ECL board

Peter Fairley - Managing Director

Peter joined ECL as managing director in April 2023, a part-time role alongside his position as Director of Strategy Policy and Integration (Adult Social Care) with Essex County Council (ECC).​

Since 2017, Peter has led the Council’s work with NHS partners and integrated care systems, as well as managing the strategic planning for adult social care and leading its data, digital and technology agenda. He directed the nationally award-winning programmes for care technology transformation in adult social care in Essex, and the Connect transformation programme for improving outcomes for older people by improving hospital discharge outcomes and improving the effectiveness of intermediate care services. He has also overseen the £173m per year Better Care Fund plan with NHS partners to support improved outcomes for Essex residents via access to post-hospital discharge services and access to homecare services.​

Peter is the Essex County Council local authority partner member of the Mid and South Essex NHS integrated care board (ICB). He has also served as a member of the Suffolk and North East Essex integrated care partnership.​In previous roles at ECC, Peter has been Head of Corporate Policy and Strategy, leading Essex County Council’s corporate strategy work and policy work on the Care Act and health and social care integration, child poverty strategy and the Essex voluntary and community sector framework.

Peter has also previously been Head of the Leader’s and Cabinet Office, providing strategic advice and support to the then Leader of Essex County Council and their Cabinet. ​

Prior to joining ECC in 2008, Peter worked in a variety of public affairs consultancy roles advising both private and public organisations on their business strategies and has also worked in the House of Commons as a parliamentary researcher. He has excellent knowledge of both local and national political processes.​

Peter has a First Class degree in History from Cambridge University and in his spare time enjoys cooking, reading widely, doing artwork, and playing guitar. He is also a big fan of football.

Joe Coogan - Chief Operating Officer

Joe Coogan joined ECL as Director of Operations in August 2016. Joe has 20 years’ experience working in social care in a variety of roles as a provider, commissioner and leading social work teams. Joe has held senior leadership roles in the public, private and voluntary sector and is committed to providing excellent outcomes for people with social care needs.

Joe joined ECL from PwC where he was the lead consultant for social care, supporting transformation, integration and efficiency projects for councils and the NHS. Prior to that he was the Director of Operations for a charity called Kisharon that operated supported living services, wellbeing hubs, social enterprises, special needs schools/colleges, supported employment and integrated early years provision and was able to improve financial stability, whilst ensuring all services were rated outstanding or good by both the CQC and Ofsted.

Joe fulfilled the role as Assistant Director Transformation (Commissioning) at the London Borough of Havering for five years from 2008-2013 driving significant performance improvements and achieving savings through investments in prevention. For two years prior to joining Havering, Joe held the Head of Adults role at the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham leading all social work teams and commissioning budgets.

In his spare time Joe is a keen sports person, playing football in the Essex veterans league, tennis and golf. His family supports guide dogs for the blind and act as puppy walkers, taking the young dogs in for a year to give them basic training and socialisation before they go to the main training centre at Woodford Green. Joe says ‘It’s always hard waving the dogs off when they leave but it is so rewarding when they qualify as fully trained guide dogs and help visually impaired people maintain their independence’.

Jenni Aylen - Director of People and Change

Jenni joined ECL in March 2024 as Director of People and Change. She has 20 years’ experience working within HR in the health and social care sector.

She joined ECL from Saint Francis Hospice in Romford, where she was Director of People and Culture for two years. Prior to this she held a number of positions with Provide (formerly Mid Essex PCT). In her 11 years with Provide Jenni worked her way from HR Business Partner through to Head of HR, Assistant Director of HR and then as Assistant Director of Organisational Development and Talent.

She began her career in HR within the NHS, joining their management graduate programme in 2004 where she was based at Ipswich Hospital as an HR Advisor. While with the NHS she completed her diploma and master’s degree in human resource management.

Jenni believes organisations should ensure employees can deliver their best by providing a great work environment. She is passionate about inclusion and wellbeing.

She is a Mental Health First Aider and a Schwartz Rounds facilitator trained by The Point of Care Foundation. This training means she is an advocate for ensuring staff have safe spaces for connecting with colleagues to share experiences and discuss the emotional and social aspects of working in health and social care.

In addition to being passionate about health and wellbeing, Jenni is fascinated by what makes people tick, in addition to her HR degrees she also has a degree in Criminology and Forensic Science.

A mother of two, Jenni is a keen runner and ran the 2024 London Marathon in April which was her fourth marathon.

Natasha Farah - Corporate Services Director

Natasha Farah was appointed as Director in February 2024, overseeing finance, Business Insights, IT, Facilities, and Procurement teams at ECL. Her role ensures that ECL remains financially sustainable while delivering excellent corporate services in support of our people, customers, and communities.

With over 20 years of experience spanning countries and sectors, Natasha’s focus lies in finance and strategy. She has been instrumental in driving digital transformation initiatives, leveraging technology to enhance quality and outcomes.

Natasha’s journey began with PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers International Ltd), where she honed her skills in accounting and finance, and had experience as a corporate finance advisor. She then transitioned to industry roles within complex global organisations. Her extensive background in corporate finance and strategy provides a unique perspective on business operations. Throughout her career, Natasha has championed transformation, and her technology industry expertise positions her ideally to explore emerging technologies for operational benefits, streamlined processes, increased efficiency, and improved customer experiences.

Before joining ECL in 2023, Natasha spent 15 years in the United States, working with complex multinational companies. Notably, she held progressively senior roles at Microsoft from 2011 to 2018 and served as Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at Saltchuk Marine.

Natasha holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting with business information systems from the University of Manchester. She is a PwC-qualified Chartered Accountant and an active member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. As a past Pacific Northwest Chapter President of Chartered Accountants Worldwide and former member of the MIT Enterprise Forum, Natasha is committed to education and inspiring others to reach their full potential.

Outside of her professional life, Natasha is a proud mother of three and remains passionate about education and community impact.

Michael McDonagh - Chairman

Michael joined ECL as Chairman of the Board in September 2019. He is a Fellow of Chartered Certified Accountants and has an extensive career with KPMG and more recently with Deloitte. At KPMG Michael held a number of senior positions including Chief Operating Officer and Member of the Executive Committee. Following this he held the position of Managing Director of Anchor Trust; the UK’s largest not-for-profit care provider and is currently a Non-Executive Director of Housing 21; a leading, not-for-profit provider of Retirement Housing. Michael is also a Trustee of Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.

Edward Bloomfield- Non Executive Director and Audit Committee Chair

Edward is currently a Non-Executive Director at East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust (ESNEFT), where he is Chair of the Performance and Finance Committee. His appointment at ESNEFT is due to end in October 2024. Edward is also a trustee at Age Well East (formerly Age Concern Colchester). Edward previously served as a senior Civil Servant with the Ministry of Justice, where his roles included Head of the Court Funds Office and Head of the Office of the Accountant General (2010 to 2016), and HM Chief Inspector of Court Administration for England and Wales (2005 to 2010). Edward also served for six years as Public Trustee for England and Wales (2010 to 2016) which included being the Custodian Trustee and member of the Management Committee for the Chequers Estate, overseeing maintenance of the Estate within budget to provide a safe, secure and comfortable residence for the Prime Minister and family. Edward is a resident of Colchester.

Wendy Thomas – Non Executive Director and Lived Experience Lead

Wendy is currently a Non-Executive Director at the East of England Ambulance Service Trust and also sits as a Justice of the Peace for the North Essex Bench. She was ECL’s Interim Director of Corporate Development from August 2023 to February 2024 and was also ECL’s Director of Quality and Governance between 2014 to 2020.

Wendy has an extensive background in nursing and care, and prior to ECL, worked within the NHS for 39 years. During this time, she held a number of senior roles including as Director for Nursing and Quality (NHS Newham, 2001-2012) and as Director for Nursing and Clinical Governance (Essex and Hertfordshire Community NHS Trust, 1999 – 2001).

Wendy has also previously served as a specialist advisor for the Care Quality Commission (September 2013 – December 2015) and joined the bank of Essex Partnership University Trust in December 2020 in order to administer vaccinations for COVID19. Wendy is a resident of Chelmsford.

Louise Beauchamp – Non Executive Director and Speak Up Board Lead

Louise is currently Executive Director for People and Culture at the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health . Louise has held senior HR roles in statutory and regulatory services and brings a wealth of experience to ECL in the field of People and Organisational culture including strategic planning and management, change management and performance management.

Through her role as a carer for her father, Louise is familiar with the issues and challenges of enabling those who require additional support to live as independently as possible.

Louise lives within the Braintree district.