Our Trustees
Barbara Chidgey (Founder Trustee – Chair)
A previous secondary headteacher with over 31 years’ experience in senior leadership roles in education in both England and Wales, Barbara is passionate about leadership, fairness, and equality. From headship, she worked in the private sector concentrating on bespoke leadership development skills’ support and training. She is a highly experienced coach, facilitator and a designer of events.
Barbara is currently an associate of Cardiff Metropolitan University, studying for a professional doctorate investigating the use of conversational leadership.
Barbara was the Executive Chair of Leading Wales Awards, which she led and drove forward from its conception in 2004 until it was brought to a conclusion in 2019; from the Awards, Daring to Dream emerged as part of its legacy.
Her voluntary roles have included trustee with the Community Foundation in Wales, and chair of Chartered Management Institute in Wales, (CMI Cymru was founded under her chairmanship). She was also Chair of Engage for Success Wales and a Bevan Advocate (part of the Bevan Commission).
Barbara started Daring to Dream as a named charitable fund in 2019, inspired by her own extensive patient experiences and trusted relationships with health professionals. Her own journey helped her learn just how important to physical recovery for a patient is their emotional health and well-being.
Barbara became trustee and chair of Daring to Dream in July 2020.
John Chown (Trustee – Treasurer)
John is a qualified chartered accountant and has been a director of Williams Ross Limited in Cardiff for 17 years. He has had a professional involvement in providing assurance services, advice, support, and training in the not for profit sector covering charities, credit unions and other voluntary organisations for a number of years. John continues to work with Williams-Ross, following his retirement as a director, as a consultant.
His extensive voluntary activities have included being a management board member of the Wales Co-operative Centre for over 14 years, Chair of Cynon Taf Community Housing Group. He also became a trustee of The Bevan Foundation in January 2020.
John joined the Daring to Dream board in July 2020.
Ross Evans (Trustee – Governance Lead)
Ross has nearly 15 years of experience working across the third sector in both England and Wales. He is currently the Managing Director of Kidney Wales, a role he has held since May 2021.
After graduating from university, Ross gained experience in both the private and public sectors before realising that his true passion lay in working within purpose-driven environments—ones that have the power to transform lives. His career has since spanned a variety of leadership, operational, and strategic roles in UK-wide third sector organisations.
Reflecting on his work at Kidney Wales, Ross shares: ”For me, it is a privilege to work in a role like this for such a fantastic organisation. Every day, I feel proud of the impact we have, inspired by the people I work with, and motivated by the community we serve.”
With a strong belief that every initiative should be cantered on those the organisation is set up to support, Ross is excited to work alongside the trustees at Daring to Dream to continue promoting the emotional health and well-being of adult patients (16+) across Wales.
Outside of work, Ross is always seeking adventure. Whether it’s on two wheels—riding his road bike, mountain bike, or motorbike—or scaling walls while indoor bouldering, he thrives on adrenaline-fueled activities. When not cycling or climbing, he enjoys exploring the outdoors with his wife, his two-year-old Border Collie, Cam, and his nieces and nephew.
Dr Nav Masani MB BS MRCP (Trustee – Clinical Lead)
Nav is a highly experienced consultant cardiologist specialising in the non-invasive management of heart disease and adult congenital heart disease. He is a subspecialty expert in echocardiography with a high national profile and international reputation; he is the Past President of the British Society of Echocardiography and Founder/Director of the Cardiff Echocardiography course. He has held a number of leadership roles at Cardiff & Vale University Health Board, including his current one as Assistant Medical Director for Strategic Clinical Planning Programmes.
Nav joined the board of Daring to Dream in July 2020. He brings an understanding of the need to support patients’ emotional wellbeing at times of physical illness, particularly in the hospital environment. He is keen to improve the understanding and interactions between patients, family and healthcare staff.
John Chown, Sarah Murphy MS (Welsh Government Minister for Mental Health & Wellbeing), Dr Nav Masani and Barbara Chidgey on 23 October 2024.
‘Making Space to talk about Emotional Health’
