Co-Directors

Matthew Thorne, Co-Director

Matthew is an NMC registered nurse, specialising in paediatrics and has an MSc in public health. Matthew has over 12 years experience in the NHS including frontline ambulance service, busy emergency departments and primary care. During the last few years Matthew has served the local population in Ringland as a Practice Nurse. Prior to working in healthcare Matthew successfully ran his own business and so understands the fundamentals needed to ensure a business thrives, which is vital to the success of the 19 Hills CIC. Matthew is passionate about social justice and reducing health inequalities and believes the CIC can support this vision. During his spare time Matthew enjoys cooking for friends and family, hiking up a mountain and rock climbing/ bouldering.

Jonny Currie, Co-Director

Jonny is an NHS GP and public health doctor with a strong belief in public service reform, health equity and strengthening the role of communities and civil society in institutional decision-making. Aged 18 he worked in rural India and grew frustrated with the injustices of systems of international aid and overseas assistance, and has remained passionate since to challenge the status quo in how we work, learn, live and provide services. Jonny is a GP partner in Ringland, research fellow at Cardiff University, freelance public health consultant and school governor at Llanwern High School. 

Community Partnership Board

Daniel J. Harris
Daniel is a BAFTA Cymru and RTS Cymru nominated filmmaker and entrepreneur born and raised in Newport, and now operating his businesses from Newport. Daniel believes in the power of sport and storytelling to bring people together and build lasting connections and positive changes.
Damian Lawlor
Damian is Headteacher of our local secondary, Llanwern High School and sits on our Board with the aim of focussing our resources and activities on opportunities for young people in Ringland and Alway. Damian understands the importance of community partnerships across organisations and believes 19 Hills CIC can provide young people a chance to develop their skills, enhance the local area while improving their own health and wellbeing.
Dr Amanda Squire
Amanda is the Lead for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice at the School of Sport and Health Science, Cardiff Metropolitan University. As a Dietitian, she is passionate about the transformative power of collaboration and has throughout her career led several impactful initiatives, including cooking clubs, nutrition and health education programmes, and training designed to empower individuals, improve employability, and enhance health and well-being within local communities.
 
At Cardiff Met, Amanda's focus is driving the development of interprofessional education and collaborative practice. This spans multiple university schools and involves partnerships with local, national, and international universities, health boards, and community organizations. Amanda sits on our Board alongside Dr Jo Fawcett, strengthening our partnership with a university responsible for training a significant number of health and other practitioners working at 19 Hills and locally.
Dr Joanne Fawcett
Joanne is the Academic Lead for Healthcare Programmes, Allied Clinical Health Hub Lead and Principal Lecturer in Podiatry within the School of Sport and Health Science at Cardiff Metropolitan University.

The key focus of her work is to develop and grow student led, patient facing services which are delivered in our bespoke clinical training facility on the Llandaff campus.  The space supports collaboration with health boards and other universities in Wales, and offers placement and interprofessional learning opportunities for students outside Cardiff Met. Joanne has a specific interest in civic mission initiatives that allow Cardiff Met to engage with the local community and that offer services that improve the health and wellbeing of those patient groups that attend our facilities.
Ray Adams
Ray is a Newport native raised on Chepstow Road and attending Ringland primary schools. Ray is an award winning entrepreneur and financial services leader, founder of Niche, a local financial advice firm established in 2005, winner of the South Wales Argus 'Contribution to the Community' 2019 award and 'Best Company to Work for' in 2021. Ray launched CashCalc, a digital financial planning tool, in 2014 recognised as revolutionising how advisers serve their clients. Ray joins the Board to advise and support on how 19 Hills CIC delivers activities that can ensure sustainable funding for our community programmes and goals.
Kevin Edwards
Kevin is from Ringland and brings 25 years of experience in the construction industry, and is now a health and safety Consultant. Kevin has supported several local improvements in Newport including the Bettws corner blocks, regeneration work in Llanmartin and Underwood, and the Newport Transporter Bridge Visitor Centre. Closer to home, he's had the privilege of working on the Ringland regeneration projects, including the recent NHS and Newport City Homes projects. Kevin is passionate about contributing to the growth and improvement of our community and looks forward to continuing to support local developments.
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