Dr Alisdair Smithies

I have over 15 years' experience of building and leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver digital innovation and change programmes in healthcare. I bring a strong focus to service quality and stakeholder engagement, with a wealth of experience gained in fast-paced environments. I'm experienced in initiating and fostering collaborations between private and public sector organisations, addressing complexity with clarity and driving strategic initiatives to embed sustainable good practice.

EXPERIENCE

2008 to 2018: Leadership of high-impact digital programmes in healthcare with a focus on quality improvement of clinical workforce education. NHS-funded PhD, exploring systems and culture in clinical workforce development. Responsibility for region-wide transformational programmes, employing systems thinking and design-based approaches

2018 to 2022: Leadership of development and delivery of the national Digital Health Leadership programme for the NHS (the NHS Digital Academy), equipping over 500 technology and healthcare professionals across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland with the skills to achieve system-level change

2022 to 23: Leadership of an education and training function comprising over 100 staff, to address and close an NHS England improvement plan, at the UK's largest Ambulance Service Trust, with the closure of the Improvement Plan completed within 12 months.

2024 to present: Developing aspiring NHS leaders through the NHS Leadership Academy and Higher Specialist Scientist Training Programme

In my spare time I enjoy hiking, travelling, photography and cooking.

Fellow of the British Computer Society

Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine

PhD Medical Education: Culture and systems in healthcare

PGCE Post-compulsory Education and Training

MEd Communication, Education and Technology

BSc (Hons) Information Technology