Director

I am Professor of Engagement and Deputy Director at the UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing, Newcastle University. A social gerontologist, I have a particular interest in citizen engagement (incorporating patient, public and community involvement) in research and innovation. I am also Director of VOICE – Valuing our Intellectual Capital and Experience – a large international network of citizens with a significant national and growing international reputation for innovation in healthy ageing. VOICE was established to harness the immense insight, ideas and experience of the public, help co- design and co- develop products and services that are needed to support healthy ageing across the life course and respond to the global challenges and opportunities arising from demographic change. VOICE has led citizen engagement programmes in research grants totaling over £80 million. I am also Director of Engagement for Newcastle University Innovation Observatory and was an Advisory Board Member of NIHR INVOLVE (2012-2018). I was a member of the Academy of Medical Sciences Working Group on “Addressing the Global Challenge of Multi Morbidity” (2018) and co-led the NIHR James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership on Older People Living with Multiple Conditions (2018). I am also Trustee of the Lewy Body Dementia Society and a member of the British Society of Gerontology.