Northern Trust senior executives and divisional directors attend Trust Board meetings, but they do not have voting rights. Divisional directors are responsible for the day-to-day running of services within their areas, ensuring services are delivered safely and effectively.
Senior executives
Gillian Traub, Director of Operations
Role and responsibilities
The Director of Operations has devolved accountability for Trust-wide operational, professional and statutory requirements and decisions as required by the Chief Executive. They also ensure that service divisions have mechanisms and improvement plans in place to operate within and contribute to the Trust’s Integrated Governance and Assurance Framework.
Background
Gillian Traub was appointed Director of Operations on 25 September 2023. Gillian has significant operational and strategic management experience leading local and regional services in Northern Ireland since 2006. She is a former NHS England Graduate Management Trainee and worked for five years in two large NHS Trusts in London. She is a graduate of Oxford University, a Generation Q Fellow with the Health Foundation, and holds a Masters in Leadership and Quality Improvement. Prior to joining the Trust, Gillian held a director role in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.
Contact
- Email: Fiona.Dowie@northerntrust.hscni.net (Personal Assistant)
Jacqui Reid, Director of Human Resources, Organisation Development and Corporate Communications
Role and responsibilities
The Director of Human Resources is responsible to the Chief Executive for ensuring that there are comprehensive systems and processes in place for effective human resource management. They are responsible for the Head of Office function and the collation of information raised under the Raising a Concern in the Public Interest (formerly referred to as Whistleblowing), and reporting of this information to the Audit Committee.
Background
Jacqui joined the Trust in September 2014, and has over 25 years’ experience in human resources across both public and private sector, having held a number of senior roles in employment consultancy, health and central government. She is a member of the Trust’s Executive Team, and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Contact
- Email: Carla.Monk@northerntrust.hscni.net (Personal Assistant)
Divisional directors
Jacqui Armstrong, Director Allied Health Professions, Intermediate Care and Integrated Discharge
Role and responsibilities
The Transformation Lead for Intermediate Care and Integrated Discharge is responsible for delivering on a range of reform initiatives as part of the Trust’s unscheduled care improvement plan. The role places a specific focus on the establishment of an integrated discharge function to support the timely discharge of patients from an acute hospital to an appropriate setting as well as the establishment of a Hospital at Home service.
Background
Jacqui Armstrong was appointed to the role of Transformation Lead for Intermediate Care and Integrated Discharge on 17 November 2025. Jacqui has a professional background in Human Resources and has been employed with the Trust for over 25 years with experience working across a range of programmes of care, most recently as Assistant Director of Community Mental Health Services.
Contact
- Email: Pauline.Houston@northerntrust.hscni.net (Personal Assistant)
Petra Corr, Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Psychological Services
Role and responsibilities
The Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Psychological Services is responsible for the delivery of a broad range of services, including acute and community mental health services, services for people with learning disabilities, adult mental health psychology and clinical health psychology.
Background
Petra Corr was appointed Director on 6 October 2022. She is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist. Since qualifying from Queen’s University Belfast in 1994, Petra has worked as a clinical psychologist in learning disability and mental health services and has particular expertise in relation to models of community treatment services.
Contact
- Email: CarolAnn.Morris@northerntrust.hscni.net (Personal Assistant)
Paddy Graffin, Director of Infrastructure
Role and responsibilities
The Divisional Director of Infrastructure is responsible for the delivery of a large number of services by our estates and capital development teams, who play a crucial role in providing a safe, sustainable, and patient-centric environment for our healthcare professionals and patients alike.
Background
Paddy Graffin took up the role of Director of Infrastructure on 13 July 2023. He has worked in health and social care since 1994, serving his entire career in the Northern Trust area. He is committed to improving outcomes for all service users.
Contact
- Email: Lynda.Johnson@northerntrust.hscni.net (Personal Assistant)
Audrey Harris, Director of Medicine and Emergency Medicine
Role and responsibilities
The Director of Medicine and Emergency Medicine is responsible for the provision of all acute emergency and unscheduled care services, along with medical specialties such as, for example, medicine, cardiology, care of the elderly, rheumatology, dermatology, diabetes and endocrinology.
Background
Audrey Harris was appointed to the role of Divisional Director of Medicine and Emergency Medicine on 6 October 2022. A Registered General Nurse since 1991, Audrey has a specialist practice qualification and has held a number of roles in health and social care across community and acute settings.
Contact
- Email: Colette.Carey@northerntrust.hscni.net (Personal Assistant)
Neil Martin, Divisional Director of Strategic Planning, Performance and ICT
Role and responsibilities
The Divisional Director of Strategic Planning, Performance and ICT provides a range of essential Trust-wide functions, including corporate planning, contracts, equality, involvement, performance, reform, quality improvement, informatics, information governance, ICT and encompass. The director also has responsibility for the Community Wellbeing Service.
Background
Neil Martin was appointed Divisional Director of Strategic Planning, Performance and ICT in October 2022. Neil is a graduate of Queen’s University Belfast and entered the health service through the HSC Management Training Scheme. He joined the Trust in 2010 as project manager for acute service reform.
Contact
- Email: Lynda.Johnson@northerntrust.hscni.net (Personal Assistant)
Lynne McCartney, Director of Surgery, Women’s Health and Diagnostic Services (Interim)
Role and responsibilities
The Director of Surgical and Clinical Services is responsible for a wide range of services including surgery and elective care, diagnostics, cancer services, outpatients, laboratory services, and specialties such as orthoptics and ophthalmology.
Background
Lynne McCartney was appointed Interim Director for Surgery and Clinical Services in December 2024. Prior to this, she was Assistant Director of Surgery and Acute Elective Services from January 2022. She was employed by the Belfast Trust before joining the Northern Trust as Governance Manager in acute services in 2013, before becoming Physiotherapy Services Manager in 2016. Lynne is a qualified physiotherapist from Ulster University and holds a MSc in Health Sciences.
Contact
- Email: Kathleen.McErlane@northerntrust.hscni.net (Personal Assistant)
Diane Spence, Director of Adult Community and Older People Services
Role and responsibilities
The Divisional Director of Community Care supports the development of primary and community care for older people within the Northern Trust area. This includes community teams, continence services, treatment rooms, and Trust-wide services such as podiatry, wheelchair services, occupational therapy, community equipment, and recovery services.
Background
Diane Spence was appointed to the role of Divisional Director of Community Care on 6 October 2022. She is responsible for a wide range of services to older people in the community, including homecare, district nursing, community hospitals, and supporting living services. Diane has worked in mental health and learning disability services for over 15 years.
Contact
- Email: Anna.Kelly@northerntrust.hscni.net (Personal Assistant)