Attitudes Toward Innovation Survey (ATIS)

Fiona Robertson

Programme Manager Innovation Adoption

Fiona is a programme manager within Wessex Patient Safety Collaborative, and within Nationally Prioritised Innovations for Asthma Biologics.

Fiona is a registered nurse with 17 years’ experience working in the NHS. She has spent her career working in several London trusts both in Emergency Departments and Critical Care Units in a variety of roles. During this time, Fiona developed a passion for patient safety and patient experience whilst developing her clinical expertise. In 2017 Fiona took a career break and completed the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race before returning to London to undertake a new role as the Major Trauma Service Lead for south-west London and the wider Surrey and Sussex region.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Fiona decided to move out of London and back to the south coast. She is looking forward to spending more time outdoors and being nearer to her family.

Linda du Preez

Programme Co-ordinator Innovation Adoption

Linda is a Programme Co-ordinator for Innovation Adoption.

Linda is an experienced Occupational Therapist who worked for over 20 years as a clinician and team leader specialising in supporting those living with frailty to stay independent at home for longer and live the lives they choose. Prior to joining Health Innovation Wessex, she worked in a training role educating managers and staff on the importance of managing wellbeing in their workplaces. Her current role enables her to combine her passion for innovation and evidence-based practice, with her skill and experience.

Linda's role involves supporting the work of the Innovation Adoption directorate by co-ordinating spread and adoption of health and care innovations across Wessex.

Holly Green

Patient Safety Programme Manager / Maternity & Neonatal Safety Improvement Programme

Holly joined Health Innovation Wessex in February 2024. She completed her BMid (Hons) degree in 2007 and has worked as a midwife in a variety of clinical settings.

In 2018 Holly started working within Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS) setting up the Wessex Maternity Academy, responsible for maternity training across Wessex. She has since worked with HEE to support the initiation of this model across the south east region. Within this role Holly developed and implemented a nationally recognised multidisciplinary training module on leadership within the birth environment.

She is also the Healthier Together Maternity Lead and designed the Healthier Together Maternity Urgent Care App which was launched to support maternity triage services across Hampshire. This initiative won the outstanding contribution to midwifery services - digital RCM award in 2023.

Holly is passionate about collaborative working to reduce variations in clinical practice, improving patient outcomes and experience.

Simeon Kent

Innovation Adoption Programme Manager

Before joining Health Innovation Wessex, Simeon was working in one of the UK's Lighthouse projects setting up an automated Covid-19 mass testing facility in response to the Covid pandemic. Simeon's role within this team was as the Laboratory Operations Manager, ensuring the streamlined implementation of automation including liquid handling robots and loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) technology.

Before this he was working with Southampton Primary Care Ltd as part of the Business Development and Support team who pioneered the 'out of hours' primary care service using 'Hubs' for Southampton.

Simeon is passionate about pioneering technologies and even more passionate about seeing them used to improve the experience of NHS patients.

Heather Stacey

Senior Programme Manager Innovation Adoption

Heather initially joined Health Innovation Wessex in February 2021 to support the Mental Health Safety Improvement Programme and Managing Deterioration (Children and PEWS). Since then, she has moved to the Innovation and Adoption Team, with a focus on supporting the Dorset system.

She is an Occupational Therapist, completing her training in London, before moving to Edinburgh and then Dorset in 2007. Heather has a Masters in Advanced Mental Health Practice and has worked within the NHS for 30 years, mainly within mental health services in most settings including acute assessment, community and outreach posts - working clinically and in leadership roles.

She undertook an HEE-funded Patient Safety Fellowship which focused on learning from staff reflections to focus on how patients and families are supported around the time of death. Heather is keen to address the key themes from this within her work: improving system working, communication and staff wellbeing. She has just completed her ILM level 5 coaching qualification.

Robert Payne

Programme Manager Innovation Adoption

Rob studied Ancient History at Swansea University and graduated in 1998.

He spent four years working for a regional publication in Liverpool as a sales rep before moving to Australia in 2004.

Rob then spent ten years living and working in Australia (Melbourne) and has nine years of experience working in the travel industry and managing a business (Flight Centre). He has an FA level one coaching qualification and is involved with coaching his sons' football team.

Rob loves to travel and has explored much of Australia as well as many other destinations in Europe, Asia, the South Pacific and America.

Meet our Insight team

Amanda Lees

Evaluation Programme Manager (Qualitative) - Insight

Amanda is an Evaluation Programme Manager in the Insight team at Health Innovation Wessex. Before this, she worked in academia as a qualitative and mixed methods researcher and evaluator, holding roles at the universities of Oxford (Oxford Vaccine Group), Southampton and Winchester. She has also worked in research and evaluation within the NHS, private sector, and local authorities.

Amanda's research focused on health and care, especially the experiences of those receiving and delivering services and she has published many peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and co-edited a book on mixed-methods research in wellbeing and health. Since joining Health Innovation Wessex in 2022, she has enjoyed the challenge of applying research techniques within the complex real world environment, working with multidisciplinary colleagues on a diverse range of projects.

Outside of work, she loves walking especially in the Lake District, spending time with family and friends and is trying to become a regular at Parkrun!

Andrew Sibley

Evaluation Programme Manager (Mixed Methods)

Andrew joined Health Innovation Wessex in 2018 and is an Evaluation Programme Manager in the Insight team. Before this, he worked in academia as a mixed methods Senior Research Fellow, holding roles at King's College London and the University of Southampton. He has also worked in a research capacity directly for NHS and local authority organisations.

Andrew brings a wide range of expertise in using advanced quantitative and qualitative methods to support real-world evaluations of innovation. His research interests include the application of implementation theories/models/frameworks to support innovation adoption, evaluation of new care models and new roles to support long-term conditions, and medicines management.

What drives his work is a deep commitment to improving patient care and promoting proven innovation to improve health services. Andrew is passionate about bridging the gap between research and evaluation approaches to benefit the real world assessment of innovation.

Outside of work, he enjoys running, badminton, and travelling the world with his family.

Emmanuel Defever

Qualitative Evaluation Programme Coordinator

Dr Emmanuel Defever is a health and care service evaluator, working with Health Innovation Wessex as a Programme Co-ordinator for the Insight team. He enjoys using his analytical and interpretive skills to explore how implementing different ways of working impact patients, staff and other stakeholders. He has a special interest in mixed method approach to explore 'what works for who, how and why.'

He trained as a physiotherapist and his career has evolved from clinical to research and evaluation role. He worked in a range of settings including acute, community and mental health services. Driven by the natural desire to learn, he completed his PhD and continues to directly connect with people from all walks of life who access or serve in the health and care sector.

He is blessed with a lovely wife, energetic children and a joyful pony. As a family, they all enjoy going to the stable, pony shows, camping, cycling, and often a cheeky picnic come rain or shine!

Philippa Darnton

Director of Insight

Philippa Darnton is Director of Insight at Health Innovation Wessex. She has over 30 years’ experience in the NHS and academia. From her early career as an Allied Health Professional (SLT), she has taken her passions for improving patient care and innovation into roles in strategic planning, operational, service improvement and commissioning.

She joined Health Innovation Wessex in 2015 to lead programmes in evaluation, spread and adoption, pivoting support during the pandemic to rapidly capture learning from front line clinicians and managers through an innovative Rapid Insight approach. Having led a team to deliver over 100 independent evaluations of innovations in health care including digital solutions, her work has contributed critical insights to enable decisions about what innovation benefits patients and our health and care systems and how to implement it. Her large-scale improvement work has included programmes in stroke care, cardiac services and neuro-rehabilitation.

She has a Master's qualification in management from Warwick University, which equips her to manage a house build, two teenage boys and a young cocker spaniel.

Emily Hunter

Associate Director - Insight

Emily is the Associate Director of the Insight team. She has strategic oversight of the team’s portfolio and of the high quality work we produce. Emily works closely with clients to scope our support and develop our business.

Emily has a background in evaluating global health projects and support Cancer Research UK’s early diagnosis programme, working closely with primary care and system stakeholders. She has led Insight’s evaluation offer for innovators, overseen large evaluations of complex programmes, and regularly delivers sessions to develop understanding and capabilities in evaluation.

Facilitative and calm under pressure, Emily attributes her work style to the huge benefits that come from her love of music, as a performer and a keen audience member.

Julia Wilson

Evaluation Programme Coordinator

Julia is a mixed-method researcher and project manager passionate about transforming healthcare through innovation. She currently works as an Evaluation Programme Co-ordinator at Health Innovation Wessex, supporting real-world evaluations aiding the adoption of innovations across the NHS. Her expertise spans across developing and integrating digital AI products, health behavioural science and mixed-method research.

Julia brings over seven years of experience managing and supporting complex academic and clinical projects, with a strong track record at organisations like Sacher AI, Allurion Technologies, University Hospitals Plymouth and the University of Plymouth. With a background in healthcare innovation and a portfolio of published research, Julia is driven by a commitment to improving patient outcomes and empowering communities.

Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, golfing, and exploring the intersection of technology and wellbeing.

How can we help you?

To arrange an informal discussion,
email enquiries@hiwessex.net

Attitudes Toward Innovation Survey (ATIS)

Our Attitudes Toward Innovation Survey (ATIS) can help you to understand your unique innovation landscape and identify the best next steps to take to make an impact.