Four new non-executive directors appointed to Somerset NHS Foundation Trust board

We have appointed three new non-executive directors and an associate non-executive director to our board.

Rosie Benneyworth, Darshan Chandarana, and Olena Doran join the trust board as non-executive directors, and Tom Frederick joins as an associate non-executive director. All four non-executive directors leaders in their fields, with experience at regional and national level.

This is a unique time in the NHS with national and regional changes, the recent publication of the NHS 10 Year Plan, and changes to how trusts are assessed. The new non-executive director colleagues will bring their considerable experience and expertise to the board’s role of setting strategic direction and ensuring the delivery of high quality, safe services.

About our new non-executive directors (pictured left to right)

Rosie Benneyworth – non-executive director

Rosie is an experienced healthcare leader with a strong background in clinical practice, governance, and system transformation. With over 30 years’ experience, she has held senior executive and non-executive roles at national, regional, and local levels, driving improvements in care quality and service sustainability.

She’s currently interim chief executive and chief investigator at the Healthcare Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB), where she is responsible for establishing the new arm’s-length body.

Prior to this, Rosie served as chief inspector for primary medical services and integrated care at the CQC, overseeing regulation across general practice, dentistry, children’s services, and integrated care systems in England.

In a non-executive capacity, she is currently a non-executive director at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, where she serves on the Quality and Outcomes and People Committees and acts as Maternity Champion.

She has also held non-executive positions at NICE, including acting chair, vice chair, and appeals process lead, as well as trustee roles at the Nuffield Trust and National Children’s Orchestras of Great Britain.

Darshan Chandarana – non-executive director

Darshan is a strategist and transformation leader with over 30 years’ experience of driving large-scale change across Fortune 500 companies. His career spans management consulting, technology, and financial services, with leadership roles at PwC, McKinsey, Deloitte, and Bank of America.

As a Partner at PwC, Darshan was instrumental in delivering high-impact consulting engagements, leading digital innovation, and shaping go-to-market strategies for emerging technologies.

He has built and scaled practices, driving 500% growth in key verticals and spearheading alliances with OpenAI, Apple, and AI-driven firms, such as Harvey and Hebbia.

Darshan has advised leading organisations across banking, insurance, consumer goods, and government sectors, successfully guiding digital transformation, cost optimisation, and operational excellence initiatives by leveraging his expertise in data analytics, cloud computing, and AI-driven solutions.

With a commitment to mentorship, Darshan fosters high-performance teams and champions inclusion within corporate environments.

Professor Olena Doran – non-executive director

Olena is an accomplished leader in biomedical research, governance, and higher education, with extensive experience in strategic oversight, research innovation, and academic leadership.

She currently serves as Professor in Biomedical Research and Dean for Research and Enterprise at the University of the West of England (UWE), where she leads research strategy, knowledge exchange, and enterprise development for over 600 academic staff and 300 postgraduate researchers.

With a career spanning internationally recognised institutions, Olena has secured over £6 million in competitive research funding, contributing to advancements in human health, food safety, and biotechnology.

Her research has directly influenced drug development, food quality standards, and cancer biology, with discoveries in mitochondrial function, metabolic disease, and biosensing technologies.

Olena has served on national and international advisory panels, including the UK Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Bristol Health Partners Research and Innovation Steering Group, and the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration West Board.

She has contributed to healthcare policy development, workforce training strategies, and system-wide service transformation through her roles in integrated care, health partnerships, and multidisciplinary research bodies.

In addition, she has held senior committee positions overseeing ethics, integrity, and research excellence, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. Her leadership in EDI initiatives, including UWE’s Athena SWAN Charter and 100 Black Women Professors NOW, reflects a commitment to inclusive governance and workforce development.

Tom Frederick – associate non-executive director

Tom is a seasoned digital transformation leader with over 20 years’ experience of driving complex technology and data strategies across the healthcare, financial services, and insurance industries.

With a strong track record in delivering high-impact digital programmes, Tom prides himself on providing a critical bridge between executive leadership and technology teams, ensuring strategic alignment and operational efficiency.

As director at Oliver Wyman, Tom currently leads large-scale digital transformation initiatives, including financial risk modelling for HSBC.

His expertise spans digital strategy development, technology architecture, data and analytics, and business transformation.

He has played a pivotal role in scaling healthcare and financial services organisations, growing Accenture’s UK Health Strategy & Consulting business from £20m to £28m in three years and securing multimillion-pound investments in AI, EPR, and healthcare innovation.

Tom’s NHS and healthcare experience includes leading digital strategy development for several large NHS trusts, overseeing electronic patient record (EPR) implementations, and managing large-scale system integration projects.

Beyond his corporate leadership, Tom is passionate about mentoring and workforce development, fostering innovation, and driving operational efficiencies through data-driven decision-making.