New MiP chair Geoff Underwood has warned that NHS managers “are certain to come under fire” during “a very challenging time in health and care” over the next two years, but promised that MiP will “shout loudly in support of our members.”

Underwood (pictured), a programme director for the South Central & West Commissioning Support Unit, and MiP National Committee member for South West England, was elected MiP chair at the first meeting of the union’s new National Committee. He takes over from David Cain, who stood down after four years as chair at the end of 2021. Clare Bannister (North East) and Jayne Thomas (North West) were elected as vice chairs.

A national committee member since 2016, Underwood said he was “excited” to take on the union’s top elected position: “I want to see us grow MiP’s profile and grow our membership, there are so many managers we still haven’t reached yet. The next two years are going to be a very challenging time in health and care when great management and leadership will be vital and our members are certain to come under fire.

“I want to make sure MiP shouts loudly in support of our members and continues the work we have done so much of recently on promoting positive culture and behaviour,” he added.

A career general manager, Geoff has previously worked for University Hospitals Bristol and North Bristol NHS Trust, where he planned the trust’s move to a new site, before joining the CSU. He was an MiP link member before joining the National Committee in 2016, where he has focused on boosting MiP’s profile and promoting positive management cultures.

Clare Bannister, re-elected as on of MiP’s two vice chairs in January, is head of clinical services for the North East Ambulance Service. She has been MiP’s National Committee rep for the North East since 2018, helping to set up the MiP’s North Summit and Women’s Network, as well as an MiP network for ambulance service managers. She has particular interests in staff wellbeing, workforce issues and change management.

Jayne Thomas, a senior manager at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, was also elected as MiP vice chair. She is MiP’s new National Committee rep for the North West and has been an MiP link member since 2012. She also represented MiP on the Executive Committee of the FDA, one of MiP’s two parent unions, from 2016 to 2018.

• You can see the full list of National Committee members here or visit our governance page to find out more about the committee’s work. If you are interested in representing one of the areas with vacancies on the committee, contact MiP head office: info@miphealth.org.uk.