Life Sciences Working Group

Nigel Brokenshire

Head of Digital Healthcare , Bayer

Biography

Nigel is the Head of Digital Healthcare for Bayer UK/I. He is responsible for the introduction and delivery of digital health innovations and how they can transform the health and well-being for patients, public and underpin the Life Science sector. In his role he stays abreast of relevant national and international strategy, policy and contributes where possible into future trends, initiatives, developments, and consultations. Prior to joining Bayer, Nigel worked across the NHS delivering large-scale digital programmes, with his latest roles seeing him as Digital Programme Director for two STPs (precursor to ICS). Nigel looks forward to further enhancing collaboration between Bayer, the NHS and patients, and making Bayer a trusted industry partner. He is also committed to support UK start-ups/innovators and assist their expansion both locally and globally. 

Nigel works in a non-promotional manner and ‘above’ the Bayer brands. 

What you will bring to the Health & Social Care Council and the techUK Health & Social Care programme’s work

Nigel has a wealth of knowledge in both the public and private sector and is committed to support UK start-ups/innovators and assist their expansion both locally and globally. 

Nigel is keen to build strong partnerships across the sector to achieve both health outcomes and to support the future of the economy by championing technology across the sector.  

Nigel brings a unique blend of knowledge and experience from the public sector, tech startups along with large corporates which will see Nigel as a trusted and highly influential partner on the council. 

Nigel’s approach is one fueled with collaboration, integrity, tenacity and enthusiasm which are key attributes for the council. 

Alex Eavis

Biography

Alex joined EMIS Health, one of the UK’s largest point-of-care system suppliers, through acquisition in 2019. She now heads up the product teams across digital, data and analytics divisions, and the product experience and design team. Alex is passionate about the potential of technology to help those that need it the most. Her distributed ledger software company, Dovetail Lab, was set up to make primary and secondary healthcare data uses more citizen centric, and give patients greater control over the medical record data. 

Before founding Dovetail, Alex co-founded an Internet-of-Things care technology business called Alcove; and a social enterprise called HowDoI?, spun out of an outstanding special educational needs school, using NFC technology to launch step-by-step life skills training.

Alex advocates for greater investment in user-centric design, and use of data-driven technologies to enhance the experience of receiving and providing care, reduce inequalities and improve patient, population and provider outcomes.

What you will bring to the Health & Social Care Council and the techUK Health & Social Care programme’s work

I believe I bring a broad perspective on the challenges faced by different groups interacting with the health and care systems - having worked for the NHS and for the third sector; having founded, funded and exited both care and health tech start ups; and now working for a large NHS system supplier. With NHS funding and the economy at crisis point, digital transformation is no longer a “nice to have”; I see our roles in the Council as essential change agents. I would continue to promote health & care innovation, collaboration between members, and support the ongoing advocacy needed to ensure the policy landscape aligns with NHS and citizen requirements, in a way that works for suppliers. I would continue to be an active member of the Council, helping to grow the newly created Life Sciences Forum and promoting the levelling up activities in the North East working with the young people and digital innovators that will make our future.