In this section...

  1. How we make decisions
  2. Our priorities
  3. Policies and procedures
  4. What we spend and how we spend it
  5. Who we are and what we do
  6. Work for us

Governors and members

Attend a Council of Governors' meeting

Like our Board of Director meetings, these meetings are also held in public. You are welcome to attend and observe the meetings.

Meeting dates

All meetings will start at 10am. Meetings will be held on Microsoft Teams. Contact us for a meeting link.

  • 22 July 2025.
  • 7 October 2025.
  • 4 December 2025.
  • 10 March 2026.

Annual members' meeting

Our annual members' meeting is planned for 4pm on 17 September 2025 at Liskeard Community Hospital.

Council of Governors papers

The Council of Governors' meeting papers do not meet digital accessibility regulations. We are working on making our meeting papers accessible.

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

2025

2024

2023

To receive a copy of the presentations shown at the March Council of Governors' meeting call 01208 834 600 or email the Communications Team.

2022

Governor elections

Our annual election process starts in November each year. We announce the names of our new Governors in February. Our new Governors take up their positions on 1 March.

2024-25 election

Our 2024-25 election has finished.

We have appointed the following Governors to the below constituencies (uncontested):

  • East service area constituency: Lauren Hobbs.
  • West service area constituency: Jane Johnson and Penny Philips (1 vacancy remains).
  • Other constituency: Mark Oliver.

After an election in our staff constituency, Sophie Scott was re-elected as Staff Governor.

Visit Civica's Governor elections page for more information.

Useful links

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.

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)
















*

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.

Councillor Faye Emery, Appointed Governor for Cornwall Council

Councillor Faye Emery

Faye Emery is one of our appointed governors. She joined us as a governor in July 2025 to represent Cornwall Council. Her appointment follows the local elections in May 2025.

Faye is the Cornwall Councillor for Stratton, Kilkhampton and Morwenstow. She has an interest in health services in rural and remote areas.

Faye also runs a small business. Earlier in her career, she worked in higher education.

Rae Hall, Appointed Governor for Volunteer Cornwall

Rae joined Volunteer Cornwall as chief executive officer in July 2025.

She was self-employed and has worked in the NHS in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly since 2000.

Rae has worked with general practices, community health providers, and the voluntary sector.

Until recently she was the vice chair of Volunteer Cornwall.

Her interest and experience are in building community resilience. She believes services should promote wellbeing, based on what matters to the individual.

Rae is Cornish and lives in Truro with her husband and family. She loves the outdoors, good food and being creative: writing, crafts, and music.

Tamzin Irvin, Appointed Governor, Truro and Penwith College

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

We have had 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.

Richard Laugharne, Staff Governor

Richard Laugharne

Richard is a semi-retired or emeritus consultant psychiatrist. He is also our head of research. His career in general adult psychiatry spans 19 years. During that time, he has authored several research papers. He has also been involved in award-winning projects.

Richard believes services should be evidence-based. He campaigns for more research. This includes leading a research study to help people with an intellectual disability who find it hard to poo. He also has a keen interest in the use of technology to support those with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Richard believes we should be realistic and honest about what we can achieve while giving people hope.

Mark Oliver, Other Constituency Governor

Mark Oliver

Mark has worked with NHS and social care services for around 30 years, mostly within the community mental health teams and on psychiatric wards.

He previously worked within the Ministry of Defence on the sports grounds, providing support for the services.

Mark lived in Torpoint and Saltash for many years before moving to Plymouth.

Mark supports the Trussell Trust as a signatory for food e-vouchers. He is a volunteer at Liskeard Community Hospital.

 

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

Information to follow.

Penny Phillips, West Constituency Governor

Penny Phillips

Penny was elected as a public Governor in 2022. She is a national patient safety partner and a member of NHS England's Older People's Sounding Board. As a lived experience influencer for the National Suicide Prevention Alliance, Penny is actively involved in suicide prevention across our local healthcare system.

She supports the Samaritans as part of a lived experience strategy group. Penny is a member of the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee within the Trust and is passionate about improving access, experiences and outcomes for everyone. She is a member of her local GP patient participation group and integrated care forum.

Stephanie Pomeroy, Staff Governor

Governor Stephanie Pomeroy

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.

Sophie Scott, Staff Governor

Governor Sophie Scott

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.

Alison Shaw, East Constituency Governor

Alison Shaw

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.

Gill Shipsides, East Constituency Governor

Information to follow.

Hannah Snelling, East Constituency Governor

Hannah Snelling

Hannah has been reappointed as a Governor after first joining in 2021. She struggled with an eating disorder and left school with no GCSEs but became a volunteer in 2020.

Since then, she has earned a foundation degree in health and nutrition and a degree in human and behavioural sciences.

As a peer support worker with our Eating Disorders Service, Hannah uses her experience to help others, gaining experience in various Trust areas.

Nigel Walker, West Constituency Governor

Nigel Walker 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.

Helen Woods, Staff Governor

Helen Woods

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.