The NHS Retirement Fellowship (NHSRF) is pleased to announce Simon Kearey, MBE, as Chair of our organisation following his appointment at our Annual General Meeting in October 2026, held in Blackpool.
Simon is a national member of NHSRF and brings a wealth of leadership, governance and business expertise to the role. A qualified accountant (FCCA), he has extensive experience leading teams across the private, public and voluntary sectors. He has held senior roles in a number of organisations, including the BBC, before joining the NHS, where he was responsible for GP services across Buckinghamshire.
Throughout his career, Simon has developed a reputation for delivering challenging targets and building effective partnerships with health and social care organisations.
Following his retirement from the NHS Simon has become increasingly involved in voluntary and charitable work. He is a passionate advocate for the charity sector and gives his time and expertise to a number of organisations. His commitment to volunteering began at the age of 17 when he first volunteered with the National Trust. He also serves as a trustee of several charities, including the English-Speaking Union.
Simon commented: “I am incredibly proud and honoured to have been elected as Chair of the NHS Retirement Fellowship. I enjoyed meeting many members and the NHSRF staff team in Blackpool at our AGM and Conference.
There is much to do, but the future looks incredibly bright for this amazing organisation, which was founded in 1978 to support retiring NHS and social care staff.
I look forward to working with our members, volunteers, trustees and staff as we continue to build on that proud heritage and ensure the Fellowship remains a thriving and valued organisation for generations to come.”
Mike Seaton, Chief Executive of the NHS Retirement Fellowship, added: “We are delighted to welcome Simon as our new Chair. He brings a tremendous breadth of experience from the NHS, charity and commercial sectors, together with a proven track record of leadership and organisational development.
Most importantly, Simon shares our passion for supporting NHS and public service retirees. His insight, energy and commitment will be a tremendous asset as we continue to grow the Fellowship, strengthen our offer to members and support our branches across the UK.”