Dr Neema Jabbar

Dr Neema Jabbar took over as the Clinical Lead at EQUIP in September 2018.  Neema has a broad range of experience as a GP.  She is currently a locum GP working in the West Essex area but has worked as a partner and a salaried GP prior to this in Hertfordshire and Essex.  She has also joined the LMC.   She is doing a PGCert in Medical Education in Cambridge this year alongside her current teaching roles, which include associate lecturer at Anglia Ruskin University, Kings Undergraduate tutor in the Community and Clinical Professional Practice tutor at UCL.  Neema is passionate about teaching, professional development and Healthcare Education in Essex.

Katie Francis

Katie joined us in May 2023 as EQUIP’s Practice Management Lead.  Katie brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in all Practice Management related elements.  Katie also has a Master’s degree in Leadership and Management together with a Prince2 Practitioner qualification.

Elaine Chapman

Elaine Chapman worked as a secretary for the Department of Medicine for Older People at Whipps Cross Hospital prior to joining EQUIP in January 2005.  She administers training courses for HCAs/Nurses.

Danuta Suett

Danuta joined EQUIP in April 2020 and assists with communication and administration.

Emma Brown

Emma joined EQUIP in August 2022 she is the Accounts Assistant and administers the day-to-day finances.

Vicky Turner

Vicky worked as an administrator with Mid & South Essex Training Hub for 2.5 years, before joining EQUIP in May 2022.  Vicky has over 30 years of administrative experience, having worked in the private sector from advertising to recruitment and marketing.

Melanie Lamb

Melanie (Mel) joined EQUIP in May 2022.  Previously Mel had a role with the East of England Nursing & Midwifery Team at Health Education England (HEE) where she was a Senior Clinical Lead Nurse. Prior to her regional HEE role, Mel was a familiar face across the region through her role as General Practice Nurse Lead for Mid & South Essex Training Hub. Mel brings a wealth of knowledge across Primary Care, Community and Acute Hospitals, with a particular focus on Continual Professional Development (CPD), recruitment and retention and strategic project delivery.

Aileen Stirling

Aileen works with us two days a week and works with the team to co-ordinate our training courses.  Having previously worked with the Suffolk and North East Essex Training Hub, Aileen also had a career in Human Resources for around 20 years.

Sarah Bell

Sarah Bell joined EQUIP on 1st August 2017 following the transfer of hosts.  Sarah manages the general operations of the organisation and is also the Finance Director.

In addition to her role at EQUIP, Sarah works for Essex Local Medical Committees Ltd (LMCs). Sarah shares her time between the two organisations.

Prior to joining the LMC, Sarah spent 15 years working in finance, mainly for financial institutions.

Dr Brian Balmer

Dr Balmer joined Equip on 1st August 2017 following the transfer of hosts.  Brian is an Executive director and Chief Executive for EQUIP.

Dr Balmer is also the Chief Executive of the Essex Local Medical Committees Ltd (LMCs), which represents approx 1300 Essex GPs.  His role includes personal and professional support to GPs and practices, as well as the promotion of GP interests and aspirations to NHS England, local authorities, CCGs and other bodies.  He has previously been a member of the GPC (General Practitioners Committee) and within the GPC has specialised in workforce and commissioning/providing issues.

Before this, Brian was a Health Authority Medical Advisor/Director in Essex and gained an MBA in 1996.  He was a GP in East London for seven years and is a graduate of the University of Manchester.  He continues to work as a locum GP.