Cara Charles-Barks

Cara Charles-Barks is the Chief Executive Officer of the Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and has a wide range of clinical and management experience in the healthcare industry. She has completed both a Master of Nursing and Master of Business Administration. Born and raised in Australia, she began her career in healthcare by qualifying as a registered nurse in 1991. 

From there she worked in London for three years, before returning to Australia where she worked in a number of roles, becoming a nurse consultant, then clinical manager and Nursing Director at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Adelaide.

Cara moved back to the UK in 2008, taking the role of Deputy Chief Operating Officer in Peterborough. In 2013 she became Chief Operating Officer followed by Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust. Cara started the Aspiring Chief Executive programme in July 2016 prior to joining Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust in January 2017 as their Chief Executive. Soon after her appointment Cara managed Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust during the Novichok incident that rocked the city and drew a great deal of international attention. Cara used her wealth of experience to guide the Trust through such a difficult time.

In June 2019, Cara was awarded an MBE as part of the Queen’s birthday honours list. This was in recognition of her leadership of Salisbury Foundation Trust during the Novichok incident in 2018, Op MORLOP. 

Cara was appointed at CEO of the Royal Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust in September 2020.

In March 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023, Cara was named one of the NHS’s top 50 Chief Executives. In 2024 she was named number 13 on the list of top 20 Chief Executive’s.

In June 2019, Cara was appointed Honorary Colonel of 243 (the Wessex) Multi-Role Medical Regiment, part of the Army Medical Services.