Sarah Clarke appointed NNPCF Co-Chair as Mrunal Sisodia steps down
We are delighted to announce that Sarah Clarke, steering group member for the South East, has been elected as NNPCF Co-Chair by the board at a meeting on Tuesday 25 April. Sarah has served on the steering group for the last three years.
This means that after seven years our co chair, Mrunal Sisodia is stepping down from his role as NNPCF Co-Chair and East of England Steering Group member. Mrunal has been on the steering group since July 2016 and has served two full terms. He will be stepping own from both roles at the end of July.
Until then, he will be working with Sarah and Tina Emery, joint Co-Chair, to ensure a clear hand over of responsibilities.
The NNPCF will be contacting the East of England region to recruit a new regional steering group member later this week.
On her appointment Sarah said,
“It is a such an honour to have the opportunity to represent our families as the Co-Chair of the NNPCF. Mrunal and Tina made an amazing team and I hope that Tina and I will have that same strength. I am grateful that we have a network, of wonderful, committed parent carer forums, who never cease to inspire me with the work that they do. The NNPCF also has a dedicated Steering Group and Management Team whose support for my appointment has been very touching and I can’t wait to get started.”
On stepping down Mrunal stated,
“I have very mixed feelings about stepping down from the NNPCF steering group. On one hand it has been such a pleasure and a privilege working with such a passionate, committed and positive group of people and second to being a dad, I suspect this will be the most important role I ever have. On the other hand, I know that after serving my two terms, seven years on the NNPCF steering group it is time for me to move on – the organisation will continue to grow and do even greater work without me.
On that note, I am so pleased that at yesterday’s NNPCF steering group meeting, we elected Sarah to take over the post of Co-Chair from August. I have worked with Sarah for the last three years and I have every confidence that she will move the NNPCF onwards building on the work done by all the steering group members and cochairs that have preceded her.
I will be working with Sarah and the NNPCF steering group and management team over the next three months to ensure a smooth handover and I know that I won’t be missed.”
Co-Chair Tina Emery added,
“I have had the absolute pleasure of working with Mrunal since 2017. He has inspired and taught the team loads over his tenure, offering his insights into the political world like no other.
Whilst he says he won’t be missed, he will.
When you take on the role of Co-Chair, you worry that you will leave the NNPCF in a worse place than where you started, Mrunal you need not have worried. I am in awe of what we have achieved together as a team, we now have a strong steering group and management teams and you were the driver of that change. We as an organisation are more independent than ever and we thank you for having that vision and drawing the team together to start that journey. We are definitely in a better place now.
Your new role in the East of England Ambulance service NHS Trust are really lucky to have your vision and your drive and we will wish you well.
I am really pleased that Sarah will be joining us as the new Co-Chair, she has experience in the steering group. Together with forums, Steering group and management team, we will strive forward with the coproduction message, working with partners across all agencies.”
We will be starting the process to replace Mrunal as the East of England steering group member ASAP.