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Our people

Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley Directors and Board members are listed first. Scroll down or click through to the next pages for other members of our team. Alternatively, you can refine your search by using the specialties listed below.

Professor Gary A Ford CBE, FMedSci

Gary has been at the helm of Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley since its formation as the Oxford AHSN in 2013. He served as Chair of the AHSN Network, the overarching body which brought together England’s 15 AHSNs, from 2021-23. Prior to that he was also twice Vice Chair of the national network. He […]

Specialties: Oxford AHSN Board

Nigel Keen

Nigel Keen is the Board chairman. He is also Chairman of Syncona Partners, a company funded by The Wellcome Trust which was founded in 2012 and operates as an evergreen investment company, taking an active role in identifying, supporting and developing technologies with the potential significantly to impact the healthcare market of the future.  He […]

Specialties: Oxford AHSN Board

Dr Paul Durrands

Paul joined in 2013. He has oversight of all its activities with a particular focus on governance, business planning, environmental sustainability and partnerships with integrated care systems. ​Paul has an extensive commercial background, with international experience of licensing, contracting and mergers and acquisitions​. He has also been a director of two life sciences companies and […]

Specialties: Oxford AHSN Board

Tracey Marriott

Tracey is an MBA (Henley Management College) qualified commercial and transformational change professional who has worked in both the private sector (material science and health) and the public health sector for the past 15 years. She has extensive experience of delivering complex programmes regionally, nationally and across Europe (budget values up to £1.6 billion). Prior […]

Specialties: Clinical Innovation Adoption

Katherine Edwards

Katherine leads on Patient Safety and Clinical Improvement, running a large number of quality improvement projects across the region, and contributing to national patient safety programmes. Katherine has over 20 years’ experience working in the NHS and healthcare, starting her career in midwifery and progressing through clinical management of wards and departments. She moved into […]

Specialties: Patient Safety and Clinical Improvement
Katherine Edwards

James Rose

Dr. James Rose serves as the Director of Strategic and Industry Partnerships at Health Innovation Oxford and Thames Valley, overseeing a team of seasoned professionals dedicated to business support, NHS engagement, real-world evaluation, and adoption. With over 16 years of experience in the life sciences and healthcare sector, Dr. Rose has held various roles aimed […]

Specialties: Strategic and Industry Partnerships

Dr Siân Rees

Siân leads the Community Involvement and Workforce Innovation theme. Siân and her team work across the region helping to ensure that patients and the public are involved from needs analysis to design, delivery and evaluation of health and care services. The team also works on assessment of need, scoping for innovations and real world evaluation […]

Specialties: Community Involvement Workforce Innovation

Joe Harrison

Joe Chairs the Research and Development Oversight Group. He has been Chief Executive of Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust since 2013. Joe has over 25 years’ experience of working in acute hospitals, including senior roles in large teaching hospitals and district general hospitals. He has a track record for improving patient services and […]

Specialties: Research and Development Oxford AHSN Board

Dr Minoo Irani

Minoo co-chairs the Oversight Group for Community Involvement and Workforce Innovation. He is Medical Director of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. A consultant paediatrician, Minoo has experience of working on projects and committees within the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, General Medical Council, Department of Health and Berkshire Research Ethics Committee.

Specialties: Oxford AHSN Board Community Involvement Workforce Innovation

Neil Dardis

Neil is Chief Executive of Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, taking up the post in March 2018. He was previously Chief Executive of Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, a position he held from April 2015. He has an in-depth understanding of acute and teaching hospitals, community and specialist services based on over 20 years’ experience in […]

Specialties: Oxford AHSN Board Clinical Innovation Adoption