Welsh Ambulance Service appoints Dr Ian Mathieson

Welsh Government’s Minister for Health and Social Services has appointed Dr Ian Mathieson, Associate Dean, Partnerships and Business Development (Health and Social Care) as a Non-Executive Director (Academic) of the Welsh Ambulance Service Board.

They have also appointed Peter Curran as a Non-Executive Director (Finance).

Peter will begin his four-year term on 01 February, while Ian will take up post on 01 April.

Colin Dennis, the Chair of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “Congratulations to Peter and Ian on their respective appointments.

“Overseeing the work of the only all-Wales emergency service comes with a unique set of challenges, but Peter and Ian come with a wealth of experience and expertise to help us navigate these.

“I speak for the whole Board when I say we are looking forward to working with Peter and Ian to realise our strategic ambitions.”

Peter Curran is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, with an Economics degree from Aberystwyth University.

He has acted as a Chief Finance Officer for more than 20 years in a number of sectors.

He was the Vice Principal (Resources) at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, where he led the development of award-winning new performance spaces and oversaw the merger of the college with the then University of Glamorgan.

He was also Director of Finance and Corporate Services at Sport Wales, Director of Finance at Aberystwyth University and Assistant Director of Finance at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

Peter holds a number of non-executive roles, including at Taff Housing Association, and is Trustee at Action for Children and National Youth Arts Wales.

He is also an independent member of Y Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s Audit and Risk Committee and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Peter took semi-retirement in July 2023, having previously served as the Chief Finance Officer for the Office of the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner for five years.

He said: “It is a privilege to be appointed to the Board of Welsh Ambulance Service.

“Whilst there are undoubtedly challenges ahead, I am looking forward to applying my experience to add value to the Trust’s activities and help it achieve its strategic objectives in what is a critical public service in Wales.”

Meanwhile, Ian Mathieson trained as a podiatrist in Edinburgh and was appointed to his first academic post at Cardiff Metropolitan University in 1996.

He undertook a PhD focusing on lower limb biomechanics, and helped to develop various Master’s courses, including in advanced practice.

Ian became Director of Learning and Teaching and Deputy Dean for Health Sciences at Cardiff Metropolitan University in 2013, assuming responsibility for a wide range of disciplines.

He moved to the University of South Wales in 2020 and helped the Faculty of Life Sciences and Education extend its health portfolio to include physiotherapy, occupational therapy and operating department practice.

In 2022, he became Associate Dean, Partnerships and Business Development (Health and Social Care), focusing on managing a range of key relationships related to the health and social care portfolio.

Since 2019, he has been acting as Nominated Advisor to Welsh Government for Respiratory Innovation Wales.

And since 2020, he has been Convenor of the Council of Deans of Health Wales.

Ian said: “I am delighted to have this opportunity to serve on WAST’s Board and to support it to realise its ambitious but achievable strategic plans.

“WAST is making a central contribution to the transformation of the way our health and care services are delivered and I look forward to being a part of its ongoing work.”