Corporate report

UKHSA Advisory Board: Associate Non-executive extensions

Updated 12 March 2024

1. Purpose of the paper

The purpose of the paper is to invite the Board to approve the Associate Non-Executive Members extensions.

2. Recommendation

In accordance with the power at section 5.14 of the UKHSA Framework Document, the Advisory Board is asked to approve the extensions of the following Associate Non-Executive members:

• Marie Gabriel for a two year extension to 24 April 2026
• Raj Long for a two year extension to 24 April 2026
• Simon Blagden for a one year extension to 24 April 2025

Associate Non-Executive Members

Our three Associate Non-Executive Members were appointed for two year terms which end on 24 April 2024. They can be extended at the discretion of the UKHSA Advisory Board. All three have been very good and active contributors in their two years and after discussion with Clara Swinson, UKHSA’s Department of Health and Social Care Senior Sponsor, I am happy to recommend all three have their terms extended. Simon Blagden will continue as a member of the Audit and Risk Committee, Marie Gabriel on Equalities, Ethics and Communities, and Raj Long on Science and Research and Equalities, Ethics and Communities.

I am keen to create better phasing in the Board’s tenure profile. As such I recommend that Simon Blagden is given a one year extension, with Marie Gabriel and Raj Long awarded two years. All three are happy with this. Included at Annexe A are the most recent declarations of interest for Simon, Marie and Raj.

After an initial 18 months of high volatility and fragility in UKHSA’s creation, downsizing, stabilisation, and development the proposed extensions to the Associate Non-Executive membership provides a very good balance of skills, experience, and diversity with a critical level of continuity.

Ian Peters

Chairman                                                 

March 2024

3. Annex A: Declarations of Interest for Associate Non-Executive members

3.1 Simon Blagden

• Director and shareholder, Avre Partnership Limited - political donations to the Conservative and Unionist party (registered with the Electoral Commission)
• Director and shareholder, Larkspur International Limited, consulting and lobbying – no potential conflicts declared
• Director, Building Digital UK, national broadband roll out
• Director and shareholder, Laffe Limited, food manufacture
• Director, the Naval and Military Club

Date of declaration: 28 January 2024

3.2 Marie Gabriel

• Chair, NHS North-East London Integrated Care System
• Chair, NHS Race and Health Observatory and via this role Trustee, NHS Confederation (which hosts the Observatory)
• Trustee, East London Business Alliance
• Trustee, West Ham United Foundation
• Commissioner; Commission on Health and Prosperity, for the Institute for Public Policy Research
• Local Government Association, Peer Associate

Date of declaration: 19 January 2024

3.3 Raj Long

• Employee (current), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Ex-employee and shareholder, Bristol-Myers Squibb – 14 years ago
• Ex-employee and shareholder, Novartis Pharma AG – 12 years ago
• Strategic Advisory for Sub-Saharan Africa Public Health Vx Manufacturing for Equitable Access BioNTech Global Health
• Advisor, Gates Venture – EC (IMI) Non-Product – IMI EPND (Neuro Biomarker Platform)
• Co-lead regulatory, World Health Organisation – Sustainable COVAX Manufacturing Strategy in Africa.
• EU approved Expert ECAS # EX2015D236239. Expert reviewer, European Commission Innovative Health Initiatives -Non-Executive Member, UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

Date of declaration: 5 February 2024