#ltf16 leading the future: the vision for 2020

#LTF16 Leading the Future:

THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

Speaker Biographies

Host:

Vivienne Parry OBE, Science Writer & Broadcaster

Vivienne Parry is a writer, broadcaster and enthusiastic fan of healthcare

scientists. In addition to her many programmes for Radio 4, filming and

hosting, she has a part time role as head of engagement at Genomics

England which is delivering the 100,000 Genomes Project and is on the

Council of both the MRC and UCL where she is Vice Chairman. She is a

scientist by training and in the past has presented Tomorrow’s World,

reported for Panorama, as well as been an agony aunt and a newspaper

columnist.

Professor Sue Hill OBE, Chief Scientific Officer, NHS England

Professor Sue Hill OBE is the Chief Scientific Officer for England, the

head of profession for the 50,000 healthcare science workforce in the

NHS and associated bodies – embracing more than 50 separate scientific

specialisms.

Sue is a respiratory scientist by background with an international

academic and clinical research reputation. She has a broad portfolio of

policy responsibilities across NHS England and the wider NHS, providing professional

leadership and expert clinical advice across the whole health and care system.

In particular, Sue is the Senior Responsible Officer for Genomics in NHS England and has

headed the establishment of NHS Genomic Medicine Centres and is now leading the

Personalised Medicine strategy development. She also has policy and leadership

responsibility for Hearing Loss and Home Oxygen.

Fiona Carragher FRCPath, Deputy Chief Scientific Officer, NHS England

Fiona Carragher is the Deputy Chief Scientific Officer for England,

supporting the head of profession for the 50,000 healthcare science

workforce in the NHS and associated bodies – embracing more than 50

separate scientific specialisms.

Working closely with the head of profession Fiona has a broad portfolio of

policy responsibilities across NHS England and the wider NHS, providing professional

leadership and expert clinical advice across the whole health and care system.

A significant part of Fiona’s role involves working across government, with the Department of

Health, with the NHS, Public Health and Health Education England and other external


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

stakeholders to inform policy, influence legislation, deliver strategic change and introduce

new and innovative ways of working.

Fiona is a clinical biochemist by background, with a strong background in both public health

and treatment & care, having been regional director of the Newborn blood spot screening

programme. and worked in multi-professional teams for two decades at Guy’s & St Thomas’

Hospital, the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh and Kings College Hospital,

London - with a focus on providing high quality, innovative laboratory services.

Speakers:

Helen Ashcroft, Head of Commissioning, West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning

Group

Helen Ashcroft is Head of Commissioning for West Cheshire Clinical

Commissioning Group. She is currently leading the redesign of long term

conditions services for West Cheshire as part of the ‘West Cheshire Way’

Multispecialty Provider; one of NHS England’s innovative Vanguard

Models. The overall aims of the work are to develop a system which

deliverers high quality care, meets the changing needs of the local

population and ensures the financial sustainability of services for the

future. Key strands of her work include developing the prevention and

self-care offer for patients, redesigning the services offered in Primary and Secondary Care

and starting a health revolution amongst the local population.

Helen originally studied Microbiology, before securing a place on the National Graduate NHS

Management Training Scheme. She has since worked for a range of provider and

commissioner organisations in both the English and Welsh health economies.

Outside of work Helen is a mum to identical twin boys and is a passionate motorsport fan,

she also works as a volunteer mentor to undergraduate students in the University of

Birmingham.

Lisa Ayers, Clinical Scientist, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust

Lisa is a Healthcare Scientist with 10 years of experience and a

background in clinical research. Following her training as a Clinical

Scientist, she was fortunate to be awarded one of the first NIHR/CSO

Healthcare Science Fellowships, enabling completion of a PhD in

immunology, inflammation and cardiovascular-associated diseases. This

work led to a successful further application for a NIHR/HEE Postdoctoral

NIHR Fellowship, which she is currently undertaking.

Lisa’s research aims to improve the predictive value of stress echocardiograms for coronary

artery disease through the integration of novel measurements of inflammation, called

extracellular vesicles. She is passionate about innovation within the NHS and the unique


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

opportunities we have to carry out translational research. She is also keen to inspire the next

generation of Healthcare Scientists through the promotion of Healthcare Science as a STEM

ambassador.

Sharon Bamber, Clinical Scientist – Microbiology, Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial

Therapy (OPAT) Service Lead, Wirral University Teaching Hospital

Sharon is currently employed by Wirral University Teaching Hospital

NHS Foundation Trust as a Clinical Scientist in Microbiology and as the

service manager for the Wirral Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial

Therapy (OPAT) service.

Sharon has over 25 years’ experience working in the field of medical microbiology within the

NHS, the majority of which has been spent working within clinical laboratories in the North

West of England. Her current role utilises the clinical knowledge and managerial skills of a

Clinical Scientist to enable the development of a new service incorporating best practice in

infection control and antimicrobial stewardship.

Dr Anna Barnes, Principal Clinical Scientist and Honorary Senior Clinical lecturer,

UCLH/UCL

Dr Anna Barnes is principal clinical scientist (NIHR-Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer) for the

Siemens PETMRI scanner located at the UCH Macmillan Cancer Centre and part of the

Institute of Nuclear Medicine. Projects include applications in oncology, neurology and

cardiology. Dr Barnes completed her PhD in SPECT CBF imaging in neurology at the

Institute of Neurology, Southern General - University Trust Hospital, Glasgow in 1999 and

subsequently completed 2 post-doctoral positions in New York (Functional Brain Imaging

Lab, North Shore NY-University Hospital and the fMRI Research Center, Neurological

Institute, Columbia University).

She then spent 5 years 2006-2011 at the Brain Mapping Unit at the University of Cambridge

directed by Professor Ed Bullmore and Prof John Suckling and joined the Institute of Nuclear

Medicine at the beginning of 2012. She is HPC registered as a Chartered Scientist having

completed her medical physics training through the Institute of Physics and Engineering in

Medicine in 1997. She is half way through a 3 year term as VP External Relations for the

Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine.

Dr Dawn Biram, National Institute for Health Research

After graduating with a degree in biochemistry at Lancaster University,

Dawn taught biology in both secondary schools and further education. She

then undertook a D.Phil in the Chemistry Department at the University of

York, working on the spectroscopic analysis of protein structures. She

held several postdoctoral positions at the University of Sheffield before

coming to work at NIHR TCC. Dawn’s role is in providing information

about the work of NIHRTCC, engagement and communications. In her


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

spare time she volunteers for a medical research charity that funds research into the

replacement of animal models with more reliable and humane models of human disease.

Peter Birch, PhD, Creativity and Leadership Specialist, Alliance Manchester Business

School

Peter Birch has a diverse work background including professional

theatre, workplace mediation, organisational training and development

and academia. He has a PhD from Alliance Manchester Business

School, an MSc in organizational behaviour from City University, London

and a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Bristol. He trained at

the renowned Bristol Old Vic theatre school and was a professional

actor for over 20 years, often appearing on TV in roles such as the site

foreman ‘Ulrich’ in Auf Wiedersehen Pet, ‘Arthur’ in The House of Elliott and the consultant

doctor ‘Jack Hathaway’ in BBC Casualty.

In 2000, after undertaking an MSc at City University London, he changed career direction

and became involved in management learning and development, eventually taking this

experience into doctoral research. His thesis specifically investigated the impact on learning

of using professional actors in reproducing challenging conversations for organisational

participants.

He currently teaches and coaches at Alliance Manchester Business School (AMBS) and also

works on the AMBS executive education programme. In the last two years he has delivered

numerous workshops on Leadership as Performance for the prestigious Bevan and

Elizabeth Garrett Anderson programmes for the NHS. Furthermore, he is a qualified

commercial mediator and an associate member of the Civil Mediation Council.

Jane Blower, Clinical Associate, Office of the Chief Scientific Officer, NHS England,

Scientific Advisor, EMAHSN and Consultant Embryologist, Leicester Fertility Centre

UHL NHS Trust

Jane graduated from Nottingham University with the first UK Masters in

Assisted Reproductive Technology. In her substantive role as a

consultant embryologist she is responsible for directing and managing

the scientific service for the diagnosis, management and treatment of

infertility patients at the Leicester Fertility Centre. She is also the Human

Fertilisation & Embryology Authority (HFEA) Person Responsible; she

was part of the original team who opened the centre in 1989. Jane is a founder member of

the Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE) and sat on the Executive committee for ACE

for 6 years.

Jane is a member of the quality Improvement group for the IQIPS accreditation programme

and has a strong belief in the role of accreditation to improve the quality of services. She is

also a member of the NICE evidence update review on fertility group and an HCPC partner.

In October 2010 Jane was appointed as Scientific Director to the NHS East Midlands as a


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

part time secondment, offering scientific advice to the SHA, and subsequently HCS

workforce advisor to Health Education East Midlands, whilst providing leadership, strategic

direction, and influence for healthcare sciences and scientists across the region. She is also

undertaking a part time role providing advice to the EMAHSN and supporting their affiliated

projects, including the MRC nodes.

In April 2014 Jane was seconded to the CSO team and is working as a clinical associate

supporting accreditation of scientific and diagnostic services, in this role she works closely

with the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) and senior colleagues at NHSE and is actively

involved in the CSO work programme. Her research interests include male factor infertility.

Dr Adrian R Bull MD, Managing Director of Imperial College Health Partners

Adrian was appointed as Managing Director of Imperial College Health

Partners in April 2013.

Dr Bull began his medical career by serving for six years in clinical

practice in the Royal Navy, qualifying MRCGP, before continuing as

an epidemiologist and Public Health consultant in the NHS. He has

been the Medical Director of an NHS trust and held senior executive

positions at PPP Healthcare, Carillion and Humana. From 2008 to 2013 he was Chief

Executive of Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

In November 2015 Adrian was appointed chair of the national AHSN Network.

Dr Elaine Clark: Programme Director BSc Management/Management Specialisms;

Senior Lecturer in Healthcare Management, Alliance Manchester Business School

Elaine Clark is a senior lecturer in healthcare management and programme

director for the BSc in Management (Hons) and Management (Hons)

specialisms at Alliance Manchester Business School, University of

Manchester.

Elaine began her career as an actress and singer, where she worked for

several years including roles in West End theatre. Following the birth of her

son, George, Elaine retrained as a psychologist and this led to work within the NHS, leading

a pathfinder PALS service and an award winning project to improve access to health care for

people with learning disabilities.

All of these skills have proved useful in Elaine’s role within Alliance Manchester Business

School and the University of Manchester, since Elaine teaches across the full range of

courses from undergraduate to PhD level. In particular, Elaine draws on her previous life as

an actress in her teaching of ‘Leadership as Performance’ on the Nye Bevan programme for

Senior Leaders, one of the suite of new courses from the NHS Leadership Academy and on

the recent HSST programme for clinical scientists. Elaine is also course director for a


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

popular course called ‘Communicating with Confidence’, which is available to

undergraduates from across the University.

Elaine is passionate about teaching and is one of the founding members of the MBS

teaching academy, a group committed to improving teaching across the school. As part of

this, Elaine is currently researching what makes teaching ‘interesting’ and providing

coaching to enhance classroom impact for teaching staff from across the school and wider

University.

Elaine’s research interests are in the use of storytelling within leadership and Action

Learning, where she is particularly interested in how Action Learning can support the

development of resilience in times of crisis. Elaine feels delighted and very honoured to be

part of this year’s Clinical Scientific Officer’s conference.

Dr Elaine Cloutman-Green FRCPath, Infection Prevention and Control

Practitioner, Great Ormond Street Hospital

Dr Elaine Cloutman-Green is a Clinical Scientist working within

Infection Prevention and Control at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

She started her Clinical Scientist training in 2004 in Microbiology and

has specialised in Infection Prevention and Control since 2007. As

part of this work she has undertaken a PhD whilst on the NIHR CSO

Doctoral Fellowship scheme in ‘The role of the environment in

transmission of healthcare associated infection’. Her research on prevention of healthcare

associated infection also includes the development and implementation of rapid typing

schemes in order to identify transmission; she has recently been awarded an NIHR Clinical

Lectureship in order to continue this work.

In 2015 she successfully attained Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists and was

appointed the first UK based International Ambassador for the Society of Healthcare

Epidemiology of America. She is the Chair of the Environmental Infection Control Network

and represents Clinical Scientists as part of the ACB Microbiology Professionals Committee

and OSFA examinations group.

Dr Brendan G Cooper, Department of Lung Function & Sleep, Queen Elizabeth

Hospital Birmingham and University of Birmingham

Dr Brendan Cooper is a Consultant Clinical Scientist in Respiratory

Physiology at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and also a Hon.

Senior Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham. He is a

respiratory physiologist with over 30 years’ experience in both clinical

and research practice in the UK. He has published over 150 peer-

reviewed publications on a broad range of respiratory and sleep

physiology and he is a world leader in the drive for Quality Diagnostic

Spirometry.


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

Dr Cooper’s clinical interests include evaluation of lung function equipment, development of

new lung function tests, quality spirometry and sleep disordered breathing. His research

includes a wide spectrum of respiratory physiology from the resting state to exercise and

sleep.

He held posts in the European Respiratory Society including as Head of Assembly 9 (Allied

Respiratory Professionals) and is currently the Advisory Editor of the ERS Buyer’s Guide. He

is the Co-Chair of the ERS European Spirometry Driving Licence Task Force which aims to

deliver a standard of competence in spirometry across Europe and beyond. He is also UK

Governor for the American Association for Respiratory Care. He has been Scientific Advisor

in Respiratory Physiology & Sleep to the Department of Health, UK for over 10 years and is

currently the President of the Association for Respiratory Technology & Physiology.

Recently, Dr Cooper was appointed as the President of the AcadeHer for Healthcare

Science and is acting to shout the “One Voice” on behalf of all healthcare scientists from the

rooftops for all to hear and understand the incredible contribution healthcare scientists to

modern medicine.

Madeline Corrigan, Programme Manager, Improving Quality in Physiological Service

(IQIPS), Royal College of Physicians (RCP)

Madeline is the Programme Manager for the Improving Quality In

Physiological Service (IQIPS) scheme hosted by the Royal College of

Physicians (RCP). IQIPS covers eight disciplines and is a

professionally-led accreditation programme encompassing a quality

improvement pathway followed by accreditation. The RCP contracts

UKAS to carry out assessments and accreditation.

Madeline manages the governance of the scheme, the programme administration and works

closely with key partners such as UKAS and NHS England.

Previously Madeline has worked in project management, managing the anti-doping services

at Major Games throughout the UK.”

Donna Cowan PhD MIET MIPEM CSci, Consultant Clinical Scientist and Head of

Rehabilitation Engineering Service and Outpatients, Chailey Heritage Clinical Services

Donna Cowan is a Consultant Clinical Scientist with over 20 years’

experience in the field of Rehabilitation Engineering, leading services

providing assistive technology to adults and children.

She completed her PhD in biomedical engineering in the department of

Medical and Engineering Physics at Kings College Hospital. She

undertook several postdoctoral positions in other areas of clinical


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

engineering before returning to Kings in a joint academic and clinical post, training

rehabilitation engineers at the Centre of Rehabilitation Engineering. She was joint grant

holder of an EPSRC grant that developed the first MSc in Assistive Technology in the UK.

She left Kings to take up a NHS clinical post at Chailey Heritage Clinical Services, a set of

specialist NHS services for children with complex disability.

She is research active and her interests include developing the evidence base for the use of

assistive technology.

She is currently the Deputy Clinical Director at Chailey and remains the head of the

Rehabilitation Engineering and the Outpatient service lines.

Professor R Neil Dalton, Professor of Paediatric Biochemistry, King's College London

After obtaining a degree in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University,

1975, Neil worked as a biochemist, initially in Clinical Chemistry, at

Guy’s Hospital. Early research was focussed on growth and

development in children with chronic renal failure, resulting in a PhD

from London University, 1984. Neil is now Professor of Paediatric

Biochemistry at King’s College London, Director of the WellChild Laboratory at the Evelina

London Children’s Hospital, and a Director of SpOtOn Clinical Diagnostics Ltd.

Clinical research remains focussed on understanding the development and progression of

the complications of diabetes, particularly kidney disease, with the aims of identifying

patients at risk of rapid disease progression and unravelling the intimate link between renal

disease and cardiovascular/stroke/all-cause mortality risk. Analytical research is focussed on

the development of multiplexed biomarker profiling techniques, suitable for population

screening, but enabling personalised longitudinal biomarker tracking for early diagnosis of

disease.

Robert Dunn, Clinical Scientist, Deputy Operations Lead, Cancer Genetics, Viapath

Robert Dunn is a Clinical Scientist in the Genetics department at Viapath, Guy’s Hospital.

Robert has been fortunate to progress his career at Guy’s since gaining HCPC registration in

2010, and now manages the Cytogenetic part of the Cancer Genetics service. He is

currently preparing for Part 2 of the RCPath examinations in Genetics. Robert also recently

undertook Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt training and is keen to implement process

improvement, both within his service and throughout the wider profession.

Since its inception in 2013, Robert has been a member of Viapath’s Future Leaders in

Innovation group, and sits on its steering committee. The group promotes Science and

Innovation across the organisation, and plan a variety of activities throughout the year based

around the key themes of Innovation, Quality and Staff Development. Robert organised the

Excellence in Pathology Award at Viapath’s recent Innovation AcadeHer event, which

recognises innovative work performed by junior scientists at Viapath.


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

Outside of work, Robert is currently making the transition from single running and cycling

events to triathlon, and has his eyes set on an Ironman once his swimming no longer lets

him down.

Professor Sian Ellard, Clinical Programme Director, South West NHS Genomic

Medicine Centre and Professor of Human Molecular Genetics

Sian is Professor of Human Molecular Genetics at the University of Exeter

Medical School and also a Consultant Clinical Scientist at the Royal Devon

and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust where she heads the Molecular

Genetics Department. She came to Exeter in 1995 to set up a Molecular

Genetics Laboratory providing a core facility for integrated research and

diagnostic genetic testing. The laboratory receives samples from >75

countries throughout the world and is acclaimed for both its research into

monogenic disorders and the translation of its research discoveries into

diagnostic service.

Research interests include monogenic diabetes (with Professor Andrew Hattersley),

congenital hyperinsulinism and applying next generation sequencing technology for disease

gene discovery and improved diagnostic tests.

Professor Berne Ferry, Consultant clinical scientist and Clinical Lead, Clinical

Laboratory Immunology service, Oxford University Hospital Trust

Berne is consultant clinical scientist and clinical lead of the Clinical

Laboratory Immunology service at the Oxford University Hospital Trust

(OUH).

Her first degree in Immunology at Glasgow university and her PhD in Cancer

research was from Nottingham University, postdoctoral positions, at the University of

Helsinki working with world leaders in renal transplantation, researching the MHC in

transplant rejection, then the University of Oxford where she used techniques from solid

transplantation to explore the immune system in maternal foetal relationship.

In 1987, she won a competitive Unilever Junior research fellow at Green College, University

of Oxford, where she is a research fellow. From 1989-1994 she was senior lecturer at Brunel

University where she ran the MSc in Immunology and established a new masters degree in

Medical Genetics and Immunology. Working at Harefield Hospital with colleagues from the

Brompton, research in cardiac transplantation.

In 1994, returning to Oxford to her current position with the NHS, she developed her clinical

experience, gained the FRCPath by examination. She is the Clinical lead of Diagnostic

Immunology at Oxford t and has been the Lead Scientist in OUH since 2012.

She developed a research programme in Primary antibody deficiencies and a new

programme developing novel assays to assess the functional defects in a range of chronic


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

illnesses. She created and is current director of the NHS Translational Immunology

Research Laboratory in Oxford. She is chair of the UK Professional Group for Clinical

Scientists in Immunology, is on the Council of ACBLM,the Board for Blood Sciences at

NSHCS,and the Blood Sciences board at Academy of Health Care scientist. She sits on

NICE GDG for coeliac disease, is a member of the Steering committee of UK-PIN. She has

over 70 peer reviewed published papers and has lectured/spoken in the USA, Czech

Republic, UK, Australia, and Scandinavia at conferences and on invited visits.

Suzy Firkin, Development Director, WISE

Suzy develops the services and support that we offer our members to help

improve diversity in the sector. This includes taking the lead on expanding our

Ten steps initiative to encompass practical tools and initiatives that make a real

difference to women and their employers.

Suzy has worked as an independent Business Development Advisor and

Business Coach via her own consultancy practice and is a chartered chemical engineer with

30 years’ experience in the engineering and technology sectors. She is a member of the

Institute of Chemical Engineers and an Associate Member of the Association for Coaching.

An energetic believer in the WISE classroom to boardroom mission, Suzy works in schools

via the IChemE’s “Whynotchemeng?” programme, as a mentor to support young female

undergraduates at the University of Derby and in companies at board level to influence the

promotion of female talent.

Kimberly C. Gilmour, Ph.D., FRCPath, Principal Clinical Scientist, Clinical Lead

Immunology and Cell Therapy, Camelia Botnar Laboratories, Great Ormond Street

Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Kimberly Gilmour received her BSc from Duke University (USA) and her

PhD from the State University of New York at Stony Brook (USA). She

then completed a research fellowship studying T cell development at

Cancer Research UK. She was appointed in 1999 to translate her PhD

thesis research (STAT signaling) into clinical diagnostics. Since then

she has developed and introduced a number of robust tests for

diagnosing primary immune deficiency (PID). She has collaborated with

the Molecular genetics service to introduce high throughput sequencing

to diagnosing PID. She is also involved with a number of gene and cell

therapy trials. She holds several research grants focused on developing and introducing

novel diagnostics for PID.

Kimberly has published over 70 papers and received her FRCPath by publications in 2012.

Currently, she is Principle Clinical Scientist and Clinical Lead for the Immunology laboratory

(which in conjunction with NE Thames regional genetics provides a nationally funded and

recognized service for primary immune deficiency) and Cell Therapy Laboratory. Since

teaching in Samoa, Kimberly has engaged in public understanding of science working with


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

the GOSH school, teaching at primary and secondary schools in Camden, organizing the

GOSH/ICH BRC Open days, participating in reach Out for Healthcare Science and as Chair

of Science4U.

Professor Sir Malcolm Grant CBE, chairman, NHS England

Sir Malcolm is Chancellor of the University of York, and immediate

past President and Provost of UCL (University College London) from

2003-2013. He is a barrister and a Bencher of Middle Temple. As an

academic lawyer he specialised in planning, property and

environmental law, and was Professor and Head of Department of

Land Economy (1991-2003) and pro-vice chancellor (2002-03) of

Cambridge University, and professorial fellow of Clare College. He

has served as Chair of the Local Government Commission for

England, of the Agriculture and Environmental Biotechnology Commission and the Russell

Group. He is currently a trustee of Somerset House, a director of Genomics England Ltd and

a UK Business Ambassador.

Dr Felix Greaves, Deputy Director, Science and Strategic Information, Public Health

England

Felix is Deputy Director, Science and Strategic Information at

Public Health England and an honorary clinical senior lecturer at

Imperial College. He was previously clinical adviser to the Chief

Medical Officer at the Department of Health, where he worked on

national quality and safety policy. He also worked for the World

Health Organization’s Patient Safety Programme, where

he managed their project on improving patient safety education in

medical schools and technology for patient safety. Felix trained at

Oxford University (BA, BMBCh), Harvard University (MPH) and Imperial College (MBA,

PhD). He was awarded a Knox Fellowship by Harvard University, an Academic Clinical

Fellowship by the NIHR, and a Harkness Fellowship in Health Care Policy and Practice by

the Commonwealth Fund.

Dr Russell Hamilton CBE, Director of Research and Development, Department of

Health

Russell Hamilton CBE, DSc(Hon), PhD, MBA, BSc(Hons), DipM, FFPH is

the Director of Research and Development at the Department of Health.

He is responsible for the development and implementation of policies,

strategies and funding schemes to improve the health and wealth of the

country through research. Russell played a central role in the creation of

the National Institute for Health Research to establish a research system

in the NHS that supports world-class research focused on the needs of

patients and the public. He has also been closely involved in developing

legislation to put research at the heart of the health service. He remains


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

responsible for the NIHR and the DH Policy Research Programme (total budget of £1billion)

and is actively involved in wider partnership working on innovation, science and research.

Russell was previously Regional Director of NHS R&D for the South of England and Director

of three National NHS R&D Programmes (Cancer, Asthma, and Physical and Complex

Disability). He has a scientific background in physiology and has held clinical, research, and

management appointments in teaching hospitals, universities, and government organisations

in Australia and the UK.

He is an elected Member of Cancer Research UK, a Board member of the Office for

Strategic Co-ordination of Health Research, UK Clinical Research Collaboration, National

Institute for Health Research, National Cancer Research Institute, and was a member of

Main Panel A for the 2014 Research Exellence Framework. He was elected a Fellow of the

Faculty of Public Health in 2003, awarded a CBE in 2010, and conferred with a DSc honoris

causa by the University of Exeter in 2012.

Professor Carl Heneghan, BM, BCH, MA, MRCGP, DPhil, Professor of Evidence-Based

Medicine, Director, Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine & Programs in EBHC, Senior

Tutor Kellogg College, University of Oxford

Carl Heneghan is a clinical epidemiologist and so studies patients

who see clinicians, especially those with common problems, and his

work focuses on improving the evidence to change practice.

His research interests include NCDs; he currently chairs WHO

guidelines on self-care and CVD risk and co-directs a WHO

collaboration centre. He is a PI on 4 mutli-centre randomized trials

and chairs two NIHR trial steering committees. His research most

notably includes the work on the tamiflu systematic reviews. Carl's work also includes

investigating the evidence base for publication bias and drug and device regulation, and he

is an international expert, advising governments, on the regulatory and evidence

requirements for devices and drugs, as well as evidence-based projects in the public

interest. He is also a founder of the AllTrials campaign.As a clinical epidemiologist Prof

Heneghan has extensive experience in systematic reviews and quantitative methodologies.

He is also co-directs the Oxford Diagnostic Horizon Scanning Centre that identifies

innovation likely to have a significant impact on practice along with an interest in diagnostic

reasoning and its impact on decision making.

Professor Heneghan is a reviewer for the Department of Health, NIHR (HTA) Programme,

and a member of the NIHR Primary Care Intervention Panel. He is a board member of the

NIHR School for Primary Care Research. Professor Heneghan has considerable experience

in teaching undergraduates, postgraduates and teachers of EBM and is the Director of

Programs in Evidence-Based Health Care, in conjunction with the Department of Continuing

Education. This program currently has 75 Masters Students and 30 DPhil students. He also

co-ordinate the teaching Evidence-Based Practice week in Oxford, now in its 20th year. The

course has trained over a 1000 teachers worldwide.


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

Professor Heneghan has over 150 peer reviewed publications and has co-authored the EBM

toolkit (BMJ-Blackwell’s), the Statistics Toolkit (BMJ-Blackwell’s) and is an editor of a series

of BMJ-Blackwell’s toolkits and, developed with the BMJ the ‘Doctors Toolbag’ iPhone

application and the EvidenceLive conference, now in its 5th year.

Dr Adam Hill, Chief Medical Officer, McLaren Applied Technologies

Adam Hill is a dual-qualified Clinician and Mechanical Engineer, with a

career built at the interface of Academia, Industry and Health systems. In

recent years, he has founded a successful applied research centre,

enveloping an R&D programme with expertise in the optimization of novel

products and systems, provided strategic advice to global life science

companies on behalf of the British Government, and led the medical

function in a multinational, publically-listed Health IT brand.

Recently appointed as the Chief Medical Officer of McLaren Applied Technologies, Adam is

focused on applying the company’s deep technical expertise to developing human-centric,

data-driven solutions to challenging problems that inhibit the realisation of high quality health

outcomes for all.

Adam graduated from Imperial College London as a Medical Doctor with gold medal; during

this time, he also earned a PhD in Engineering and attended Business School. Having

subsequently graduated from the Royal Military AcadeHer Sandhurst, he received his

postgraduate clinical training from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, and

professional engineering qualification from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers while in

the British Army. In addition, Adam has built a portfolio of over 100 publications, in addition

to 12 academic awards and patents.

Dionne Hilton, Programme Lead, Office of the Chief Scientific Officer, NHS England

Dionne Hilton is the Programme Lead for the Office of the Chief Scientific

Officer at NHS England, supporting the head of profession for the 50,000

healthcare science workforce in the NHS and associated bodies –

embracing more than 50 separate scientific specialisms.

She is responsible for ensuring the delivery of an effective service providing

leadership, expertise and advice and leading on the management of the

whole of the Chief Scientific Officer’s programme of work.

Dionne is a highly-motivated; results orientated NHS manager, with over 10 years’

experience of delivering exemplary programmes which have improved efficiencies and

health outcomes.

Her previous experience includes leading the programme of work for the Chief Dental Officer

managing the work, staff and budget including the interfaces with a range of partner


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

organisations nationally, including the Department of Health. She has also managed a team

responsible for improving patient experience nationally as part of Compassion in Practice, a

system wide cross cutting programme for nurses, midwives and care staff to deliver high

quality, compassionate care and to achieve excellent mental and physical health and

wellbeing outcomes. She has also delivered a project concerned with developing a

rehabilitation strategy for trauma patients which addressed the 60% of patients which did not

receive the level of rehabilitation which matched their assessed need.

Saira Hussain, Trainee Clinical Scientist at University Hospitals South Manchester

Saira Hussain is a 3rd year STP Trainee in Audiology, based at

University Hospitals South Manchester. She sees patients with hearing

losses and balance problems, as well as paediatric audiology patients.

She graduated from the University of Bristol with a BSc (Hons) in

Audiology in 2013 and commenced her scientific training in Manchester

the same year.

Saira is the Neurosensory themeboard representative for the National School of Healthcare

Science, liaising between trainees and the school. She is also a co-chair for the North west

Trainee Network Board having helped organise annual networking events for the regional

trainees. She is also part of the National Trainee Representatives Group who aim to promote

the work of trainee healthcare scientists and provide a trainee voice within the school.

She is also a STEM ambassador having been to several schools to help with interview

practice as well as share her experience of being an Audiologist.

Samantha Jones, Director – New Care Models Programme, NHS England

Samantha started her NHS career as an adult and paediatric nurse

and was a national management trainee. Having worked in a variety

of operational management roles, and in the national clinical

governance support team, she became the Chief Executive of Epsom

and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Following this, Samantha worked in the independent sector before she

was appointed Chief Executive of West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS

Trust in February 2013.

In 2014, Samantha was named as the Health Service Journal’s (HSJ) Chief Executive of the

Year, and West Hertfordshire’s ‘Onion’ was highly commended in the patient safety category

of the same awards. ‘Onion’ was an initiative which focused on supporting staff to be open

and transparent about concerns and empowered them to help address them.

In January 2015, Samantha was appointed by NHS England as Director – New Care Models

Programme and is leading on the implementation of the new care models outlined in the


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

NHS Five Year Forward View. This includes launching 50 vanguards which are taking the

lead on the developing new care models which will act as the blueprints for the NHS.

Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, Medical Director, NHS England

Professor Sir Bruce Keogh is NHS England’s Medical Director and

professional lead for NHS doctors. He is responsible for promoting

clinical leadership, quality and innovation.

Formerly, Sir Bruce had a distinguished career in surgery. He was

Director of Surgery at the Heart Hospital and Professor of Cardiac

Surgery at UCL. He has been President of the Society for

Cardiothoracic Surgery in Great Britain and Ireland, Secretary-General

of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, International Director of the US

Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and President of the Cardiothoracic Section of the Royal

Society of Medicine. He has served as a Commissioner on the Commission for Health

Improvement (CHI) and the Healthcare Commission. He was knighted for services to

medicine in 2003.

Dr Zahra Khatami, Clinical Director of Pathology , Barking, Havering and Redbridge

University Hospitals FT

Zahra Khatami Zahra has over 35 years’ experience in the field of Clinical

Chemistry. She started her career in Iran, in the National Reference

Laboratories, where she was the head of the Biochemistry Department. The

Department later became a WHO collaborating laboratory and a centre for

excellence.

Zahra was selected on the WHO expert advisory panel of health laboratory services, a

position which she still holds. As a WHO consultant she had the opportunity to visit many of

the laboratories in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region and has an extensive

understanding of laboratory services. She has been a Consultant Biochemist at BHRUT

since 2006, in which time she has been closely involved in many projects within the

laboratory and outside, including the coordination of a Master’s degree in Clinical Laboratory

Sciences in Ethiopia the first of its kind in Ethiopia.

Zahra is also a member of the UK NEQAS steering group clinic for haematology and is

also Involved in the production of software packages specifically the verification of newly

procured analysers in blood sciences and the Internal Quality Control for Networked

Analysers. Her skills are biochemistry and statistics.


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

James Kinross, Senior Lecturer in Colorectal Surgery and a Consultant Surgeon,

Imperial College London

James Kinross is a Senior Lecturer in Colorectal Surgery and a

Consultant Surgeon at Imperial College London. His clinical interest is in

minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer, and the prevention,

diagnosis and treatment of early rectal cancer. He also has an interest in

surgical nutrition and modulation of the gut microbiota for improved

operative outcomes. He was trained in Northwest London, and he was

an NIHR Clinical Lecturer in Surgery and an Ethicon Laparoscopic

Fellow in Colorectal Surgery. He was awarded a Royal College of

Surgeons of England training fellowship during his PhD and he was funded by the Academy

of Medical Sciences as an early stage lecturer. He is a visiting Professor at the Royal

College of Surgeons of Ireland. He is currently funded by Bowel and Cancer research and

the Imperial BRC. He performs clinical research at Imperial College London and at the Royal

Marsden Hospital. He collaborates internationally with researchers in the USA and across

Europe.

Mr Kinross performs translational research into computational and systems biology in

surgery. He worked as part of the team that developed and delivered the world’s first clinical

phenome centre (CPC). Specifically, he is involved in clinical trials using intra-operative

mass spectrometry (known as Rapid Evaporative Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry

or REIMS) and mass spectrometry imaging technologies for augmented histology. This

technology is also known as the iknife, and he is developing both surgical and endoscopic

applications. A complementary component of his analysis is the study of the gut microbiome

in the aetiology of gut inflammation and colon cancer. He has published over 60 peer

reviewed papers and numerous book chapters.

Professor Nicki Latham, Executive Director of Performance and Development at

Health Education England (HEE)

Nicki is the Executive Director of Performance and Development at Health

Education England (HEE), who provide leadership for the new education

and training system. Nicki is responsible for performance reporting at

HEE, is HEE’s Senior Responsible Officer for the Values Based

Recruitment project and is the executive lead for research and innovation

and information systems. A key part of her role was the development of

the 13 Local Education and Training Boards (LETBs), following their

authorisation in 2013.

Nicki was made Visiting Professor at Leeds Metropolitan University in May 2013 and has

contributed to the work of the Health and Social Care Faculty.

Nicki was previously Chief Operating Officer for Information Systems at the National Institute

for Health Research and has 20 years' experience in Higher Education, including at Leeds

Metropolitan University where she completed her PhD in health education of diabetes.


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

Helen Liggett, Scientific Project Lead for Quality Improvement, Office of the Chief

Scientific Officer, NHS England

Helen’s NHS career began nearly 30 years ago as a Clinical Scientist in

Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics at Central Manchester Foundation

Trust. It was there she developed a keen interest in training and education

for healthcare scientists. In 2005 Helen joined Greater Manchester

Strategic Health Authority to set up a Greater Manchester Healthcare

Science Network and from there went on to expand the network across the North West

region into the thriving network it is today. Her role as North West Healthcare Science

Workforce Lead means she now represents all Healthcare Scientists across the North West

for Health Education England.

Over the last 10 years the North West has been a strong supporter of the Chief Scientific

Officer and Helen has been delighted to work for her on various projects and Healthcare

Science Week. Helen am currently on secondment to the CSO team at NHS England as

Project Lead for Quality Improvement and delighted to be working with healthcare scientists

from across the UK on a variety of key priorities for NHS England.

Professor Mark Lythgoe, Professor of Biomedical Imaging and Director, Centre for

Advanced Biomedical Imaging, University College London

Professor Mark Lythgoe is the Founder and Director of the Centre for

Advanced Biomedical Imaging (CABI) at UCL, which is a new

multidisciplinary research centre for experimental imaging. The Centre now

hosts 10 state-of-the-art imaging modalities and 50 researchers. Mark has

been appointed as Chair of the new Imaging Centre at the Francis Crick

Institute to develop a joint world-class imaging facility.

Mark has a long-standing track record in the development and application of biomedical

imaging techniques and has been awarded £43 million for his collaborative programme of

imaging research. He has published over 200 papers including publications in Nature,

Nature Photonics, Nature Medicine and The Lancet. Mark has translated his research

findings into clinical radiological practice and established a training programme with

University College Hospital in biomedical imaging. He founded the UCL Centre for Doctoral

Training in Medical Imaging, which graduates around 15 students each year, and is co-

Director of the programme.

During Mark’s tenure as Director of the Cheltenham Science Festival, it has become one of

the largest science festivals in the world. In 2013 Mark has received the Davies Medal for a

significant contribution to the field of imaging science. For his contribution to communicating

science, Mark was made a Fellow of the British Science Association and has received a

Biosciences Federation Science Communication Award. In 2015 Mark received an Alumni

Achievement Award, which is given to the University of Salford’s most notable and

successful graduates.


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

Professor Jane Maher, Joint Chief Medical Officer, Macmillan

Jane has been Macmillan’s Chief Medical Officer since 1999 and now

shares the role as Joint CMO with general practitioner, Dr Rosie Loftus,

reflecting the growing need for specialists and generalists to work

together more effectively.

She has been an NHS Improvement clinical leader for over ten years

and is a Consultant Clinical Oncologist at Mount Vernon Cancer

Centre, where she has worked for more than 20 years during which time she helped develop

non-surgical oncology services in five district general hospitals. She is an honorary senior

clinical lecturer at University College London and Visiting Professor in Cancer and

Supportive Care at the Centre for Complexity Management at the University of Hertfordshire.

Jane has recently been appointed a non-executive director at The Christie NHS Foundation

Trust.

Jane chaired the Maher Committee for the Department of Health in 1995, led the UK

National Audit of Late Effects Pelvic Radiotherapy for the RCR in 2000 and, most recently,

chaired the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative Consequences of Treatment work stream.

She co-founded one of the first Cancer Support and Information services in the UK, winning

the Nye Bevan award in 1992 and there are now more than 60 units based on this model.

She is a member of the Older People and Cancer Clinical Advisory Group.

She has written more than 150 published articles and is a UK representative for cancer

survivorship in Europe and advises on cancer survivorship programmes in Denmark and

Canada.

Lynzee McShea MSc CS17737, Senior Clinical Scientist (Audiology), Clinical Lead for

Complex Adults and Balance Assessment / Rehabilitation, Sunderland Royal Hospital

Lynzee began her career in 2005, completing an MSc in Audiology

and later qualifying as a registered Clinical Scientist. She has worked

at City Hospitals Sunderland throughout and is now clinical lead for

two services; adults with complex needs and balance assessment /

rehabilitation.

Her main area of interest is the assessment and habilitation of adults

with learning disabilities and she has recently completed a

Professional Doctorate. This was a qualitative research study improving audiological care for

people with learning disabilities through caregiver collaboration. She designed a training

programme, delivered to over 150 individuals, now being further developed by NHS

Innovations North.

Her research is published and her team have won several awards, including a national

Advancing Healthcare Award. She is the current Chair of the Hearing and Learning


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

Disabilities Special Interest Group (HaLD SIG) and is one of the CSO Quality Improvement

Champions.

Dr Alexandra B. Milsom, Innovation and STEM Lead, Office of the Chief Scientific

Officer, NHS England

Alexandra Milsom is a cardiovascular scientist and science

communications enthusiast, with a passion for promoting the role of

healthcare science and scientists across the NHS.

Alex completed her PhD in Cardiology in 2003 at The University Hospital

of Wales, Cardiff University. Continuing her fascination with nitric oxide

signalling abnormalities in vascular conditions, she completed post-

doctoral positions state-side at Boston University Medical Centre and

closer to home at Barts & The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. After a decade

spent working at the interface between academia and patient care, Alex’s passion widened

to supporting whole system translational research across the NHS, leading to a move to the

UK’s first Academic Health Science Centre at Imperial College and Imperial College

Healthcare Trust. She joined the Chief Scientific Officer for England, Professor Sue Hill’s

team in 2014 and works closely with the London region.

A firm advocate for creating engagement in science through the fusion of art and science

Alex has worked with a wide range of cultural organisations and theatre practitioners in

creating science education events. A STEM NET ambassador, judge for the London Science

and Engineering Competition, science advisor to theatre groups and artists, and science

director of a theatre company, Alex’s enthusiasm for science is infectious.

Jonathan Parsons MSc, Managing Director, Chime Social Enterprise and Consultant

Clinical Scientist, Audiology Department, Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Trust

Jonathan is a Consultant Clinical Scientist and is Managing Director of

Chime Social Enterprise. Jonathan oversaw and now leads the spin out of

the NHS Audiology Service in Exeter which under Right to Request

became a Social Enterprise in May 2011. He is passionate about the

benefits this model has for the NHS, retaining NHS pay, pension and

conditions but creating a staff owned enterprise that operates as a not for

profit business. Jonathan trained originally and then worked in Nottingham as well as

Leicester and Leeds before arriving in Devon. He has worked in an advisory capacity with

DH and was the first President of BAA having now served two terms on the BAA Board.


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

Mr Keith Pearce, Consultant Cardiac Physiologist, University Hospital of South

Manchester NHS Foundation Trust

Keith is a Consultant Cardiac Physiologist at University Hospital South

Manchester NHS Foundation Trust where he specialises in echocardiography

with a focus on stress echocardiography and heart valve disease

surveillance. Keith strives to continuously extend the role of cardiac scientists

within healthcare and has been successful in driving the development of

cardiac physiologists in the Cardiac MR arena in an attempt to ensure a true

multi-modality imaging portfolio for the Cardiac Scientist. In addition, Keith

acts as the joint clinical governance lead within the echo department and

drives a robust QA system within the echo lab at UHSM.

Keith is the Vice President of the British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) and chaired the

BSE Accreditation Committee 2010-2014. He is a member of the BSE council and

represents the BSE as the lead for the National School of Healthcare Science (NSHCS). He

acts as a lead station writer for the generic and echo speciality Objective Structured Formal

Assessment (OSFA) on behalf of the National School as part of the Scientific Training

Programme (STP) within the Modernising Scientific Careers programme. Keith is the Co-

Chairman of the Greater Manchester/North West Healthcare Science Network and has

recently received recognition at the national advancing Healthcare Awards winning the

category “Inspiring the future workforce” which was sponsored by NHS Employers. He

regularly lectures on echocardiography, the importance of standards and quality assurance

in service provision and Modernising Scientific Careers and what it means for departments

to host trainees.

Keith has an ongoing involvement in clinical research with projects currently including “Heart

Rhythm Project” for identification of Atrial Fibrillation in the asymptomatic population, in

addition to managing the echo core laboratory for the ongoing UK TAVI trail. He is also an

associate editor on behalf of the Echo Research and Practice Journal.

Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, MB ChB (Hons), PhD, FRCP, FRCP(E), FBPhS,

FMedSci, David Weatherall Chair of Medicine and NHS Chair of Pharmacogenetics,

Associate Executive Pro-Vice Chancellor for Clinical Research, University of

Liverpool

Director, MRC Centre for Drug Safety Science and Wolfson Centre for Personalised

Medicine

Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed is currently David Weatherall Chair in

Medicine at the University of Liverpool, and a Consultant Physician at

the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. He is also the Associate

Executive Pro Vice Chancellor for Clinical Research for the Faculty of

Health and Life Sciences. He also holds the only NHS Chair of

Pharmacogenetics in the UK, and is Director of the M.R.C. Centre for

Drug Safety Sciences, and Director of the Wolfson Centre for

Personalised Medicine. He was awarded a Knights Bachelor in the


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2015. He is also an inaugural NIHR Senior Investigator,

and Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in the UK. He is also a Commissioner on

Human Medicines. His research focuses on personalised medicine in order to optimise drug

efficacy and minimise toxicity, move discoveries from the lab to the clinic, and from clinic to

application. He has authored over 380 peer-reviewed publications, and has a H-index of 78.

Caroline Rogers, Accreditation Unit Manager, Royal College of Physicians

Caroline Rogers is the Accreditation Manager at the Royal College of

Physicians where she manages a varied clinical service accreditation

programme. The RCP’s accreditation activities include hosting the

IQIPS programme in physiological services, the JAG endoscopy

accreditation scheme, the SEQOHS occupational health accreditation

scheme, the IQAS allergy services accreditation scheme and the

QPIDS primary immunodeficiency scheme. Caroline has previously managed national

clinical audits and led programmes in healthcare policy development.

www.rcplondon.ac.uk/projects/accreditation

Eskinder Solomon, Consultant Clinical Scientist, Queen Anne Street Medical Centre

Eskinder Solomon is a Consultant Clinical Scientist with a special interest in

diagnostic tests for functional urological problems and three-dimensional

ultrasound.

Eskinder performs various clinical urodynamic tests at University College

London Hospitals. He also teaches urodynamics on national courses run by

the Royal College of Surgeons and the British Associations of Urological

Surgeons to urology registrars and consultants.

At Queen Anne Street Medical Centre, Eskinder performs ambulatory urodynamics,

cystometrograms (standard urodynamics),urethral pressure profilometry and non-invasive

urodynamics.

Andrew Swale, Trainee Clinical Scientist (Genetics), Cheshire & Merseyside Regional

Genetics Laboratories, Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust

Andrew graduated with a 1st class honours degree in Genetics from the

University of Liverpool in 2007. After working in a Genetics diagnostic lab at

the Liverpool Women’s Hospital for a year, he left to undertake a more

research-focused position at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital. This

led on to a NIHR Doctoral Research Fellowship looking at the ‘Host

response to Clostridium difficile infection’ under the supervision of Sir Munir

Pirmohamed at the Wolfson Centre for Personalised Medicine.

After completion of his PhD, Andrew applied for the Scientist Training Programme (Genetics)

because, although he enjoyed the translational impact of his research work, he missed the


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

direct clinical impact gleaned from working in a diagnostic lab. He is now in the 2nd year of

his training based at the North West Coast Genomic Medicine Centre, under the care of

Angela Douglas (Healthcare Scientist of the Year 2015).

Andrew is also co-chair of the North West Trainee Network Board, whose aim is to support,

develop and promote all healthcare science trainees from all healthcare science disciplines

across the North West.

Lorraine Turner, Business Development and Technical Director, United Kingdom

Accreditation Service

Lorraine was appointed as the Business Development and Technical

Director at UKAS in 2013 and is responsible for developing

accreditation services in new business areas, diagnostics and

healthcare assessment operations and technical governance. Lorraine

is a chemist by background and first joined UKAS in July 1995 as an

Assessment Manager in the Chemistry Section where she was

responsible for the assessment and accreditation of a number of

laboratories principally in the forensic and environmental sectors. In 1999 she was appointed

as the Accreditation Manager of the Section and has since held the posts of Technical

Manager and Divisional Director (Technical). Lorraine has extensive experience in the

assessment and accreditation process as well as in standards and policy development.

Lorraine has convened and represents UKAS in a number of European and international

accreditation and standards committees.

Prior to joining UKAS Lorraine worked in local government as a Senior Analyst in the

Environmental and Consumer Products Testing Laboratory and was a part time lecturer in

analytical science at a further education college. Lorraine holds a BSc (Hons) in Chemistry

and an MSc in Analytical Chemistry, she is a Chartered Chemist and holds membership of

the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Institute of Directors.

Hazel Watson, Head of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities (Nursing Directorate),

NHS England

Originally trained as a learning disability nurse, Hazel has worked in

health, social care, and the voluntary sector services both as a provider

and a commissioner of services. Previously, the Director of Nursing for

a large mental health trust, Hazel has also worked as the Strategic

Health Authority lead for mental health, learning disability, substance

misuse, and prison health services. She is a passionate advocate for

the provision of high quality services to very vulnerable people and

works regionally and nationally to promote mental health and learning disability nursing.

As Head of Mental Health and Learning Disability Nursing for NHS England, Hazel is

responsible for promoting best nursing practice, and providing clinical expertise to support

the quality improvement of mental health and learning disability services. Hazel is closely

involved with the ‘Parity of Esteem’ programme to improve health outcomes for people with


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

mental health and learning disability issues. She is the national Clinical Lead for the NHS

England Learning Disabilities Programme responding to the Winterbourne View

commitments and improving access to healthcare for people with a learning disability.

Cherry West, Chief Operating Officer, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS

Foundation Trust

Cherry started her NHS career as Clinical Scientist (Med Phys/

Physiological Science) at the London Chest Hospital and continued a

clinical career for 12 years, and studied at UMDS and UCL. This was

followed by time spent as Programme Director in clinical research, and

health services research and evaluation.

In the late 1990’s supported by a DH initiative to encourage healthcare

professionals into leadership roles, Cherry embarked on a career in general management. At

the same time she was selected to undertake an MBA at Henley Management College to

support this transition.

During her 16 years in senior management roles, Cherry has had a successful record in

managing complex health services in several large acute Trusts leading operational delivery,

transformation and service redesign programmes.

She has worked at Executive level for 12 years and is currently the Executive Chief

Operating Officer at University Hospitals Birmingham FT where she is the lead for delivery of

patient services and operational performance.

Professor Chris Whitty, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department of Health

Prof Chris Whitty is Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA) at the Department of

Health. He is also Professor of Public and International Health at the London

School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and a consultant physician in

infectious diseases.

Prior to joining DH he was CSA at DFID, and Chair of the Advisory

Committee on Dangerous Pathogens. His background is as a clinical epidemiologist working

on the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

Gilbert Wieringa FRCPath, Consultant biochemist, Bolton Hospital NHS Foundation

Trust

Gilbert is clinical lead for laboratory medicine at Bolton. In previous lives he

was healthcare scientists programme lead in the Department of Health

(2007), Greater Manchester PCTs pathology lead in 2006, and diagnostics

lead for Greater Manchester SHA over 2004/05. His main interest is the use

of near patient testing in primary care for which he headed a DH-sponsored

project over 2005-07 providing cholesterol and Hba1C testing in high street


THE VISION FOR 2020

of 24

pharmacies across Manchester for patients with diabetes and/or heart disease. Since 2009

he has established the largest quality assurance scheme in UK for high street cholesterol

testing.

Helen Wollaston, Chief Executive, WISE Campaign

Helen joined WISE in June 2012, combining the legacy of a publicly funded

UK Resource Centre for women in science, engineering and technology with

the WISE brand to form a unified campaign, promoting female talent in STEM

from classroom to boardroom. Along with campaigning expertise, Helen brings

experience of leadership across public, business and not-for-profit sectors.

Prior to WISE, she ran her own consultancy company, Equal to the Occasion,

was Director of Campaigns for the Equal Opportunities Commission and ran

the Yorkshire region for the National Lottery Charities Board.

Having been through the Goldman Sachs 10k small business programme, Helen now sits on

the Advisory Board for the Management Division of Leeds University Business School.

Former Non-Executive roles include Senior Independent Director and Deputy Chair of South

West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Chair of YWCA England and Wales

(now the Young Women's Trust).

#ltf16 leading the future: the vision for 2020

Documents