Ingrid Barker appointed as new Chair of Trustees
Barnwood Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Ingrid Barker as the new Chair of Trustees from May 2024 – a strategic leader with inclusive values and a passion to tackle inequalities in Gloucestershire.
Ann Santry CBE will stand down as Barnwood Trust’s Chair of Trustees in 2024 after 6 years in post, over which time the Trust has transformed its strategy and awarded over £13.8 million in funding to individuals and organisations.
Ingrid Barker, Barnwood Trust’s soon to be Chair of Trustees
Ingrid Barker joins Barnwood as a Trustee and will become Chair at the Annual General Meeting in May. Ingrid will take the role of Chair for Barnwood Trust following a successful career in leadership in health and social care.
“We are delighted to welcome Ingrid as out new Chair. She brings a wealth of very relevant life and work experience to Barnwood, as well as a deep understanding of Gloucestershire, with many connections to people, organisations and places across the county.“
Ingrid is currently Chair of Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, following various Chair and non-executive roles within NHS Gloucestershire since 2006. As Ingrid’s role as Chair at the NHS Foundation Trust comes to an end, she will begin her Chair role with Barnwood Trust.
The Board of Trustees are delighted to welcome Ingrid to the Trust. Ingrid brings with her an unwavering commitment to creating change that benefits disabled people and people with mental health challenges in the county. She also brings a track record of leading and delivering complex strategic change, and frontline experience of person-centred practice and partnership working.
Ingrid is a qualified social worker. Her career includes establishing a service for young homeless people in Central London, as well as being Regional Director for the mental health charity MIND. She also led the creation of the first mental health Patients Councils and Advocacy projects in Britain.
In addition, Ingrid’s past roles include working on national policy for the Centre for Mental Health Services Development; being an NHS Executive Director, turning services into community provision.
Ingrid was a Trustee and Board member for NHS Providers for eight years, elected to represent the Community NHS Trusts across the UK. She is currently a Governor for the University of Gloucestershire and a leadership coach.
“I am delighted to be joining Barnwood Trust as its new Chair. The Trust’s role in working with disabled people and people with mental health conditions to tackle the inequalities they experience is so important. This is something I have been passionate about all my life and I am looking forward to working with everyone associated with Barnwood to make a difference here in Gloucestershire and beyond.“