As our charity prepares to become independent, it has a new person in charge. Barbara Kasumu has joined the King George and Queen’s Hospital Charity as interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Barbara is an award-winning leader in the sector and brings over 16 years executive, board and advisory experience from across the charity sector, higher education and sport.

She was previously Executive Director of Charities at Guy’s & St Thomas’ Foundation. During her time there, Barbara led transformative change across three hospital charities for the largest NHS Trust in the UK. Her leadership helped unlock greater collaboration, innovation, and impact, fundraising over £25m. She oversaw a major change programme, developed an ambitious fundraising strategy, and helped secure one of the Foundation’s largest ever donations.

Barbara said: “I’m delighted to be joining King George and Queen’s Hospital Charity. It has great potential to make an extraordinary difference to the staff, patients, and their families across north east London. 

“I have seen first-hand the important role philanthropy plays in improving the health and wellbeing of communities over and above what government funding can provide. I look forward to leading the organisation through this critical period of transition and growth, so we can help fund lasting impact that patients can be proud of.”

Barbara joins our charity at an exciting time as it moves to become independent from our Trust, while continuing to work in close partnership with us.

The team is awaiting confirmation of its charity registration, expected imminently, and has already formed a board consisting of Chair Designate Lara Sonola and trustees Fiona Wheeler, our Chief Operating Officer, and former Chief Nurse Kathryn Halford.

Matthew Trainer, our Chief Executive of Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “It’s fantastic to have Barbara join our charity at such a pivotal time as it moves from being governed by our Trust to becoming an independent organisation.

“Barbara has huge amounts of experience in the charity sector and a strong fundraising background and I look forward to the plans and ideas she will bring to our charity.”

Lara Sonola, Chair Designate of our charity, added: “We are thrilled to have Barbara join us and look forward to a bright future for our charity under her leadership.”