EIJB Board Members
Councillor Conor Savage
Chair, Edinburgh Integration Joint Board/Councillor for Colinton/Fairmilehead
Biography coming soon
Ralph Roberts
Vice Chair, Edinburgh Integration Joint Board
Ralph Roberts is Non- Executive Director on NHS Lothian Board, that he joined in July 2025 for a 4 year term. He was previously a career NHS manager having worked for NHS Scotland for more than 35 years. He began his NHS career in Edinburgh as a trainee and then a manager at the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh. He subsequently worked in managerial roles and as a Director in the Scottish Borders. He spent the last 14 years of his career as Chief Executive, firstly in NHS Shetland and latterly in NHS Borders. In these roles he was closely involved in working with Integration Joint Boards and Health & Social Care partnership as well as Community Planning partnerships and local authorities.
Ralph is committed to effective service planning and continuous improvement to services as well as a passion for creating a positive working environment for staff.
Outside of work, he is a proud father of 3 girls and enjoys musical theatre, singing, golf and football.
Philip Allenby
Member of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board
A Scottish Solicitor and Notary Public, Phil has over 20 years’ international legal and business experience, and was Chief Counsel, Governance and Compliance, Europe, BT Plc.
He is a lecturer and senior tutor at the University of Glasgow School of Law. Phil holds degrees in mathematics, information technology and law.
Councillor Alan Beal
Councillor for Corstorphine/Murrayfield
Alan was elected as a LibDem Councillor to Edinburgh City Council in May 2022, and, as well as the EIJB sits on the Policy & Sustainability Committee and is Vice Convener of the LVJB. He is on the Management Committee of the Corstorphine Community Centre and the Board of CEC Holdings.
He has worked in the energy efficiency sector for over 30 years, which included working for Fuel Poverty charities and work as a Data Manager and software designer. He was Vice Convener of the Right to Warmth Campaign. In a voluntary capacity, he has worked with the homeless and those on Edinburgh’s streets since 1999, so he appreciates the demand and the great health needs of those who find themselves there. Despite taking successful, initial steps on a medical career he did not to pursue it, instead working in energy modelling and consultancy. He is a qualified systems analyst and, as well as a Physics degree, has Masters degrees in Environmental Management and Building Services Engineering.
Hannah Cairns
Professional Advisor/Chief Allied Health Professional, Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership
Biography coming soon
Dr Andrew Coull
Professional Advisor/Registered medical practitioner (not providing primary medical services)
Biography coming soon.
Bruce Crawford
Third Sector Representative
Bruce represents the third sector at the board of the EIJB, as he is Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Voluntary Organisations’ Council (EVOC) which is a partner in Edinburgh’s Third Sector Interface. He was appointed to this role in December 2024. He brings a breadth of strategic leadership experience to the role, as a CEO, Trustee and Volunteer.
His background includes 23 years in chief executive roles with national governing bodies of sport. He has also spent five years as a management consultant, supporting charities and social enterprises, providing advice in a range of areas including governance, strategy, policy, change management, diversity, risk management, business planning and sustainability. As a volunteer he has spent 14 years in the education sector and currently chairs a charity the James Gillespie’s Trust. Previous roles include 18 years as a trustee then chair of a national disability charity, two years on the board of a national arthritis charity, was appointed for 5 years to a UK Government Industry Advisory Committee and appointed for three years a member of sustainability commission of an international sports federation.
Christine Laverty
Chief Officer, Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership
Christine took up her position of Chief Officer for the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board (IJB) and Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) on 10 March 2025. Prior to that Christine had been the Chief Officer at the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership.
Christine has spent all her career working in public sector health and social care and is committed to delivering high quality integrated health and social care services, striving to provide better outcomes for the people and communities we serve.
Christine started her career in the 90s with Strathclyde Regional Council, working with vulnerable young people involved in the criminal justice system before moving to Glasgow City Council where she worked in a range of roles and locations for over 25 years. Most of this time in Alcohol & Drug Recovery Services, and latterly in Mental Health Services. In 2002 Christine became one of the first integrated managers in Glasgow City and has led and managed integrated health and social care services in a range of management roles ever since, at Head of Service level for around 14 years. In 2018 she assumed the post of Head of Service for Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Alcohol & Drug Recovery in Renfrewshire before being appointed to Chief Officer for Renfrewshire Health & Social Care Partnership in 2021, leading the HSCP through the challenging times of the pandemic, and now focusing on recovery and renewal.
Andrew Fleming
Member of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board
Andrew Fleming is a retired senior civil servant with experience designing and delivering strategic improvements across a range of public policy areas.
He led the Government sponsorship function of the 14 territorial health boards during the covid-19 pandemic. As Head of Corporate Functions in Revenue Scotland, he delivered the new on-line tax collection and management system. He also led work to establish Historic Environment Scotland and developed the business case for a single fire and rescue service.
Andrew’s professional background is as a social researcher. He is currently a Non-Executive Director and Vice Chair of NHS Lothian, Chair of NHS Lothian Charity and Member of Scottish Social Services Council.
Janine McGowan
Interim Chief Social Worker
Janine has over 20 years experience working in children’s social work and in areas of children’s practice teams, youth justice and throughcare and aftercare.
Janine moved from Aberdeenshire in 2004 to join City of Edinburgh Council. Between 2017 and 2020 she was seconded to the Scottish Government as a professional advisor in youth justice. Janine has worked in partnership with colleagues at a local and national level to support development of practice, guidance and legislation. She has been involved in influencing national agendas to improve practice for those at risk. Between 2020 and 2024 she chaired the national Divert workstream as part of the Serious Organised Crime Taskforce. Janine’s substantive post is Head of Service for Children’s Practice Teams, she is currently the interim Service Director for Performance, Quality and Improvement and Chief Social Work Officer.
Matt Kennedy
Professional Advisor/Deputy Chief Social Work Officer, Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership
Patricia Cantley
Member of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board
Dr Patricia Cantley has worked as a doctor since 1988, at consultant level as a Geriatrician since 1997 in hospitals across Lothian and more recently in NHS Borders from 2022 to 2024. Now in a non clinical role, she continues on the wards, but as a volunteer musician, playing Clarsach to patients in a rehabilitation setting.
Her special interests professionally include developing Hospital at Home services and alternatives to admission for frail older patients and addressing inequalities in access to care wherever possible.
Patricia has written and taught on the provision of high quality end of life care for people regardless of setting, and served on the Board of Governors for St Columba’s Hospice in Edinburgh from 2012-2020.
Patricia previously chaired the Scottish Branch of the British Geriatrics Society and is a current member of the Council at the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh, giving the opportunity to see issues at national as well as local level.
With a range of experiences as a patient, relative and staff member, Patricia hopes to bring a practical and recent clinical perspective to the Integration Joint Board, with a positive attitude, energy and enthusiasm for improvement.
Jill Irwin
Professional Advisor/Chief Nurse, Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership
EHSCP’s Chief Nurse and Head of Quality, Jill Irwin, is a highly experienced nursing leader with more than 29 years in senior clinical and strategic roles. She provides expert professional leadership across nursing services, shaping strategic direction, driving quality improvement, and championing high-quality, person-centred care. With a strong commitment to preventative and proactive care, Jill has a proven track record of leading complex services, delivering transformational change, and improving outcomes for patients, service users, and communities.
Eugene Mullan
Service User Representative
Eugene is an architect and director with Smith Scott Mullan Architects in Edinburgh. He has lived in Edinburgh since 1991, where he raised three children.
He and his wife are respite carers (every 6 weeks) for a friend who has cerebral palsy. They have previously been involved in The Rock Trust, providing Night Stop care for 16 to 25 year olds who require emergency accommodation.
He is a founder and trustee of We Play Together a social enterprise and charity that operates The Crags Centre and Blaze Basketball Club.
Eugene has designed numerous residential projects in regeneration areas in Edinburgh, he has particular expertise in design which enables people to live independently for longer with dementia.
He is particularly interested in the relationship between health, social care and housing.
Councillor Alys Mumford
Councillor for Portobello/Craigmillar
Alys is the Scottish Green Party representative on the EIJB. She is the Co-Convener of the Edinburgh Green Councillor Group, and holds the Equalities and Health and Social Care portfolios.
Before being elected in 2022, Alys worked for a women’s equality charity campaigning on issues such as unpaid care, reproductive rights and access to social security. Alys uses she/her pronouns.
Heather Campbell
Member of the Edinburgh Integration Joint Board
Heather Campbell brings over 35 years experience in the NHS and Civil Service. She is passionate about continuous quality improvement, public service reform and is committed to engaging with people, working strategically and collaboratively with partners to design and deliver high quality public services.
Heather spent the last 8 years within Scottish Government, leading a portfolio of complex whole system change programmes. Before joining Scottish Government, Heather held several senior leadership roles within the NHS.
Gary Staerck
Carer Representative
Gary is a former theatre worker (artistic rather than clinical) and now full time carer of four family members with varying needs.
When not supporting or advocating for his family, he is advocating for carers and parents of children with additional support needs across Edinburgh.
In addition to the EIJB, Gary is a board member of the charity Tailor Ed, along with being a steering group member and founder of the REPAIR (Edinburgh) Network. Gary has also self-published two books of poetry and short works based on life experience.