New Chair of the Board of Trustees joins Great Western Air Ambulance Charity

Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) has appointed Jason Holt as its new Chair of the Board of Trustees, effective Monday, 10 February 2025. With extensive leadership skills and a wealth of experience, Jason is well-equipped to lead the charity in a time when its lifesaving air ambulance and critical care service is in high demand.

Having chaired several complex organisations in logistics and medical healthcare, Jason also brings a background of sitting on charity boards for armed forces personnel wellbeing. His passion for giving back to the community and supporting important causes aligns perfectly with GWAAC’s mission.

Currently serving as Chair of EDX Medical Group PLC and appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport as Chair of Dover Harbour Board, Jason is also the Chief Executive and Board Director of European Cargo Limited. He has a diverse background, having previously held roles such as Whitehall’s Chief Executive of Test at UK Government DHSS Test & Trace, Chief Executive and Chairman of Swissport Western Europe, Executive Vice President and Board Member of Cargolux International SA Luxembourg, and Director of Strategy at EasyJet Airlines. His early career as a Squadron Leader in the UK Royal Air Force, where he attended the Empire Test Pilot’s School before entering the airline business and Virgin Atlantic Airways, has also contributed to his extensive skillset.

For Jason, his personal connection to the local air ambulance and critical care service is what drives his desire to contribute to the organization. Twelve years ago, he was first on the scene of a serious road traffic collision and witnessed the value that an air ambulance crew brings to someone on their worst day.

“I am honoured to be joining the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity team as its new Chair of the Board of Trustees. I’m especially looking forward to extending the presence of GWAAC within the West as it continues to reach the many individuals in times of urgent need,” says Jason Holt.

Anna Perry, Chief Executive of GWAAC, expresses her excitement for Jason’s appointment, stating, “I am thrilled that Jason is our new Chair of the Board of Trustees and I am confident that with his expertise and commitment to supporting our vital work, he will help steer GWAAC as we continue to deliver excellent standards of pre-hospital critical care to evermore people who need it in the region we serve.”

As Jason takes over as Chair, GWAAC also takes the opportunity to thank its former Chair of the Board of Trustees, Martyn Drake, for his hard work and dedication over the years. Since 2019, Martyn has played a crucial role in strengthening the entire organization, leading the service during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing the number of operational missions, improving financial stability, and implementing good business practices while maintaining the charity’s social purpose. While Martyn will remain on the Board until the end of his term, Jason will work alongside him during a transitional phase before assuming his full duties in Spring 2028.

GWAAC is a critical care and air ambulance service that serves 2.1 million people across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and parts of Wiltshire. Its highly trained and experienced Critical Care Team consists of Critical Care Doctors, Advanced Practitioners, and Specialist Paramedics who bring the expertise of a hospital emergency department to the patient.

In 2024, GWAAC had its busiest year on record, responding to 2,272 people in urgent need of immediate critical care. On average, the Critical Care Team is needed by more than six patients per day and responds by helicopter or critical care car at a cost of around £2,200 per mission. The charity relies on donations to remain operational, needing to raise over £4 million annually, as it receives no day-to-day funding from the Government or National Lottery.

Press release distributed by Pressat on behalf of Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, on Monday 10 February, 2025. For more information subscribe and follow https://pressat.co.uk/ on Twitter.