The Forum consists of those in R&D management, support & leadership roles working in with and for providers and commissioners of health and care. Our network is broad and inclusive of patients and the public, non-traditional settings, joint research offices, higher education sponsor teams and more.
Members who volunteer their time lead the Forum, represent the R&D Forum community, and create our value, content and outputs.
The Forum Leadership Team
Representing the Forum to stakeholders, the team oversees the Forum strategy and leads areas of activity to move the work of the Forum forward as a body.
The Forum leadership team is made up of:
- Exec Committee
- Group Chairs
- Management Team
Forum Executive Committee
The committee oversees the strategic direction and daily operations of the Forum as a network. The group is responsible for oversight of finance and governance and financial oversight, contractors, communications and the process for conference and events.
Members:
- Dr Shona Haining, Head of Research & Evidence,. NECS
- Dr Angela Ball, Independent consultant
- Mrs Angela Topping, Head of Newcastle Joint Research Office
Dr Shona Haining
Shona has worked in various R&D roles operationally and strategically in the North East for many years, mainly in Primary Care but also secondment or joint posts into secondary care, mental health and NHS England. Her current role is as Head of Research & Evidence for North of England Commissioning Support. She leads to deliver the research and evidence statutory duties of the 11 Clinical Commissioning Groups over the North East and North Cumbria. She is passionate about the professional and essential role research can play in the whole pathway of research from ideas to implementing outcomes to improve patient care.
Dr Angela Ball
Angela has worked in clinical research for about 20 years and has been associated with the forum since 2002. She has experience of managing research to meet U.K., USA and Middle Eastern compliance requirements. Angela was previously Assistant Executive Director of Business Development and Research at the Hamad Medical Corporation in Doha where she modernised their research management practices, established the corporation’s IRB and achieved accreditation against the JCI criteria. Prior to this she worked at the Christie NHS Foundation Trust where she was the Associate Director of Research, her role included the management of the research division which included facilities such as the research tissue bank, trials coordination unit, patient recruitment facilities and staff.
Angela Topping
Angela has been on the NHS R&D Forum Executive since 2021. A Chartered Management Accountant by profession (ACMA CGMA), she moved from being Faculty Accountant in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University to the role of Head of Newcastle Joint Research Office (NJRO) in 2018. Angela is an advocate for collaboration, team science and compassionate leadership in research and is currently studying for her MSc in Coaching and Mentoring at Newcastle University and is a volunteer coach and mentor both in the workplace and for charitable organisations.
Forum Management & Business Support Services
The Forum manager supports all the groups and the leadership team in driving the strategy and content of the Forum. The Manager is charged with implementing the strategic plan on a daily basis, engaging with community members and partners, and developing our projects and initiatives. The current Forum Manager is Kate Greenwood.
Helen Riding
Helen is the NHS Research and Development Forum Coordinator and Research Manager for North of England Commissioning Support (NECS). As Research Manager, Helen supports and manages the delivery and development of primary care research and evaluations in the North East, North Cumbria and North Yorkshire. Prior to this role she worked clinically as a Midwife and as a Research Facilitator supporting GP practices in Newcastle and North Tyneside. Helen has also completed a Masters in Clinical Research (Leadership) from Newcastle University. Helen’s Dissertation was titled “Research activity and quality indicators in primary care” and this has been disseminated widely locally and at national conferences.
Delegant Limited provide the day-to-day event management and membership management for the NHS R&D Forum. Delegant manage the Annual Conference, all training courses, and the day-to-day running of the NHS R&D Forum. Please contact us directly for any questions you have concerning the Forum.
Group Chairs
The Chairs of the Forum Groups are members of the Leadership Team that oversees strategy and leads areas of activity to move the work of the Forum forward as a body
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Rachel Illingworth Rachel is Head of Research and Evidence for the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Rachel’s role as strategic lead is varied and includes ensuring the CCG is meeting its statutory duties in relation to research; strategic research partnerships and research capacity building initiatives with GP practices and Primary Care Networks. Rachel’s role also includes providing evaluation advice and working with Knowledge and Library Services to provide evidence summaries, advice and training for commissioners to enable evidence informed commissioning. Rachel has worked in NHS R&D roles in Nottingham for 15 years, prior to this she was a health services researcher and worked in NHS general management. Rachel Illingworth is chair of the Evidence for Commissioning Group |
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