Linda also co-chairs the Health & Wellbeing Board for the city and Chairs the Leeds Innovation District Partnership, a partnership between Leeds Teaching Hospitals, the University of Leeds and Leeds City Council, Leeds Trinity University, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds City College, West Yorkshire Combined Authority and private sector. Linda has led the ambition to create a world-class hub for research, innovation and entrepreneurialism for the city. An exciting part of this will be the development of the new state of art hospital build for Leeds, and the Old Medical School as a Health Tech Innovation Hub.
Alongside Sir Chris Wormald, Linda worked closely on the new Leeds Health and Social Care Hub which has been launched to help improve Health and Social Care Policy Makers, alongside the Civil Service, the Thirlwall Inquiry, NHS Leadership, Performance and Patient Select Committee and the Health and Social Care Select Committee.
By rotation, Linda Chairs the Committee in Common for West Yorkshire Acute Association of Trusts (WYAAT) – the collaboration of acute providers across the region. She also facilitates the Chair’s network of the Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Chairs Forum of NHS Trusts for the NHSE Regional Office.
Alongside General Sir Gordon Messenger, Linda led the Leadership and Management Review in the NHS, and the seven recommendations have been accepted by the Government.
Linda is part of the Department of Health and Social Care 10 Year Plan People Workstream.
Linda advocates partnership working, bringing together leaders from across the region and beyond to facilitate closer working between health and social care, building economic investment in Leeds and the wider City region.
Linda is passionate about the Diversity on Boards and gender balance, and was elected Vice Chair and Senior Independent Director (SID) and Chair of the Rem Committee, of the NHS Provider Board, representing acute trusts.
In 2020 Linda was made a Dame Commander for her services to healthcare, which spans almost 30 years, and in recognition of her unbroken contribution to the community. This honour also recognises her tireless commitment to address the under representation of women in senior roles across corporate Britain and in public services.
Linda is also a Deputy Lord Lieutenant for West Yorkshire and was awarded a CBE in 2013 for her work in the business community in Yorkshire, an OBE in 2003 for her work in Bradford, along with an Honorary doctorate by the University of Leeds. She also won the Institute of Directors Dr Neville Bain Memorial Award for Excellence in Director and Board Practice in 2019, which was the first time this was awarded to the public sector. Linda was also awarded the Sunday Times 2025 Non Executive Director Awards in the category for Not-For-Profit/Public Service organisation category.
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