Chair of the summit
Sameena Ali-Khan
Sameena Ali-Khan is an award winning television presenter, an experienced event host and a hardworking mum.
When she was younger, she was always chosen to be the narrator for school plays, perhaps because she loves to talk! She is very fortunate to have a career where she use her skills to communicate stories in a warm and engaging way. She grew up in Africa and travelled extensively as her parents worked abroad. It was the best education she could wish of for! She met people from different countries and developed an interest in a wide range of subjects.
Sameena’s extensive experience of live work and her engaging personality make her the obvious choice for all types of presenting work. Her warmth, humour and professionalism always engages the audience and she genuinely cares about the success of the event. Her enthusiasm on stage shines through and she makes any event special for the client and the guests. Sameena always prepares thoroughly to ensure every event is slick and professional. That’s why clients book her time and again. She has chaired panel discussions for well known organisations including Hitachi, Facebook, Vodaphone, NHS and Grant Thornton. The topics have included Wealth Management, Education, Business, Terrorism, Diversity, Mental Health, Brexit and the Arts.
keynote speaker
Peter berry and deb bunt
Co-authors of ‘Slow Puncture: Living Well with Dementia’
Suffolk-born Peter Berry, 55, was diagnosed at the age of 50 with early onset Alzheimer’s. Previously the owner of a thriving timber business, Peter was suddenly unable to work or run the business.
After this devastating news, Peter became very depressed but, being a ‘glass half full’ personality, has battled through this depression and focused on his main passion for cycling. He has used this passion to raise awareness of the condition, particularly in younger people. One of Peter’s favourite mantras is that ‘life isn’t over with dementia, it’s just a little different’ and he takes this positive approach with him wherever he goes. At the same time, he tries to leave his dementia monster (an ugly, Humpty Dumpty man with a pointy nose and a grumpy expression) on the settee at home.
Speakers
While we work on confirming our lineup for 2024 here are our 2023 speakers…
Anna Moss
Head of Nursing, Derbyshire Healthcare, NHS Foundation Trust
Anna has worked in Dementia care for 10 years since qualifying as a registered mental health nurse. Prior to this, she worked in care homes from being the age of 18 and during her time at University. She has worked in a variety of settings, including being an Acute Admiral Nurse, Organic inpatient settings, to then working in leadership roles, setting up and managing a specialist Dementia Crisis Service, Community Mental health Teams and more recently working as the Head of Nursing for Older People’s Services within Derbyshire Healthcare. She has always found working with Older People rewarding and has a specialist interest in Dementia.
Bill Wilson
Volunteer, Dementia Matters
A former career Civil Servant, Bill has extensive lived experience of being an unpaid carer within a family setting. He has taken on that role over various periods since he was 10 years old. His most recent being the sole carer for his wife, Dr Jo Wilson, who, after a 2-year wait was diagnosed with fronto temporal dementia with Alzheimer’s in 2020 until her death in January 2023. As a volunteer with the charity Dementia Matters, Bill has teamed up with Bev Reid the Chief Executive and established an ethos of family centred care, their mission is to campaign, fund raise and raise Dementia awareness. Bill is a volunteer research partner with Newcastle University on a range of Dementia research projects. He assists in obtaining funding right through to implementation. As an active volunteer member of both Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust and the Cumbria, Northumberland and Tyne and Wear NHS Trust involvement Bank, Bill uses his lived experience to have practical and strategic input into several different areas of service development. Since 2020 Bill has been an influencing campaigner on Health and Social Care issues. Making regular appearances on national TV and Radio, as well as digital and printed press, Bill works closely with Alzheimer’s Society and the BBC in order to highlight and fix what he says is a broken care system.
Dr Isabelle Latham
Researcher-in-Residence for Hallmark Care Homes
Dr Isabelle Latham is Researcher-in-Residence for Hallmark Care Homes and honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Association for Dementia Studies at the University of Worcester. She is the UK’s first researcher-in-residence within a care home organisation and supports Hallmark’s care homes to undertake dementia care research of importance to them in ways that include all members of their communities, and works to ensure research evidence is translated into practice change that positively impacts people’s day to day lives. Isabelle has 25 years’ experience in social care including as a direct care worker. She later focussed on research and education specialising in creating positive organisational cultures and effective learning for frontline staff. She is co-author of the book “Education and Training in Dementia Care: a person-centred approach published by Open University Press in March 2023.
Dr Natalie Yates-Bolton
Senior Lecturer in Nursing, University of Salford
Natalie is a senior lecturer in Nursing in the School of Health and Society at the University of Salford, Greater Manchester, United Kingdom. Natalie is the International lead for staff and student mobility across the School. This role involves optimising international collaboration in research, education and enterprise for the Directorates of Health Sciences, Psychology and Sport, Nursing & Midwifery Society and Criminology. Natalie is part of a team working with the World Health Organisation and Health Education England (HEE) to support the Ministries of Health in six countries to develop their health care workforce post-Covid. Natalie was the University lead for the University’s HEE funded workforce development contribution to the Greater Manchester Teaching Care Homes project which focussed on enhancing residents’ experience of care, health and well-being outcomes and quality of care.
Natalie has recently been a member of the Public Health England, Breast Cancer after Radiotherapy data base project team at the Christie Hospital, UK; Natalie’s role in this team was that of public and patient involvement. Natalie teaches and supervises UK under-graduate student nurses, post-graduate nurses and international health professionals undertaking post-graduate studies at the University of Salford. Natalie acts as an examiner for PhD and Professional Doctorate students. Natalie is an Associate Consultant for HammondCare International, a leading Dementia care, education and research focussed organisation based in Australia. Natalie is an Executive Coach working with the Florence Nightingale Foundation supporting NHS leaders.
Isobel Jones
CEO, Alive
Isobel is the CEO of Bristol based award-winning charity Alive. With over 30 years of experience working with older people in both a professional and personal capacity she has a particular passion for improving the lives of people living with dementia. She is Co-Director of the Bristol Dementia HIT working with local networks and organisations to shape a new model of dementia care across BNSSG. She is a regular speaker and contributor on a local and national level, championing the importance of innovative and engaging support for people living with dementia and their carers. She has lead Alive for 4 years, finding new and innovative ways of supporting older people in activity and engagement in care homes and the community; developing an online activity video platform for care homes, opening Bristol’s first dementia-friendly allotment and opening 3 Dementia Meeting Centres.
Jacqueline Cannon
Chief Executive, The Lewy Body Society
The Lewy Body Society (LBS) registered charity 1114579, established in 2006, was the 1st registered Charity in Europe exclusively concerned with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). The charity's mission is to raise awareness of DLB amongst the general public and educate those in the medical profession and decision-making positions about all aspects of the disease as well as to support and fund research into the disease. Jacqui has 30 years’ experience as a Senior Business Analyst working for major companies including Accenture. She has been involved with The Lewy Body Society, a dementia charity for 10 years, as a volunteer whilst continuing to work as a Senior IT Business Analyst and the last 7 years on a full-time basis. Jacqui is a former carer for her father who lived with Lewy body and her mother who lived with fibrosis of the lungs and other health conditions.
She is chair of Wigan Borough Dementia Friendly Community and is a Greater Manchester Champion for Join Dementia Research, which helps to recruit participants for research studies and drug trials.
Jackie Pool
Dementia Care Champion, QCS
Jackie is an Occupational Therapist and has specialised in dementia for over 35 years, working in health and social care in hospitals, care homes and with people at home. In addition to being the developer of QCS PAL Instrument, she is also the author of the book: From Dementia to Rementia. Jackie is a regular speaker at conferences and a researcher with the University of Exeter. She is also a Trustee with the National Activity Providers Association (NAPA) and a strong believer in the importance of engagement in meaningful activity to promote well-being for all. Her role as the Dementia Care Champion for QCS Quality Compliance Systems and also as a Visiting Lecturer to post-graduate students at the University of Winchester supports her ongoing passion for learning and sharing knowledge to support those who are living with dementia.
Jackie Tuppen
Nurse Practitioner, Cogs Clubs
Mrs Jaqueline Tuppen, graduated in 1997 with a BSc Hons and Specialist Practitioner from the Universtiy of Greenwich, London. During her full time nursing career she studied Behavioural Family Therapy, Systemic Family Therapy, Dementia Care Mapping. In 2006 she joined a research group looking to review screening practices for people with Dementia in Primary Care. She worked with the local Community Mental Health team, as a CPN, team Leader and finally Acting Community Services Manager. She became an Admiral Nurse in 2008, and retired from the NHS in 2011 when as an independent specialist nurse practitioner she started - COGS Club for people in the early stages of Dementia. She continues to work for Dementia UK as a sessional Admiral Nurse on their Dementia Helpline. She has published articles, and presented at a variety of events in the UK, Eire and Italy. She returns to Italy, to participate, as a scientific member, in the 2nd International Alzheimer’s Disease & Dementia Conference June 16-17, 2023 in Rome
Jan Burns MBE
Chair, National Dignity Council
Jan, a qualified social worker, has over 43 years’ experience of working in health and social care settings. She has worked at a variety of levels both locally, regionally and nationally. Jan started her career as a meals and wheels driver, progressed to delivering care services, managing care services, inspecting care services and a lead role as principal officer for Learning and Development in Wolverhampton Social Services. Jan then took on a lead role as Regional development manager with Skills for Care – progressing to managing all 9 Regions, supporting the development and formulation of relevant occupational standards across the Care Sector. Jan set up a not-for-profit company ‘Safe and Settled Ltd’ a consultancy supporting and empowering services to lead manage and deliver high-quality care services. Latterly she has been occupying the role of Director of Health & Wellbeing for a charity supporting people with Sight Loss. Jan is chair of the National Dignity Council and earned an MBE in the 2016 New Year’s Honours list for her services to Dignity.
Paul Blane
Managing Director, CBAT
Paul has worked in dementia services for the past 25 years both on the front line of delivery of care and in the latter years as an educational expert. As a Care Home operator, senior lecturer and Managing Director of one of the UK’s leading training providers, Paul offers insight into how things were, how things are and how things need to be.
Paul Edwards
Director of Clinical Services, Dementia UK
Paul joined Dementia UK in March 2018. Prior to joining the charity Paul had over 25 years’ experience working in health and social care. Paul is a nurse who specialises in dementia care and has worked across the NHS, academia and the independent sector. He is responsible for the development, governance and growth of clinical services. Paul’s team helps ensure that the latest, evidenced approaches are embedded into the practice of our Admiral Nurses and that services are run to provide safe and effective care and support to people with dementia and their families. Paul’s focus is on ensuring that there are robust governance processes in place to continually develop services and practice; and that new Admiral Nurses services are developed and supported clinically. Paul’s team also promotes awareness of Dementia UK and it services to commissioners, clinicians and policy leaders across health and social care.
Peter Berry &
Deb Bunt
Co-authors, ‘Slow Puncture: Living Well with Dementia’
Suffolk-born Peter Berry, 55, was diagnosed at the age of 50 with early onset Alzheimer’s. Previously the owner of a thriving timber business, Peter was suddenly unable to work or run the business.
After this devastating news, Peter became very depressed but, being a ‘glass half full’ personality, has battled through this depression and focused on his main passion for cycling. He has used this passion to raise awareness of the condition, particularly in younger people. One of Peter’s favourite mantras is that ‘life isn’t over with dementia, it’s just a little different’ and he takes this positive approach with him wherever he goes. At the same time, he tries to leave his dementia monster (an ugly, Humpty Dumpty man with a pointy nose and a grumpy expression) on the settee at home.
Professor Martin Green OBE
Chief Executive, Care England & DHSC, Independent Sector Dementia Champion
Chief Executive: Care England
DHSC: Independent Sector Dementia Champion
Chair: International Longevity Centre – UK
Commissioner: Royal Hospital Chelsea
Martin Green has had an extensive career in NGO development, both in the UK and internationally, and is Chief Executive of Care England, the largest representative body for independent social care services in the UK. He is also Chair of the International Longevity Centre, a Trustee of the National Centre for Creative Health (NCCH), Vice President of The Care Workers Charity, Champion of The National Aids Trust and Commissioner of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
In 2013 he was appointed Visiting Professor of Social Care to Buckinghamshire New University.
In 2012, in his role as Department of Health and Social Care Independent Sector Dementia Champion, he led the development of the Dementia Care and Support Compact for The Prime Minister's Challenge on Dementia.
In 2008 he was named care personality of the year and was awarded an OBE for Services to Social Care in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. In 2019 he was presented with the Health Investor Outstanding Contribution award.
Martin Green writes and broadcasts extensively on social care issues and is on the Editorial Board of Community Care Market News and Care Talk magazine.
Professor Sir John Hardy
Chair, Molecular Biology, Neurological Disease at the UCL Institute of Neurology & Group Leader at UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL
Following his PhD, Hardy did postdoctoral research at MRC Neuropathogenesis Unit Newcastle upon Tyne, then further postdoctoral work at Swedish Brain Bank in Umeå, where he started to work on Alzheimer's disease. He became Assistant Professor of Biochemistry at St. Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London in 1985 and initiated genetic studies of Alzheimer's disease there, before moving to the USA in 1989 then taking the Pfeiffer Endowed Chair of Alzheimer's Research at the University of South in Tampa in 1992. In 1996 he moved to Mayo Clinic, as Consultant and Professor of Neuroscience. He became Chair of Neuroscience in 2000 and moved to National Institute on Aging, Bethesda, as Chief of the Laboratory of Neurogenetics in 2001. In 2007 he took up the Chair of Molecular Biology of Neurological Disease at UCL. November 2015, he was awarded the Breakthrough Prize 2016 and in 2018 jointly the Brain Prize from The Lundbeck Foundation in Denmark. In 2022 he was awarded a Knighthood in the New Year’s Honours in recognition of contributions to human health and dementia research, and in June 2022 he was conferred as an Honorary Doctor of the University of Helsinki then in October awarded Mayo Clinic Distinguished Alumnus.
Nick Long
Consultant, Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Nick is a Consultant in Old Age Psychiatry working in North Derbyshire with the community crisis teams, including the Dementia Rapid Response Teams. The teams provide intensive and holistic support to people experiencing a mental health crisis where they live, avoiding the need for hospital admission where possible. He trained as a doctor in Nottingham, later completing my Psychiatric training in South Yorkshire and taking up his Consultant post in 2019. He is a father of two young children, and his hobby of endurance running helps him to keep up with them!
Sara Wilcox
CEO, Pathways Through Dementia
Sara is the founder and CEO of the charity Pathways Through Dementia. Her career started at the Court of Protection; she then worked as an advocate for people living with dementia in Ealing and at Alzheimer's Society as their Legal and Welfare Office before setting up her charity to assist people navigating legal and financial issues related to the dementia journey. The helpline now takes over 1000 enquiries a year with referrals from Dementia UK, Alzheimer's Society, memory clinics, and through word of mouth. Sara also delivers talks and training to community groups on topics such as paying for care, Lasting Powers of Attorney and the role of the Court of Protection, the Mental Capacity Act, and the Care Act.
