About Us

The Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) is a health and life sciences partnership between the leading NHS trusts and universities in northern England. We were established in 2011 with a mandate from our member organisations to act, and add value, across research and innovation in the North. We work together with our members, industry and Government to mobilise the North’s assets for the benefit of the people and the economy. We do this by brokering research collaborations, building expert networks, attracting investment, and providing a unified voice for the region’s health research system. Our board and council represent the leaders from the North's top research universities and research intensive teaching hospitals.

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The Team Board of Directors

The Team

The Northern Health Science Alliance team

About Hannah

Hannah is a communications executive and former journalist with extensive experience leading award-winning communications campaigns. She joined the NHSA from a prestigious North PR agency and was previously a journalist at the North East's largest newspaper group.

Hannah Davies

Chief Executive for NHSA and Executive Director of Health Equity North

About Mandy

Mandy has worked within the health & life sciences sector for over 25 years, with a career spanning the NHS & higher education. She has a wealth of experience in bringing together industry, academia & the health sector to develop strategic partnerships & deliver successful collaborations & projects.

Dr Mandy Dixon

Executive Lead for Corporate Engagement and Cluster Development

About Ben

Ben promotes the North internationally as a global research and innovation hub to attract research and inward investment, find global solutions to unmet need in the NHS and develop international research partnerships.

Dr Ben Martyn

Executive Lead for Investment and International Partnerships

About Helen

Helen began her career as a medical physicist in the NHS and over the past two decades has specialised in medtech evaluation, working within the regulatory, procurement, commissioning and NHS provider landscapes. Her last role was Head of an External Assessment Centre for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.

Helen Cole

Executive Lead for Health Technologies and Evaluation

About Ruth

Ruth has over a decade of experience in the media industry, starting her career as a news journalist before moving into PR. She has worked at one of the North East’s leading communications agencies and as a freelance communications specialist. She has developed and delivered a wide range of regional and national PR campaigns.

Ruth Boston

Head of Communications

About Sean

Sean worked as a Graphic Artist at ncjMedia for 20 years before becoming a Freelance Illustrator, during which time his clients included Dorling Kindersley, Cambridge University Press, Financial Times and Morrisons.

Sean Collins

Senior Designer

About Vanessa

Vanessa has over 30 years’ experience in office work across a variety of sectors most recently working in the third sector and healthcare.

Vanessa Nolan

Office Manager

About Mhairi

Mhairi has a varied background within in the Health and Social Care sector, working previously in the events department for the strategic body for workforce development in adult social care in England and prior to that working on the frontline within the NHS.

Mhairi Murdoch

Project Manager

About Alexis

Prior to joining the NHSA Alexis worked for the Northern Powerhouse Partnership and managed the Policy@Manchester team at The University of Manchester, she has also worked for Members of Parliament and a political party in research and campaign roles.

Alexis Darby

Head of Public Affairs

About Charlotte

Charlotte has extensive experience in communications, having previously worked in the NHS and local authorities prior to joining the NHSA.

Charlotte Thompson

Senior Communications Officer

About Magan

Magan has had a varied career after achieving an English literature degree and most recently gained a copywriting diploma, joining the NHSA in 2023 as Executive Assistant to the Executive Team.

Magan Johansen

Executive Assistant

About Sarah

Sarah was a medical research scientist for many years before becoming an administrator to support local clinical research in the Northeast. For the last 13 years she has worked with the NIHR Clinical Research Networks, the AHSN, and the NHSA and has extensive communications and project management experience.

Sarah Hill

Project Manager

Board of Directors

About

Professor Kenny was the founding Director of the Science Foundation Ireland funded Irish Centre for Fetal & Neonatal Translational Research and was Prof of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Cork University Maternity Hospital where she worked as a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist from 2006-2018. She is deputy Chair of Liverpool Health Partners.

Chair, Professor Louise Kenny

Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at the University of Liverpool

About

Prior to his appointment as Chief Executive at Leeds Hospitals, Phil was Chief Medical Officer for the Trust and Deputy Chief Executive. He was awarded an Honorary Professorship in Healthcare Leadership from the University of Leeds in recognition of his leadership contribution across research, innovation, education and training.

Director, Professor Phil Wood

Chief Executive at The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

About

Dr Mackay is a scientist with a PhD in Pharmacology from Manchester University. She has held roles in life science companies spanning multiple disease areas & technologies and was previously on the executive management team at Innovate UK. She is also non-executive director of the Antimicrobial Resistance Centre.

Non-executive director, Dr Kath Mackay

Chief Scientific Officer of Bruntwood SciTech’s Alderley Park

About

Dr Sheffield CBE is a qualified Consultant Histopathologist with over 39 years’ experience working the in the NHS as a doctor, medical and general manager. He was previously Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Health Research Clinical Research Network where he oversaw performance of the network.

Non-executive director, Dr Jonathan Sheffield OBE

About Louise

Dr Wood is Chair of the Association of Medical Research Charities and of Moorfields Eye Charity. She has previously served as a Council Member for the Medical Research Council and member of Advisory Boards for the British Heart Foundation, LifeArc and Wellcome.

Dr Louise Wood CBE

Non-Executive Director

About Mark

Professor Kearney is British Heart Foundation’s Professor of Cardiovascular and Diabetes Research and clinical consultant cardiologist with an interest in the mechanisms underlying diabetes related heart disease and the natural history and new treatments for patients with heart failure.

Professor Mark Kearney

Board Director

Funders

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