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.

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 is the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.

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.

Amanda Cheesley – Non-Executive Director

Amanda Cheesley joined Sirona at the end of 2017. She is a qualified nurse who is the UK professional lead for End of Life Care and Long Term Conditions at the Royal College of Nursing.

She has worked at Guy’s Hospital in London, as a member of the Mountain Rescue Team in the Lake District and as the Matron for the Eskdale Centre.

Amanda has also worked in Bristol and South Gloucestershire in various roles including being a district nurse and Service Manager of Intermediate Care in South Gloucestershire.

In 2015 she took part in the Clipper Round the World Sailing Race raising money for Breast Cancer describing it as an experience that fluctuated between complete terror, exhaustion and exhilaration!

She was drawn to the role at Sirona as she shares the values and ambitions of involving people including staff in developing and improving care but also because she wanted to give something back to her community.