Watch: Welsh NHS Confederation Annual Conference and Exhibition 2022

Session sponsor:

How can the health and voluntary sectors better work together to support recovery at home and avoid readmission for people leaving hospital in Wales? This session, supported by the British Red Cross, will focus on the hospital discharge process in Wales. It will explore how to best implement the current hospital discharge service requirements and how health, social care, voluntary and community sector can collaborate to provide the best outcomes for people leaving hospital. 

Chair	Speakers
Kate Griffiths Director for Wales, Health & Local Crisis Response British Red Cross	Darren Hughes Director Welsh NHS Confederation	Claire Morgan Director Carers Wales	Faye Patton Policy & Project Manager for Hospital to a Healthier Home Care and Repair Cymru

Session sponsor: 

Join Wagestream to discuss how financial wellbeing can help in the face of the staffing crisis, which is putting pressure on operational capacity and staff, increasing the risk of burnout. Staff shortages are widespread across the NHS and it's important trusts and health boards are proactive in both recruiting and retaining staff. This is also important in the context of the cost-of-living crisis, when employees are really feeling the pressure of what has been described as the biggest fall in living standards since the 1950s.  

We look forward to welcoming you as we talk about why investing in financial wellbeing is great for both your team’s financial and mental health and your ability to recruit, retain and mitigate the worst of the impact of the NHS staffing crisis. 

Alex Wallace

Wellbeing Consultant

Wagestream

This session brings together experts in health inequalities and senior leaders from across the UK to discuss what tangible action we can take to reduce healthcare inequalities, what we can learn from the pandemic and how we can narrow the gap during recovery.

Chair	Speakers
Matthew Taylor	Dr Andy Knox	Healther Moorhead	Dr Sumina Azam
Chief Executive	Associate Medical Director Population Health	Director	Consultant in Public Health, Head of Policy, Deputy Director Policy and International Health, WHO Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health & Well-being
NHS Confederation	NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board	Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care	Public Health Wales NHS Trust

 Baroness Grey-Thompson will share her experience on how sport and physical activities can invigorate and motivate any workforce.

Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE

Paralympian / Crossbench Peer in the House of Lords / motivational speaker / broadcaster

This session will focus on Welsh Government’s ambition for Wales to be net zero by 2050 and is intended to be a snapshot into how different sectors are working to achieve this and supporting a transition to a net zero way of working. 

Chair	Speakers
Chris Jones	Shavanah Taj	Jenny Lloyd	Ruth Marks	Sarah Hopkins
Chair	General Secretary	Programme Co-ordinator, Transition and Recovery Support Programme	CEO	Director
Health Education and Improvement Wales	Wales TUC	WLGA	WCVA	Cynnal Cymru

Join Arts Factory as they redefine what it is to cultivate life-changing innovation in communities, especially amongst the most vulnerable. This session will also demonstrate how Life Sciences Hub Wales has worked closely with Healthy.io and Swansea Bay University Health Board to drive NHS transformation using a digital solution for patients to have their wounds assessed and monitored from the comfort of their own home.  

Chair	Speakers
The referenced media source is missing and needs to be re-embedded.
Paul Mears	Lisa Wills	Alexis Kirsten	Angharad Edwards	Cari-Anne Quinn	Thariea Whisker	Catrin Codd	Catherine Davies
Chief Executive	CEO	New Business & Marketing Consultant	Health & Wellbeing Project Coordinator	CEO	Head of Wound Services, UK	Interim Transformational Lead for District Nursing	Lead Nurse for District Nursing and Wound Care Service
Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board	Arts Factory	Arts Factory	Arts Factory	Life Sciences Hub Wales	Healthy.io	Swansea Bay University Health Board	Swansea Bay University Health Board

The Social Partnership and Public Procurement (Wales) Bill is progressing through the Senedd and consultation is underway on the next phase of the implementation of the 10-year workforce strategy for health and social care. This interactive panel session will consider what opportunities these developments provide to collectively shape the health and social care workforce and the role leaders and social partnership will play in delivering on our ambitions. 

Chair	Speakers
Matthew Taylor	Stephen Layne	Helen Whyley	Julie Rogers
CEO	Deputy Director Fair Work, Social Partnership and Fair Work Directorate	Director	Deputy Chief Executive / Director of Workforce and Organisational Development
NHS Confederation	Welsh Government	RCN Wales	Health Education and Improvement Wales

In a prosperous and thriving society, people’s health relies not only on healthcare, but also on their economic circumstances. Good health has clear and evidenced social and economic value for individuals, society and the economy.   

This interactive session will explore the interconnectedness of health and economic and social development, focusing on the NHS as an anchor concept and how taking a more strategic, place-based approach to health and wealth can create more inclusive economies, reduce existing inequalities and help our communities flourish.  

Chairs	Speakers
Sue Evans	Michael Wood	Dafydd Evans
Chief Executive	Head of Health Economic Partnerships	Deputy Director of Life Sciences and Innovation, Health and Social Services Group
Social Care Wales	NHS Confederation	Welsh Government

Session sponsor:

At the last Welsh NHS Confederation (WNHSC) Annual Conference, the ABPI Cymru Wales and the WNHSC launched a new joint working toolkit which provided information for colleagues from NHS Wales and the pharmaceutical industry who wished to work together. In 2021, an updated toolkit was produced to take account of some of the lessons learned since the first edition to incorporate updates to the Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry, including around collaborative working. 

This session will bring together ABPI members, their partners across Wales and other stakeholders to bring to life the reality of undertaking collaborative and joint working, talking frankly about their partnerships and challenges encountered on their journey. 

Chairs		Speakers
Carol Shillabeer	Dr Richard (Rick) Greville	Chrissie Gallimore	Jackie Reynolds	Jonathan Morgan	Andrew Warburton	Jessica R. Burton	Gareth John	Tom Porter
Chief Executive	Director of Distribution & Supply and ABPI Cymru Wales	Regional Account Manager, Wales, Respiratory	Respiratory Lead Pharmacist Primary Care	Regional Healthcare Manager	Head of Information and Health Records Programmes, Clinical Directorate, Information Services	Director, Outcomes Innovation & Evidence Team Lead	Head of Information Services Development & Delivery	Head of Analytics
Powys Teaching Health Board	ABPI	GSK	Aneurin Bevan University Health Board	AstraZeneca	Digital Health and Care Wales	Pfizer Limited	Digital Health and Care Wales	Lane Clark & Peacock

Choirs For Good was created to connect and empower people through song. Choirs are communities of people from all backgrounds, with all the richness and life-experience that they bring. Communities are a powerful force for change, and we believe that placing choirs at the heart of local communities has the potential to do good for society. We have also seen first-hand how peoples’ physical and mental health and well-being can be positively impacted by singing. We know that these two factors can be transformative. This is summarised in our tag line, Feel Good, Do Good, For Good.

This session will be an opportunity for senior leaders from the NHS to hear directly from Welsh Youth Parliament Members about what matters to them, their experiences and what they would like the NHS, and wider public sector services, to look like in the future.

Chair	Panellists
Judith Paget CBE	Fatmanur Aksoy	Harriet Wright-Nicholas	Qahira Shah
Director General of Health and Social Services /	Welsh Youth Parliament Member	Welsh Youth Parliament Member	Welsh Youth Parliament Member
Chief Executive NHS Wales	Newport East	Caerphilly	Cardiff South and Penarth

Dr Anya will discuss the research she is currently undertaking, focusing on the importance of data and how novel digital footprint data can be used to understand human behaviour and real-life outcomes, such as health. She’ll look at how personal data (including loyalty and banking cards) can support the NHS to improve population health and health outcomes.

Dr Anya Skatova

Turing Fellow

UKRI Future Leaders Fellow

Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol

Session sponsor:

Chair
Ross Carroll	Judi Rhys MBE	Sarah Goman	Rachael Barlow
Head of UK Corporate Affairs	Chief Executive	Senior Pharmacy Technician	Clinical Lead for Prehabilitation and Enhanced Recovery in Wales
Novartis	Tenovus Cancer Care	Velindre Cancer Centre	Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Fatmanur Aksoy, Welsh Youth Parliament Member, Newport East

Dr Sumina Azam, Consultant in Public Health, Policy and International Health, WHO Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health & Well-being, Public Health Wales

Sumina is the policy lead in the Policy and International Health, WHO Collaborating Centre on Investment for Health & Well-being, where she has worked since 2015. Prior to her current role, she was a consultant in the Powys local public health team for three years. Sumina worked in general medicine before undergoing public health training in the East Midlands, where she undertook projects at a local and regional level.

Sumina currently leads three teams: Policy; the Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit; and the Health and Sustainability Hub. Sumina’s portfolio includes supporting the Welsh public health response to Covid, as well as undertaking a range of projects in areas including Brexit, climate change and sustainable development.

Jessica R. Burton, Director, Outcomes Innovation & Evidence Team Lead, Pfizer Limited

Jessica R. Burton has 15+ years of experience in patient-centered outcomes research and digital health strategy across industry, government, academia, and community-based organizations. With about half of her career designing comprehensive outcomes measurement data strategies to amplify the patient voice, she now leads the Outcomes Innovation & Evidence (OIE) team on the Pfizer UK Health & Value Directorate. The OIE team of scientists use innovative outcomes-based approaches and real-world evidence to design access solutions that enhance health outcomes for UK patients. She found her passion for digital health in Silicon Valley working with Oncology patients on clinical trials to bridge gaps in their experience on treatment. Jessica has a Master’s degree in International Public Health from New York University, and a Bachelor’s degree from The University of Arizona in Spanish/Chemistry.

Ross Carroll, Head of UK Corporate Affairs, Novartis

Ross joined Novartis at the beginning of 2021 leading the Novartis UK engagement with Government and political stakeholders. He is responsible for leading our engagement on UK policy development to ensure the perspectives of Novartis and the impact of medicines for patients and society are considered.

Prior to joining Novartis Ross had spent 5 years at UCB where he had held the role of Market Access & External Affairs Director where his primary focus had been to develop the UK & Ireland Market Access strategy portfolio and build the Market Access capacity and capability as the company entered a period of product launches; prior to these responsibilities Ross was Head of External Engagement, responsible for Government Relations, Communications and Patient Group Engagement. He was responsible for directly developing a UK external engagement plan for company CEO Jean-Christophe Tellier, and notably led UCB’s discussions with Government to secure a new R&D facility in the UK as a main component of the second Life Sciences Sector Deal.

Prior to UCB Ross worked at Abbott and AbbVie, latterly holding the role of Head of Corporate Policy, whilst also serving as a Trustee Director on the company pension fund. Ross is a Governor of the Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust and has previously served as a Non-Executive Director of Chiltern and Aylesbury Vale CCGs. He holds a Masters Degree in Pharmacy and an MBA from Imperial College London.

Owain Clarke, Health Correspondent, BBC Wales

Owain Clarke has been BBC Cymru Wales’ health correspondent since July 2012. He works on TV, radio and online in both Welsh and English. Owain also contributes to the BBC’s UK-wide news programmes. Before becoming health correspondent, Owain spent more than 10 years working in the politics team, as a correspondent at Westminster and reporter in Cardiff Bay. He has also reported on numerous international summits and covered several US election campaigns.

Catrin Codd, Interim Transformational Lead for District Nursing, Swansea Bay University Health Board

Catrin has been a qualified nurse for 23 years, 16 years spent within secondary care before moving into community as a Community Nurse and later qualifying as a District Nurse. Currently Catrin is Interim Transformational Lead for District nursing in Swansea Bay University Health Board.

Catherine Davies, Lead Nurse for District Nursing and Wound Care Service, Swansea Bay University Health Board

Catherine has been a qualified nurse for 25years, the past 22 years spent within the community as a Community Staff Nurse and later achieving her District Nursing Specialist Qualification and completing her Masters in Primary and Community Health Care Practice. Currently Catherine is a Lead Nurse for District Nursing and Wound Care Service in Swansea Bay University Health Board.

Angharad Edwards, Health & Wellbeing Coordinator, Arts Factory

With a career developed over 15 years working in the homelessness sector, Angharad is responsible for coordinating community facing health and wellbeing projects and initiatives at Arts Factory Charity. Having joined the organisation in 2019, Angharad excels in using her skills to alleviate loneliness and isolation amongst people of all ages and abilities, so they can lead happy, healthy, fulfilled lives. She particularly enjoys seeing the difference made to individuals when they have the opportunity to make their own unique contribution, feel appreciated and ultimately belong.

Sue Evans, Chief Executive, Social Care Wales

Following a varied career in industry and the retail sector, Sue took a break from paid work to become a full time carer and parent. She then restarted her higher education and worked with several voluntary organisations.

Sue joined the NHS in 1992, moving from Public Health Medicine into various management roles. Sue's experience in the voluntary sector brought her to the sharp end of meeting the needs of children, young people and adults with disabilities. This stimulated her interest in a career within the field of health, social care and housing. Her previous NHS roles focussed around the planning, commissioning and delivery of health services (primary, community, acute and tertiary) in South East Wales, with a particular interest in the interface between NHS and external organisations.

Between 2006 and 2012, Sue undertook a range of Joint Director roles with responsibility for planning, commissioning and operational delivery of a range of health, social care and housing services. This encompassed the role of Statutory Director of Social Services, which she retained as Chief Officer of Social Care and Housing with Torfaen County Borough Council until July 2016, when she became Chief Executive of Social Care Wales. Sue has a keen interest in promoting the importance of the role of social care in helping to safeguard and improve people's lives, through empowerment as well as support. Sue is keen to use her own experience of being an unpaid carer to help ensure that a citizen centred approach to social care is experienced across Wales.

Chrissie Gallimore, Regional Account Manager, GlaxoSmithKline

Chrissie joined GSK on their ‘Commercial Management Trainee’ scheme in 1994, having completed an honours degree in biochemistry at Bristol University. Chrissie has worked with a broad range of customer groups across the NHS in Wales, England and Northern Ireland in a range of leadership and management roles. She has been a key driver in the initiation and delivery of several Joint Working projects in respiratory in Wales. She is currently facilitating two Joint Working projects, with two health boards in Wales, supporting the delivery of improved outcomes for patients with COPD, in line with national guidelines.

Sarah Goman, Senior Pharmacy Technician, Velindre Cancer Centre

Sarah is the Senior Pharmacy Technician for Medicines Education at Velindre Cancer Centre. This innovative post was developed in 2017 and the first of its kind in Wales. Sarah leads this service educating and assessing patients receiving oral SACT treatment at the Cancer Centre.

Sarah has almost 28 years experience working at the cancer centre, with a background in Aseptics. She was part of several service improvements which changed the service delivery of IV  and oral SACT at Velindre .

With an increase in the use of oral SACT, and on the back of several pilot projects (one of which won 2 national awards),  Sarahs post was funded and used to develop several clinics whereby patients have a bespoke education session on how to manage their treatment – all of these patients are then followed up by at least one assessment call.

Sarah has also implemented several telephone clinics run by her team which result in patients having to visit the cancer centre less, and help to reduce some of the capacity pressures in the out patient setting.

Dr Richard (Rick) Greville, Director of Distribution & Supply and ABPI Cymru Wales

Dr Richard Greville is an ABPI Director with responsibility for Wales and the Distribution & Supply Chain. He was initially appointed to the post of Director of ABPI Cymru Wales in May 2003 after serving an apprenticeship of 15 years in a wide range of roles within the pharmaceutical industry. Over the years Richard has also held ABPI Director responsibility for Northern Ireland and International Affairs, representing the ABPI strategically at both the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA).

Since April 2014 Richard has combined his continuing ABPI responsibility for Wales with that for the UK Distribution and Supply Chain, including homecare, procurement, the Falsified Medicines Directive and supply chain shortages. Richard is a founding Director of SecurMed UK, the UK medicines verification organisation. 

Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE

The Baroness Grey-Thompson DBE DL was educated at Loughborough University.  She was appointed to the House of Lords in 2010, taking her seat on the Crossbenches. Tanni is a member of the House of Lords Committee on a National Plan for Sport and Recreation and President of the Local Government Association.

Tanni is a paralympic wheelchair athlete, part of the BP Paralympic Team between 1988 and 2004. She competed at five Paralympic Games; won 11 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze medal. She won the London Wheelchair Marathon six times and has held over thirty world records throughout her career.  Tanni is a Member of the Laureus World Sports Academy.

Jonathan Griffiths, President of ADSS Cymru and Pembrokeshire County Council Director of Social Services and Housing

Jonathan was appointed as Director of Social Services for Pembrokeshire County Council in December 2016. He has worked in the Social Care field for over 25 years in different settings and local authority areas across Wales. Jonathan started his career in direct care and support in the third sector. He then moved into Local Government, working in Adult Services in a number of registered care settings, moving into management roles in all aspects of Adult Services. 

Working in the direct delivery of care and support was invaluable in understanding the key challenges and opportunities in the Social Care Sector and more importantly, his approach to engaging with people who receive care and support.

Jonathan is passionate about the opportunity for change and innovation and the need to work collaboratively with people, communities and other agencies to promote independence and wellbeing. Jon was proud to take up the President role at the Association of Directors of Social Services Wales (ADSS CYMRU) from 1st April 2021.  “It’s been an honour to represent the professional voice of Social Services and articulate the views of professionals who lead our social care services in Wales”.

Kate Griffiths, Director for Wales, Health & Local Crisis Response, British Red Cross

Kate Griffiths joined the British Red Cross in November 2018, following 13 years working for the NHS in Wales.  As the Director for Wales, Kate oversees the direction of service strategy and leads on national service development in Wales to become even more community and people focussed.  The British Red Cross help anyone, anywhere in the UK, get the support they need if crisis strikes.  From hiring a wheelchair or dealing with loneliness, to adjusting to life in a new country – we’re there when you need us.  The health and local crisis response services support people who are in the space between hospital and home and during times of emergency, such as fire or flood, responding to their needs accordingly, helping them to regain or retain their independence following a crisis. 

Kate is passionate about increasing the role of the voluntary and community sector in reducing health inequalities, enabling prevention, engaging communities in the development of health and care services and in delivering support – particularly to those most vulnerable in society. 

Sarah Hopkins, Director of Cynnal Cymru

Sarah joined Cynnal Cymru – Sustain Wales in 2020 and is responsible for overall management and development of its activities and services throughout Wales and beyond. Her experience includes community engagement and leading on climate, environmental and social improvements in complex supply chains.

As the lead for Cynnal Cymru’s Fair and Just Society programme of work, she supports with Living Wage accreditation and strategy in Wales, advises on the role of the living wage within the broader Fair Work agenda and how the transition to a net zero economy can provide opportunities for reducing inequalities.

Darren Hughes, Director, Welsh NHS Confederation

Darren has been the director of the Welsh NHS Confederation since August 2019. Prior to this he had worked in health professional regulation as director for Wales at the General Pharmaceutical Council and head of office at the General Medical Council.

Darren joined the Welsh NHS Confederation with a wealth of experience working with the NHS. His career to date has meant he has worked extensively with the NHS, healthcare professionals, the UK and Welsh Governments, politicians, the media and health stakeholders. He has also conducted research at Cardiff University looking at how organisations can work together to campaign for legislative change.

Rachel Jenkins, Healthcare Partnership Manager in Wales, Pfizer

Rachel Jenkins has worked for Pfizer for over 30 years. She is currently enjoying the role of Healthcare Partnership Manager in Wales which allows her to further develop her passion for innovation and quality improvement, seeking opportunities to collaborate with NHS Wales to help deliver better patient outcomes.

She has an in-depth knowledge of the Healthcare Environment in Wales and holds National Seats representing the ABPI and Pharmaceutical Industry in Wales. In addition to her primary role, Rachel also leads the Schools Outreach STEM Programme as a STEM Ambassador for Pfizer in Wales. 

Gareth John, Head of Information Services Development & Delivery, Digital Health and Care Wales

Gareth John has over 20 years of experience working with health information in Wales, and for over 10 years, he has headed up teams responsible for managing the development and maintenance of DHCW’s national data warehouse. Gareth has applied his research background in statistics to a number of major NHS Wales projects, including the South Wales Programme, and the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Amber Review, and NHS Wales’s COVID19 response, using a variety of advanced analytical techniques such as machine learning, modelling and simulation.

In addition, Gareth has been responsible for the development of a range of different record linkage algorithms, allowing NHS analysts to track patient (or citizen) journeys through the whole health system, whilst safeguarding patient confidentiality through techniques such as pseudonymisation. Gareth’s NHS number matching algorithm remains one of the cornerstones of Swansea University’s world-renowned SAIL databank.

Dr Chris Jones, Chair, HEIW

Originally from Machynlleth.  Studied Medicine in Cardiff, qualifying in 1979.  A General Practitioner by background, Chris was a practising GP for 32 years as Senior Partner in the Taff Vale Practice in Pontypridd. He was Chairman of Cwm Taf University Health Board between 2009 and 2017, and prior to that, had been Chairman of Rhondda Cynon Taff Local Health Board since 2004.

Chris was awarded a CBE for his services to healthcare through NHS Wales in 2007.  His interests include inequalities, population health, primary care, urgent and emergency care, and a life long interest in education and training. In 2016, he helped to establish undergraduate medical training out of Kier Hardie Health Park, Merthyr Tydfil. He created “Setting the Direction: A Strategic Change Delivery Programme for Primary and Community Services in Wales” in 2009. He also led three Ministerial Reviews: North Wales (2004), Gwent (2006), and Out of Hours Services (2014). He was Chair of the Welsh NHS Confederation during 2015/16.

Chris is now Chair of Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), a Special Health Authority within NHS Wales that sits alongside Health Boards and Trusts.  HEIW has a leading role in education, training, development, and shaping of the healthcare workforce in Wales, in order to ensure high-quality care. 

Alexis Kirsten (BA Hum), New Business & Marketing Consultant, Arts Factory Design

With a marketing career spanning over two decades, Alexis is the driving force promoting Arts Factory Design, a non-profit social enterprise graphic design studio that was established in 2000 to generate an income for the Arts Factory charity. Alexis honed her skills working on brand campaigns for blue chip companies on two continents before returning to her Welsh Valleys roots. Alexis is proud to be involved in producing marketing communications that ‘Look good’ and ‘Do good’ while enabling clients to meet their social responsibility obligations. #Buysocial

Dr Andy Knox, Associate Medical Director, Population Health, NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board

Andy Knox is a husband, a dad and a friend. He is also Associate Medical Director in the Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB and a GP Partner at Ash Trees Surgery, Carnforth. His work is primarily focused on improving Population Health and tackling Health Inequalities. He is Population Health Associate at the King’s Fund, a member of the NHS Assembly, part of the Poverty Truth Commission, Senior Lecturer in Sociology and Health at Lancaster University and will soon be publishing his first book, ‘Sick Society’. He is impressively tall when sat down and has a ridiculously loud laugh. He is often found singing on walks with his Springer Spaniel around the beauty that is Morecambe Bay. Blog: reimagininghealth.com

Stephen Layne, Deputy Director Fair Work, Social Partnership and Fair Work Directorate, Welsh Government

Stephen is Deputy Director for Fair Work at the Welsh Government and leads the team responsible for promoting fair work, addressing labour exploitation and tackling modern slavery.  Prior to being promoted into the Senior Civil Service last year, he completed a two-year UK Civil Service wide leadership programme for high-potential civil servants.  Stephen has previously worked in a wide variety of roles at different grades across the Welsh Government, building extensive experience in policy development, government business, and working with Ministers, Special Advisors and external partners across a wide range of policy areas. 

Jenny Lloyd, Programme Co-ordinator, Transition and Recovery Support Programme, WLGA

Jenny co-ordinates the WLGA’s Transition & Recovery Support Programme, delivering support to councils to decarbonise and become net zero carbon by 2030. She has previous experience of working within the renewables, higher education and public sectors in roles that focused on regeneration, community engagement and climate change communications.  

Ruth Marks, Chief Executive, WCVA

Ruth is Chief Executive of Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA), the national membership body for voluntary organisations in Wales. An experienced charity sector activist and leader, she has led RNIB Cymru and Chwarae Teg and an independent review into health regulation in Wales. Ruth was the first Older People's Commissioner in the world establishing the independent office and used her statutory powers to review health care for older people; producing the report “Dignified Care”. Her post graduate qualifications are in human resource management and collaborative leadership.

Ruth regularly contributes to inquiries and advisory boards on issues including diversity, volunteering, the charity sector and civil society. Ruth is currently a trustee of ACEVO and Cynnal Cymru, an advisory board member of Academi Wales, an advisory panel member for the Future Generations Commissioner, a director of the International Federation on Ageing and a Senior Independent Panel Member for public appointments in Wales. 

Paul Mears, Chief Executive, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board

Paul Mears has been Chief Executive of Cwm Taf Morgannwg Health Board in Wales, UK since September 2020.  The Health Board is an integrated population health organisation delivering and commissioning healthcare services for a population of 450,000 in the Welsh Valleys.  This includes three general hospitals, mental health services, community care, primary care services and public health.  Paul is the national CEO lead in the Welsh NHS for innovation and also leads the delivery of value based healthcare across the country.

Prior to this role Paul spent two years as independent management consultant advising a number of clients in both the public and private healthcare sector as well as digital healthcare businesses.  This included is working as a Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Company.  Paul was previously Chief Executive of Yeovil District Hospital in Somerset where he established the Symphony Programme designed to integrate care across primary care, the acute hospital and community services.   Paul started his NHS career in Torbay where he was instrumental in setting up Torbay Care Trust and leading the operational business of one of the first integrated community health and social care organisations in England as well as working as Chief Operating Officer at Torbay Hospital. 

Paul has an interest in integrated care, digital healthcare and innovation which has led him to speak at a range of national and international events on these topics.  His development of integrated care models has been featured in the Financial Times, The Economist and Health Service Journal.  Paul is a strong believer that the future of healthcare is a pivot away from a focus on hospital based care to upstream engagement and involvement of communities in improving health outcomes as well as using digital technologies to drive a more citizen-centred healthcare system.

Heather Moorhead, Director, Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care

Heather Moorhead was appointed as the Director of the Northern Ireland Confederation for Health and Social Care (NICON) in May 2010. Prior to this, Heather was CEO of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association where she supported and facilitated local government improvement & modernisation.

Heather was also previously Director of the Sustainable Northern Ireland Programme where she was responsible for developing the organisation which provided advice and guidance to government departments on sustainable development issues. Heather’s earlier career was spent in the field of Environmental Health and she held positions across various specialisms including health and safety, consumer protection, training and health promotion.

Heather is a member of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and the Northern Ireland Chief Executives' Forum.

Jonathan Morgan, Regional Healthcare Manager, AstraZeneca

Jonathan Morgan has worked for AstraZeneca across Wales for over 20 years, with the last four years in his current role of Regional Healthcare Manager. He has experience in diabetes and cardiology, but has spent the majority of his time in respiratory medicine. In his role he partners with senior NHS managers, policy makers and clinicians on projects at national, health board and cluster level. AstraZeneca’s aim is to jointly improve health systems and patient care for asthma, severe asthma and COPD. Jonathan is passionate about the role that pharma can play in supporting the implementation of NHS policies and thus improving patient lives. 

Faye Patton, Policy & Project Manager for Hospital to a Healthier Home, Care and Repair Cymru

Faye has worked for Care & Repair Cymru since 2020, initially as their policy & research officer, before taking on the challenge of developing the H2HH service, switching from a nationally funded Welsh Government programme to one recognised and funded locally by health. Now as policy & project manager for H2HH, Faye works closely with agencies, caseworkers and local health board staff to ensure the continued success of the service.  

Care & Repair’s Hospital to a Healthier Home (H2HH) service has been running across Wales since 2019, based on a service that was developed in Bridgend County Care & Repair in 2013. The service supports OTs and MDTs to facilitate quicker, safer transfers of care home by resolving housing and environmental problems ready for discharge when medically fit. 

Tom Porter, Head of Analytics, Lane Clark & Peacock

Tom Porter is a statistician, data scientist and head of analytics at LCP with 10+ years’ experience of delivering data and analytics solutions across multiple sectors for government and industry.  Experienced in supporting life sciences in designing and implementing patient centred outcome agreements, integrating patient data and business intelligence.

Joe Powell, Chief Executive, All Wales People First

Joe Powell is the Chief Executive of All Wales People First. He was appointed in 2012 after a nation-wide recruitment drive to appoint someone with lived experience to head the organisation. Before that he lived in autism care services for eleven years.

Cari-Anne Quinn, Chief Executive Officer, Life Sciences Hub Wales

Cari-Anne Quinn is the CEO of Life Sciences Hub Wales, a government sponsored body which works in partnership with the health, social care, academia, and Industry to accelerate the development and adoption of healthcare innovations. 

Previously, Cari-Anne has worked in a range of economic development roles, including internationally with the Welsh Development Agency. She also led the policy and Business Development delivery department for the Life Sciences sector in Wales, responsible for business support and key innovative life sciences projects such as Medicentre and Life Sciences Hub Wales.

Jackie Reynolds, Respiratory Lead Pharmacist Primary Care, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board

Jackie Reynolds began her career in community pharmacy but has spent the last 17 years working as a Pharmacist Prescriber in Oakfield St Surgery and as a Prescribing Advisor for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, gaining an MSC in respiratory medicine in 2019. She is also a member of the Welsh Respiratory Health Implementation Group, Respiratory Alliance Wales, and Greener Practice Wales. She has been involved with various projects to improve care for people with respiratory disease and is interested in sustainable respiratory prescribing to benefit both patients and the planet.  

Judi Rhys, Chief Executive, Tenovus Cancer Centre

Judi’s background is in health, education and social welfare. She is currently Chief Executive of Tenovus Cancer Care and has held previous CEO roles at Arthritis Care and the British Liver Trust. Judi served two terms as a non-executive director of Public Health Wales and is also a non-executive director of Sport Wales, a Senior Independent Panel Member for Public Appointments in Wales and a trustee of Alzheimer’s Society. Judi was awarded MBE in the 2021 New Year Honours for her work in the voluntary sector. She was born, raised and lives in south Wales.

Julie Rogers, Deputy Chief Executive / Director of Workforce and Organisational Development

A chartered fellow of the CIPD, Julie has worked in the Welsh public sector for almost four decades.

She has enjoyed a varied career in Government and the NHS, spanning a wide range of social policy, OD and HR roles. In 2013, Julie became the National Workforce & Organisational Development Director for NHS Wales, a role that she held until April 2018 when she joined Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW).

Since joining HEIW, Julie has led the development of the first ‘Health and Care Workforce Strategy for Wales 2020-30’; supported the national response to the roll-out of the covid vaccination programme and overseen the development of a range of resources and programmes to embed compassionate leadership at all levels across NHS Wales.

Qahira Shah, Welsh Youth Parliament Member, Cardiff South and Penarth

Carol Shillabeer, Chief Executive, Powys Teaching Health Board

Carol Shillabeer was appointed Chief Executive in March 2015, after spending five years as Nurse Director at Powys Teaching Health Board. With a background in both senior clinical and managerial posts, Carol has varied service experience including women and children’s services, mental health and general medicine. She also has an extensive background in partnership working and is committed to shaping and delivering better services and outcomes for people as a result.  She is a former Vice Chair of the Nursing and Midwifery Council the UK regulator for nurses and midwives. Carol currently undertakes a Lead CEO role in areas such as Mental Health,  Women’s Health and the COVID 19 Vaccination Programme in Wales.

She has a Masters degree in Health Service Management and is a former Florence Nightingale Foundation Leadership Scholar.

Dr Anya Skatova, Turing Fellow, UKRI Future Leaders Fellow,  Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol 

Dr Anya Skatova is a behavioural and data scientist at Bristol Medical School, the University of Bristol, UK where she leads Digital Footprints Lab. She is a Turing Fellow at Alan Turing Institute and a UKRI Future Leader Fellow. She studies how novel digital footprint data can be used to understand human behaviour and real-life outcomes, such as health. Currently she is focusing on transaction data, specifically loyalty and banking cards, and working on realising the value of using these data to improve population health.

Shavanah Taj, General Secretary, Wales TUC

Shavanah Taj is the General Secretary of the Wales TUC. She has served in the role in since February 2020. She joined from the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), where she was the Welsh Secretary from 2013.

Prior to joining PCS as a full-time officer in 2002, Shavanah worked in retail, call centres and the third sector. From 2018 to 2019, she served as the President of the Wales TUC.

Cardiff born and raised, Shavanah grew up steeped in the trade union movement. Her father was a Health and Safety union representative in the steel works.

Shavanah is a passionate advocate and campaigner for equality, social, climate justice and human rights. In her official capacity she sits on many boards and advisory groups for the Welsh Government and wider strategic social partnerships.

Shavanah is a trustee for the Bevan Foundation, the People's Health Trust, Henna Foundation and trustee and Chair for Women Connect First. Shavanah is a Commissioner for the Independent Commission on the Constitutional Future of Wales.

Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive, NHS Confederation

Matthew joined the NHS Confederation as its chief executive in June 2021, having been chief executive of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) for 15 years.  During his tenure, Matthew transformed the RSA into a global institution, with 30,000 fellows and an influential research programme.

Before the RSA, Matthew was chief adviser on political strategy to Prime Minister Tony Blair and he also ran the Institute for Public Policy Research for 5 years. He is a widely known commentator on policy, politics and public service reform and regularly appears on national media programmes, including as a panellist on BBC Radio 4’s Moral Maze.  He is series editor for the Thames and Hudson ‘Big Ideas’ books and his own book ‘Do we need to work?’ was published in 2021.

Alex Wallace, Wellbeing Consultant, Wagestream

Alex is a Wellbeing Consultant at Wagestream, the UK’s fastest-growing social impact fintech. He oversees relationships within the health and social care sector working closely with over 50 NHS Trusts.

Andrew Warburton, Head of Information & Health Records Programme, Digital Health and Care Wales

As Head of Information & Health Records Programmes at DHCW, Andrew has overall responsibility for the delivery of all Information Services programmes of work defined in plans agreed with Welsh Government, to supporting NHS Wales organisations achieve digital transformation objectives. Andrew is a senior manager representing Information Services on NHS Wales groups and is Chair of the national Health Records Management Advisory Group comprising all Health Boards and Trusts across Wales.

Andrew has over 23 years operational experience in England supporting clinical services by working with internal and external stakeholders to develop and implement digital healthcare transformation initiatives delivering better outcomes for patients. Driving forward digital change within the organisations through strategic direction and help provide a solid base for digital clinical improvements.

Thariea Whisker, Head of Wound Services, UK, Healthy.io

Thariea Whisker is an experienced professional with over 21 years experience across the health and tech sectors. Thariea joined Healthy.io in November 2020 and is now heading up the wound services directorate to accelerate progress on digital wound care. She is focused on bringing together evidence based practice and great digital design to make a real and lasting difference to patients living with wounds.

Helen Whyley, Director, Royal College of Nursing, Wales

Helen is the Director and Board Secretary for the Royal College of Nursing in Wales. Since February 2022 she has also been undertaking the role of the Director of Nursing at the RCN on an interim basis. She was appointed as the RCN Wales Director on 12 February 2019 having previously been employed as the Interim Director since November 2018 and Associate Director (Employment Relations) since September 2017.  Helen is the Chair of the RCN Education, Learning, and Development Strategy Program Board and the RCN Staffing for Safe and Effective Care Program Board. Helen previously worked in the office of the Welsh Government’s Chief Nursing Officer from 2011. Here her role included professional and policy advice on workforce development, nursing & midwifery education and regulation, and safeguarding.  She delivered on several key areas while working for Welsh Government including policy advice on the Nurse Staffing Levels (Wales) Act 2016; a review of the Post Registration Career Framework for Nurses; the Aligning Skills Guidance & Portfolio and the PREVENT training programme.

Helen’s career with the RCN in Wales originally started in 1999 when she was appointed as an RCN Professional Officer. Upon completion of her MA in Industrial Relations she undertook a secondment in 2006 to the RCN UK Employment Relations Department working on national recognition agreements and organising in the independent sector.  Her clinical background is in intensive care, she worked in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Morriston Hospital in Swansea for some years.

Lisa Wills, CEO, Arts Factory

Lisa manages the day to day running of Arts Factory and strives to ensure the charity stays on mission to continue helping change people’s lives. Lisa initially occupied a finance role in the organisation from 2001 until she was appointed Head of Operations in 2008 and became CEO in 2021. With over 20 years’ experience working in the third sector, Lisa is a passionate and powerful advocate not just for the organisation but also for the rights of all people in society – especially the most vulnerable.

Harriet Wright-Nicholas, Welsh Youth Parliament Member, Caerphilly

Emma Woollett, Chair, Welsh NHS Confederation and Chair, Swansea Bay University Health Board

Emma has held executive, non-executive and advisory positions across both private and public sector industries including health, retail, utilities and rail. Her expertise is in managing change and strategy development, and she has a particular interest in encouraging the exchange of ideas between different organisations and indeed different sectors in order to find innovative solutions.

Emma started her career in the oil industry and, after a period as a management consultant supporting utilities worldwide, she joined Somerfield plc. in a business development and marketing role. Emma became Marketing Director for Kwik Save Stores following the merger with Somerfield plc, and oversaw a transformation in performance. Since 2003, Emma has deployed her business and strategic experience in the NHS, providing planning and governance advice to NHS hospitals. She was a non-executive director for University Hospitals Bristol for over 10 years and was appointed Vice Chair when the trust achieved Foundation Trust status. She has been Chair at Swansea Bay since 2019, where she has built a strong board leading to significant improvements in performance and delivery.

The Welsh NHS Confederation Annual Conference and Exhibition is back - taking place in person. Our conference enables speakers, panellists and delegates from across the health and care sector and beyond to come together to inform debate and discuss the latest challenges and opportunities across the system and do some long overdue networking!

If you’re a manager, clinician, service user, or partner in health and social care, we would be delighted to welcome you to the conference.

• Management Trainee/ Service user - £100.00 + VAT
• Welsh NHS Confederation member - £125.00 + VAT
  Please click here to view the full list of Welsh NHS Confederation member organisations
• NHS Confederation members and charities - £160.00 + VAT
  Please click here to view full list of NHS Confederation members 
  Welsh NHS Confederation Health and Wellbeing Alliance members can also book on at this rate
  Please click here to view full list of health and wellbeing alliance organisations
• Not for Profit and Public Sector - £180.00 + VAT
• Commercial Organisations - £280.00 + VAT
• *Group booking discount for Welsh NHS Confederation members - 10 places for £1000+ VAT
  If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please contact the EA/PA to the CEO of your organisation 

Email the event bookings team at eventbookings@nhsconfed.org or call 0844 800 5987

If your organisation would like to sponsor or exhibit at the Welsh NHS Confederation Annual Conference and Exhibition 2022, please contact Sandra Cummings sandra.cummings@welshconfed.org for more information.