Two people in wheelchairs on a cliff overlooking a coastal view
Two people in wheelchairs on a cliff overlooking a coastal view

Our Board

Chair and Trustees


Richard Crompton, QPM (Chair)
Read Richard’s One Page Profile

Richard is committed to high quality public services, having had many years’ experience of police leadership at the highest level, including as Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police.

Non-Executive leadership roles include Chair of the Plymouth Hospitals Trust and Chair of Safeguarding Adults Boards in Somerset and Wiltshire.

He is currently Board Member of Torbay & South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and a Trustee of Lifeworks Devon.

Richard is the father of an adult daughter with Downs Syndrome.

He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in the 2011 New Year’s Honours List

Angela McNab
Read Angela’s One Page Profile

Picture of Angela

Angela began her professional life in clinical roles, including as a speech therapist working with people with learning disabilities and autism.

She has since held a number of policy and leadership roles across health and social care, regulation and the Civil Service, including as Chief Executive of NHS bodies and Trusts, Director of Public Health Delivery and Chief Executive of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority.

Angela is currently Senior Responsible Officer (Mental Health) for NHS England and holds a number of advisory roles on public health policy and strategic support, and she sits on the Kent & Medway Integrated Care Board.

Neil England
Read Neil’s One Page Profile

Neil has spent his career in senior management positions in a variety of different organisations in the private, public, not-for-profit, and non-governmental public organisation sectors. He has also worked on major UK national critical infrastructure projects. 

Neil moved to Somerset to take up a position in Governance & Compliance at the New Nuclear Power Station construction project at Hinkley Point and has served as a non-executive director of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce as well as a Trustee of Discovery. 

A lover of the outdoors, when Neil is not in the mountains of Wales or the Lake District, he can be found with his camera in the wonderful Somerset nature reserves or the magnificent open spaces of the Quantock hills, Exmoor, and Dartmoor. 

Rachel Ferris
Read Rachel’s One Page Profile

Rachel joined the Discovery Board in January 2022.  During her 38 year career she worked in the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry with roles in commissioning, hospital management and market access for new medicines.

She held a number of leadership roles in the health sector including working on implementing the National Burn Care Review and setting up a range of different networks for specialised health services.

She is Mum to a young autistic woman and is committed to helping people with autism and a learning disability get the best from life.

Simon O’Mahony
Read Simon’s One Page Profile

A Marketing specialist, Simon has over 20 years board level or senior management experience at some of the largest businesses in the Southwest. He has lived in Somerset for over 15 years and now runs a marketing consultancy business.

Harry Tavare
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Chris Carson
Read Chris’ One Page Profile

Michelle Caine
Read Michelle’s One Page Profile

Nick Heckscher
Read Nick’s One Page Profile

A register of interests is available via email from the company secretary: Jo Greenbank


Our Executive Team


Helen Orford – Managing Director
Read Helen’s One Page Profile

Lisa Evans – Finance Director
Read Lisa’s One Page Profile

Samantha Smith – HR Director
Read Samantha’s One Page Profile

Alex Seddon – Head of Supported Employment & Community Enterprise
Read Alex’s One Page Profile

Trina Bright Head of Coaching and Practice Support
Read Trina’s One Page Profile