Meet the team

Andy Cave

CEO - Healthwatch Birmingham and Healthwatch Solihull

Jane Upton

Head of Operations - Healthwatch Birmingham and Healthwatch Solihull

Natalie Travers - Healthwatch Manager

Email: natalie.travers@healthwatchsolihull.org.uk

Natalie worked within health and social care for 6 years. Working within primary care, mental health services, and social care. Having worked on the front line of NHS services, Natalie decided she wanted to be part of improving services for... more

Kemi Adebanjo - Project Officer

Kemi graduated in BSc (Hons) Biomedical Science in 2017 and MSc Global Public Health and Policy in 2018. She has experience working with public health organisations in the UK and Nigeria. With a deep interest in health, Kemi has also... more

Leah Brown - Community Officer

Email: leah.brown@healthwatchsolihull.org.uk

Beginning her career in the Health and Wellbeing industry, Leah has a passion for connecting with others and supporting individuals to help improve their general health and wellbeing.

After recently completing a degree in Health Studies, Leah has... more

Richard Burden - Chair

Richard was previously Member of Parliament for Birmingham Northfield from 1992 to 2019. He served as a Shadow Minister and on several Select Committees including chairing the Commons Committee set... more

Tony Green - Board Member

Tony Green used to say he has three degrees and some professional qualifications and was director of this and that, but now he has much more fun being blissfully retired... more

Catherine Weir - Non-Executive Director

Catherine has lived in Birmingham since 2011, with her husband born in Birmingham, his parents having moved here from Jamaica, and their children are at school here.

Catherine is... more

Fiona Taylor - Non-Executive Director

Fiona has worked in a range of health and social care charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Leonard Cheshire, Anchor Trust and Motor Neurone Disease Association - both in education and... more

Jasbir Rai - Company Secretary

Jas is responsible for the efficient administration of Healthwatch, ensuring compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements and for ensuring that decisions of directors are implemented.

Jas is the Deputy... more

Neelam Heera - Non-Executive Director

Neelam Heera is the founder of Cysters, a grassroots organisation dedicated to supporting women with reproductive and mental health issues. Cysters work with marginalised communities and remain culturally sensitive despite... more

Dr Peter Rookes - Non-Executive Director

Dr Peter Rookes is an experienced health service manager, educator and researcher, who has worked extensively in both the state and non-state sectors in the UK and overseas.

Peter... more

Qadar Zada - Non-Executive Director

Qadar is a Director within the Health Service and also the Leader of Dudley Metropolitan Council. He has extensive experience of Health and Social care provision having worked in provider... more

Dr John James – Non-Executive Director

John was born in West Bromwich, graduated from University of Birmingham and has spent his working career in Staffordshire, living in Lichfield.

John currently works as the Medical Director... more

James Doyle - Volunteer Board Representative

James has been volunteering with Healthwatch Solihull since November 2019.
Before lockdown James had been involved with Mental Health Awareness evenings, assisted writing reports and received training on report writing... more

Tim Phillips - Volunteer Board Representative

Tim Joined Birmingham City Council Older Adults section in 1994 post qualification as a Social Worker and spent 23 years as a practitioner and Assistant Manager leaving the council in... more