Michelle Grimwood lands role as Public Appointments Ambassador

LOCAL resident, Michelle Grimwood, non-executive director of Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, has landed a role as a Public Appointments Ambassador in a new Government programme led by the Government Equalities Office and Cabinet Office to encourage more people to apply for public appointments. The Public Appointments Ambassador programme was launched at a high profile event in Whitehall on 14 January by Government Equalities Officer Minister of State, Maria Eagle MP.


Michelle Grimwood has been a non-executive director with Northamptonshire Healthcare since 2003. As a non-executive director she works alongside the chairman and executive directors and oversees the performance of the trust. Michelle’s experience of working in the voluntary sector and her good knowledge of mental health services is reflected in her non-executive director role.

Michelle has extensive knowledge in equal opportunities and equalities and has run an equality and diversity training and consultancy service.

Public Bodies make decisions that affect our day-to-day lives, but too few women, people from ethnic minorities and disabled people sit on boards like the Arts Council, the governing bodies of local hospitals and the competition commission.

Michelle Grimwood said: “It’s an honour to be selected as an ambassador for this campaign. I have found being a public appointee a hugely rewarding experience. I hope my experience will inspire others from different backgrounds with skills to bring to public boards to come forward.”

Michelle Grimwood joins over 180 ambassadors, who are current public appointees from across the UK, including playwright and Deputy Chair of the British Museum, Bonnie Greer, and Peter Cooke, Vice-chair of the Independent Living Fund. As an ambassador, Michelle will show why it is vital to have people with a wide range of skills and experience involved in the important decisions public boards make, playing a key role in highlighting the benefits of serving on a board and encouraging more people from under represented groups to apply.

Two new public appointment mentoring schemes were also launched at the event.

To find out more about public appointments, current vacancies and how to apply for new mentoring programmes, visit http://www.direct.gov.uk/publicappointments