Appointment of Acting Chair, NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board

NHS England has confirmed their support for Professor Nadira Mirza to be the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB)’s Acting Chair for a period of six months from 1 June 2025. This follows an expression of interest process with eligible Board members and the departure of our current chair, Cathy Elliot.

NHS England asked the ICB Board to confirm its approval of this appointment so arrangements can be put in place from 1 June 2025, and the Board have supported the appointment.

Nadira said:

“I am pleased to have been appointed to the role of Acting Chair for NHS West Yorkshire ICB. So much great work has and continues to take place across West Yorkshire and I am delighted to be able to continue Cathy’s great work as Chair. The next six months will be a very challenging time for the ICB, the wider West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership and indeed the wider NHS. I am determined to work with the Board, wider partners and our local communities to respond to the 10 Year Health Plan, using the rich and diverse insight we received. I look forward to working with you all as we continue to put people at the heart of our decisions."

Nadira will take up her role as Acting Chair of the ICB officially from 1 June 2025. She will continue with her existing responsibilities as Non-Executive Member for Citizens and Future Generations, working closely with the whole Non-Executive team to support the ICB.

Current ICB Chair Cathy Elliott will move on from the West Yorkshire system on 31 May this year to then take on her new Chief Executive role with NHS Cheshire and Merseyside. We thank Cathy for all of her support and leadership across West Yorkshire over the last three years.

Rob Webster CBE, Chief Executive, NHS West Yorkshire ICB, said: 

I am very grateful that Nadira has stepped forward to fill this role at this time. The acting arrangement has been put in place as the substantive appointment process for the new ICB Chair was paused by NHS England, it is their appointment and will be picked up again when the impact of the changes to NHS Structures is clearer.

Nadira joined the Board of the ICB in November 2024 as Non-Executive Member for Citizens and Future Generations. She has over 25 years of leadership experience in health and education, championing equity, inclusion, and social justice and has made a significant contribution to the Board, wider organisation and system since she joined us.