Ruth Brown

Ruth is Chief Executive of Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, which specialises in providing integrated care for children and young people with an increasing focus on health inequalities. She is also a trustee of Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity and, was a trustee of Voluntary Action Sheffield until October 2025.

Ruth has spent her entire career in the NHS working in regional and local organisations in both provider and commissioning roles. As Chief Executive for Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust she leads an organisation of more than 4000 colleagues who strive to provide a healthier future for children and young people through both physical and mental healthcare and community services.

Ruth is a compassionate leader who understands the importance of listening. She listens carefully to patients, their families, colleagues and partners in her mission to continuously improve patient and colleague experience. She has a wealth of knowledge in leading complex change at regional level.

She believes deeply in the power of partnerships and collaboration and is currently the lead CEO for the South Yorkshire Acute Federation and South Yorkshire Children and Young People’s Alliance. Ruth chairs the Children, Teenage and Young Adult Cancer Clinical Network in North East Yorkshire and is Co-Chair of the National Children’s Hospital Alliance.

Ruth is an alumni of the University of Sheffield and regularly leads Masterclass sessions in leadership as well as being a member of the Management School Advisory Board.