Public appointment: Chair appointed to Forth Valley NHS Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP, today announced the appointment of Neena Mahal as Chair of Forth Valley NHS Board. 

Chair

Neena Mahal brings extensive NHS leadership and corporate governance experience having served as the current Interim Chair of NHS Forth Valley since April 2024 and previously as Chair and Non-Executive Director of NHS Lanarkshire. Her expertise in governance and strategy development has been shaped through a wide range of non-executive roles across public bodies, the charitable and voluntary sector over the last 35 years, including the Broadcasting Council for Scotland, National Museums Scotland, BBC Children in Need, The Glasgow Academy, and Glasgow Caledonian University Court. Neena is a qualified Careers Adviser and freelance consultant, trainer and mentor, skilled in collaborative leadership and organisational change. She has a track record of partnership working to build inclusive and positive cultures and uses her experience in equality, diversity and inclusion to foster diverse leadership and good governance. In 2014, Neena was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant for Lanarkshire, and she received an MBE in 2021 for services to healthcare. Neena is committed to working with the communities of Forth Valley in this Chair role to improve their health and wellbeing, reduce inequalities and deliver the ambitions of NHS Forth Valley’s Population Health and Care Strategy.

Appointment

This appointment will be for 4 years and will run from 1 October 2025 to 30 September 2029.

This appointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

This appointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £53,196 for a time commitment of 156 days per year.

Other ministerial appointments

Neena Mahal does not hold any other public appointments.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.   

Neena Mahal has had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

NHS Forth Valley is responsible for meeting the health needs of over 306,000 people living in Forth Valley, and provides a comprehensive range of primary, community-based and acute hospital services tailored for the whole population