The Ark - Basingstoke
06 May 2009

Mike Potter

Mike is responsible for the strategic development of the Trust’s procurement and supply activities, ensuring all necessary links with the local, Hub and national agenda. As Head of Procurement, he leads the planning, organisation and execution of the Trust’s procurement activities with the aim of achieving efficient processing and best value for money. He has specific responsibility for key contract negotiation. Mike’s expertise spans a wide range of categories including estates, pharmacy, pathology, IT, and medical and surgical. Prior to working for the Trust, he has held regional and national roles within the NHS, posts in the car industry and worked as a consultant.

Rachel Hodson-Gibbons

Rachel is a purchasing and supply professional and currently holds the post of Head of eProcurement for the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, in which she is leading the NHS Procurement eEnablement Program. Rachel’s most recent posts have been Category Manager for medical equipment and working with the development of Collaborative Procurement Hubs. Rachel is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply and holds an MSC in Procurement.

Colin Rothwell

Colin leads PRO-CURE’s supply chain and consultancy programme. His work includes Trust-specific initiatives including stock management/replenishment process and projects involving the whole health economy. For example, the programme has completed a review of the pharmaceutical supply chain of the region. Colin works closely with other public sector organisations, such as the Regional Development Agency, to identify opportunities to encourage SMEs in the South Central region. He is a former Chair of the NHS Supply Chain Innovation Group, a position he held for over two years. Prior to joining PRO-CURE, Colin was based in Staffordshire and Shropshire working as Supply Chain Director for Lifesource, one of three pathfinder NHS procurement hubs. He has also worked for the private sector, most recently for DSM, the raw materials manufacturer, in their food ingredients division, based in Delft, Holland.

Julie Kapsalis

Julie has responsibility for a range of business support programmes and policy areas with SEEDA. Her remit includes Business Link, procurement and regulation, enterprise policy and enterprise in under-represented groups. She was previously Head of Operations in the Enterprise team at SEEDA with responsibility for business incubation programmes to support start-up and early stage businesses. Prior to joining the agency, she worked in consumer Marketing and PR, managing high-profile national campaigns for a range of clients including Virgin, Coca Cola, MARS and Proctor & Gamble. Julie played a key role in the formation of the UK Women’s Enterprise Task Force and continues to act as an advisor to this group and the PROWESS Board. Both groups have identified supplier diversity and procurement as being key priorities for action.

David Townsend

David has been Managing Director of PRO-CURE since its inception, steering the organisation from a procurement confederation to its current position as a strong commercial partner for its customer Trusts across NHS South Central.

He has more than 20 years' experience in purchasing across the public and private sector. During his career, he has held a number of senior positions with BP, the Post Office and with a leading catering contractor. Prior to joining the NHS, David was Head of Purchasing for Geest plc where he led a major transformation and change programme to develop the purchasing contribution to the organisation.

David has an MBA in Strategy and Procurement from Birmingham University and is a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).