Close Biography of Health Technology Wales Director, Assessment Group Chair Dr Susan Myles
Assessment Group Chair Susan has been engaged in applied health technology assessment for 25 years. Before joining Health Technology Wales, she led the development and work of the Scottish Health Technologies Group. Susan has received scholarships from the Department of Health and Medical Research Council, and is a previous recipient of a Harkness Fellowship in Health Care Policy. She holds qualifications in Economics (BA), Health Economics (MSc & PhD) and Epidemiology (PgDip).

Close Biography of Consultant Cardiologist, Swansea Bay UHB Daniel Obaid

Close Biography of Reader in Social Care, Bangor University Diane Seddon Diane has lead in developing a successful social care research programme, attracting research grants totalling over £7 million. She has an established reputation for completing policy relevant research that has impact, including reviews of national policy implementation such as the National Carers Strategy in Wales for the Welsh Government. Diane contributes to the development and delivery of Welsh Government’s Research Infrastructure Support System and leads initiatives to better integrate research, policy and practice.

Close Biography of Senior Research Lead, Social Care Wales Dr Eleanor Johnson Eleanor is a former care worker and social care researcher who is passionate about evidence based social care practice. In her current role as Senior Research Lead at Social Care Wales, Eleanor oversees the creation and communication of evidence summaries and topic content for The Insight Collective website. This provides social care workers with the evidence and support they need to make a positive difference to social care in Wales.

Close Biography of PPI advisor and Public Partner Julie Hepburn Julie has been a Public Involvement member of the HTW Team since 2024. Her experience covers 10 years in PPI work following a successfully treated stage 3 colon cancer. Her PPI experience includes membership of two NICE Guideline Committees, Lay Lead Research Partner for both the Wales Cancer Research Centre and for the Cardiff Experimental Cancer Research Centre, as well as membership of many Trial Management Groups and Steering Committees. She is particularly interested in early diagnosis of and targeted treatments for cancer and also in attracting commercial firms to invest in cancer trials and health related developments in Wales.

Close Biography of Principal Health Economist, CEDAR Megan Dale Megan has a MSc in Biomedical Engineering (University of Surrey), a degree in Mechanical Engineering (Bradford University), is a Registered Clinical Scientist and an Honorary Research Associate at Cardiff University (Biomedical Engineering Research Group). Since joining the NHS she gained experience in equipment management and rehabilitation engineering before moving to CEDAR and developing expertise in health technology assessment and health economics. Megan leads CEDAR's health economic workstream, with a key role in CEDAR's work for the NICE for over 15 years, covering more than 20 topics. She also leads health economic analysis for clinical trials, local and national service evaluations, the Welsh Value in Health Programme and emerging medical technologies. In addition Megan has experience in qualitative research and project evaluation.

Close Biography of Professor of Psychiatry, Swansea University Professor Keith Lloyd Keith is a Professor of Psychiatry at Swansea University and director of its Institute of Life Science with a long standing interest in medtech and sportstech innovation, wellbeing and health. He was pro vice chancellor for medicine health and life science at Swansea University and before that head of the medical school. Prior to joining Swansea University, he led what is now Health and Care Research Wales. He has worked with the James Lind Alliance on public and patient perspectives in research priority setting and with the Cochrane collaboration. Keith continues to work clinically as a psychiatrist in Swansea.

Close Biography of Deputy Medical Director, NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee Penny Letchford Penny worked as a Consultant Psychiatrist in the NHS throughout her clinical career. Alongside extensive experience in mental health services, she held a number of senior strategic leadership roles, including Clinical Director, and currently holds the role of Deputy Medical Director for the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee (NWJCC).Her interests include clinical leadership, service improvement and the use of evidence to inform healthcare decision-making. She holds Master's degrees in both Psychiatry and Medical Education, bringing together clinical expertise with a strong commitment to education, leadership and the development of high-quality healthcare services.

Close Biography of Assistant Director of Evidence, Evaluation and Effectiveness, NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee Dr Rachel Gemine Dr Rachel Gemine is Assistant Director of Evidence, Evaluation and Effectiveness at NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee; Honorary Senior Lecturer at Swansea University and Associate Editor at BMJ Leader. Rachel has over 15-years’ experience in R&I and has collaborated on bids totalling over £20million. Rachel is experienced in qualitative and quantitative research, innovation pathways and use of data in R&I. Rachel also has an interest in leadership and management.

Close Biography of Regional Innovation Lead, Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB Dr Tom Powell Dr Tom Powell is the Head of Innovation and Regional Innovation Lead for the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Regional Partnership Board in Wales and is a visiting senior fellow at the University of South Wales.With over 20 years experience, he has worked within the UK National Health Service, academia, clinical research and the wider public sector, successfully completing and evaluating projects, research trials, and organisational change initiatives. With a doctorate is in Respiratory Physiology, he holds a number of grants and has been the Chief Investigator on a number of research projects and is an experienced PhD examiner.Tom has a wide breadth of experience including; successfully developing funding bids; research and analysis of Government policy; supporting the production of independent expert policy advice; synthesising and reporting on routinely collected health data; contributing to national economic analysis; and working with colleagues across NHS Wales, academia and government inform senior service and policy leaders.

Close Biography of Chief Healthcare Science Officer, Welsh Government Vicki Heath Vicki was appointed as Wales’s first dedicated Chief Healthcare Science Officer in 2024 acting as head of profession for the 7000 healthcare scientists working across 50 specialisms in the NHS in Wales. She is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council as a biomedical scientist and clinical scientist with a background in clinical microbiology. With over 20 years experience in the NHS, Vicki advises Ministers on matters relating to diagnostics and healthcare science.