Meet the Team

Norfolk Primary Care Board

Our Board provides strategic leadership, governance, and oversight, ensuring we deliver on our mission with integrity and purpose. Bringing together Executive Directors, Practice Non-Executive Directors, and Independent Non-Executive Directors, they offer a wealth of expertise and diverse perspectives to shape our vision, strengthen decision-making, and drive accountability.

 

Pete Lawson- Board Chair
Pete is the Board Chair. He was a GP Partner in Aylsham for 31 years and has been Chair of NPC since it was established in 2017, helping guide its expansion whilst continuing to focus on issues that are important to general practice.
Pete is a GP trainer and tutor for medical students from the UEA and Cambridge University.
James Leeming- Chief Executive
James is our Chief Executive and is responsible for leading the organisation and developing system wide relationships. James is the CQC Registered Manager.
James has been working in the NHS for over 15 years in a range of senior managerial roles. This experience has helped develop NPC into a vibrant organisation supporting primary care and benefiting patients in Norfolk and the wider system area.
Julie Cave- Deputy Chief Executive
Julie is our Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer, and is responsible for the implementation and delivery of new and existing services. Julie joined NPC in 2020 and has over 40 years’ experience in healthcare principally in finance and operational delivery and has worked in NHS trusts in the Norfolk and Waveney area.
Julie is passionate about improving healthcare for patients and believes that everyone makes a difference whatever their role.
Rachel Arkieson- Chief Compliance Officer
Rachel is the Chief Compliance Officer and Head of People and acts as the Company Secretary for NPC and is the Senior Information Risk Owner. She joined NPC in 2017 following clinical and leadership roles in primary care.
Rachel’s role is to help NPC meet it’s regulatory and legal responsibilities on behalf of practice members as well as acting as a conduit between the board and its shareholders. In addition to this, Rachel is NPC’s head of people, supporting a growing workforce.
Ben Hogston- Chief Operating Officer of Primary Care
Ben is the Chief Operating Officer of NPC and has more than 15 years’ experience working across the NHS. Beginning his career in NHS commissioning Ben has since built a broad leadership portfolio spanning primary care, community services, urgent care, operational delivery and large scale transformation. His experience includes leading complex programmes, developing new models of care, improving access to services and bringing organisations together around shared priorities.
Ben has worked extensively with general practices, Primary Care Networks and system partners, and is recognised for turning strategy into practical delivery.
He has a strong track record of service growth, partnership development and creating sustainable models that improve outcomes for patients and strengthen local services.
Having grown up in the Middle East, Ben also brings a wider international perspective and a strong appreciation of the importance of relationships, culture and collaboration. He is passionate about the role primary care can play in shaping the future of health and care.
Emma Smith-- Chief Clinical Officer
Emma is Chief Clinical Officer of NPC and she is responsible for overseeing clinical governance, regulatory compliance, quality assurance, and patient safety across the organisation’s services. Since joining NPC in 2020, she has brought more than 35 years of healthcare experience and a steadfast commitment to delivering safe, effective, and high-quality care.
Emma holds several key leadership roles within the organisation, including CQC Nominated Individual for Regulated Activities, Caldicott Guardian, Safeguarding Lead, Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Lead, and Freedom to Speak Up Guardian. Through these responsibilities, she ensures that the highest standards of care, compliance, and clinical excellence are maintained throughout NPC.
Passionate about professional development, Emma is dedicated to creating a culture of continuous learning and improvement. She champions education, training, and career development opportunities, ensuring colleagues are supported to grow their skills, achieve their potential, and deliver the best possible outcomes for patients and service users.
Wayne Bolt- Vice Chair
Wayne is the Deputy Chair and sits on the Finance and Performance Committee and Remuneration Committee. He is the Managing Partner at Drayton Medical Practice and has been a director of NPC since it was set up in 2017.

Wayne has a keen interest in how organisations can make best use of technology innovation and better use of data to help improve patient care.
Dr Alan Lee- Non Executive Director
Alan sits on NPC’s Quality and Safety Committee and is a senior partner at Drayton Medical Practice. He has been a GP for more than 20 years, and during this time has worked with primary care trusts and CCGs in a number of commissioning roles.
Alan is committed to the sustainability of local general practice and is interested in exploring new ways of system working.
Dr Satish Singh- Non Executive Director
Satish has been a GP in Norfolk for 18 years of which the last 16 years have been as a GP partner at Staithe Surgery, Stalham. Satish is committed to ensing the future of primary care and fostering close working relationships between practices for the benefit of patients living in our local communities.
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