Siobhan is also the Healthy Ageing Theme Lead for Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Research. Her background is in applied health and social care research. Her current research is primarily concerned with improving the evidence base for the delivery of health and social care services for people with dementia. Her work includes the policy, practice, organisation and delivery of health and social care services, particularly in relation to the integration and coordination of services. Siobhan has worked with a wide network of researchers, health / social care/ third sector decision and policy makers and has experience in leading mixed method health and social care research studies and evaluations using a range of methods.

Dr Hilda Hayo became Chief Admiral Nurse & CEO for Dementia UK in 2013, the charity who specialises in the development of Admiral Nurses (specialist dementia nurses) who help families manage the complexities that dementia can bring. A dual registered nurse, over the last 39 years she has held senior positions in clinical services, hospital management and higher education. Hilda is particularly proud of setting up and leading a nurse led Younger People with Dementia service in Northamptonshire. She still provides specialist advice and support to families living with dementia via the national Admiral Nurse Dementia Helpline and Clinics.

Warren started his career as a neighbourhood housing officer nearly 25 years ago. He progressed to become Stockport Council’s policy manager for health & social care supporting public health partnership developments between the council and the local NHS.

Warren joined the NHS in 2006 and has been Director of the Association of Greater Manchester PCTs (developing joint commissioning and leadership arrangements across the PCTs) and Director of Policy & External Relations for NHS Greater Manchester (supporting the transition to the new NHS arrangements).

In 2012 Warren joined NHS England as the Greater Manchester Area Team’s Director of Operations & Delivery with responsibility for performance, CCG assurance and emergency preparedness.

Since 2014 Warren has played a central role to bring devolved powers and budgets to Greater Manchester and is currently the Executive Lead Strategy and System Development for the Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership.

Dr Raja Badrakalimuthu is an Associate Medical Director (Older Adults) for Surrey and Borders Mental Health Foundation Partnership NHS Trust. He is an old age and liaison consultant. He led care home pathway team to success as the best older adults team in the country as recognised by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2020. He and his teams have been honoured regionally and internationally for various aspects of dementia-related work. He has published in reputed journals and has contributed chapters to textbooks as well as publishing fiction and non-fiction books. He hold masters in neuroscience and medical education and diplomas in history of medicine and legal medicine.

Ruth is Chair of the Dementia Carers Expert Reference Group, a joint initiative with Tide and Dementia United in Greater Manchester. Ruth works as a volunteer after nearly 30 years in the NHS, working with all levels of service providers. She gained extensive knowledge about Dementia through her experience as a carer for her husband who was diagnosed with Early Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. She was also carer for her granddaughter who had Leukaemia. Ruth is passionate about helping to improve services for the person living with Dementia and carers. She organises and attends groups to support both carers and those who have lost their loved one to Dementia. She is part of experienced groups, helping to write Dementia Strategies within Stockport and Greater Manchester. Ruth also is qualified in holistic therapies to benefit those with Dementia and carers. Ruth has two daughters and four grandchildren.

Ruth is a Founder-Director of Life Story Network, the original host organisation of tide. Her role is to work with the Executive Team to ensure that we deliver our commitments and strive to grow the organisation on a firm foundation. She takes a lead role in financial matters, assists with project management and led the development of tide in Wales before we were able to recruit staff there. Ruth was formerly the National Programme Lead for Older People, Dignity and Dementia in the Department of Health in England. She is currently the vice-chair of the Liverpool Dementia Action Alliance and represents tide at the Dementia and Housing Working Group, the Meeting Centres Support Programme national advisory group, the Expert Advisory Group for NHS England and NHS Improvement and the National Steering group for the Dementia Care Standards in Wales.

Until I started to share my brain aged 55 with Alzheimer’s in 2010, I was headteacher of a large primary school in Canterbury, a Local Authority education adviser to the schools in that area and studying for an MA in Education Leadership. After the diagnosis I tried to use my experience and abilities to help improve the lives of myself and others affected by dementia, especially in the field of care and public health research. I serve on various Project Advisory Groups including IDEAL which I have been involved with since 2014, alongside which I serve on the Grant Advisory Panel for the Alzheimer’s Society Research Network, am a published author and often speak at national and international dementia conferences. In 2017 I was the first person with dementia in the world to address the United Nations Committee Representing People with Disabilities in Geneva and in November 2021 I received an honorary doctorate from Canterbury Christ Church University.

Linda Clare is Professor of Clinical Psychology of Ageing and Dementia at the University of Exeter. Her research aims to improve the lives of older people and people with dementia through a focus on maintaining cognitive health in later life, living well with dementia, developing rehabilitative approaches to optimise independence and well-being, and supporting family care. Linda has published over 250 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. She is a National Institute of Health Research Senior Investigator, a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, the Academy of Social Sciences and the Gerontological Society of America, and serves on the Governing Board of the Global Council on Brain Health.

Chris was diagnosed with Fronto-temporal Dementia (FTD) at the age of 58. An Alzheimer’s Society Ambassador, seasoned conference speaker, NHS dementia Envoy, former MSNAP reviewer and a very active member of the East Kent Forget Me Nots and the Ashford Phoenix Group, Chris is committed to improving the lives of people affected by dementia and creating better understanding in society around the condition. He is a member of the Toolkit involvement group, having previously been part of the successful team behind My Life, My Goals.

Catherine Charlwood is the Research Translation and Impact Manager for the IDEAL Programme at the University of Exeter. Her doctorate was in English Literature from the University of Warwick, and Catherine has published articles on various topics to do with poetry, memory and the interrelation between literature and science. She is always looking for creative ways to share dementia research.

Jamie has worked in the care and housing sector for 21 years and has held a variety of leadership roles during this time. Jamie joined Housing 21 in November 2014 following six years spent at The Extra Care Charitable . He previously worked for private care home groups where and Wolverhampton City Council where he was responsible for rehabilitation and day care services. Jamie has a wealth of experience within operations, care quality and compliance.

Jamie is Housing 21’s strategic lead for care quality and safeguarding. He is also responsible for overseeing commissioning of new Extra Care schemes. Since taking up this role in August 2018, Jamie has seen an impressive number of registered care services rated as Good or Outstanding with the CQC (90%) and oversaw the successful opening of 14 new Extra care schemes across the UK.

Mohammed is the Founder & Director of Meri Yaadain CiC, which supports ethnically diverse people living with dementia, family carers looking after a relative living with dementia and working with service providers to embed cultural competency in practice. Mohammed has over 25 years of experience of working with minoritised ethic communities; especially with regards to engagement, communication and access to information and services. His experience includes working in the public sector as well as strategic volunteer roles in the Voluntary and Community Sector. He is currently writing up his PhD studies looking at how South Asian family carers cope with the transitions associated with looking after a relative with dementia. He was awarded an MBE from the Queen in recognition of his efforts for ‘Services to people with dementia and their carers’. Tackling inequalities has been a lifelong practice, whether in education, employment, migration or health and social care. Mohammed has delivered good practice at local, regional, national and European level. Mohammed has build the Meri Yaadain brand to have national and international level in relation to dementia and dementia care impact on people of ethnically diverse heritage.

Siobhan is also the Healthy Ageing Theme Lead for Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Research. Her background is in applied health and social care research. Her current research is primarily concerned with improving the evidence base for the delivery of health and social care services for people with dementia. Her work includes the policy, practice, organisation and delivery of health and social care services, particularly in relation to the integration and coordination of services. Siobhan has worked with a wide network of researchers, health / social care/ third sector decision and policy makers and has experience in leading mixed method health and social care research studies and evaluations using a range of methods.