London Health and Social Care Industry Dinner

Lord Nick Markham CBE

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Care

Nick Markham was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Health and Social Care on 22 September 2022.
He has extensive experience across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Previously he was Lead NED at DWP, Lead NED for MHCLG and Deputy Leader of Westminster Council.
Nick is also a founder of Safe Haven, a social enterprise charity that provides homes for the homeless in London after raising £33 million through an innovative funding model which effectively “securitises housing benefit” thereby requiring no government grants or donations.
Nick has extensive private sector experience with roles including ITV Strategy Director, where he developed the concept of Freeview with the BBC and was in charge of the Carlton and Granada merger. Previously he was CFO of Laura Ashley and CEO of Top Up TV which was the World’s first successful Digital Terrestrial pay TV company which he established on the back of venture capital.
Nick has also served as the Chair of LCR, the part of DfT that specialises in driving regeneration around railways such as Kings Cross and Manchester Mayfield. Under Nick’s leadership, LCR majored on provisioning railway land for housing, making it equivalent to a UK top 10 housebuilder.
 

Sonia Patel NHS England

Chief Informatics Officer, NHS England and NHS Improvement

As CTO for the NHS, Sonia’s key priorities focus on delivering a clear vision of what successful digital transformation looks like at a national level. She is dedicated to strengthening the digital foundations of frontline organisations, ensuring equitable access to cutting-edge technology, and supporting local boards in taking ownership of their digital transformation strategies. Central to her mission is building a digitally confident workforce, capable of harnessing technology and data to empower citizens in managing their health and well-being in new, meaningful ways.

With over 20 years of experience in the healthcare sector, Sonia is a highly respected leader with a proven track record of driving digital innovation, even in the most challenging environments. Her leadership is shaped by a strong commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion, and she is an active advocate of the Shuri Network and Stemettes. Sonia also dedicates her time to mentoring emerging talent, demonstrating her passion for cultivating the next generation of digital leaders.