Our Board

Mike Harris is a Consultant Psychiatrist who has spent most of his working life in Nottingham as a general psychiatrist, a forensic psychiatrist, medical and operational director and chief executive.

He has been chair of Improving Lives since it was formed as a charity in 2012 and has previously been chair of Nottingham Mind.

Mike is also a trustee of the Lucy Faithfull Foundation and a trustee and non executive director of St. Andrews Healthcare.

Ruth joined the Improving Lives Board in August 2020.  She retired in 2018 after almost 40 years working in the public sector, predominantly in finance in the NHS.

She was a Director of Finance in NHS organisations across Nottinghamshire for over 20 years and was Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust for 4 years until her retirement.

Ola has lived in Nottingham since 1987. He has been in his current post as a consultant psychiatrist  at Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust since 1993.

With 2 children there is very little free time but he does regularly play tennis with enthusiasm rather than skill.

Kayleigh joined the Board in March 2024 as a Legal Trustee.  

She completed her Law Degree and Master’s in Law at Nottingham Trent University where she now supports students through volunteering as part of their Alumni Scheme. She is an advocate for raising awareness of mental health and is very proud to assist Improving Lives. 

Kayleigh is a qualified solicitor who worked in medical negligence for two years. She currently works as a Senior Crown Prosecutor for the CPS in Nottingham where she has been since July 2024

An accomplished senior manager with a proven track record in driving quality improvement and strategic leadership in healthcare services. I am deeply committed to enhancing patient outcomes.

My expertise encompasses quality improvement, operational management, clinical governance, strategic planning, and managing complex healthcare projects. I bring a strategic mindset, leadership skills, and a commitment to advancing the mission of organisations that prioritise the wellbeing and support of their communities.

I am passionate about fostering continuous improvement and collaborating with stakeholders to achieve sustainable growth and impactful change.

Holly is an award-winning Substance Misuse Practitioner, Mental Health Wellbeing Practitioner, Freelance Creative and Occupational Therapist, currently working within Crisis Triage. 

Holly is a naturally creative thinker with degrees in Advertising and Occupational Therapy. She is designing and leading innovative, trauma-informed art therapy projects for sex workers, focusing on creating authentic, dynamic narratives.

Holly’s passion for breaking down barriers to recovery and reducing stigma has made her a prominent advocate in the field. She has represented her work in national media, including BBC Women’s Hour, The Guardian, VICE, and BBC Radio.