Non-Executive Members

Kelvin Blake
Kelvin Blake

Kelvin is an experienced non-executive director and board level leader. Up until very recently he led some of the largest and complex programmes for BT and their customers and also sat as a board member on BT’s South West regional board. He has experience in the NHS having spent six years on the board of University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.

Kelvin is also currently a Non-Executive Director of BrisDoc and of the Bristol Chamber of Commerce & Initiative (BCCI). He is also a charity trustee of WECIL and Second Step.

Kelly Macfarlane
Kelly Macfarlane

Kelly is Managing Director of HWM Global, a UK company specialising in the design and manufacture of monitoring and telemetry equipment for utility networks. Kelly has extensive experience in customer operations, strategy, business transformation and commercial leadership in senior executive roles within the Water and Telecommunications industries including Thames Water and Openreach. 

Tim Gregory
Tim Gregory

Tim is an experienced director having worked in a range of organisations, including the Ministry of Defence and County Councils. Tim has experience of leading and managing large organisations including the delivery of critical operational services such as Highways and Waste as well as all the corporate services, including ICT, finance, HR and property departments.

Tim finished his last role as Corporate Director – Place at Nottinghamshire County Council in December 2016 where he was responsible for 4000+ staff and led change programmes to drive improvements and efficiencies.  These included the introduction of new integrated IT systems and process improvement and the establishment of 2 innovative joint ventures.  Tim also has extensive experience of working in and with central government through his role a corporate director and as a Royal Marines Brigadier when working in the Ministry of Defence.

Sarah Purdy
Professor Sarah Purdy

Sarah is Vice-Chair of the board at NBT and is a GP and clinical academic by background. Until 2022 Sarah was Pro Vice-Chancellor Student Experience at the University of Bristol and previously she led Bristol Medical School.  Sarah has held leadership positions including as a non-executive director and trustee in a number of organisations including the wider NHS, charities and a multi-academy trust. She is a member of the Barts Charity Grant Committee. 

Sarah practiced as a GP from 1991 to 2022 and was awarded an OBE for services to general practice in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours. 

Richard Gaunt
Richard Gaunt

Richard is an experienced Board Member and Audit & Risk Committee Chair (most recently with Alliance Homes), with other appointments including Chair of the Business Services and Remuneration Committees and Board Vice-Chair at City of Bristol College and a governor at Colston's Girls' School..

He brings a broad range of skills including significant strength in finance, strategy and treasury. Prior to his retirement in 2009, Richard was an Audit Partner at KPMG, and he remains a Fellow of the Society of Chartered Accountants England and Wales.

Dr Jane Khawaja
Dr Jane Khawaja

Jane is Bristol Innovations Programme Director at the University of Bristol.  

At the University, she is a member of the Board of Trustees and University Court and she chairs the University’s Anti-Racism Working Group.

Jane is a member of the Bristol City Funds Investment Advisory Committee, a Director on the Bristol Future Talent Partnership Board and a Director on the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation Board. She is also a commissioner on Bristol City Council’s Commission on Race Equality.

Jane has a degree in Physics and PhD in Plasma Physics. She started her career working for Applied Materials, a global leader in the semiconductor industry. She then worked for the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, the UK's main agency for funding research in engineering and the physical sciences, before joining the University of Bristol.

Jane has a very keen interest in equity, diversity and inclusion and is passionate about addressing the root cause of racial inequity and ensuring race equity is embedded into policies and processes.