Three new trustees appointed to the board of the Royal Free Charity

14 February 2023

The Royal Free Charity, a leading NHS charity supporting patients and staff in north London, has appointed three new trustees to its board.

The new trustees bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the charity which is the strategic charity partner of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust.

Commenting on the appointments, Judy Dewinter, chair of the Royal Free Charity, said: “We are thrilled to welcome our three new trustees to the board. As well as bringing their experiences as members of our hospitals’ local communities, their expertise will be invaluable as we continue to develop and strengthen our board in these challenging times for the NHS.”

The new trustees are:

Weyinmi Guate

Weyinmi is a chartered accountant with experience in both public and private sectors, across a range of industries and disciplines. She trained with PwC and has worked in audit, capital markets, and accounting advisory. More recently, she joined Amazon as an accountant where she works today.

Weyinmi is also a trustee and honorary treasurer of Carers’ Hub Lambeth, an independent charity that supports carers in the borough.

Weyinmi said of her appointment: “Growing up in North London, I’m especially proud to be part of a charity that is making a difference in my local community. I look forward to contributing to the continued success of this charity, which values and supports patients and staff”.

Valerie Jolliffe

Following a career in corporate finance in the City, Valerie moved into early stage venture investing, principally in the technology sector, and has a particular interest in how new technologies can be applied in a healthcare setting.

Valerie is currently on the board of the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine and is a trustee and treasurer of Beat, the eating disorders charity. She was previously a long-standing trustee of the Imperial Health Charity. Valerie has a MSc in Charity Accounting and Finance from Bayes Business School.

Valerie said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to join the charity of my local hospital. I have previous experience of supporting an NHS charity, so I have a deep insight into how this comes with a unique set of challenges and opportunities.  I’m very keen to apply my expertise here, in terms of both my charity and financial experience.

Simon Lyons

Simon is an experienced investment banker, advising clients around the world on some of their most important strategic decisions. He spent the early part of his career at UBS before becoming a founding partner of PJT Partners which has grown from a start up in 2015 to a leading global financial institution today.

Speaking of his appointment, Simon said: “I was born at the Royal Free Hospital, grew up near Chase Farm and live near Barnet Hospital. As a beneficiary of all three sites, I know how vital these services are. I am passionate about supporting staff, patients and research to enhance the NHS experience which is so critical to our national wellbeing.”

Ends

Lead photo: (from left to right) Weyinmi Guate, Valerie Jolliffe and Simon Lyons

Notes to editors

The Royal Free Charity is an NHS charity supporting the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust. Its vision is for everyone served by the Royal Free London to have access to world-leading healthcare, delivered by a thriving workforce and driven by medical research that has a global impact. The charity funds medical research, facilities and services at Barnet, Chase Farm and the Royal Free hospitals, all of which is made possible thanks to the generosity of supporters.