Thursday 19 June 2025, 11.30am Central Hall Westminster, Storey’s Gate, London SW1H 9NH THEBIG PITCH
Contents Agenda 4 Foreword 6 NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme Network 11 Host 15 Speakers and Panellists 16 Our Impact 30 Clinical Entrepreneurs: Pitchers 32 Satellite Sessions 40 Stands 51 Sponsors 65 Impact Video 70
4 | Agenda 11:30 Arrivals, Registrations, Lunch and Refreshments and Exhibition View 12:00 Satellite Session Coming to America: Transforming UK/EU Companies through US Expansion and Fundraising Joint Q&A with Frazier & Deeter and Wilson Sonsini 13:00 Welcome to the Clinical Entrepreneur Programme’s Big Pitch Hosted by Writer and Broadcaster Vivienne Parry 13:05 Keynote Professor Sir Stephen Powis, National Medical Director of NHS England 13:20 Care Local, Digital First, Prevention Focused – Powering Transformation and Growth Through Research, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lucy Chappell, Chief Scientific Officer, Department of Health and Social Care and Chief Executive Officer at the National Institute of Health Research, Rosalind Campion, Director of the Office for Life Sciences, David Lawson, Director of Medical Technology and Innovation at the Department of Health and Social Care, Stella Vig, Deputy National Medical Director for Secondary Care and Quality 13:40 In Conversation with Clinical Entrepreneurs Dr Hammad Jeilani, Co-Founder of Apian and Alex Trewby, Co-Founder and CEO of Apian 13:45 Making Innovation Happen: Innovation Support Across the NHS SBRI Programme: Raffaella Roncone, Assistant Director and Head of Innovation and Enterprise at the Small Business Research Initiative, NHS Innovation Accelerator: Mindy Simon, Co-Director of the NHS Innovation Accelerator, Insites Programme: Chris Chaney, Chief Executive at CW+, The Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity, Patient and Public Involvement: Alice Williams, Head of Patient and Public Involvement (Innovation, Research & Life Sciences) at NHS England, Health Innovation Network: Dr Chris Laing, Chief Executive Officer of UCLPartners 14:05 In Conversation with Clinical Entrepreneurs Dr Julie Hammond, GP and Founder of MamAR 14:10 Transforming Healthcare Through Partnerships Fiona Carragher, Chief Policy and Research Officer, Alzheimer’s Society, Joann Rhodes, Chief Executive Officer, Health Innovation Research Northern Ireland (HIRANI), Brad Groves, Director NICE Advice at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Araminta Ledger, Managing Director at Cambridge University Health Partners, Fiona Fraser, Associate Director of Innovation and Workforce Diversification at NHS Education for Scotland
| 5 14:30 Break and Refreshments with Satellite Sessions and Exhibition View S atellite Session One: Coming to America: Transforming UK/EU Companies through US Expansion and Fundraising Joint Q&A with Frazier & Deeter and Wilson Sonsini Satellite Session Two: Meet Mentors from the Clinical Entrepreneur Programme 15:30 Innovation Improving Patient Experience - Clinical Entrepreneurs and their Patients Dr Tamsin Holland Brown, Paediatrician, Founder of Hear Glue Ear and Co-Clinical Lead for the Clinical Entrepreneur Programme, Nick de Pennington, Founder and CEO of Ufonia, Ali Rezaei Haddad, Founder and CEO of XARlabs and Neurosurgery Resident 15:40 In Conversation with Sir James Mackey, Chief Executive Officer, NHS England 16:00 Presenting the Future of Healthcare - Clinical Entrepreneur Pitches: Part One Shuler Xu and Nipun Sawhney, Louise Thompson, Andrew Darby-Smith, Aizemea Okojie, Nick Sangala, Conor Judge, Nicki Allen, Akshaykumar Kamble, Frances Duffy, Angus Perry 16:30 Made in the UK, Sold to the World Hosted by Dr Chris Laing, CEO at UCLPartners Ash Kalraiya, CEO at Medishout, Dr Dafydd Loughran, Co-Founder and CEO at Concentric Health, Dr Nadine Hachach-Haram, Founder of Proximie, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Director of Clinical Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Co-Managing Partner of KHP Ventures, Dr Benyamin Deldar, Co-Founder and Co-CEO at Deep Medical, Dr Stephanie Campbell, Founder and CEO at Okko Health and NCN Optometrist Lead at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board 16:45 Presenting the Future of Healthcare - Clinical Entrepreneurs Pitching: Part Two Funmi Vanessa Ullam, Saran Muthiah, Tufayl Hannan, Devika Wood, Laura Tan, Natasha Davendralingam, Mark Cox, Clare Nash, Nick Gompertz, Lucrezia Cester 17:15 Concluding Remarks Professor Tony Young OBE and Dr Tamsin Holland Brown BEM 17:25 Final thank you Vivienne Parry 17:30 Networking and Drinks Reception with Exhibition View 18:30 Ends
6 | Foreword As I prepare to step down from my role as National Medical Director, it is with immense pride and gratitude that I welcome you to this year’s NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme Big Pitch event. This afternoon marks more than a celebration; it’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we place innovation at the heart of healthcare. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing the extraordinary impact of this programme from its inception to now supporting over 1,500 entrepreneurs across clinical and non-clinical roles. What has inspired me most is the spirit of co-production and collaboration: the way staff, clinicians, patients, and carers come together to develop solutions rooted in lived experience and practical insight. The energy, creativity, and unwavering dedication of this community give me deep hope for the future. To the 223 new entrepreneurs joining us — welcome. You are the future of a more innovative and compassionate NHS. Thank you to all who have made this programme such a success. It has been an honour to support this journey. Professor Sir Stephen Powis National Medical Director, NHS England Innovation must be at the heart of the NHS - it’s how we keep the NHS moving forward. If we want to meet the changing needs of our patients and keep delivering world-class care, we need fresh ideas, bold thinking, and the courage to do things differently. That’s why we’re so excited to launch the latest cohort of the Clinical Entrepreneur Programme. This isn’t just about projects — it’s about people. People like you, who see challenges and think, ‘there has to be a better way.’ From tackling workforce pressures to reducing health inequalities, innovation is how we solve the big problems — and the everyday ones too. And the best ideas often come from those who live and breathe the NHS every day. We’ve always been a health service that leads the way. Now it’s time to build on that legacy with even more ambition. By backing clinicians and staff to lead change from within, we make sure innovation is practical, powerful, and rooted in real-world care. This programme is about turning ambition into action. You’re not just imagining a better future — you’re building it. And we’re proud to be with you every step of the way. Sir James Mackey Chief Executive Officer, NHS England
| 7 It gives me great pleasure to welcome our newest cohorts to the NHS Clinical and Patient Entrepreneur Programmes. These initiatives continue to be a powerful catalyst for innovation, empowering our workforce and service users to transform bold ideas into impactful solutions for patients, staff, and the wider health system. As we face unprecedented challenges and opportunities in healthcare, the creativity and passion of our entrepreneurs are more vital than ever. These programmes provide the support, mentorship, and community needed to turn potential into progress. Thank you to those that have already taken part in the programme. To those accepted this year, you join a growing network of pioneers who are not only advancing technology but also reshaping the culture of innovation across the NHS. Your journey will be demanding but immensely rewarding, and we are proud to support you every step of the way. On behalf of the NHS, I extend my gratitude and look forward to seeing the extraordinary impact you will make. Dr Vin Diwakar National Clinical Transformation Director, NHS England The mother of innovation is necessity. In your role you are in a unique position to see both the everyday challenges facing the NHS and the innovative solutions that offer the potential to achieve real improvement for the patient and how we work. This is what makes the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme so valuable and why it is so important to support the NHS right across the UK, with colleagues drawn from England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. As a cohort you represent some of the most innovative, exciting, and novel ideas to support our health system. Well done for being selected for this year’s cohort – you represent the very best of us. I look forward to meeting you over the coming months to support you alongside colleagues and experts drawn from across the health family to help develop and realise the full potential of your proposal. David Lawson Director of Medical Technology & Innovation at Department of Health and Social Care
8 | At the Office for Life Sciences, we are committed to fostering innovation that drives better health outcomes and strengthens the UK’s life sciences sector. The NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme exemplifies this mission - empowering NHS staff to turn frontline insights into scalable solutions that improve patient care, enhance service delivery, and support the sustainability of our health system. It is truly inspiring to witness the ingenuity and ambition of our Clinical Entrepreneurs. Their work not only addresses some of the most pressing challenges facing the NHS but also contributes to the UK’s position as a global leader in health innovation. We look forward to supporting the continued growth of this vibrant community and to seeing the real-world impact of their innovations in the year ahead. Rosalind Campion Director of the Office for Life Sciences It is a privilege to welcome you to the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme, a vital platform to drive meaningful change for patients through innovation. At the heart of every breakthrough lies a deep understanding of real-world clinical challenges. By combining the development of evidence with the boldness of innovation, we can move beyond ideas into action translating knowledge into solutions that improve patient outcomes, enhance experiences, and support our health and care workforce. This programme champions your perspective, as NHS staff and patients with lived-experience, who are able to bridge the gap between evidence and enterprise. By fostering these partnerships, we not only accelerate the pace of discovery, but ensure that every advance serves our ultimate goal, better care for every patient, everywhere. Thank you for your commitment and engagement. We look forward to the impact you will make. Lindsey Hughes Director of Research Innovation, Research and Life Sciences Strategy Group, Transformation Directorate, NHS England Will Warburton Director of Life Science Policy Strategy Innovation, Research and Life Sciences Strategy Group, Transformation Directorate, NHS England
| 9 One Team Working Together to Transform Healthcare This year marks a significant milestone as we welcome Cohort nine of the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP), alongside the second cohort of our Patient Entrepreneur Programme and the launch of our new Dementia Innovators Programme, in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Society. These developments reflect our unwavering commitment to transforming healthcare through innovation, collaboration, and a shared vision for the future. The NHS CEP has always been more than a programme—it is a movement. A movement powered by the belief that those closest to the challenges in healthcare are also closest to the solutions. Over the past nine years, we have built the world’s largest entrepreneurial workforce development programme in healthcare, supporting over 1,500 NHS staff and enabling innovations that have reached tens of millions of patients and professionals. At the heart of this success is a powerful ecosystem of support. Our entrepreneurs bring lived experience, creativity, and determination to solve real-world problems. They are guided by over 300 cross-sector mentors and industry experts who generously share their expertise to help turn ideas into scalable solutions. Surrounding them is a national network of partners—from our work with Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and, this year, Wales; to support programmes such as the NHS Innovation Accelerator, SBRI Healthcare, NIHR, Health Innovation Networks, and NHS InSites— all working together as one team to nurture and accelerate innovation across the NHS. This year, we deepen our commitment to codesigning the future of healthcare—not just for patients, but with them. The Patient Entrepreneur Programme continues to grow, empowering individuals with lived experience to shape solutions that truly meet the needs of those they serve. And with the Dementia Innovators Programme, we are taking bold steps to address one of the most pressing health challenges of our time. We are also excited to announce that we are once again working with Venture Studio from Crisis, further expanding our collaborative efforts to drive impactful change to those who have experienced homelessness. Together, we are not just imagining a better future— we are building it. Through innovation, collaboration, and a shared vision, we are transforming healthcare for generations to come. To everyone who has contributed to this journey— thank you. The future of the NHS is being written by those who dare to think differently, and I am proud to walk alongside you. Professor Tony Young OBE National Clinical Lead for Innovation, NHS England, Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Anglia Ruskin University, Consultant Urological Surgeon, and Associate Medical Director, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust
10 | It has been an extraordinary year, witnessing the achievements of Clinical Entrepreneurs within cohort eight. The dedication to advancing innovations that align with key NHS priorities, securing funding, designing trials, building businesses, learning from mistakes and winning awards, whilst juggling clinical roles, is nothing short of inspiring. Many Clinical Entrepreneurs continue to step into leadership roles across NHS trusts, shaping how we think about clinical safety, system change and innovation adoption. Patient Entrepreneurs have brought remarkable depth, resilience and vision to the programme. So many within the ecosystem have spoken about their gratitude for the unique innovations and the insight the Patient Entrepreneurs bring to the network. It is great to come together at the ‘Big Pitch 2025’ to celebrate the passion, impact and products/services that NHS innovators continue to build into health care. Congratulations to all entrepreneurs, we hope you’ll stay close to the programme and continue mentoring and inspiring others. And to our new Year nine cohort: welcome! It’s been a joy getting to know you - we can’t wait to see where your journey leads. Dr Tamsin Holland Brown Paediatrician, Founder Of Hear Glue Ear and Co-Clinical Lead for the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme
| 11 NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme Network Northern Ireland “Recognising the success of the NHS (Clinical Entrepreneur Programme) CEP nationally, Invest Northern Ireland in 2022 committed funding for up to March 2026 to enable up to 10 HSC NI staff per annum to participate in the NHS CEP. Programme delivery is supported locally by HIRANI, led by Anglia Ruskin University and is part of the NHS Accelerated Access Collaborative. Since 2022 Invest NI has welcomed the NHS CEP Pit Stop to Northern Ireland each year which has allowed all participants to gain an understanding of the Northern Ireland life and health sciences ecosystem and meet with innovative founders and companies. In 2024, Invest NI, in partnership with HIRANI, hosted the third NHS CEP Pit Stop to Northern Ireland. Led by Professor Tony Young, over 60 Clinical Entrepreneurs participated in workshops, and had opportunities to network with innovators from the Northern Ireland life and health sciences ecosystem. Through the NHS CEP, local entrepreneurs have accelerated their innovative ideas, resulting in collaborative connections to scale health innovation, securing further investment in Northern Ireland and business start-ups. As we look forward to the coming year, we will welcome the fourth NHS CEP Pit Stop to Northern Ireland in Autumn 2025 and continue to build on the momentum established with this key programme for the future entrepreneurs of the sector.” X: @HIRANIhealth /@InvestNI www.hira-ni.com/ Scotland “The Digital Health & Innovation Centre (DHI), in partnership with Scottish Enterprise, NHS Scotland are embarking on a fourth year with the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme. Targeted at NHS employees from across NHS Scotland, DHI is co-funding the inclusion of 10 successful Scottish candidates for this year. The DHI is leading the Scottish coordination group for the programme in collaboration with Scottish Enterprise, NHS Education Scotland, InnoScot Health, TechScaler Programme and Scottish Government. The coordination group will support the Scottish candidates in their innovation journey and help them to identify Scottish support while providing networking and collaboration opportunities into the wider Scottish innovation and entrepreneurial landscape.
12 | By bringing together all the key organisations across the Scottish health and care landscape we have been able to coordinate and focus our efforts in supporting Clinical Entrepreneurs and recognising and investing in talented people who can actively contribute to improving and transforming our health and care services for the better. By linking this programme with other national clinical leadership programmes in Scotland we are seeking to create an environment where leadership, entrepreneurship and clinical excellence can thrive and grow. Partnering with the CEP is one way that we can provide a supportive and enabling environment to assist our entrepreneurs to achieve their full potential and expand their horizons.” Professor George Crooks Chief Executive Officer, Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre X: @dhiscotland www.dhi-scotland.com Republic of Ireland “The three Clinical Entrepreneurs appointed from the Republic of Ireland were winners of the Health Innovation Hub Ireland’s Clinical Innovation Award programme 2024. They received funding from Enterprise Ireland to explore the commercial opportunity of their innovative projects to solve unmet needs in healthcare at a global scale. In addition to this, and to best support the development of Irish Clinical Entrepreneurs, the Irish government through the Department of Health, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Enterprise Ireland, and the Health Service Executive have partnered with the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme (CEP). This opportunity afforded to the Irish representatives on the CEP will expedite their product and commercial development through world leading training, access to investors and commercial experts, and to grow an exceptional network of peer entrepreneurs, and business and clinical leaders. It is important that solutions developed by those who know and deal with the problems on a daily basis are given the best opportunity to succeed and deliver novel treatments to those who need them most.” Geraldine O’Flynn Clinical Innovation Programme Manager, Health Innovation Hub Ireland Dr Tanya Mulcahy National Director, Health Innovation Hub Ireland www.hih.ie
| 13 Wales Championing Innovation in Welsh Healthcare “At Cardiff University, we’re proud to work with Welsh Government to support seven pioneering healthcare professionals from Wales who have joined the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme this year, marking a major step forward for innovation in the Welsh NHS. Co-funded by a joint venture between Cardiff University and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, Cardiff Medicentre and Welsh Government, the partnership reflects our deep commitment to nurturing innovation and empowering clinicians and healthcare professionals to develop and scale transformative ideas that can improve patient care, enhance service delivery, and drive economic growth in the life sciences sector. As part of the UK’s largest entrepreneurial workforce development programme, these Welsh innovators gain access to expert mentoring, commercial training, and a national network of NHS and industry partners. This support equips them with the tools to turn their ideas into real-world solutions that benefit patients and healthcare systems alike. This partnership between Government, academia and healthcare reflects a shared commitment to nurturing talent, accelerating innovation, and embedding a culture of entrepreneurship within the NHS in Wales. By investing in people and ideas, we are helping to shape a more resilient, forward-thinking healthcare system for the future.” Clinical Innovation Hub, Medicentre and School of Medicine, Cardiff University www.cardiff.ac.uk/medicine/research/clinical-innovation www.cardiff.ac.uk/medicentre Life Sciences and Innovation Division, Health, Social Care and Early Years Group, Welsh Government www.gov.wales
14 | Dementia Innovators Programme Tackling Dementia Through Innovation: A New Partnership “Alzheimer’s Society is proud to partner with the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme in its first collaboration with a health charity - uniting clinical insight with innovation to tackle the UK’s biggest killer. Dementia affects one in three people, with over one million A&E visits last year alone. As one in six hospital beds is occupied by someone with dementia, the need for change is urgent. This partnership will support healthcare professionals to develop solutions that improve diagnosis, access to treatment, and care. With the first disease-modifying treatments emerging and new technologies offering hope for independent living, the time for innovation is now. The Dementia Innovators Programme will empower entrepreneurs to create products designed specifically for people living with dementia—helping them stay at home longer, supported by smart, scalable solutions. Together, we aim to reduce the £42 billion annual cost of dementia and improve lives across the UK.” www.alzheimers.org.uk X: @alzheimerssoc Instagram: /alzheimerssoc/ Venture Studios Crisis Changing Lives at Crisis “We’re delighted to be entering the fourth year of our partnership with the Clinical Entrepreneur Programme. From February 2022, where Changing Lives entrepreneurs were the first group of people from outside the NHS to enrol on the programme, our collaboration has continued to grow in impact and ambition. Now, ten of our entrepreneurs have successfully joined the CEP, gaining access to innovative learning, meaningful opportunities, and a dynamic network of fellow Clinical Entrepreneurs. The programme helps dismantle barriers that too often prevent people with lived experience of homelessness from pursuing entrepreneurship and turning their ideas into reality. At Crisis, this work is central to our mission. It empowers our participants to explore new pathways, grow their businesses, and realise their potential - with dignity and pride.” Liz Choonara Executive Director of Commerce and Enterprise, Crisis www.crisis.org.uk/ending-homelessness/ changing-lives-grant-programme/ X: @Crisis_uk
| 15 Patient Entrepreneur Programme “We are extending a warm welcome to our second cohort of Patient Entrepreneurs. Patients and carers with lived experience of health conditions and health services understand real world challenges and bring a unique perspective to identify innovative solutions to the issues that they, and many others, face in healthcare. Our Patient Entrepreneur cohort will receive the same educational content, support and access to resources as Clinical Entrepreneurs, and will also receive additional support from the Patient and Public Involvement team in the Innovation, Research and Life Sciences unit at NHS England.” We’re aiming to give participants insight into how the many areas of the NHS fit together and how they can grow their innovation, as well as demonstrate the benefit of patient-led innovations and encourage collaborative learning. Alice Williams, Head of Patient and Public Involvement, NHS England Alice Williams Head of Patient and Public Involvement – NHS England Sophie Parslow Patient and Public Involvement Manager – NHS England Julian Louis Patient and Public Involvement Officer – NHS England Host Vivienne Parry Vivienne Parry OBE is a science writer, broadcaster and facilitator. She became indelibly linked with innovation, especially in medicine, through her years as a presenter of BBC’s iconic TV show ‘Tomorrow’s World’. Since then, her long career has encompassed hundreds of films, radio programmes and podcasts, as well as being a columnist for the Times, Guardian and News of the World. She has served on the boards of UKRI, the MRC and UCL. She was head of public engagement at Genomics England for more than a decade. She is also known for hosting global events on cutting edge science and policy including for the G7 and G20. Her greatest claim to fame however is having been associated with the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme since its inception. X: @vivienneparry LinkedIn: /Vivienne Parry
16 | Professor Sir Stephen Powis National Medical Director of NHS England As National Medical Director, Sir Stephen is the highest-level Responsible Officer within England. His medical directorate is responsible for commissioning the national clinical audit programme, developing professional standards for doctors throughout England and developing clinical policy for the NHS. Sir Stephen is executive lead for the NHS national cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, stroke and prevention programmes. He is also the senior responsible officer in England for the human health workstream of the UK government’s antimicrobial resistance strategy and he co-chairs the National Quality Board with the Chief Inspector of Hospitals. Prior to his current role Sir Stephen held the Moorhead Chair of Renal Medicine at University College London from 1997 to 2017. Upon leaving UCL he became an honorary professor. Sir Stephen was knighted in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to the NHS, particularly during Covid-19. Sir James Mackey Chief Executive Officer, NHS England Sir James took up the post of Chief Executive Officer on 1 April 2025. From September 2021 to March 2025, he was National Director of Elective Recovery at NHS England. From January 2024 to March 2025, Jim was Chief Executive of Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. Jim was also Chair of the NHS Customer Board for Procurement and Supply but stood down on taking up this post at NHS England. From 2003 to 2023, Jim was Chief Executive of Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, during which time (2015 to 2017) he was Chief Executive of NHS Improvement on secondment. He was knighted in 2019 for services to healthcare. Speakers and Panellists
| 17 David Lawson Director of Medical Technology & Innovation Department of Health and Social Care David Lawson is Director of Medical Technology & Innovation at DHSC having commenced the role in October 2022. In this role, David is the Government policy lead for Medical Technology with responsibility for the implementation of the Government’s inaugural Medical Technology Strategy published in February 2023. Key initiatives include the Design for Life programme, to drive move to a circular economy for MedTech; Value Based Procurement Standard Guidance and MedTech Compass to provide a sideby-side comparison tool and a passporting system; reform of the Part IX Drug Tariff which controls MedTech prescribed in the community; DHSC sponsor for the Clinical Entrepreneur Programme; and SRO for the Innovative Devices Access Pathway bringing together MHRA, NICE, NHSE to provide enhanced support for novel technology. Prior to joining the Department, David was the Chief Procurement Officer at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust – a position he held for 21 years. Professor Lucy Chappell Department of Health and Social Care Chief Scientific Adviser and CEO of the NIHR Professor Lucy Chappell is Chief Scientific Adviser to the Department of Health and Social Care and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the UK’s largest funder of health and care research. The Chief Scientific Adviser has overall responsibility for DHSC research and development and for supporting analysis and life sciences across the Department. Lucy provides science advice to ministers across the range of health topics and is involved in cross-government science policy. Lucy is also Professor of Obstetrics at King’s College London, working mainly in clinical trials in pregnancy, and a practising Consultant Obstetrician at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
18 | Stella Vig Deputy National Medical Director for Secondary Care & Quality, NHS England Stella has more than 30 years’ experience in the NHS and has been working as consultant in vascular and general surgery at Croydon University Hospital since 2006. She is the Deputy National Medical Director for Secondary Care in NHS England and the National Clinical Director for Elective Care. She is leading the transformation of secondary care across the NHS in England, aiming to improve quality, services, safety, and outcomes for patients. Additionally, Stella continues to support the development of the Croydon Elective Centre, a “hospital within a hospital” that allowed the continuation of planned care and surgery during the pandemic. With a focus on developing trainees and supporting colleagues, Stella has taken leading roles in clinical education, as well as service transformation. This includes chairing the JSCT core surgery advisory committee to the four Royal Colleges, and the London Diabetic Foot Network. Stella’s journey to leadership has been shaped by her upbringing and her drive to achieve equity and parity in healthcare. Rosalind Campion Director of the Office for Life Sciences; UK Government Rosalind is the Director of the Office for Life Sciences in the UK Government. OLS is a joint unit which is part of the Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. OLS brings together government, the NHS, academia and industry to drive improvements in patient outcomes and economic growth through its support for the life sciences sector. Rosalind joined OLS in November 2021. Rosalind began her career as a solicitor working in the City before moving into government. Within government she has extensive experience of working on social and economic policy issues, with roles spanning the setting up and running of the Sentencing Council, to leadership roles in the Cabinet Office, the Home Office and in the Department of International Trade. She spent a number of years working as a diplomat in Washington DC and Tokyo.
| 19 Dr Chris Laing Chief Executive Officer, UCLPartners Chris joined UCLPartners in October 2021, initially as Director of the Academic Health Science Network and National Director of the NHS Innovation Accelerator, before being appointed as UCLPartners Chief Executive Officer in February 2022. Chris is a fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and has undertaken specialist training in nephrology, critical care and internal medicine. He continues to practise as a consultant nephrologist at University College London and Royal Free Hospitals, where he is also Honorary Associate Professor of Nephrology. Chris was speciality training director and Clinical Lead for nephrology at the Royal Free where he has also worked as the Associate Medical Director for patient safety. He has also worked as the Divisional Clinical Director of Emergency Services at UCLH and as secondary care lead for urgent and emergency care for the North Central London STP. Chris co-founded and chaired London Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) Network and has clinically led the UCLPartners Patient Safety Programme AKI Improvement Collaborative. Professor Tony Young OBE National Clinical Lead for Innovation, NHS England, Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Anglia Ruskin University, Consultant Urological Surgeon, and Associate Medical Director, Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust In 2014, Tony became the first National Clinical Lead for Innovation for the NHS, providing clinical leadership in delivering improved health outcomes in England. Driving the uptake of proven innovations across the NHS, he promotes economic growth through innovation, and helps to make the NHS the go-to place on the planet for medical innovation. In 2015, Tony founded the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme. This has become the world’s largest entrepreneurial workforce development programme of its kind. In the 2019 New Year’s Honours list Tony was awarded the OBE for services to clinical leadership. LinkedIn: /in/drtonyyoung
20 | Raffaella Roncone NIHR Assistant Director and Head of Innovation and Enterprises MBA-awarded, degree and PhD in Chemistry, Raffaella has spent over a decade fostering innovation and supporting health tech entrepreneurs. She leads the management of SBRI Healthcare and the NHS Cancer Programme, in close collaboration with NHS England. Raffaella provides leadership across NIHR and NHSE Programmes and identifies opportunities to accelerate transformative technologies into the NHS and wider market for a more equitable access to care. She is responsible for overseeing the development of activities and initiatives for effective engagement with Small and Medium Enterprises, industry and the investment community. www.sbrihealthcare.co.uk LinkedIn: /company/sbri-healthcare Mindy Simon Co-Director, NHS Innovation Accelerator Mindy is Co-Director at the NHS Innovation Accelerator. She is responsible for the programme’s execution while providing guidance to innovators. Her journey began in 2013 when she joined UCLPartners, eventually transitioning to the NIA in 2017. She has spent much of her extensive career working in the health and life sciences sector, holding senior leadership and operational roles across health and higher education institutions. She began her healthcare career overseas, running a private primary care practice before continuing her career in the UK, in the first instance establishing the organisational structure of a department focused on alternative therapies education followed by running executive functions at prestigious institutions such as the University of Oxford, and King’s College London. Mindy’s experience includes leading Board-level governance, supporting Executive teams to drive organisational and programme efficiencies as well as leading infrastructure projects and cross-functional collaboration. She is passionate about supporting innovators in addressing the challenges faced by the NHS, patients, and the health and social care sector, and breaking down barriers to achieving successful health outcomes through scaling innovation.
| 21 Chris Chaney Chief Executive, CW+ The Chelsea and Westminster Health Charity Chris joined CW+ as Chief Executive in 2016 and leads the charity to help identify, design and deliver new and novel approaches to advancing care and supporting patients, families and staff across the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, the North West London Integrated Care System and the wider NHS. In addition to his charity role, Chris sits as a member of the Chelsea and Westminster Trust board and is co-lead for innovation at the Trust through its CW Innovation programme. Prior to CW+, Chris was Head of Major Gifts at the University of Cambridge and spent over 10 years at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity. Chris is a Trustee of Newlife – The Charity for Disabled Children, and supports individuals and teams as a mentor and advisor in the charity and commercial health sectors. Alice Williams Head of Patient and Public Involvement, Innovation, Research and Life Sciences Group, NHS England Alice Williams has worked in patient, public and community engagement for over 20 years. She is passionate about working in partnership with people and communities to achieve better services, designed around the people who use them. She has a particular passion around involving children and young people, stemming from several years as a foster carer. Her current role focuses on strengthening patient and public engagement to inform NHS decision making. In previous roles she has delivered patient led quality assurance programmes, national innovation and improvement initiatives and leadership development. LinkedIn: /com/in/alice-williams-75944963/ The programme has provided invaluable mentorship, access to a supportive network, and practical tools that have empowered me to scale my ideas and turn them into actionable solutions within healthcare.
22 | Araminta Ledger Managing Director, Cambridge University Health Partners As Managing Director of Cambridge University Health Partners (CUHP), Araminta leads efforts to align academic excellence, clinical expertise, and industry engagement, positioning Cambridge as a globally competitive hub for life sciences. Araminta brings significant leadership experience across research strategy, translational development, and place-based innovation. Her previous roles span high-impact strategic initiatives at the University of Cambridge and pre-commercial development for the Cambridge Biomedical Campus. At CUHP, she is responsible for shaping strategic direction, overseeing operations, and influencing health and innovation policy. She also serves on the Business Board of the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority, helping to drive economic growth, innovation capacity, and talent development across the region’s high-growth sectors. With a strong foundation in scientific research, Araminta holds a PhD in organometallic chemistry and later transitioned into oncology, where she was awarded an NIHR Fellowship. Fiona Fraser Associate Director of Innovation and Workforce Diversification at NHS Education for Scotland NHS Education for Scotland’s purpose is to be a collaborative, innovative and inclusive learning organisation providing high quality education, training, workforce development, workforce data and technology for Scotland’s health and social care workforce. NES are adaptable, creative and responsive to the needs of the workforce and the communities we serve. We are firmly committed to improving population health, reducing health inequalities and working nationally and locally with partners to make a positive and lasting impact to improving the wellbeing of the people of Scotland. Fiona leads the innovation and workforce diversification workstream at NES: enhancing capacity and capability, increasing skilled responsiveness to population needs. This incorporates consideration of emergent tech, ed tech and AI, including innovation and entrepreneurial skills of benefit to the broader system.
| 23 Professor Joann Rhodes Chief Executive Officer, Health Innovation Research Northern Ireland (HIRANI) Professor Joann Rhodes is the Chief Executive of HIRANI, where she supports collaborative health research and innovation in Northern Ireland. She has championed the Business Navigator programme for Life Sciences and holds advisory positions at several organizations. Joann began her career as a cellular pharmacologist and Pfizer industry fellow at Imperial College London, developing novel immunomodulation therapies for COPD. Since 2011, she has facilitated industry-academic partnerships, including the £55M NI Future Medicines Institute and the £16M US-UK Pfizer Rare Diseases Consortium. As Chief of Staff at Merck UK Limited Partnership R&D Laboratories, she helped realise the vision for the £1.3B UK R&D innovation laboratories for Neurodegeneration. Joann is also a visiting Professor at Ulster University and holds an Executive MBA from Imperial College London, where she won the Dean’s award and Joan Woodward Prize for Organisational Strategy. She is passionate about accelerating collaborative health innovation and driving prosperity in Northern Ireland and the global life sciences economy. Professor Fiona Carragher Chief Policy and Research Officer, Alzheimer’s Society Professor Fiona Carragher joined Alzheimer’s Society as Chief Policy and Research Officer in 2019. She plays a key role in the organisation’s mission to improve the lives of individuals affected by dementia. Fiona’s career is marked by a dedication to improving outcomes at both patient and societal levels by providing leadership at the intersection of healthcare, research, and policy. She recently accepted a Visiting Professor role at the University of Ulster to support their approach to driving meaningful change in healthcare and the economy across Northern Ireland. Fiona leads the Research and Influencing strategy, overseeing a world-class research programme and strengthening the charity’s position on dementia health, social care policy, and societal change. A Clinical Biochemist and Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists, she previously served as Deputy Chief Scientific Officer for NHS England. Fiona is a passionate advocate for women in health and has broadened her Board level experience as a Trustee of the UK Dementia Research Institute and NonExecutive Director at Kent and Medway Health and Social Care Partnership NHS Trust.
24 | Brad Groves Director NICE Advice; National Institute for Health and Care Excellence Brad is Director, NICE Scientific Advice working with companies and technology developers to develop good evidence for evaluation and to identify routes to patient access in the NHS. Prior to this he led the development of NICE’s managed access function which enables earlier patient access to medicines, while further real-world evidence generation addresses evidential uncertainty that might otherwise delay a commissioning decision. Working closely with NHS England, the Accelerated Access Collaborative and NHS data custodians, Brad led the development of a data collection approach to support the delivery of data for the Cancer Drugs Fund and the Innovative Medicines Fund. He is also leading developments around the use of real-world evidence to support earlier adoption and spread of promising medical technologies. Prior to joining NICE, Brad worked for NHS England and understands commissioning approaches; and at Cancer Research UK where he led an international research partnership, giving insight in patient perspectives to innovation and use of realworld data to support decision-making. Dr Tamsin Holland Brown BEM Paediatrician, Founder of Hear Glue Ear and Co-Clinical Lead for the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme Tamsin works as a Paediatrician in Cambridge and specialises in children that are deaf. This led to her focus on children with temporary hearing loss due to glue ear (a common condition experienced by 80% children at least once, where fluid builds up behind the ear drum, causing temporary deafness in young children). She created an affordable medical device to improve hearing and an app to improve childhood developmental skills. This became the only solution for remote patient management of glue ear during the COVID pandemic in 2020. The device and the app won innovation and paediatric awards, with NICE ‘highly commending’ the app as a shared learning example and the UK app awards awarding ‘Children’s App Of The Year’. Her journey led her to become an educator in digital health and clinical entrepreneurship, becoming the Co-Clinical Lead for the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme in 2021. www.hearglueearapp.com hearglueear.wordpress.com Email: [email protected] X: @hearglueear
| 25 Dr Nick de Pennington Founder and CEO of Ufonia Nick is the Founder and CEO at Ufonia who brings to the team his background as a neurosurgeon with 15 years’ experience delivering frontline patient care and digital projects across regional health systems. Nick has an MA in Neurophysiology from the University of Cambridge, a BM BCh in Medicine, and a MBA with distinction from the University of Oxford. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England. He’s an alumnus of Michael Porter’s Value Based Healthcare course at HBS and is ambitious and optimistic about the potential of technology to fix the systematic challenges facing health services across the world. LinkedIn: /in/nick-de-pennington/ www.ufonia.com Dr Stephanie Campbell Founder and CEO, of OKKO Health Stephanie has worked as a specialist optometrist in hospitals (glaucoma, cornea and paediatrics), with a PhD research background. She is Founder and CEO of OKKO Health, a digital eye care start up in Bristol and London, and now expanding to the US. OKKO was founded to enable patients to self-monitor between clinic appointments and enable very prompt treatment when deterioration occurs. OKKO’s technology is vision science embedded video games - delivered as a clinically-prescribed app that harnesses the modern phone screens and sensors to provide much more clinical information than a traditional eye chart can. The vision data that OKKO is developing is being used to create digital biomarkers of vision, or perhaps even novel clinical end points. Ultimately, Stephanie is driving digital eye health towards being predictive and personalised, eye health that sits in the hands of the patient. www.okkohealth.com
26 | Dr Ash Kalraiya Founder and CEO MediShout Ash worked as an Orthopaedic Surgeon for a decade in the NHS and South Africa, plus in Malawi where he was a World Orthopaedic Concern Fellow. He founded MediShout after witnessing hospital operational problems preventing best patient care; for example when he cancelled operations due to faulty equipment or a broken theatre lightbulb. MediShout solves such problems by delivering the world’s first ‘one-stop’ App for hospital staff to report any operational issue whilst using AI to predict future problems. By integrating clinical staff, clinical engineering and medical device companies, MediShout improves operational workflow in hospitals. Ash has since become an NHS Innovation Accelerator Fellow and NHS Clinical Entrepreneur. MediShout.co.uk X: @ashmedishout LinkedIn: /in/ash-kalraiya-0383b7128/ Dr Dafydd Loughran Co-Founder and CEO, Concentric Health Dr Dafydd Loughran is Co-Founder and CEO at Concentric Health, the market-leading digital consent application now used by over one million patients annually. Surgically trained, Daf stepped sideways from Urology to drive forward his global vision for a better consent and shared decision-making process. Over a decade, he’s taken Concentric from an aide memoire built for his own use on surgical wards in Wales, through evolving the project into a business via the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme, to quietly leading an international team focused on the complex challenge of delivering a digital consent process that truly works for patients, clinicians and organisations. www.concentric.health LinkedIn: /in/dafloughran/ It’s a brilliant community that hugely supports innovation in the NHS.
| 27 Dr Nadine Hachach-Haram CEO and Founder, Proximie Dr Nadine Hachach-Haram FRCS (Plast), BEM, is CEO and Founder of Proximie, Consultant Plastic Surgeon and Director of Clinical Innovation & Strategic Partnerships at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London, UK. Growing up in postwar Lebanon was a formative experience, shaping her future career not just as a surgeon, but as an entrepreneur. Her initial motivation to help people grew into a wider goal to help bring safe surgery to the world. She created Proximie – a software platform that captures data and generates new insights to improve patient outcomes and OR productivity. LinkedIn: /in/nadine-hachach-haram-bem/ X: @DrNadineHH Dr Ali Haddad CEO and Founder, XAR Labs Dr Ali Haddad is a neurosurgery resident turned founder, driven to solve the critical lack of deep surgical vision in modern operating rooms. He is the founder and CEO of XARlabs, a company pioneering AI-powered 3D surgical visualization using mixed reality. Ali previously co-founded GoodSAM, an award-winning platform that mobilises clinically trained volunteers in realtime emergencies—now integrated with emergency services across multiple countries. Having experienced firsthand the limitations of flat imaging and mental rehearsal in complex surgery, Ali founded XARlabs to deliver intuitive, real-time guidance through immersive technology. The platform converts standard 2D MRI and CT scans into interactive, patient-specific 3D models rendered on lightweight, hardware-agnostic augmented reality headsets. With patented sensor fusion for sub-millimeter tracking and edge AI for contextual guidance, XARlabs has already been used in landmark procedures—including the world’s first AI-generated MR prostheses for the separation of conjoined twins. The platform delivers immediate clinical value while opening a path to surgical robotics, autonomous support systems, and globally scalable surgical training. X: @alirhaddad LinkedIn: Ali Haddad www.xarlabs.ai
28 | Dr Hammad Jeilani Medical Director and Co-Founder of Apian Dr Hammad Jeilani is the Medical Director and Co-Founder of Apian, a logistics startup using drones and robotics to deliver faster, smarter and greener healthcare. Their mission is to build the NHS an autonomous delivery network to fundamentally change the way we provide care. Apian has partnered with the world’s leading drone operators to demonstrate this capability, launching several services across the UK and Ireland. Hammad is passionate about tackling healthcare inequalities through innovation, having completed his Masters on Health and International Development at LSE. www.apian.aero This programme provides access to advice, guidance, and support, meeting people where they are. It is a crucial resource for the NHS to support innovations that can drive efficiencies, reduce duplication, and improve patient safety. Alexander Trewby CEO and Co-Founder of Apian Alexander Trewby is the CEO and Co-Founder of Apian, an autonomous logistics company using drones and robots to transform healthcare. Apian completed the world’s first drone flight carrying chemotherapy and the UK’s first delivery of prescription medication and blood packs. Before Apian, Alexander spent seven years at Google, where he co-founded the Consumer Health, Wearable Health and Hearables teams. He joined in 2014 after Google acquired Divide, the enterprise mobile startup he co-founded. Today, Divide’s software helps secure over three billion Android devices and 1.5 billion Gmail accounts. Earlier in his career, he was VP of Mobile Applications at Morgan Stanley and developed the first mobile app for a UK politician. He began his entrepreneurial journey in 1996 by founding Westminster Internet, the consultancy that put the first MPs online. www.apian.aero
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