Jeff Farrar became Chair of Weston Area Health NHS Trust on 1 April 2019. Jeff is also the Chairman of University Hospitals Bristol Foundation Trust, a post he has held since December 2017. Prior to this he had a 35-year career in the police service, reaching the rank of Chief Constable in Gwent Police. He has a Master’s degree in public administration from Cardiff University, a BSc (Hons) in public administration from Portsmouth University and is currently studying for a Professional Doctorate in social policy at Bath University. The themes of his research have been on; equality, citizens centred models of delivery, and accountability and performance management in public services.
He is a Non-Executive Director on the Welsh Government Board and Chair of the Welsh Government Remunerations Committee. He is a member of the Cardiff University Business School International Advisory Board and was the Chair of the Welsh Government Effective Services Board.
During his policing career he planned and commanded some of the most high-profile events in the UK, including the NATO summit (2014), two FA Cup and League Cup finals, The Ryder Cup (2010), Rugby Internationals, International Cricket and World Championship Boxing events and led a number of large organisational change programmes. He was seconded to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary as part of the team that inspected the Metropolitan Police after the death of Stephen Lawrence, and was also part of the team that inspected all 43 police forces in England & Wales on equality and diversity. He has held a number of national roles including, the National Policing Lead for Crime Statistics, a member of the Police National Performance Board, the Home Secretary’s Crime Statistics Advisory Group, the National Counter Terrorism Cadre and Chair of the All Wales Policing Group.
He was formerly the Vice Chairman of Police Sport UK, Chairman of Police Sport (Wales) and Chairman of British Police Basketball. He has represented GB Police at Basketball, still competes in the annual GB Basketball Masters events, and has completed half and full marathon races. He is also an Officer of St John Ambulance.
He was awarded the Queens Police Medal in the 2014 birthday honours list, and in 2016 was the winner of Institute of Directors, Director of the Year for the Public Sector in Wales.