Governors and members

On this page you will find useful information if you are already a governor or thinking of becoming a governor.

Attend a Council of Governors' meeting

You are welcome to observe our Council of Governors meetings. Our future meeting dates are:

  • 3 July 2024 at 10am
  • 18 September 2024 at 1.30pm
  • 12 December 2024 at 10am
  • 11 March 2025 at 10am

Our Annual Members' Meeting will also be held on 18 September 2024 at 4pm.

Most of the time our Governors meet using Microsoft Teams, and in September meetings are held face-to-face. You can watch a live stream of our Council of Governor meetings.

Council of Governors papers

Read the papers and presentations given to our Council of Governors. Like our board of directors meetings, these are also held in public. You are welcome to attend and observe the meeting. We hold most of our Govenor meetings online. We meet face-to-face once a year in Sepetmber.

Previous Council of Governors’ papers may be requested by calling 01208 834 600. 

The papers for the Council of Governors' meetings do not fully comply with digital accessibility regulations.

2024

2023

2022

2021

Governor elections

Our annual election process starts in November each year. Our 2023-24 Governor election process has now closed.

We hold elections annually and announce the names of our new Governors in February. Our new Governors take up their positions on 1 March.

This year we were looking for Governors to fill the following 8 seats:

  • East service area constituency: 3 seats
  • West service area constituency: 3 seats
  • Staff constituency: 2 seats

About the Council of Governors

The Council of Governors help to shape the Trust's services and future plans. Anyone aged 16 and over who is a member of the Trust is eligible to apply. If you are not already a member you can join online using the membership form below.

19 people make up the Trust’s Council of Governors. 11 public governors, 4 staff governors, and 4 appointed governors. The Trust's appointed governors represent Cornwall Council, the Council of the Isles of Scilly, Truro and Penwith College, and Volunteer Cornwall.

The council of governors meets 4 times a year. The Trust pays governors' travel expenses for face-to-face meetings and site visits.

Useful links

Some of the above documents are not produced by the Trust and may not comply with web accessibility standards. We are working with the companies we work with whose information we need to publish.

Previous elections

Email our Trust secretary to obtain information on previous elections.

Benefits of being a member

Being a member will give you an opportunity to play a part, have a say, help to shape and influence the Trust services.

As a member you can expect:

  • regular jargon free communications to keep you informed
  • a range of offers available through Health Service Discounts
  • opportunities to participate in surveys consultations and to influence Trust plans
  • an opportunity to stand for election to the Council of Governors and to vote for somebody to represent you on the council.

Online membership form

Membership Form

Note: Questions marked by * are mandatory










How would you describe your ethnic origin? (Please select one of the following options)
















Meet the Council of Governors

Michael Coupe, West Constituency Governor

Michael is a Pets as Therapy volunteer. He has been visiting patients with his Newfoundland dogs since 2019.

He joined us as a governor in March 2023, to enable him to support us in other ways.

Tamzin Irvin, Appointed Governor, Truro and Penwith College

Tamzin is the curriculum lead for nursing and allied health and Truro College.

We have an Appointed Governor from Truro and Penwith College for many years. We believe our local colleges are vital in helping us to create and deliver local careers for local people.

We currently have over 200 people completing apprenticeships with the Trust.

Andy Jago, East Constituency Governor

Andy is a former mental health nurse and Trust employee.

He is the third generation of his family to work as a nurse for the Trust or its predecessors. During his 28-year nursing career, he worked as a nurse, ward, and unit manager before becoming a lead nurse. When we became a foundation Trust Andy was one of our first staff governors.

In his last role with the Trust, Andy led the introduction of electronic patient records. He later moved to work in an acute trust and the private sector.

Throughout his career, Andy has been a champion for patients, carers, and high quality care. He wants to help ensure we hear and listen to patients, drawing on his experiences as a nurse, patient and carer.

Andrew Jago

Ian Jones, Appointed Governor, Volunteer Cornwall

Ian is chief executive of the charity, Volunteer Cornwall.

Ian and the team at Volunteer Cornwall work to help people become active and self-reliant citizens. This includes training and recruiting volunteers. The charity also supports the most vulnerable members of our community. They work with us and other organisations to develop and deliver public services.

Ian works with us to ensure we engage people in an equal and pro-active manner to coproduce the solutions we need for a resilient future.

Ian Jones

Richard Laugharne, Staff Governor

Richard is an Emeritus (semi-retired) consultant psychiatrist and our head of research. He worked for 19 years as a consultant in general adult psychiatry, before moving to work with patients with intellectual disabilities.

During his NHS career he has authored several research papers and contributed to award winning initiatives. He is passionate about research and the difference it makes to peoples’ lives.

Richard is working on research projects to help treat constipation in people with intellectual disabilities. His other research interest is the use of digital tools to help people with post-traumatic stress disorder.

He stood on the following mandate:

  • to be honest and realistic about what services can deliver
  • services need to be based on research evidence
  • we need to give our patients and staff hope

Richard Laugharne

Mark Oliver, Other Constituency Governor

Information to follow.

Mark Oliver

John Peacock, Appointed Governor, Council of the Isles of Scilly

Information to follow.

Penny Phillips, West Constituency Governor

Information to follow.

Penny Phillips

Stephanie Pomeroy, Staff Governor

Stephanie has been a Staff Governor since 2017, after joining the Trust in 2014. Since becoming a Governor, she has taken on the extra role of Lead Governor.

She is passionate about the health and wellbeing of her colleagues. This is something she also supports in her role as fundraising manager. To enable her to support her colleagues and help them to reach their full potential she has trained as a transformational coach. She is also a mental health first aider.

Stephanie Pomeroy

Sophie Scott, Staff Governor

Sophie is our coaching and talent management lead. She’s been employed by both NHS providers during her career.

She enjoys working alongside operational colleagues; often joining inpatient or community teams on shift. This approach gives her insight into the experiences and challenges faced by her colleagues.

Through her work Sophie is supporting the development of a compassionate and just culture.

Sophie Scott

Alison Shaw, East Constituency Governor

Alison is newly retired and is settling back into life in Cornwall. She is passionate about giving something back to the health community who she describes as having "energised her over the years".

She has close ties with the Trust, having previously served as a Governor from 2019 to 2021. In her first appointment she represented our Other Constituency.

Alison is looking forward to once again being part of our team of Governors. She is looking forward to the challenge and education the role gives her. In return, Alison brings an educational and pastoral care perspective to the role.

Alison Shaw

Gill Shipsides, East Constituency Governor

Information to follow.

Hannah Snelling, East Constituency Governor

Hannah has been appointed for a second term as a Governor. She first joined us in 2021.

Having struggled with an eating disorder, Hannah left school with no GCSEs. Since joining us as a volunteer in 2020, Hannah has gained a foundation degree in health and nutrition and a degree in human and behavioural sciences.

She is a volunteer peer support worker with our Eating Disorders Service. Working alongside psychologists and other members of the team, Hannah uses her experience to help others. Hannah has also joined our Flexi Team, which has allowed her to experience work in different areas of the Trust.

Hannah Snelling

Nigel Walker, West Constituency Governor

Nigel joined us as a Governor in 2018. He is an advocate of a just culture where everyone is able to speak up without fear.

He has previously been the Cornwall Council executive member for adult care. Nigel is a volunteer advisor to Disability Cornwall and Cornwall People First. His role as volunteer advisor enables him to advocate for vulnerable people and their families.

Nigel is a member of his GP surgery’s patient participation group and a Trustee of Trelya and Music for Good. He is also a volunteer advisor to Disability Cornwall and Cornwall People First.

Nigel Walker

Helen Woods, Staff Governor

Helen has worked her entire professional career in the NHS. She has spent 20 years as a chief pharmacist, the last 11 with us here in Cornwall.

Through her role as chief pharmacist, Helen has developed a deep understanding of the services we provide. Her role sees her work with clinical and non-clinical staff and with colleagues from all professions. She is passionate about helping them to deliver the best possible patient care.

Helen became a Governor because she wants to ensure we hear the voice of staff at all levels of the Trust. She’s also keen to ensure we have robust assurance and challenge on how we work.

Helen Woods