Hywel Dda Health Board has appointed Sarah Harraway as its a new Independent Member for Community.

Sarah attended her first Board meeting on May 29, marking the beginning of her tenure supporting the organisation’s mission to deliver compassionate, community-centred healthcare across west Wales. She succeeds Delyth Raynsford, whose eight years of service have left a strong foundation to build on.

Sarah brings a wealth of experience from a diverse and dynamic career that spans marketing, photography, NHS transformation, and pharmaceutical industry. After starting her professional career in marketing with Thomson Directories, Sarah transitioned into the creative world of photography, working as a reportage-style wedding photographer.

Her most impactful contributions, however, have come through her work in the NHS. Over a decade, Sarah held roles focused on system redesign and change management, including as a programme manager for one of NHS England’s pioneering Vanguard sites. She also led outpatient and informatics change programmes in acute care and evaluated healthcare innovations at the Wessex Health Science Network. Most recently, she worked as a Senior Insight Manager in the pharmaceutical sector, helping to bridge the gap between NHS needs and patient’s life-changing treatments.

Now based in Ceredigion, Sarah has embraced coastal life and enjoys being an active member of her local community. She is also learning Welsh and remains deeply committed to community engagement.

Sarah’s appointment reflects the Board’s ongoing commitment to inclusive leadership and community representation as it shapes the future of healthcare in the region. She said: “I'm very excited to take a break from early retirement to rejoin the NHS - especially so at a time when Hywel Dda is in such an exciting phase of change and development. I’m passionate about bringing communities into the healthcare ecosystem to ensure that services are truly patient-centric. I look forward to listening, learning, and contributing to the Board’s important work.”