Who’s who – meet our Non-Executive Directors

Simon Knighton – Chairman

Simon has chaired Sirona since its foundation in 2011 and brings a wealth of experience from industry and from working in a number of socially based businesses, including as Chief Executive of the NHS Expert Patients Programme.

Simon is passionate about the provision of high quality health and social care services for all in our communities and takes a particular interest in promoting healthy lifestyles and wellbeing. He is a keen climber and mountaineer himself, having reached 7800m on the challenging Everest north ridge, and has twice sailed the Atlantic.

Simon is married with four children and lives in Wiltshire.

Dusty Walker – Non Executive Director and Chair of Quality Committee

Dusty joined Sirona in 2011 bringing with her 10 years of experience as a Non-Executive Director with the former Bath and North East Somerset Primary Care Trust. She has always had a commitment to the delivery of high quality services and has chaired our Quality Committee since we were founded.

With a background in veterinary medicine, Dusty changed career in the early 1990s and set up her own consultancy in career development. She spent 15 years as a lecturer at Bath Spa University and often lectures at local schools, advising students on preparing for interviews and career development.

Dusty is a keen supporter of social enterprises and community organisations and has worked for the children’s charity Action for Children, helped to set up the Sulis Trust, a mental health charity in Bath.

Dusty lives in Bath & North East Somerset and has three daughters.  She is member of Saltford Drama Club, where she performs and directs some of the club’s productions.

David Purdon – Chair of Audit Committee

David joined Sirona in 2011 and is the Chair of the Audit Committee.

During his career he has worked in many aspects of finance and became the Finance Director, and then Managing Director, of Wilts Wholesale Electrical Co Limited in 1988 – the largest independent electrical wholesaler in the UK. David stepped down as Managing Director in December 2010, but remains on the Wilts Board as a non- executive director.

David has lived in Bathampton since 1988 and is married with three children. He is Chair of the Bath Foodbank charity, which provides emergency food for Bath families in crisis.

Paul May – Non-Executive Director

Paul is a councillor with Bath & North East Somerset Council serving Publow and Whitchurch ward. He sits on the Health and Wellbeing Select Committee and the West of England Joint Scrutiny Committee.

Paul joined Sirona in August 2015 as he believed the opportunity for front line staff to work together for the benefit of our community was so crucial to more joined up care that he wanted to be part of making that happen.

He has around 50 years of public sector experience including non-executive directorships with health organisations and believes the staff are our most valuable asset.