The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) has welcomed the Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust Jason Killens KAM as its new chair.
The appointment follows the imminent departure of Daren Mochrie QAM, who has been AACE chair since August 2020.
Anna Parry, Managing Director of AACE said:
Today’s publication of Lord Darzi’s review of the NHS underlines what an important and challenging time this is for the UK NHS ambulance sector.
I am confident that with Jason Killens as our new chair we will benefit from a continuation of the strong leadership and vision that we have enjoyed for the past four years during Daren Mochrie’s tenure.
On behalf of the ambulance sector, Daren has been key in creating and maintaining working relationships at the highest levels among key stakeholders, decision makers and opinion formers, something we know that Jason will continue while also focusing on accelerating our collective activity on ambulance workplace culture, ensuring that all our people are safe and working in compassionate, inclusive teams.
Jason Killens said:
I’m delighted to have been appointed as AACE’s new chair, taking up the mantle from Daren, who has shown exemplary leadership during his time in office. It was only in 2021 that the Welsh Ambulance Service became a full member of AACE, so to be entrusted with this role is a privilege for me, both personally and professionally.
As an ambulance sector, we already play a pivotal role in the delivery of urgent and emergency care, but our longer-term vision is to have an enhanced role in co-designing this care in the future. I look forward to working closely with partners to bring AACE’s vision to life by shaping and influencing national work programmes to meet the emerging challenges – and opportunities – facing ambulance services and the system as a whole.
Huge thanks to Daren for laying the foundations for some of this work, and I wish him well for the future.
