Trust Board members
Our Trust Board is made up of non-executive and executive directors of the Trust who are listed on this page.Non-executive directors
Jenni Douglas-ToddChair
Jenni joined University Hospital Southampton in July 2022 as chair, having previously held the position of director of equality and inclusion with NHS England.
Jenni holds a non-executive portfolio which includes sitting on the English Cricket Board’s Recreational & Professional Game Committees, and Hampshire Sports & Leisure Holdings. Jenni became Chair of Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust and the Isle of Wight NHS Trust in April 2025. Jenni previously held the role of non-executive director, deputy chair and senior independent director at UHS before taking up her post as the director of equality and inclusion with NHS England in 2020.
Jane HarwoodSenior independent director and deputy chair
Jane is a Southampton University graduate having completed her BSc in Biology before moving to London to complete her MSc in Applied Hydrobiology. Having completed two years of her PhD she moved out of academia to start working as an internal consultant for the Metropolitan Police.
Her career has spanned over 30 years working in senior strategic, corporate and business planning roles for the MPS, Surrey Police and Centrex (the organisation responsible for police training). After a short spell at the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council she moved to the Metropolitan Police Authority, leading the change programme to establish the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and completing her MBA.
Jane then set up her own consultancy business and worked for a number of public and private sector organisations before returning to Surrey Police as part of the Chief Officer team responsible for HR, Finance and IT. As the collaboration programme across Surrey and Sussex police accelerated she took on the lead for People Services across the two forces and was an active member of the Police CIPD forum. She spent the last two years before retirement leading an IT and change programme across Surrey, Sussex and Thames Valley Police.
Jane is vice chair of the national charity Missing People and is also a trustee for the Wooden Spoon charity. Jane still operates as an independent consultant and led the resident welfare and vulnerability response within the Surrey LRF Covid-19 response
Professor Diana EcclesDiana Eccles is Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton. She graduated in Medicine from Manchester University in 1983, her clinical training is in general medicine, oncology and clinical genetics and she has worked and trained in Manchester, Edinburgh and Southampton. Her research background is in molecular genetics and genetic epidemiology, her doctoral thesis investigated the molecular genetics of ovarian cancer working in the MRC Human Genetics Unit in Edinburgh, she was awarded her MD in 1992.
During her first NHS consultant post appointed in 1995 to the Wessex Regional Genetics Service (University Hospital Southampton), she set up one of the first NHS funded Cancer Genetics Services in the UK. In 2000, she established a national prospective cohort study of young onset breast cancer to establish the genetic causes and consequences of breast cancer in the under 40 UK population (POSH). She was appointed to the Chair of Cancer Genetics at the University of Southampton in 2004, has been Director of the Southampton Clinical Trials Unit (2009-2015) and Head of School of Cancer Sciences 2015-2018 before being appointed Dean of the Faculty in 2018.
The Faculty of Medicine is the second largest of the five faculties in the University of Southampton, she oversees the research, education and knowledge exchange and enterprise activities within the faculty, much of the activity is in close collaboration with University Hospital Southampton and she continues to work as a Consultant in the Wessex Regional Genetics Service. Her research interests continue to be patient focused and she co-leads a Cancer Research UK funded programme of research (CanVigCanVar) to improve the interpretation and clinical translation of genetic variants in cancer genes across the UK, linking with similar work in international consortia. She has published over 330 papers in peer reviewed journals and written 14 book chapters. She contributes regularly to national and international grant review and scientific advisory boards.
David LiverseidgeDavid joined the Board as a non-executive director in January 2025 after more than 30 years in technology strategy and delivery roles in a number of national and global organisations, building and developing high performing teams with a keen focus on culture and growth of both the leadership and the wider team members.
Over the past 9 years he has held executive level roles and led the delivery of digital transformation at 2 large multi-site UK independent healthcare organisations and is passionate about improving patient, colleague and partner experience through the application of technology and realising the benefits that digitalisation can offer. He enjoys working as part of a multi-functional purpose driven Board and ensuring that the digital opportunities are established as part of a holistic business agenda.
David began his career in technology consulting with Price Waterhouse and has worked across retail, electronics, fast moving consumer goods and pharmaceutical industries before entering healthcare delivery in 2012 and completing his last full-time role at the end of 2024.
Dr Tim PeacheyTim qualified as a doctor from Kings College Hospital School of Medicine in 1983. For nearly 20 years, he worked as a consultant anaesthetist at the Royal Free Hospital in London, specialising in pancreatic cancer surgery, liver surgery and liver transplantation. He also developed an interest in medical leadership and management and has held positions such as clinical director, divisional director and medical director at the Royal Free.
In 2012, Tim moved into full time management as chief executive of Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust until its acquisition by the Royal Free. He then worked as the London associate medical director at the NHS Trust Development Authority before moving to Barts Health NHS Trust as improvement director and subsequently became deputy chief executive.
Tim now holds two NHS non-executive posts. In addition to his role at University Hospital Southampton, Tim also serves on the board for Isle of Wight NHS Trust as deputy chair. He is a practicing mediator specialising in the healthcare sector. He also consults for companies in the medical information technology industry.
Steve PeacockAudit and risk committee chair
Steve Peacock was appointed to the UHS Trust Board in February 2026 and is the chair of the audit and risk committee. Steve is the chief finance officer for the National Trust where his responsibilities extend to IT, procurement and risk management. He previously held the role of chief finance officer for the RNLI for seven years.
Steve is a graduate in economics and a chartered accountant with over 30 years of experience working in both finance and commercial roles for many large retail and commercial brands.
Steve previously served as a non-executive director of The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals Foundation Trust, and more recently as a non-executive director at Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust.
Alison TattersallAlison is a customer-focused leader, with significant financial services experience, having headed up commercial marketing teams across both Barclays and Barclaycard. She was responsible for driving performance for businesses based in the UK, Europe, Asia and North America.
She is a Non-Executive Director of the Stafford Building Society, a Midlands-based mutual, and also chairs their Remuneration and Engagement Committee, focusing on building an effective culture across the whole Society.
In addition to her financial services experience, Alison is a Trustee of The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a charity with 48 veterinary hospitals across the UK providing care for sick and injured pets, and support for their owners.
Alison brings strong marketing, not for profit, digital transformation and customer experience to the Trust. Joining the Board in June 2024, she is committed to delivering for patients, their families and the communities we serve.
Executive directors
Dr Trevor SmithChief executive officer
Trevor graduated from Southampton Medical School in 1995 and has had a long-standing association with UHS. He was appointed as a consultant gastroenterologist in 2010 and went on to develop the regional intestinal failure service, gaining national and international recognition for his work.
Trevor has held a number of leadership roles in UHS including deputy chief medical officer and director of urgent and emergency care. In 2025 he left his leadership role at the Trust to take up the post of regional medical director at NHS England in the South West where he held a wide portfolio, including responsibility for clinical quality and improvement, digital transformation, professional standards, and clinical oversight of urgent and emergency care and specialist services.
He rejoined the organisation in October 2026 as chief executive officer.
Steve HarrisChief people officer
Steve has worked at UHS since 2008 and has held a variety of roles within HR during this time; starting as a divisional HR business partner and progressing to lead the department as HR director in 2017. He was appointed chief people officer in 2020.
After graduating in business management from Solent University in 2001, he went on to gain a professional qualification in people management and development and is a chartered member of the Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
He joined the NHS in 2003 from the financial services industry following completion of a graduate management training scheme. His first NHS role was working for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight strategic health authority supporting the implementation of large system-wide workforce projects.
Prior to joining UHS, Steve worked in HR for the Isle of Wight NHS Trust and in Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Ian HowardChief financial officer
Ian was appointed to the role of chief financial officer in March 2022. Ian previously served as the interim chief financial officer since November 2020, having joined the Trust in March 2017 and serving as deputy director of finance since July 2018.
He read accounting and business studies at the University of Portsmouth before joining the NHS in 2007 on the national Graduate Management Training Scheme, where he qualified as a chartered management accountant in 2010.
He has worked across a variety of roles within the NHS, including Primary Care Trusts and Clinical Commissioning Groups. Prior to joining UHS in 2017, he worked for NHS England in the Wessex Local Office, where he provided financial leadership and support to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight STP.
Andy HyettChief operating officer
Andy joined University Hospital Southampton (UHS) as chief operating officer in August 2025, bringing over 30 years of NHS experience across the south of England. He started his career in the 1990s as a biomedical scientist at Dorset County Hospital before moving into operational management at Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester.
Andy has held senior leadership roles across the region, including at Portsmouth Hospitals, Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust, and UHS, where this is his third time working. He previously served as care group manager, director of performance, and deputy chief operating officer.
In 2015, Andy was appointed chief operating officer at Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust and took the same role at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in 2022, leading key improvements in performance and patient care.
Proud to be back at UHS, Andy is passionate about the organisation’s role in delivering outstanding care, pioneering research, and education. He brings a deep understanding of the NHS and is committed to supporting teams to achieve the best outcomes for patients and the community.
Andy lives in Southampton and remains closely connected to the local area both professionally and personally.
Dr Freya PearsonInterim chief medical officer
Freya graduated from St George’s Hospital Medical School in 1995 and trained in paediatrics before subspecialising in neonatal intensive care medicine. She joined University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS) as a consultant neonatologist in 2007, developing a particular expertise in neonatal nutrition and its impact on the care and outcomes of critically ill newborn infants.
Alongside her clinical career, Freya has held a number of senior medical leadership positions including clinical lead for neonatal intensive care services at Princess Anne Hospital and subsequently as divisional director for women’s, children’s and clinical support services. Through these roles she has led service improvement, workforce development and the delivery of high-quality patient care across a broad range of specialties.
In 2022, Freya moved into full-time medical management when she was appointed deputy chief medical officer. Since then, she has worked across organisational priorities including clinical governance, quality improvement, patient safety and system leadership, supporting the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate care.
Complementing her medical and leadership experience, Freya has recently completed an MSc in Psychology with the University of Winchester and is a trained leadership coach. She has a particular interest in developing people and teams, supporting inclusive leadership and fostering cultures that enable both staff and patients to thrive.
Freya currently serves as a trustee of Southampton Hospitals Charity and remains committed to improving health outcomes through collaboration, innovation and strong clinical leadership. As interim chief medical officer, she brings extensive clinical expertise, operational experience and a deep commitment to delivering high-quality care for patients and communities.
Natasha WattsActing chief nursing officer
Natasha joined the Trust in 1999 and has had a range of senior nursing roles, in cardiac and neurosciences specialities. With a specialist interest in adult congenital cardiac care. Natasha has also worked in Singapore and Sydney, Australia as a renal dialysis nurse. She became divisional director of nursing and professions in 2016 before moving to the deputy chief nursing officer role in 2024. Natasha has been acting chief nursing officer since September 2025.
She has a number of responsibilities in her portfolio including leading on patient experience and patient safety, as well as being a maternity safety champion. She is also a member of the national safe staffing faculty having completed the CNO safe staffing fellowship. Natasha is passionate about patient centred care and ensuring the patient voice supports the drive to improve.