Hospital Trust appoints new Associate Non-Executive Director

Following a competitive and rigorous recruitment process the Board of Directors at Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust has appointed Shaeen Azam to the role of associate non-executive director for an initial one-year term.

This is a new role on the Board that the Trust has created in order to enhance succession planning, bring additional depth to decision-making and develop talent.

Associate non-executive directors receive all access to Board and committee meetings and papers, but do not hold a vote. After a one year term in the role, and subject to continued satisfactory performance, it is intended that Shaeen will migrate into a substantive non-executive director role without the need for a further process.

Shaeen is currently Director of Finance at Wakefield and District Housing Association (WDH) based in Castleford and a non-executive director on Connect Housing Association Board based in Leeds. She also holds a board-level position on WDH’s joint venture Bridge Homes, and has held a directorship position in the subsidiary company of WDH. Shaeen is a Chartered Certified Accountant and corporate treasurer and holds an MBA from the University of Birmingham. She is based in Doncaster and takes up her role on 1 October 2021.

Speaking about her recent appointment, Shaeen said: “I am absolutely delighted and honoured to be joining the team at Sheffield Children’s.

“As an Associate Non-Executive Director, I will be able to draw on my skills in finance, audit, risk and governance but I hope to bring so much more, providing advice, constructive challenge as well as another perspective to the organisation’s Board of Directors.

“Sheffield is close to my heart. I went to University here and my children have benefited greatly from the expertise and care of hospitals within this Trust.

“I live within the healthcare system here in South Yorkshire and can’t wait to play my part in helping us to meet the challenges and opportunities in the years to come.”

Welcoming the new appointee, Trust Chair, Sarah Jones, said: “I am delighted to welcome Shaeen to the Board.

“During the selection process, the panel was impressed with Shaeen’s strategic thinking as well as her financial acumen and we are excited to support her in making a key contribution to the Trust.”

The Council of Governors have previously approved the extensions of John Cowling and Patricia Mitchell until 30 September 2022.