Board Members

Hitesh Thakrar is an experienced investor in the technology sector, having spent over 25 years investing in public equities in the life sciences, information technology and innovation sectors. Since 2015, he has moved into early stage venture investing. Hitesh is currently a Partner at Syncona Limited (a Wellcome Trust backed early stage venture fund), a Governance Board Member of KQ Labs at the Francis Crick Institute, an accelerator with the Turing supporting next generation businesses in data science and life sciences, and the Chair of the Investment Committee for Newable Ventures (a pre-Series A deep tech fund). Hitesh is also an advisor to UKRI’s Science and Technology Funding Council (SFTC) that helps early stage companies spin out from UK universities, He recently joined as a Trustee of the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital Charity. Previous NED roles include work with Desktop Genetics and Tropic Biosciences, both companies using CRISPR technology in gene editing. Prior to 2015, Hitesh has worked at various public market institutions in global equity research and fund management including at ADIA (Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund), JP Morgan, Aviva Group, Dresdner Bank and New Star Asset Management. Hitesh has a degree in chemistry from Kings College, London, an MBA from Cranfield University and a CFA from the American Association of Investment Analysts and has previously held a position as Innovation Fellow at the University of Cambridge.

Ian became Medical Officer of Guy’s and St Thomas’ in January 2011. He joined the Trust as a consultant renal physician and honorary senior lecturer at King’s College London in 1994 and has had a distinguished clinical and academic career, which has included a broad range of senior management positions. In addition to his clinical work, Ian has played a key role in the development of Clinical Academic Groups, the management units of King’s Health Partners, and was closely involved in work to integrate with Lambeth and Southwark community services.

James joined the NHS England – London Region team from St George’s where he was Chief Transformation Officer, prior to that being an adviser to the Secretary of State for Health. James is an experienced NHS and commercial director, having held roles in NHS commissioning, as well as at West Middlesex University NHS Trust, Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust and Barts Healthcare NHS Trust.

Sarah has worked in the NHS for her whole career, most of it in NHS commissioning and in south east London. She has worked at the borough, pan borough and SEL level and has covered all aspects of commissioning from strategic and operational planning and delivery, through to contact negotiation and management and from primary through to tertiary care across physical and mental health.

Jacqueline joined St George’s as Chief Executive in May 2017. She was previously Chief Executive of West Middlesex University NHS Trust, where she helped steer the merger with Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS FT. She spent 5 years as Chief Executive of Southend University Hospital NHS Trust, and been Chief Operating Officer at Barts Health and Hillingdon Hospital.

Ben Collins is Director of System Development for the South East London Integrated Care System

Professor Jenny Higham is Vice-Chancellor of St George's, University of London and represents universities on the HIN Board. She took up appointment at St George’s on 2 November 2015, where she also practices clinically as a Gynaecologist in the Trust . She is also the first female Chair of the Medical Schools Council, a position she was elected to in August 2016.

Stephen currently works for the Greater London Authority’s health team where he heads up health and care policy and partnership working, supporting the Mayor of London’s role in championing and challenging the NHS to deliver safe and consistent services to Londoners. Stephen had previously worked at NHS England (London Region) leading the specialised services transformation programme.

John is Executive Medical Director, NHS South West London. He graduated in medicine from University College Dublin in 1994 before serving for six years as a doctor in the Royal Army Medical Corps, where he completed his training in general practice. In 2019 he became the Senior Responsible Officer for the Yorkshire and Humber Care Record, one of the leading exemplars for a national program to roll out a shared care record across health and social care and develop a population health management tool. He completed a Master’s degree in Quality Improvement at Ashridge Business School in 2014 and is a Health Foundation GenQ leadership fellow.

Catherine has been the Chief Executive of Healthwatch Lambeth, since its inception in 2013. The charitable organisation works to ensure that the voice of local people is heard. Catherine is also Vice Chair of Lambeth’s Safeguarding Adults Board and chairs the Board's Community Reference Group.

James’s career includes 21 years working to support clinical research and he has been working within the NIHR since it was established. With a background of working in preclinical drug discovery during his PhD and Postdoctoral work, James transitioned to supporting oncology trials with the MRC Clinical Trials Unit. In 2002, James worked to set up one of the regional cancer research networks as part of the National Cancer Research Network initiative, which latterly developed into a joint role that involved both covering the Network activities and being Head of Cancer Trials for UCLH, managing UCL’s Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre. Prior to his current role James worked as the Chief Operating Officer for the CRN North Thames.

Andrew has been ICS lead for south east London since April 2018. He has worked as a leader within the south east London system for the last 12 years. As ICS lead, he has convened and led a system response to Covid-19 and the vaccination programme. In addition to his south east London roles, Andrew is the primary care transformation lead for London and hosts London’s ICS Network.

Geeta is Postgraduate Dean for Heath Education England, South London and a Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust in Surrey. In addition to high-volume cataract surgery, she has developed a major interest in medical retina, particularly novel treatments for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). She is involved in the VISION 2020 links programme and has set up Diabetic Retinopathy Screening (DRS) in the Copperbelt province of Zambia. Her method of training is used as a trailblazer to develop DRS in Africa potentially averting blindness.

Julian has spent over 30 years in the tech industry including roles at IBM as Vice President for Small and Medium Business and Vice President for Public Sector. As CEO of techUK Julian leads a 60 strong team in representing 800+ member companies, ensuring that the digital tech industry is at the heart of a modern society and economy in Britain.

David is Chief Executive Officer, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. He has extensive NHS operational experience in mental health, acute and community services. David has over 20 years’ experience at board level across different NHS trusts and is one of the founders of the South London Mental Health and Community Partnership, a unique partnership that has transformed outcomes for people with specialist, often complex mental health problems.

Stuart is Director of Adult Social Care and Health, London Borough of Bexley. He has over 40 years’ experience in health and social care. He has been a director of adult social services for 14 years and has led health and social care integration in his previous role in Berkshire West and for the past five years in Bexley.

Toby is Joint Medical Director, South East London Integrated Care System. He has been a consultant rheumatologist at Guy’s at St Thomas’ NHS Hospital Foundation Trust since 2009. He trained at Guys and St Thomas’ and undertook much of his specialist training in south east London. He has been a clinical director at the Trust since 2018 and helped to lead the Trust’s response to the pandemic in outpatient care.