Our Chair, Carol Older
Carol has considerable experience as a Trustee with local and national organisations including the post of Vice Chair of the Older People’s Advocacy Alliance and is currently the South East Regional Trustee for Rape Crisis England and Wales (RCEW). Carol’s career background is in Strategic Development of third sector organisations linked to social care and welfare support services. Carol is the Co-Chair of the Thames Valley Police Rape and Serious Sexual Assault Offences Partnership Board, working with partners across the Thames Valley.
Our Board
Mike Cass (Treasurer)
Mike moved to Milton Keynes with his young family in 1992. He is a qualified accountant with in-depth experience of financial control, performance management, project evaluation and change management, all at a senior level. Mike has worked in various sectors, including energy, drinks, and hospitality. Now mainly retired from full time work, Mike is keen to give back to Milton Keynes in his first not-for-profit role and use his skills to help MKHW go from strength to strength. Mike has been a pension fund trustee for the past 8 years.
Paul Day (Deputy Chair)
Paul’s family moved from London to Netherfield in 1976 when he was at primary school and he has since lived in various parts of MK where he has studied, worked, brought up a family and been actively involved in the community. After many years in a major bank’s head office, he began working full time in the not-for-profit sector and for the last 15 years has been a senior leader in national trade union and charity organisations, including five years as COO of the Business Disability Forum. Paul has served on four local councils within the borough, including as an MKC Cabinet member. Paul is currently Director of the pharmacists' trade union, the PDA, and Mayor of Newport Pagnell.
Mirza Lalani
Mirza is an Assistant Professor in health services research at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, where he gained his PhD Public Health. He previously held a research post at University College London. Mirza has a background in mixed methods research, with several years of experience in evaluation and research of NHS and social care services. His research interests are centered on the role of transformational change in health systems and services to stimulate service improvement and patient outcomes. Currently a Governor at Loughton Manor First School, Mirza has a keen interest in supporting the development of local public services through community and voluntary work.
Steve Lazell
Steve lives in Milton Keynes and is the Local Link Partner for Oxford Academic Health Science Network. He is a member of his GP Patient Participation Group and in the nineties was a volunteer on the Milton Keynes Gay & Lesbian Switchboard. He has extensive experience in type 1 diabetes management including use of digital devices, clinical research into Artificial Intelligence use and gives presentations to new insulin pump users and healthcare professionals. He has also been a dementia carer. Steve’s career has been in public and commercial broadcasting for 28 years, latterly as a freelance TV director. He is a Neighbourhood Watch Co-Ordinator, committee member and an Open University graduate.
Jeff Maslen
Most of Jeff’s working life was spent in local government specialising in Affordable Housing Services and finance, and in latter years Adult Social Care. Senior management and corporate director roles in large public authorities have given Jeff an understanding of the difficulties of delivering successful public facing services in a political climate where resources are limited but demands are significant. Jeff is particularly interested in large scale organisational development and change management. Since retirement Jeff has held non-executive roles in smaller organisations including a Housing Association, Chair of a London Healthwatch and Trustee at HWMK. His key priorities are social justice and excellent public services that are driven by service users.
Vaasavi Singh
Vaasavi Singh is originally from Uttar Pradesh, India and now lives in Milton Keynes. She has an MSc in Finance and Management from Cranfield University, and has a career in finance that includes government banking and accountancy. Vaasavi has personal experience of a long-term health condition which has informed her passion for supporting those who have experienced trauma and stress. She is a volunteer at the Art of Living, an NGO which offers self-development programs and tools to eliminate stress and gain inner peace, happiness and well-being.
Michaela Tait
Michaela’s passion is engaging with patients, families and Carers as well as the wider members of the public to ensure their voice is heard in improving and development of health and care services. Michaela’s non-NHS roles have been related to healthcare where she has undertaken customer service , marketing and consultancy work. Michaela has been member of the Council of Governors at Milton Keynes Hospital and a school governor in Milton Keynes. Michaela is a qualified coach and holds qualifications in marketing and public relations. Michaela has lived in Milton Keynes since 1977 and is married with two grown children.
Healthwatch Milton Keynes CIO Standing Procedures
While the HWMK Constitution lays down the rationale, principles of governance and legal status of HWMK and the Terms of Reference for its Board of Trustees spell out the Board’s role, functions and responsibilities, these Standing Procedures provide a number of supplementary organisational and operational rules and guidelines, designed to ensure that the Board’s work is conducted efficiently, effectively and for the benefit of the organisation’s members.
Board of Trustee Meetings
If you're interested in attending a Board meeting, you can find out when the next one is happening and reserve your space.
The public and Healthwatch Milton Keynes members are welcome to submit questions to the Board for discussion.
We publish the minutes of Board meetings on our website.
