Day 1 – 2 Nov > > Day 2 – 3 Nov > Speakers

Session 1 Chair

John commenced his National Health Service career in 1973 in Nottinghamshire, occupying positions in finance and supplies. He then developed his purchasing and supply career, qualifying in 1980 and holding positions in Derby and Wolverhampton before taking up District Supplies Manager posts in London at King’s College Hospital and later with Guy’s and Lewisham Hospitals from 1983 to 1990. In 1990 John was appointed to the position of Commercial Manager for Wiltshire Health Services, managing procurement, logistics and support services provided to NHS Trusts and other NHS organisations across the county. From 1992 until 1996 John held the position of Director of Human Resources and Deputy Chief Executive for the South and West Division of the NHS Supplies Authority. From 1997 until 2005 John held a number of positions in the South West region, working with stakeholder trusts, PCTs and other NHS organisations to support the development of collaborative procurement. In 2005 John took on the national role of Head of Collaborative Development for the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency, managing a team working across all Strategic Health Authorities and assisting in the development of stakeholder relationships and collaborative procurement organisations. His team latterly supported the implementation of some key initiatives in the NHS primary care sector, including Equitable Access to Primary Care Medical Services. After 38 years working within the NHS and the Department of Health, John is now operating as a freelance consultant. He is currently Executive Director of the Health Care Supply Association and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply.

Session 2 Chair

Roy started his first enterprise from scratch, built it to a multimillion-pound turnover and sold it to management and partners in 1989. He is now an established, independent health policy analyst, writer, broadcaster and commentator on health and social issues. Roy also provides consultancy to NHS organisations and the companies that deliver services and products to the health sector. He was vice-chairman of West Surrey and North East Hampshire Health Authority and was formerly a member of Surrey Heath Borough Council, holding the position of Mayor in 1988–89. Between 1991 and 1995, Roy was the chairman of the Homewood NHS Trust, Chertsey, Surrey, a first wave Trust with responsibility for people with a learning disability and mental health problems. Roy was a founder member of the NHS Trust Federation and has held the positions of Chairman of the Supplies and Purchasing Standing Committee and Chairmanship of the Standing Committee on HR issues.

Session 3 Chair

John joined the NHS five years ago having spent most of his career in the food and drinks industry. He began his career as a laboratory assistant before becoming a qualified Master Brewer. Having spent ten years in brewing production, John moved on to various procurement roles in the industry before joining NHS re:source in November 2006. John joined NHS CPC in January 2010 and is responsible for delivering procurement projects across all stakeholder Trusts as well as developing best practice procurement processes, a world-class team of procurement professionals and collaboration on projects that reach across the NHS.

Speakers

Peter began his NHS career in 2005 as Chief Executive of the Greater Manchester Procurement Hub and over the past five years has taken the organisation from strength to strength. Expanding the service offering and its geographical coverage, the organisation became known as the North West Collaborative Commercial Agency and, in December 2010, merged with NHS Shared Business Services. With a national footprint and the potential to deliver even greater savings and efficiencies to the NHS, Peter is now the Managing Director of NHS SBS Commercial Procurement Solutions. He also sits on the Board of the National Adoption Centre, North West Medilink and is a member of the Department of Health National Procurement Council. Prior to joining the NHS, Peter held a number of key positions in strategic and operational procurement and supply chain management both in the public and private sectors, latterly as Vice President of Global Supply Chain for Cable and Wireless, where he undertook significant change programmes in the Caribbean and Latin America. Before that, he held the position of National Procurement and Contracts Manager at British Gas/Transco plc, delivering benefits via strategic sourcing and outsourcing programmes. A common theme has been managing procurement activity in organisations undergoing privatisation and deregulation.

Peter joined the Department of Health in 1997 and became Commercial Director in 2008. He joined the department from the Treasury as head of its private finance team, with responsibility for overseeing the procurement of the PFI programme. He led the introduction of LIFT into the NHS in 2001. LIFT is a programme utilising joint venture structures to modernise the primary care infrastructure on a geographical basis. Since its introduction, over £2 billion has so far been invested in over 200 primary care buildings in over 40 different communities across England. He also led the departmental involvement in the NHS Shared Business Services Ltd, the public/private joint venture with Steria to provide financial and other support services to the NHS. This now has over 100 NHS clients and made a profit of over £1 million in 2009. Other responsibilities include procurement, NHS Professionals and the blood plasma business owned by the department. He is a career civil servant and has spent the majority of his career in procurement and procurement-related work.

Eugene is Head of Procurement at NHS Blood and Transplant where he is responsible for all procurement and contractual activity. His previous role was as Head of Procurement at Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, prior to which he held other senior roles within the Supplies Service in the NHS sector in Northern Ireland. Eugene has more than 31 years’ experience in the NHS procurement and supply function. He is currently Chair of the European Blood Alliance – Heads of Procurement Group (EBA – JPIG), which brings together the leads of procurement within the home countries and Europe, to assess the potential for more and better collaboration on contractual and tendering matters.

Andrew was appointed as Chief Executive in January 2007 after a short secondment as HR Director at Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre NHS Trust. His main interest has been quality and safety with a particular desire to learn from the best hospitals in the world. He led the successful application which resulted in this Trust becoming a Foundation Trust in December 2008. Before that he spent five years as the NHS Director of Human Resources (Workforce Director General) at the Department of Health, with principal responsibility for implementing the workforce expansion and HR systems modernisation set out in the NHS Plan. Previously, he spent two years as part time Policy Director (HR) at the NHS Confederation. Andrew was also the Chairman of Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Trust from 1996 to 2001 and before that Chairman of West Lancashire NHS Trust and Non-Executive Director at Wrightington Hospital NHS Trust.

Saffron is Director of Communications and Strategy at the Foundation Trust Network. She joined the FTN in 2007 and is responsible for building the profile and reputation of NHS foundation trusts, as well as leading the Network's communications and public affairs work programme. Prior to joining FTN she was head of public affairs at the Local Government Association, the membership organisation for local councils. She started her career in European lobbying and policy development and has a degree in Modern Languages from the University of Manchester.

Nick joined the NHS Supply Chain on 11 June 2007 as Chief Operating Officer and took up the position of CEO in August 2010.
Nick has extensive international supply chain experience in many areas including acquisitions, entry into new geographies and the delivery of large transformational projects on behalf of blue chip brands.

Nick joined DHL (formerly Exel plc) on 1 January 1989 and has worked in the retail and consumer sectors with many leading national and global brands such as Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Reebok and Unilever.

For the last nine years Nick has worked in the health care sector as Vice President for DHL’s health care operations across Europe and then as Managing Director for DHL’s UK health care sector. During this time he worked with leading pharmaceutical companies such as Roche, GSK and Novartis and medical device manufacturers including Tyco and Smiths Medical. In addition, Nick has worked extensively with the NHS to establish an RDC in Bridgwater to supply trusts in the South West of England and with hospital trusts for the provision of patient transfer services and hospital inventory management.

Louise began her leasing career in 1996. Between 1996 and 2006 she developed her knowledge and experience of leasing equipment into the NHS while working for the leasing divisions of several major institutions, starting with Barclays Bank and moving on to head up the NHS leasing sales functions at both Citibank and Siemens Financial Services. She gained significant experience of structuring leases for NHS hospitals and providing finance options to them directly via tenders and offering equipment finance solutions for many major medical equipment suppliers.

In 2006 Louise joined Singers, where she is currently Head of NHS Sales & Marketing. Since the inception of NHS operating leasing in 1996, Singers Healthcare Finance has established itself as one of the UK’s leading providers of leasing solutions to the NHS. As an approved supplier to the NHS Supply Chain framework, they understand the need to ensure an effective and efficient procurement service.

Louise has worked closely with many finance and procurement departments across the NHS during her time in leasing and has developed many solutions to financial challenges around equipment procurement in conjunction with them. Louise’s main objective has always been to build long-term relationships with NHS Trusts, assisting in the planning of future equipment purchases and replacement programmes. Louise is the current Chair of the Finance and Leasing Association NHS Forum, whose membership consists of Banks and Finance Houses who fund medical assets for the NHS.

Lord Hunt, President of the Health Care Supplies Association, has sat on the Labour benches in the House of Lords since 1997. Having been a government spokesperson for various departments between 1998 and 2010, he is now Opposition Spokesperson for the Cabinet Office, Energy and Climate Change and the Home Office as well as Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Lords. Outside the House of Lords, Lord Hunt is a self-employed consultant on the NHS and wider health issues, t/a Philip Hunt Consultancy. He also works as a Consultant and Trainer, Cumberlege Connections Ltd (NHS leadership/awareness programmes) and since 1 April 2011 has been Chairman, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham.

Ray is a recently-retired public health dentist, doctor and academic. He has worked in general practice, hospitals, the community and in NHS administration. He has published over fifty journal articles and lectured all over Europe and, if that wasn’t enough, he has penned comedy for radio, television and the press, writing for Dave Allen, The Two Ronnies, Kenneth Williams and Don Maclean and for such series as Weekending, Don’t Look Now and the Betty Witherspoon Show. He has had comic pieces published in the Probe, TV Times, the Two Ronnies Book and other national magazines. He has entertained after-dinner audiences at trade fairs, annual conferences, professional meetings, celebration suppers and educational gatherings, telling tales of professional training, the things patients (and doctors and dentists) do and say and why things go wrong in hospitals.

Mark initially joined the NHS Supply Chain project team as Integration Director prior to the contract award and was responsible for managing the successful transition of the business. He then led the Development function where he was responsible for managing large development projects, new product and service development, project management and strategy. As Trading Director, Mark was responsible for leading the strategy of eAuctions, bulk buying, direct from manufacture contracts and flu pandemic planning. He is currently a member of the NHS Supply Chain board responsible for Customer Development and shaping of both business and customer strategies.

Prior to joining NHS Supply Chain, Mark spent nine years working at DHL with a primary focus on the retail and consumer sectors. He was responsible for building a number of key products within DHL around retail services, in-store logistics, global customer accounts and international supply chain solutions.

One of his key achievements was securing DHL one of the largest contract awards for Marks & Spencer in 2000, with responsibility for managing both the pursuit and subsequent implementation of the contract.

Mark joined the National Health Service in 1978 and worked for the Mid Glamorgan Health Authority Supplies Department, later moving to WHTSO (which became the Welsh Health Common Services Authority).

During the mid–1980s, Mark joined the North West Regional Health Authority as a purchaser at Trafford Park Hospital.

Following a move back to Wales as Head of Purchasing in East Dyfed Health Authority, Mark returned to WHCSA as Director of Materials Management with the creation of the Procurement Group in Wales.

In 1996, Mark was appointed as Director of Welsh Health Supplies following the market testing of the Contracting and Supply Chain services. Quality and continuous improvement were core themes within WHS. An extensive quality programme was developed with four ISO accredited systems and one notable highlight in winning the Wales Quality Awards prize in 2009. The development of web tendering and the launch of the website were also notable achievements which are commonplace today.

The current role covers all parts of Wales with over 500 staff in Accounts Payable, Sourcing, Supply Chain, Capital, Purchasing and Support Services.

David took up post as the first Primary Care Trust Network Director at the NHS Confederation in February 2007. The PCT Network provides an independent voice for PCTs across the country and has over 90% of PCTs in membership.

As PCT Network Director, David has been influential in the development of health policy, working closely with the Department of Health and others to ensure that the PCT perspective is understood. He also speaks regularly on PCT issues in the media. David also leads for the NHS Confederation on commissioning policy.

Previously David had been Chief Executive of Newham Primary Care Trust from 2001 to 2007. Newham is a deprived borough in east London. The PCT won a number of national awards for service innovation and reducing health inequalities.

David joined the NHS as a management trainee in 1984. Prior to joining Newham PCT he was the Director of Mental Health & Learning Disabilities Services and Deputy Chief Executive at Camden & Islington Community Health Services NHS Trust.

Andy works on UK market affairs in ABHI, including commercial access and procurement issues, technology assessment and reimbursement, as well as addressing general developments in healthcare policy and the industry’s strategic relationship with the UK government for the medtech contribution to sustainable healthcare.            

Andy worked in strategy at the Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs from 2003-2006.  Prior to that, he was in the Department of Health (1988-2003) in a number of policy and corporate roles, including in private office for ministers and the NHS Chief Executive, as well as in the DH industry division.  His earlier experience was in NGOs. 

As Managing Director at Peto, Julian focuses on resolving current and future commercial business issues faced by suppliers and buyers operating in ‘business to NHS’ markets and that the quality of our service provides both Byers and Suppliers with a positive experience.

Over the past 22 years, Julian’s career has included becoming a senior procurement and supply chain management practitioner in industry, establishing a leading procurement outsourcing organisation, running the health sector practice for a leading management consultancy (Avail) and now working as Managing Director for an innovative information and technology business. Julian’s achievements have been recognised by the Tribal Group Chief Executive's Award for Innovation in 2008 and the MCA Innovation Award in 2010.

Simon is Head of Procurement and eCommerce at the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust has a £720m turnover, including total non-pay spend of £260m, and is among the largest and most complex organisations in the NHS. Simon leads a team that provides a unified procurement and eCommerce service, including sourcing, materials management, electronic catalogue-based ordering and invoice payments. He is Chairman of the North West NHS Procurement Training Group and a Council Member of the Health Care Supplies Association. Simon has also held a number of positions in both regional and locally based NHS procurement across his 24-year career, all of which has been spent in the NHS.

John joined the NHS in 1984 to work in the West Midlands Regional Supplies Department in Birmingham. He worked in a number of purchasing roles in the West Midlands, Oxford and North West Regional Health Authorities before joining the National Purchasing Unit of the newly formed NHS Supplies Authority in 1992. He was National Portfolio Manager for the Rehabilitation Section before becoming Head of Strategic Supply Development and Innovation in the Authority’s Strategy Directorate. He was made Head of Research and Innovation for NHS PASA on its formation in April 2000, and was appointed a Director in January 2004, with responsibility for research and innovation, and national procurement for food, domestics & textiles categories. After a spell as Director, Policy and Innovation, he transferred to the Department of Health, Procurement, Investment and Commercial Division in 2009 to take up his current role as Deputy Director, Procurement Policy and Research, which includes responsibility for procurement policy in the NHS. John is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply and holds an MBA from the University of Bath.

Jonathan is Chief Executive of HealthTrust Europe LLP, a group purchasing organisation owned by HealthTrust Purchasing Group & HCA International, the largest US private health care provider, representing over $19bn of global purchasing spend. HealthTrust Europe represents over 30 NHS organisations across the UK including UCLH, Great Ormond Street Hospital and Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust.

In 2011, Jonathan has guided the business from an NHS-owned collaborative procurement hub, Healthcare Purchasing Consortium (HPC), to a private sector group purchasing organisation. Jonathan was the founder of HPC in 2001.

Jonathan has a proven track record of delivery, including frontline savings of £120 million for the NHS. He is now taking HealthTrust Europe forward to become the number one group purchasing organisation in the UK through offering the broadest category coverage at the lowest prices and highest quality.