Shelford Group team
David Furness
Managing Director
David is Managing Director of the Shelford Group, responsible for development and delivery of strategy, senior stakeholder engagement, and representing the group to the NHS and wider health and care system partners.
Previously David was Director of Policy and Delivery at the Independent Healthcare Providers Network (IHPN), the award-winning membership body for independent providers, where he led the IHPN’s policy development and influencing work, especially around the role of independent providers in delivering NHS care. He has extensive experience across membership bodies and in national health policy roles, having worked as a Senior Policy Adviser at Monitor and then NHS Improvement, covering areas including patient choice, provider competition and collaboration, temporary staffing, and provider productivity. David has experience in both domestic and international health policy with previous roles at the University of Notre Dame School of Medicine in Sydney, Australia and the Social Market Foundation think tank in London.
Eleanor Carter
Deputy Managing Director | Safer Nursing Care Tool (SNCT) Programme Director | Shelford Surgical Training in Advanced Robotic Technology (START) Programme Director
Ellie joined the Shelford Group in 2018 from Imperial College Healthcare NHS Foundation, where she worked as an Improvement Lead in the Medical Director’s Office. She joined the Group as its first Health Policy and Improvement Fellow, a role established by the Shelford Group Chief Executives to develop and nurture talented emerging NHS leaders within Shelford Group member trusts.
Ellie is now Deputy Managing Director, responsible for overseeing programmes of work across a portfolio of executive groups, delivering priority projects, and supporting the Group’s vision to use its experience, expertise and capability to strengthen the NHS, improve health and care, and contribute to economic growth.
In addition to her Deputy Managing Director role, Ellie is Programme Director for the Shelford Surgical Training in Advanced Robotic Technology (START) programme, launched in 2025, and was appointed Safer Nursing Care Tool (SNCT) Programme Director in April 2026. In both roles, she is responsible for the successful delivery of these national programmes.
Ellie previously worked as Assistant Executive Director to the Minister of Public Health in Qatar.
Natalie Hudson
Head of Communications
Natalie joined The Shelford Group in January 2022 from Imperial College Health Partners, where she was Associate Director of Communications and Engagement, managing a highly successful team to deliver all communications and engagement on behalf of the organisation.
She has worked in healthcare communications for nearly 20 years and has held a range of senior communications roles at organisations including the General Medical Council, the Department of Health and the NHS Clinical Leaders Network. She is a trained journalist by background.
Alix Fromageau
EA to Managing Director and Administration Manager to the Shelford Group
Alix joined the Shelford group in October 2022 as PA to the Managing Director and Shelford Group Secretariat.
She was previously working for a local authority tri-borough service, leading the marketing and communications function for the fostering recruitment team. This role followed a position as an Executive Assistant to the CEO at a digital marketing agency listed on the Euronext, managing the leadership team’s global travel, full back office and strategic meetings.
Alix’s role is to support the Managing Director and Shelford Group fellows in their day-to-day activities, ensuring the smooth running of the office and key meetings.
Charlotte Joo
Policy and Projects Advisor
Charlotte joined the Shelford Group in 2026 as a Policy and Projects Advisor. She has a background in operational and strategic management within the NHS.
Charlotte brings experience from four roles at UCLH – a Shelford Group member organisation – having graduated from their Leadership and Management training programme in 2023.
Her portfolio of work includes project management, with a particular focus on outpatient transformation programmes, as well as working with and briefing senior leadership team executives on national strategic programmes and working with internal and external stakeholders on pathway design.
Charlotte completed her Masters in Healthcare Leadership in 2026.
Kerry Woodcock
MHOST Fellow
Kerry joined the Shelford Group in 2025 as MHOST Fellow, a role established to support the review and refresh of the MHOST workforce planning tool.
She is a registered nurse (learning disabilities) and has worked in the NHS for 20 years, predominantly in mental health inpatient and urgent care services (for both adults and children) before taking on the role of Head of Nursing in 2018 at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
In the role as Head of Nursing, she is responsible for safer staffing, clinical career development and education. Kerry has been a CNO safer staffing fellow since 2019.
Callum Alexander
Policy and Projects Adviser
Callum joined the Shelford Group in 2026, bringing a background in operational and strategic management, policy development and large-scale transformation across the NHS.
He has held a range of roles across NHS Scotland and previously worked with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, a Shelford Group member organisation. His experience includes working closely with corporate leadership teams, Chief Executives and Chief Officers, supporting senior leaders to develop strategy, shape policy and deliver significant programmes of organisational change.
At a national level, Callum has contributed to major programmes in Scotland, including work to redesign unscheduled care and support sub-national planning. He has extensive experience of working across organisational boundaries, helping teams navigate complex health system challenges and translate strategic priorities into deliverable programmes of change.