All-female line-up of Digital Health advisory panel chairs elected

An all-female line-up of Digital Health Networks advisory panel chairs has been elected for the first time, as the 2025-2027 term commences.

The advisory panels are groups of leaders who work collaboratively to shape the future of digital health leadership, represent their peers on national platforms, and drive innovation and improvement across the NHS.

Each panel consists of 12 elected members who serve a two-year term, supported by six additional members, selected by elected panel members to act in a flexible role to support the panel’s needs.

Chief Clinical Information Officer (CCIO) Advisory Panel:

Chair – Penny Kechagioglou, chief clinical information officer, deputy chief medical officer, consultant clinical oncologist, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Vice Chair – Ramandeep Kaur, group chief clinical information officer, University Hospitals of Northamptonshire

Vice Chair – Yat Li, chief clinical information officer, clinical safety officer, consultant anaesthetist, The Royal Wolverhampton Hospital NHS Trust

Chief Information Officer (CIO) Advisory Panel:

Chair – Amy Freeman, chief digital information officer, University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust

Vice Chair – Abigail Harrison, chief digital, infrastructure and improvement officer, Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust

Vice Chair – James Hawkins, chief digital and information officer, York and Scarborough NHS Foundation Trust

Chief Nursing Information Officer (CNIO) Advisory Panel:

Chair – Hayley Grafton, chief nursing information officer, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust

Vice Chair – Emily Burch, chief nursing information officer, North London NHS Foundation Trust

Vice Chair – Melanie De Witt, chief nursing information officer, North Bristol NHS Trust

Freeman said: “I’m absolutely honoured to have been elected chair of the Digital Health CIO Advisory Panel.

“It’s a privilege to work alongside such an outstanding group of digital health leaders, and I’m thrilled to help steer the future of the Digital Health CIO Advisory Panel and influence digital transformation across the NHS.

“Seeing incredible enthusiasm and innovation across our network reaffirms my core belief—that ‘geeks can save lives’—by harnessing technology to empower clinicians, enhance patient safety, and break down barriers to equality and access.”

The chairs and vice-chairs, will represent and lead their respective networks until 2027, ensuring that the priorities and concerns of local NHS IT leaders are communicated to national policy leaders.

Kechagioglou said: “The role of digital leadership in successfully navigating the current challenges and opportunities within digital and data is absolutely paramount and I’m committed to working collaboratively to advance digital maturity, leveraging digital and data to improve patient safety, short-term and long-term patient outcomes, workforce and patient experience, financial and social sustainability.”

Grafton said: “As I step into my third and final tenure, we face what may be the most pivotal chapter yet, with NHS England and Department of Health and Social Care reforms underway, mounting financial pressures, and a new NHS 10 year health plan on the horizon.

“Now more than ever, we need strong clinical leadership to ensure digital transformation truly delivers for staff and patients alike.”

The advisory panel members will attend Digital Health Summer Schools 2025, which takes place on 17-18 July at the University of Warwick.