The Executive Committee
Tom Brownlie
MA SSCE DMS
Chief Executive
Born in Hamilton, Scotland in 1960 I progressed from Primary School to Blantyre High in 1972. During those school days I played and travelled with a Pipe Band, was active in the school film society (both watching and making) whilst working in a weekend job at a local restaurant with petrol station attached.
After graduating from Glasgow University, with an MA in English Literature and Drama, I worked freelance in theatre and at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Returning to studies at Jordanhill College, I gained my Secondary Teacher’s Certificate in English and Drama in 1985. 18 months as a supply teacher ensued before departing the profession.
In 1987 I was offered the dual role of General Secretary of BFFS / Head of the Film Society Unit at the British Film Institute. I left a classroom in Glasgow on the Friday and had started work in London the following week. Working as the company secretary of a charitable organisation run by volunteers I was also head of a support unit promoting membership and staging events. There was much opportunity to travel both in the UK and Europe.
The BFI encouraged CPD and I was supported in a day release programme for two and a half years to do a Diploma course in Management Studies. This included a residential stay in the Lake District on an Outward Bound Course and a visit to New York. During the latter, class members were encouraged to set up management meetings with organisations in their field or of interest. We experienced meetings including at a Housing Court, NBC, AT&T and Con Edison. I managed to set up a meeting at the NFL.
Following re-structuring at BFI in 1994 I returned to freelance work in film exhibition for the following 6 years. At that point a friend asked me to assist in a managed bar. This led to us launching 2 establishments in the coming years.
In 2003 I applied for the position of CEO at AMSPAR. The selection panel presumably felt my past experience of managing a charitable organisation, with experience in education, made me a suitable candidate.
Since then I have been overseeing the multiple changes in both Health and Education which have constantly been placed in our path.
Myra Upton
CSMgr FAMS FIPC MGHT
President
Left school with 3 ‘O’ levels.
First job with Civil Service as a Coding Officer at RAF Coningsby , coding aircraft engineering work for ‘the computer ‘ at RAF Swanton Morley that filled a room…can you believe that!
Married into the RAF and left to have family.
Postings in Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Cyprus, Germany and Hampshire before settling back in Lincolnshire when my husband retired from the RAF.
Various roles throughout that time, playgroup supervisor, school lunchtime supervisor, general assistant to 5 elderly nuns at Burford Priory near Oxford. Deputy manager of the Wool & Craft shop RAF Gutersloh Germany.
Moved to Boston, first mortgage and 2 teenagers in school & college so needed to help the finances.
Biggest employer in Boston is the NHS at Pilgrim Hospital, successfully gained a clerical position on pathology lab reception. They didn’t say 95% of every shift would be physically handling specimens! After several sleepless nights only managed 2.5 weeks on the job.
However it didn’t put me off that much as I then went into primary care as a GP Receptionist.
Within 18 months I was studying for my Level 5 Diploma in Primary Care Management. It wasn’t easy as a receptionist but I managed it within a year and I passed with a credit.
After 5 years I moved on to Practice Administrator doing stock control of everything from drugs to toilet rolls, practice accounts and much more.
After 6 more years, no more openings in the surgery or surrounding area I opted for a radical move to a Primary Care Trust as a computer coding officer(back where I started!)
This move opened doors to setting up a staffing unit for the Mental Health Trust and then onto deputy A4C officer for the PCT.
That was followed by 2 years as an Information Governance Officer covering all the IG training for Trusts in Lincolnshire.
I was then offered a post as an IT systems trainer and after 18 months I became the IT Systems Training Manager for Lincolnshire Community Health Services.
I loved every minute of my time in training and always followed the AMSPAR motto ‘dedicated to excellence ‘
After internal restructuring in 2015 I opted to take early retirement to spend time with my little grandsons before they moved to Australia in 2017.
It also allowed me to give more dedicated time to support AMSPAR.
I have been able support our relationship with Management In Practice(MIP) by attending their conferences around the country each year, manning a stand, chairing sessions and being part of a judging panel for their annual awards.
I have represented AMSPAR on NHS England Primary Care Patient Safety Group, Practice Management Network steering group and been involved with a study group at Manchester University looking at roles in Primary Care.
I’ve been a member of AMSPAR since 1992, appointed Council member for East Midlands in 2000 and elected President in 2010, a role I feel privileged to hold.
I am President of a local WI(Women’s Institute) where I live and am a Trustee of the Boston Volunteer Centre Charity.
Steve Willliams
CSMgr FAMS FIPC, FCMI, FFA FIPA
Chair and Honorary Treasurer
Steve Williams has worked in or with the NHS since 1984. He is a former Royal Navy Officer and a qualified accountant.
He has worked at all levels of the NHS and He has written numerous articles and regularly
comments on topical issues. He has lectured on many primary care topics and is a successful
author on primary care management.
His books have included a guide to Fundholding and a guide to Practice based Commissioning.
His work has been endorsed by the National Association of Fundholding, AMSPAR, Royal College of Nursing, the South Bank University and the University of Southampton.
He has acted as an expert commissioner for the long term conditions toolkit developed in conjunction with Asthma UK, Diabetes UK and the British Heart Foundation.
He has been an associate tutor for the Institute of Health Policy Studies at the University of Southampton and contributed towards the development of various modules of their post graduate and Msc Programmes. He has worked on the advisory panel of the Professional Development Committee of the IHM. He has also acted on the e-media panel for the IHM and represented them at various primary care groups. He was the author of the finance module of the Health and Social Care Management programme for the IHM.
In 2010 he was elected to be a co-opted member of the AMSPAR council. In 2011, he was elected to AMSPAR council as honorary treasurer and in 2020 was appointed Chair. He acted as the co-chair of the Practice Management Network.
He acted as the Chairman for the annual national Management in Practice Conferences held in Manchester, London, Newcastle and Birmingham. He also contributed regular articles and acted as a judge for the annual Practice of the Year awards.
He was a friend of the Kings Fund and sat on the advisory panel for the NHS Evidence specialist management library which was managed by the Kings Fund.
He has worked with a number of practices including members of the pathfinders and those that have received national awards and recognition for service redesign and development. This includes cardiology and diabetes.
Steve has acted as a facilitator for some of the ‘listening exercises’ that took place in relation to informing the findings of the future forum and the subsequent government response to the Health Bill 2011. This included discussion with MPs and also Earl Howe, parliamentary under secretary of state for quality (Department of Health).
Steve has been a council member of the National Association of Primary Care and was intstrumental in creating their level 7 management qualification.
Steve was involved in the Workforce 2020 advisory board working with Health Education England, NHS England and many other stakeholders. He was involved in the NHS England/NHS Digital rollout of electronic prescriptions and consultations.
He has been a practice accreditation assessor for the RCGP and currently acts as the lead tutor/assessor for the AMSPAR level 5 qualification in Primary Care and Health Management. He founded the AMSPAR Health Academy in 2015.
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