works as part of the Research and Engagement team, supporting and leading in a wide range of projects. With a background of working in Community Pharmacy, Miriam has always had a keen interest in health and social care and is committed to making a positive difference to the care that Hertfordshire communities receive.

Miriam.Blom-Smith@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk

Image of Jane Brown smiling to camera

Jane Brown - Quality Manager

Jane acts as the lead on quality and improvement in health and social care services across Hertfordshire and has over 10 years of experience working in this sector and prior to that 15 years in adult training and development. She manages our Enter and View programme and related quality monitoring activities.

Jane.Brown@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk

Sam Foster - Research Officer

Sam completed his BA in Sociology at the University of Exeter with a focus on the medical industry. After working as a copywriter at an advertising agency, he joined Healthwatch Hertfordshire in 2023. His aim is to make a difference to the lives of people in Hertfordshire by improving the quality of care they receive.

Sam.Foster@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk

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Chloe Gunstone (née Carson) - Senior Research Manager

After completing her degree in Social and Political Sciences, Chloe joined Healthwatch Hertfordshire in 2019. Chloe leads on our Research and Engagement programme, developing, designing and delivering high quality research and engagement projects with the aim of improving health and social care services in Hertfordshire. She is passionate about influencing change, and improving the care patients receive. 

Chloe.Gunstone@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk 

Fiona Corcoran - Deputy Chief Executive

Fiona is committed to ensuring the public voice is heard, holding decision makers to account and working collaboratively to improve the experiences of citizens. This commitment carries through from over 10 years of experience in Local Government democracy, scrutiny and governance at county and district councils and the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny. Prior to that, Fiona worked in Further Education as an ESOL Lecturer. Her most recent role, prior to joining Healthwatch Hertfordshire was Head of Scrutiny for Hertfordshire County Council, which included leading on county-wide Health Scrutiny. Fiona is also a parent carer, providing her with a depth of understanding of navigating health and social care systems and services, from her own lived experience.

Fiona.Corcoran@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk

Michelle Edgar - Communications Officer

Michelle has a background in journalism and public relations, and has written for newspapers, magazines and helped publicise Government departments, travel firms and a water company. She has also reviewed work for the National Institute for Health Research. Michelle’s role is to promote our work to the public and provide communications support to the team.

Michelle.Edgar@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk

Image of Nuray Ercan smiling to camera

Nuray Ercan - Deputy Chief Executive - Governance & Operations

Nuray has a degree in Early Childhood Studies and English. She has worked for Homestart in Kent and at a large medical centre in London, both of which gave her insight and experience into the importance of excellent communication and customer care. 

As Deputy Chief Executive - Governance & Operations, Nuray's main roles are to work closely with Board to ensure compliance by the organisation, with its regulatory, statutory and legal obligations. She is also responsible for planning and managing the organisation's operational duties such as staffing and resourcing. Nuray is also Healthwatch Hertfordshire's Company Secretary.

Nuray.Ercan@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk

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Susan Lee - Administrator

Susan has a great deal of administration experience from a number of years working within the Homewares industry. She was however very happy to try something different and take the opportunity to work for an organisation involved in health and social care when it arose.

Susan manages, reviews and disseminates emails within our Info@ email account. She also manages the process for monthly team meetings, and maintains the organisation’s subscriber database. As a member of the signposting team, Susan hears patient experiences and ensures these are recorded on the database so that the information can be used for reporting purposes.

Susan.Lee@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk

Alice Lovell - Office Manager

After completing her degree at Bangor University, Alice started working at Healthwatch Hertfordshire in spring 2016. Since then, she has turned her hand to most things in the organisation including project work, team support, general administration and website administration. She is also a key member of the signposting team and has a real passion for ensuring the patient experience gets heard.

Alice.Lovell@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk

Asha McDonagh - Research Officer

Asha has a BA in Sociology and a MA in Social Research Methods. She first became interested in health research through her master’s dissertation which focused on the experiences of women with breast cancer post-mastectomy. Asha acts as a Research Officer, working on a range of projects that engage service users and is passionate about improving the health and social care of people from all different walks of life.

Asha.McDonagh@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk

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Natalie Stone - Finance & Resources Manager

Natalie’s role as the Finance & Resources Manager involves managing payroll and all financial transactions. She runs management accounts on a monthly basis for the Executive Team and Board to enable effective budget management, which leads to the preparation of the end of year accounts. She also manages the organisation's insurance policies and supports with Health and Safety compliance. Natalie is always happy to help and support the team by organising any resources required to help run the business.

Natalie.Stone@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk

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Jo Wilkinson - Projects Manager

With a 20-year career working in the public sector followed by five years as a self-employed consultant, Jo brings a broad range of skills and experience to her role as Projects Manager with Healthwatch Hertfordshire. A background in policy, performance, project management and communications means she can diversify and help the organisation to develop. Projects include a review of volunteering, plans for a new website, development of a new Communications Approach and the publication of the 2020 Annual Report. She is committed to helping to make a difference.

Jo.Wilkinson@healthwatchhertfordshire.co.uk