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Dr Claire Bloomfield, Director at the Centre for Improving Data Collaboration, NHS England 
Dr Claire Bloomfield joined NHS England’s Centre for Improving Data Collaboration in June 2021. As the Senior Responsible Officer for the Data for Research and Development programme, she oversees development and delivery of the Transformation Directorate’s coordinated investments in health data for R&D, to support the ambitions of the Life Sciences Vision, Vision for future of UK Clinical Research Delivery and Genome UK. Her team supports investments to enable R&D and innovation using health data with a goal to improve patient care, including clinical trials operations and infrastructure investment in Trusted Research Environments.

Claire joined NHS England from her role as CEO in the UK National Consortium of Intelligent Medical Imaging (NCIMI) at the University of Oxford — a launchpad to improve the healthcare industry through the development and use of AI. As CEO Claire successfully managed partnerships with 14 NHS hospitals, clinical leaders, industry experts, academic researchers, patient groups and charities. 

Claire’s own research has been focused on neuroscience with an interest in neuropsychiatric conditions and the neural networks involved in executive function. She held research fellowships at the University of Oxford and the University of Maryland School of Medicine, after finishing her DPhil at Oxford. Following her academic research career, Claire returned to Oxford as the Head of Strategy and Innovation for the Cancer Research UK Centre. Claire's role placed her at the nexus of cancer activity within the university community and the UK overall, affording unique opportunities to work on cross-departmental and pan-divisional projects resulting in raising more than £300m to further UK cancer research. 

Claire’s particular interest in health data research focuses on supporting the ecosystem to develop effective collaborations that generate value for all stakeholders, and ensuring equity and diversity in both the development and application of healthcare innovations to improve care.

Steve Hall, CEO, Crown Hosting Data Centres 
Steve is an engineer by profession. He has had a highly successful career in both selling and service delivery. He was formerly the UK Public Sector Sales Director at HP. During his time at HP, Steve held a number of roles and was responsible for UK public sector sales, UK Defence sales, and Middle East, Mediterranean and Africa businesses, covering all sectors of the Enterprise Service business. He led the transformation of the go to market operation in this undeveloped are of business and delivered a sound growth strategy for the next three years.

Previous to HP, he held a number of positions with senior-level responsibility at EDS, successfully leading the companies' strategic bids, re-pitching of existing contracts, new business and incremental growth. At EDS he established and led the service management operation, including two major service centres and a support regime to deliver IT services to the MoD as part of Europe's largest ever contract (circa 300,000 users in over 450 locations worldwide).

Steve joined the technology industry having completed 19 years of distinguished service in Her Majesty's Royal Navy as an aeronautical engineer officer.

Russell Macdonald, Chief Technologist for the Public Sector and Hybrid Cloud, Hewlett Packard Enterprise 
Russell Macdonald specialises in hybrid cloud strategy. He is a member of the British Computer Society and TechUK’s Central Government Council. Prior to HPE, Russell was a Global Principal for a hyperscale cloud provider and a managing consultant for an international consulting firm.