Trish Buchan joined PAVO Board in 2018 as an ex-officio member during her tenure as Independent Member (Third Sector) Powys Teaching Health Board.  Her roles in PTHB included Chair of Planning, Partnerships and Population Health and Vice Chair of Patient Experience, Quality and Safety. After leaving PTHB and following a brief period as a co-opted trustee Trish is now seeking formal election to PAVO Board.

Trish has lived in Powys since 1981. She has a background in biomedical science but has undertaken a variety of roles including Health Promotion Officer for Young People and Researcher for the Institute of Rural Health investigating Risk and Protective Factors influencing Substance Misuse in young people in Rural Areas as well as the Welsh Government funded Rural Health Intelligence Study.

In 2003 Trish joined PAVO staff and worked on Communities First and Rural Community Action programmes before being appointed as Health and Social Care Facilitator.

Trish has volunteered since teenage years working with homeless, befriending and in various community organisations. As Rhayader Under Fives representative, Trish was instrumental in setting up Rhayader and District Community Support some 38 years ago and has recently been appointed as a Trustee of that organisation.

Trish has seen, at first hand, the difference third sector organisations can make to people ad communities. Third sector organisations have a critical role to play in addressing current challenges. As a member of PAVO Board Trish looks forward to supporting the sector in these troubled times.