Sim Scavazza appointed as Vice-chair of Imperial College Healthcare
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust has appointed Sim Scavazza as its new Vice-chair. Sim has been a non-executive director at the Trust since September 2020 and brings over 30 years’ experience in higher education, the third sector and retail to the board.
Sim is a strong advocate for inclusive leadership and has chaired the Trust’s People Committee since it was established in 2021, helping to drive significant improvements in equity and representation. She was also an advisor to NHS Providers on race until 2024, mentors aspiring leaders, and chairs the Seacole Group - the national network of NHS non-executive directors from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds. During Covid-19, Sim trained and served as a volunteer for Imperial Health Charity, to support the Trust during the pandemic.
Sim is the Deputy Chair of the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West NHS Integrated Care Board, a role she has had since May 2022, where she also stepped up to Acting Chair from April 2023 to September 2024. She is also a non-executive director at London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust, another member of the North West London Acute Provider Collaborative
Beyond the NHS, Sim is a trustee for Smart Works and the National Saturday Club and previously served as Deputy Chair of Governors at the University of the Arts London. She is also Chair of the OIA - The Office of the Independent Adjudicator for England and Wales.
Sim succeeds Bob Alexander OBE, who was Vice-chair from 2022 and interim Chair for a year before that. Bob first joined the Trust as a non-executive director in 2020 and will now continue in that role until the end of his term in August 2026.
Professor Tim Orchard, Chief executive of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, said: “Sim has brought invaluable experience and insight to our Trust as a non-executive director over the past five years, helping us especially to become a much more inclusive place to work. We are really looking forward to the even greater impact she will have in her new role, ensuring we continue our own improvement journey as well as playing our full role as a member of the new acute provider group for north west London.
“We are hugely grateful to Bob Alexander for his leadership and support as Vice-chair, a period particularly marked by change. He has helped us navigate the Covid-19 pandemic and its aftermath and to collaborate ever more closely with our acute provider partners.”
Matthew Swindells continues as Chair in common for all four acute trusts that make up the North West London Acute Provider Collaborative. While remaining separate organisations, the four trusts will come together formally as a group from 1 April 2026.
Matthew Swindells, Chair in common of the North West London Acute Provider Collaborative, said: “I’m delighted that Sim will be stepping into the role of Vice-chair. She has already made a significant impact through her leadership on inclusion and her deep commitment to supporting our people and communities. I look forward to working closely with Sim as we continue to strengthen collaboration across north west London. I’d also like to say a huge thank you to Bob Alexander for his steady leadership over the past six years across his roles as non-executive director, interim Chair and Vice-chair.”
