After graduating with a first class degree and then a PhD in Mechanical Engineering, followed by a short career as a research engineer, I chose to change careers and study Medicine. I am now an experienced general medical practitioner and clinical commissioner who is passionate about health and social care that is high quality, person-centred, holistic and sustainable. My clinical and research engineering careers, together with my academic background, have equipped me with a wide range of skills and competences that enable an innovative, evidence based and experience guided approach that has supported and led effective team and partnership working. I have been successful in initiating and guiding many programmes of work that have directly improved patient’s experience and outcome. I am now helping lead system wide strategic and partnership approaches at a senior local and regional level that supports the NHS and its partners as they progress towards better integrated care, sustainability and holistic accountability. My longstanding passion for quality care aided by continuity of care remains undiminished.I believe passionately in the importance of clinical leadership in health care commissioning and have already had the privilege of working alongside immensely experienced and talented health and social care managerial colleagues who are central to the success of the NHS. There are great challenges ahead for health and social care in the UK but as a team I believe we have the opportunity to work with the people we serve to provide the best possible care, outcomes and experience with their journeys. For this to be possible I believe we need to to embrace the opportunities presented by genuinely innovative ways of working supported by a 'digital' strategy that enables the very best communication, collaboration and sharing of information and knowledge.