Dr Susan Barnes

Chair, NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership Committee 

Dr Susan Barnes is an experienced senior leader, Board Director and Chair with more than 25 years’ experience spanning national charities, public bodies and complex public service and charitable organisations. She has a strong track record in strategy, transformation, governance, partnership working and public service improvement, and was appointed Chair of the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership Committee in July 2026. Her career has been defined by leading organisations through change, strengthening governance arrangements and building effective partnerships across complex systems. 

This experience is directly aligned to the role of the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership Committee, which provides strategic oversight of high-quality, specialist shared services delivered nationally in support of NHS Wales organisations, patients and communities. 

Since December 2020, Dr Barnes has served as Chief Executive of the Wales Air Ambulance Charity, providing strategic leadership to a high-profile national charity working in close partnership with NHS Wales to deliver advanced, time-critical care across the country. Her leadership has required close collaboration with clinical, charitable, public sector and community partners, reflecting the partnership focus central to the work of the Committee. 

Her career reflects a breadth of senior leadership across health-related, public sector, charitable and commercial environments. Before joining the Wales Air Ambulance Charity she spent eight years working for a global business transformation company, focussing on shared services and technology driven solutions for both public and private sector clients. Prior to this she held senior and director-level roles within two large county councils, the Audit Comision, the Wellcome Trust, the Health Education Authority and Northamptonshire Police. These roles have given her extensive experience of operating in complex governance environments, leading transformation, developing strategy and delivering improvement through collaboration across organisational boundaries. This breadth of experience provides a strong foundation for chairing a Committee that brings together NHS Wales organisations to oversee national shared services, assurance and improvement. 

Dr Barnes also brings direct experience of chairing partnership arrangements. She is Chair of the West Wales Sports Partnership, a not-for-profit company established to support regional investment in community sport and physical activity across West Wales. Through this role, she has provided governance leadership, supported the development of a long-term regional strategy and worked with partners to strengthen delivery against shared community outcomes. Her approach as Chair is grounded in clarity of purpose, constructive challenge and enabling partners to work collectively towards shared priorities. 

Swansea-born and a graduate of Cardiff University, Dr Barnes gained a first-class degree in Pharmacology and a PhD in Neuroscience. Across her career, she has combined academic rigour with practical leadership experience and remains committed to evidence-based decision making, inclusive leadership and improving outcomes for communities across Wales. Her appointment brings significant strategic, governance and partnership expertise to the Committee as it continues to support NHS Wales through value, innovation and excellence. She brings a strong understanding of public service leadership in Wales and a clear commitment to supporting NHS Wales through collaboration, high standards and continuous improvement. 

Upon appointment, Dr Barnes said: “It is a pleasure and a privilege to take on this role. 

“Having spent much of my career working to improve public services for patients and citizens, I understand the pressures on the public purse and the importance of ensuring every available pound delivers maximum value for patient care. 

“Shared Services has a pivotal role to play in that mission, and I have been impressed by what has already been achieved by the team at NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership. 

“I look forward to working with the Committee, Neil and the wider team to deliver an ambitious agenda that can transform how we work together in Wales, ensuring the spirit of the “Once for Wales” vision realises its full potential by freeing up valuable resources for the areas that need them most: frontline services and patient care.”