Suzanne Rankin
Prior to taking up the position of Chief Executive with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board in early 2022, Suzanne was formerly the Chief Executive of Ashford and St. Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, first joining the Trust as Chief Nurse in 2010 before becoming Chief Executive in 2014.
Suzanne started her nursing and management career with the Royal Navy, Queen Alexandra’s Royal Naval Nursing Service qualifying as a Registered General Nurse in 1990. Following attendance at Britannia Royal Naval College Suzanne commissioned and continued to serve at home and overseas including a number of operational deployments.
Suzanne graduated with an MA in Defence Studies following Advanced Command and Staff training from the Joint Services Command and Staff College in 2005 and was appointed to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) within the Defence Medical Services Directorate. She provided staff support and advice to the Defence Nursing Advisor and the Surgeon General on nursing strategy, leadership and professional matters.
In 2008, Suzanne departed the Royal Navy to embark upon a career in the NHS and joined NHS South Central Strategic Health Authority as Deputy Chief Nurse within the Clinical Standards Directorate, before starting her career at Ashford and St Peter’s NHS Foundation Trust.
Suzanne has provided strategic leadership to a talented and diverse multi-disciplinary team in the provision of acute and specialist care to the people of Northwest Surrey and beyond taking steps to improve infrastructure and embracing technology to enable the Trust’s strategy.
As part of this role, Suzanne led the Trust’s work as a key partner in the North West Surrey Integrated Health and Care Partnership with a focus on addressing the wider determinants of health and wellbeing and supporting the development of thriving communities, relationships and resilience. She has also been instrumental in co-creating the "right" culture, enabling the delivery of the very highest quality care with a focus on continuous learning, development, and improvement.