Our Non-Executive Directors

Professor David Sallah: chair

David previously held very senior leadership positions in the NHS, UK Government, higher education and the private sector. He is Emeritus Professor of Mental Health at University of Wolverhampton and led government commissioned review of what works in dementia education and training, jointly chaired the Department of Health funded multi-agency steering boards that developed the Dementia, and Mental Health Core Skills Education and Teaching Frameworks for health and social care in England, and led the Department of Health’s programme for Delivering Health Equality in Mental Healthcare in England.  

David was the Vice Chair and Senior Independent Director of Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for four years before his appointment as Chair.

 

Contact

• Base: Trust Headquarters, Priestley Wharf
• Telephone:  0121 466 7017
• Executive Assistant: Purnima Choudary, 0121 466 7020

Chichi Abraham-Igwe: non-executive director

Our newest board member, Chichi, joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in May 2024.

 

An electronic engineer by background and a graduate of Oxford University, Chichi is also a chartered accountant.  She has held a number of senior leadership positions in cybersecurity, risk management, digital and data transformation, governance and regulatory compliance.

 

Having spent her career working for several large, multi-national companies including Shell, BP and more recently, GSK, Chichi is looking forward to bringing her private sector experience to the NHS – particularly in the fields of digital and data transformation, and cybersecurity.  She is very passionate about digital health and health equity.  

 

Chichi has also provided strategic insights to early-stage cybersecurity start-ups to support the launch of their products & services, in the capacity of a non-executive director and board advisor.

Salma Ali: non-executive director

Salma Ali has enjoyed a long and rewarding career in the NHS, working  primarily in clinical leadership and commissioning.

 

Salma began her career as a registered general nurse, followed by tenures in midwifery and health visiting before moving to working with primary care teams at senior level across the West Midlands.

 

Once a director of Nursing for Heart of Birmingham Primary Care Trust. Other notable roles include her tenure as executive director of nursing and quality for the four Black Country Primary Care Trusts in Dudley, Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Accountable Officer for Walsall CCG.

 

Salma also has a host of professional qualifications including a Masters in Healthcare Policy and Management.

 

As well as her role at BCHC, Salma is also a Trustee for Black Country Women’s Aid.

Jon Crockett: non-executive director

Following a degree in economics Jon had a successful career in Public Service, including 25 years spent in the NHS, retiring after 15 years as CEO of the NHS in Wolverhampton.

 

 A qualified accountant he was president of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy for the Midlands and a regional council member for over fifteen years.

 

Jon continues to work actively in board and governance roles across a wide spectrum of organisations including housing, education and transport safety.

 

Jon  holds  an Honorary Doctor of Science Degree and is  a Visiting Professor in Health Management and Leadership at the University of Wolverhampton where he helped establish the Centre for Applied Research and Education in Dementia.

Jacynth Ivey: non-executive director

Jacynth has experience of working within the private and public sectors working in the areas of leadership, equality and diversity, organisational development and team performance.

 

Her practical approach to understanding organisational issues and the ability to engage with people from diverse backgrounds at all levels of the organisation combine to enable her to inspire, communicate and involve those with whom she works.

 

She has over 25 years of NHS experience, former nurse, midwife and health visitor with significant leadership experience gained as an executive director within a Primary Care Trust and more recently a Non Executive Director in an NHS Ambulance Foundation Trust.

Jan Teo: non-executive director

Jan is a history graduate from the University of Cambridge, and a former chief operating officer, chief executive and managing director with over 30 years leadership experience in a wide variety of roles primarily in financial and motoring services companies such Deutsche Bank, Barclays, Legal and General and RAC.

 

She now acts to provide discreet coaching, mentoring and board advisory. With a lifelong interest in history and the arts, she has served as a trustee director for Birmingham Museums Trust, Elmhurst Ballet School and Birmingham Royal Ballet, where she was later asked to become chief executive. She is currently a member of the board of the Birmingham Repertory Theatre.

 

Jan joins the Trust recognising the current and long term challenges in the wider NHS and the vital part BCHC plays. She is driven particularly by a focus on the delivery of equity in health outcomes for all Trust patients and by valuing all Trust colleagues to best use their experience and resources to do so.

Deepika Yadav: non-executive director

Deepika works as a General Practitioner in Coventry. Over the last 10 years, she has worked in various roles within Coventry and Rugby CCG and then Coventry and Warwickshire CCG, including being a member of the Governing body of the CCG. Her focus has been on improving patient safety and quality, and improving efficiency within clinical patient pathways.

 

She also works as a clinical director for Integrated Care for University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire; and for Strategic Partnerships for Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust. She is also a member on the Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Partnership.

 

She became a member of the Royal College of Physicians in 2006 after completing her medical training. She completed her GP training in 2011 and is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners. She is a keen educator and continues to be a GP trainer, a trainer for the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health and has a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Education. She also has a Masters in Business Administration from Warwick Business School in 2013.