New CEO brings fresh energy and ambition to Essex & Herts Air Ambulance

Mark Jarman-Howe has recently stepped into the role of CEO at Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT), moving from more than a decade in hospice and end-of-life care into the fast-paced world of pre-hospital emergency medicine. At The Emergency Services Show in September, he spoke about what drew him to the sector, his immediate priorities and his vision for the charity.

For Mark, the appeal of air ambulances goes beyond helicopters. “Helicopters are cool,” he admits, but it’s the people and the energy they bring that really excite him. From emergency medicine doctors and paramedics to pharmacists, neurosurgeons, nurses, pilots and operations staff, he says the talent across the organisation is inspiring. “The energy levels and positivity amongst my colleagues is something I’ve not really experienced before,” he adds.

Mark also sees clear parallels between his previous work in palliative care and the emergency services sector. “There’s a compassionate element to providing emergency care,” he explains. Staff are not just focused on delivering clinical interventions, they’re also sensitive to patients, families and bystanders. And like in end-of-life care, supporting colleagues’ wellbeing is critical to managing the emotional and cumulative burdens of the job.

EHAAT’s holistic approach, particularly through its Patient and Family Support team, resonates with him. He also highlights the importance of community awareness – just as palliative care emphasises ‘death literacy’, Mark believes first aid training and programmes like CPR Smart, which reaches over 100 schools across Essex, are vital in preparing the public to respond effectively during emergencies.

Since starting in the role, Mark has prioritised outward engagement. “If you’re in a leadership role, you’ve got to spend time looking outward, building partnerships, collaborating and learning from other sectors.” He wants to raise EHAAT’s profile, both regionally and nationally, while strengthening relationships across the wider emergency services sector.

His immediate focus, he says, is internal culture and collaboration.

“EHAAT is many organisations in one – fundraising, marketing, volunteers, education, innovation and clinical delivery,” he explains. “We’re stronger when we focus on the whole rather than the individual parts.”

Over the longer term, he aims to solidify a three to five year vision to ensure EHAAT delivers the best possible service while contributing to the wider sector.

Innovation and clinical excellence are already central to EHAAT’s work, and Mark is keen to build on this. He wants to formalise partnerships with NHS trusts and universities and expand collaboration with private sector partners to drive research, education and innovation further.

A major project on his agenda is securing the charity’s air operator certificate (AOC). This will give EHAAT greater control over flight operations, improve pilot recruitment and retention and allow the charity to introduce innovations more flexibly. “Owning this process means we can really maximise it to support the whole service,” Mark says.

The charity’s Centre for Excellence is another key focus. From CPR Smart to family support initiatives and research into head injuries and cardiac emergencies, Mark sees opportunities to strengthen collaborations across the sector, ensuring resources are pooled and duplication avoided.

Volunteers also play a pivotal role at EHAAT, and Mark is keen to deepen engagement. With nearly 500 volunteers supporting everything from reception and shops to events, he sees opportunities to tap into their professional expertise, benefiting both the charity and the wider community.

Raising awareness is essential too. EHAAT’s recent feature in the Netflix series Critical: Between Life and Death has helped highlight the charity’s work and inspire the next generation of emergency service professionals. “Anything that gets people engaged is vital to continuing and growing what we do,” Mark says.

Funding remains the sector’s biggest challenge. While EHAAT is better placed than many charities, Mark believes there is untapped potential in commercial opportunities and intellectual property. He also wants the sector to push for a more coherent strategy for pre-hospital emergency medicine and major trauma across the country.

Looking ahead, Mark is clear about the legacy he hopes to leave: “In an ideal world, when I leave, there’ll be no doubt at all that people in Essex and Herts have access to world-class pre-hospital emergency medicine.”

Listen to the full podcast episode below.

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