Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) is delighted to announce the appointment of Jason Holt as its new Chair of the Board of Trustees. Jason brings extensive leadership skills and a wealth of experience that will help drive the charity forward in a time when its lifesaving air ambulance and critical care service is in demand more than ever.
Jason has chaired several complex organisations in logistics and medical healthcare and has a background sitting on charity boards for armed forces personnel wellbeing. This combined with his ambition to continue to give back to the community and “do great things for great causes” makes him a perfect fit for GWAAC.
He is currently Chair of EDX Medical Group PLC and was appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport as Chair of Dover Harbour Board. He is also Chief Executive and a Board Director of European Cargo Limited. Previous roles have included Whitehall’s Chief Executive of Test at UK Government DHSS Test & Trace, Chief Executive and Chairman of Swissport Western Europe, Executive Vice President and Board Member of Cargolux International SA Luxembourg, and Director of Strategy at EasyJet Airlines. Other high-profile roles follow his early career as a Squadron Leader in the UK Royal Air Force where he attended the Empire Test Pilot’s School prior to joining the airline business and Virgin Atlantic Airways.
Jason has a personal reason for wanting to contribute to his local air ambulance and critical care service; 12 years ago, he was first on scene to a serious road traffic collision and witnessed first-hand the value that an air ambulance crew brings to someone having their worst day.
“I am honoured to be joining the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity team as its new Chair of the Board of Trustees. I’m especially looking forward to extending the presence of GWAAC within the West as it continues to reach the many individuals in times of urgent need.”
Jason Holt, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity
Anna Perry, Chief Executive of GWAAC says, “I am thrilled that Jason is our new Chair of the Board of Trustees and I am confident that with his expertise and commitment to supporting our vital work, he will help steer GWAAC as we continue to deliver excellent standards of pre-hospital critical care to evermore people who need it in the region we serve.”
As Jason takes up the reins, GWAAC wishes to thank its former Chair of the Board of Trustees, Martyn Drake, for his hard work and commitment over the years. Since 2019, Martyn has helped strengthen the entire organisation in terms of its people, lead the service GWAAC offered during the COVID-19 pandemic, increase the number of operational missions, improve GWAAC’s financial stability by broadening revenue streams, and bring good business practices to the charity whilst retaining its social purpose. GWAAC is delighted that Martyn will remain on the Board until the end of his term, totalling nine years of dedicated service.
Jason took up his new post with GWAAC in December 2024, initially working with Martyn during a transitional phase, and will remain as Chair of the Board of Trustees for GWAAC until Spring 2028, when his tenure may be extended.
About GWAAC
GWAAC provides the critical care and air ambulance service for 2.1 million people across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and parts of Wiltshire.
The GWAAC Critical Care Team consists of highly trained and experienced Critical Care Doctors, Advanced Practitioners and Specialist Paramedics in Critical Care, who bring the skill and expertise of a hospital emergency department to the patient.
2024 was GWAAC’s busiest year on record with 2,272 people in urgent need requiring immediate critical care. GWAAC’s Critical Care Team is needed by more than six patients a day on average and rushes to treat them by helicopter or critical care car. On average each mission costs around £2,200 to attend.
The charity needs to raise over £4 million a year in order to remain operational yet receives no day-to-day funding from the Government or National Lottery.
