Independent Member - Community

I'm very excited to take a break from early retirement and rejoin the NHS. Especially so as Hywel Dda is in such an exciting phase of change and development. I’m passionate about bringing communities into the healthcare ecosystem, to ensure that services are truly patient centric.

The first half of my career was spent working in Marketing for Thomson Directories (remember that famous blue telephone directory and Thomson the Cat?!). I was product manager for a number of years, having previously had roles in pricing, promotion, new product development and analytics.

After taking voluntary redundancy in 2008 I launched myself into my dream job of being a professional photographer. I started working as an apprentice to an established photographer to learn the craft. I spent a few joyous years working mainly as a reportage style wedding photographer, which I absolutely loved. Unfortunately, a back injury put paid to this, and I then moved into NHS for what has been the most fulfilling part of my working life.

I spent 10 years working in a variety of roles, most of which were focussed on system redesign and change management. I was a programme manager on one the of the first NHSE Vanguard sites (which saw the introduction of Integrated Care Systems). I spent time managing outpatient and informatics change programmes in an acute trust. I then moved into a role at Wessex Health Science Network where I evaluated the impact of innovation in various care settings.

After leaving the NHS I spent a couple of years working for one of the large pharma companies as a Senior Insight Manager. There I looked at the NHS through a customer lens to deliver life changing drugs to patients.

Before moving to Ceredigion in April 2023, I’d lived in the same town in Hampshire for my whole life, working and raising a family. My dream was to retire to the seaside, and so my husband and I have spent the last few years building a house overlooking Cardigan Bay. When not at work you’ll find me either on the beach with my two spaniels (Spanner and Sprout), with my head in a good book, or ceisio dysgu Cymraeg!