National Voices appoints Hannah Davies as its new Chief Executive

National Voices, the leading coalition of health and social care charities in England, is delighted to announce the appointment of Hannah Davies as its new Chief Executive. Hannah will join the organisation in early February 2027, bringing more than eight years of leadership experience at Healthwatch Leeds and a strong track record of ensuring people’s experiences inform the services and decisions that affect them.

Hannah has led Healthwatch Leeds in its work to ensure people have a voice in local health and care services, and in particular those people and communities experiencing health inequalities, helping to bring people’s experiences to the attention of those who plan, commission and deliver services. Before joining Healthwatch Leeds, she was Director at Forum Central, the voice of the health and care third sector in Leeds. Her career spans the private, public and voluntary sectors, underpinned by a commitment to services that listen to people, understand their needs and work in partnership with them.

Her appointment comes at an important time for National Voices. Over recent years, the organisation has expanded its membership and reach, strengthening its ability to represent the experiences of people and communities most affected by health inequalities. It has also developed a growing portfolio of commissioned work, drawing on the insight of its members and people with lived experience to help shape more inclusive, person-centred health and care.

Hannah will lead the organisation through its next phase of development, building on this momentum while ensuring that National Voices can respond sustainably to growing demand. A key priority will be to strengthen the systems and ways of working needed to support the organisation’s continued development, while preserving the collaborative, inclusive culture at the heart of its work.

Helen Buckingham, Chair of the National Voices, said:

“I am delighted to be welcoming Hannah to the role of Chief Executive of National Voices. Her track record in Leeds exemplifies her commitment to our priorities of ending unequal access to services, ensuring that co-production is central to decision-making in health and care, and that success is measured through what matters to the people who use services. As a Board we are excited to be working with her, and with the whole team of staff and Lived Experience Partners as National Voices continues to drive change both nationally and locally.

“I also want to pay tribute to the tremendous impact Jacob Lant leaves behind him, and on behalf of the Board to wish him every success in his new role.”

Hannah Davies, incoming Chief Executive of National Voices, said:

“I am really excited to be joining National Voices at such an important time for health and care. As the system faces significant challenges and change, ensuring that people’s experiences inform decisions and lead to meaningful improvements has never been more important.

“Leading Healthwatch Leeds for more than eight years has been a real privilege and shown me consistently how working with people and communities is the only way to work to achieve equitable services and outcomes for all and lead to sustainable health and care services too. I’m really looking forward to bringing that experience to National Voices, working with its members, staff and Lived Experience Partners to strengthen the influence of people’s voices on national policy and help create a more equitable health and care system.”

Jacob Lant, outgoing Chief Executive of National Voices, said:

“I’ve known Hannah for the best part of a decade and I can think of no one better equipped to take National Voices forward. She has been a one of the stand-out leaders in the local Healthwatch network and through her strong partnership skills with NHS and Local Authority colleagues, she has helped to build a culture in Leeds around engaging people and communities that is truly special. I very much look forward to continuing to work with Hannah as I move into my new role as National Director for Patient Experience.”

For further information, please contact Catherine Emmanuele, Communications Officer, National Voices on 020 3176 0738 or info@nationalvoices.org.uk