Bunker To Boardroom Series : Martha muses with Patrick Vernon OBE
Bunker To Boardroom Series : Martha muses with Patrick Vernon OBE…
How do you shift from being labelled “educationally subnormal” to being a Chair overseeing a £4 billion budget?
Professor Patrick Vernon OBE FrHistS did it. A dear friend and colleague who agreed to a quick musing with moi!
1.What got you out of the bunker of “educationally subnormal” to your first board role?
I became a student governor on the board of my FE college whilst doing A Levels. Together with another student governor we represented over 700 students. I was 18.
2. What was the skill or way of being you had to consciously learn/adopt?
Active listening and knowing when and how to intervene.
3. How many board roles have you had?
Not counted them to be honest. Minimum of say 20. I have held numerous trustee and non-executive roles.
4. What board roles have given you the biggest sense of legacy and biggest sense of accomplishment?
Being the Director of Brent Health Action Zone for 5 years. It was a partnership board between the council, NHS, business, police and the voluntary sector. I was part of the executive team at the NHS as well. A tangible output was the creation of the Chalk Hill Centre – co-created with local residents. They named the main room after me – Vernon Hall. People still talk about the Brent Health Action Zone.
My biggest sense of accomplishment was being appointed the Interim Chair Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) – overseeing a budget of £5 billion. Accountable for NHS services across Birmingham and Solihull, covering 10 NHS organisations and GP practices.
5. What helped you leapfrog to such a big role?
I was invited by the outgoing Chair to apply. I was Vice-Chair at the time so already contributing. Prior to that I had sat on at least 5 NHS boards over the last 20 years so had confidence and understanding in how the NHS operated.
My first NHS board role one was with the East London City Health Authority when I was Regional Director for MIND (4-5 years). This also helped me get a senior managerial position in the NHS later on.
6. Please complete the following sentence.
Do not become a board member if….. you think it is simply adding something to your CV. It is more than that.
7. Where would you encourage someone to start?
Cut your teeth on a small charity. Start with your passion. I sat on various arts committee when I did not have a lot of management and leadership experience. I did not start attending leadership programmes until I was a Regional Director for the mental health charity Mind.
Watch out for Patrick in the media and national television in the upcoming weeks celebrating the 75th Anniversary of Windrush.