Meet the team
Our people make CF…
They are analytical, creative and impact-driven problem-solvers with multi-disciplinary skills. But most of all, they are passionate about healthcare and improving outcomes through meaningful work.
متميزة CF فريق العمل هو ما يجعل
هم محللون، مبدعون، ومحللو مشاكل يدفعهم الشغف لإحداث الفارق، يمتلكون مهارات متعددة التخصصات. لكن الأهم من ذلك، مهتمون جدا بتطوير نظم الرعاية الصحية وتحسين مخرجاتها من خلال عمل عال الجودة وذو مصداقية ويحدث اثرا
Local team
فريق محلي
Hannah Farrar
Chief Executive
Hannah Farrar
Since 2013, she has steered the development of CF to the award-winning organisation it is today. Building a company dedicated to improving healthcare through the delivery of management consulting and data services and products.
In supporting our clients, Hannah has an exceptional track record of motivating people and organisations to deliver transformational change. She provides in-depth experience of strategy development and delivery, organisational development and change, financial and economic analysis, building capability and motivation, and navigating complex local and national politics. She provides leadership across the breadth of our client services.
Prior to founding CF, Hannah was an executive in the NHS and has also held positions in the Department of Health. Hannah delivered major programmes of strategic change, including ‘Healthcare for London’ a system strategy for health and care in the capital, which is renowned for having delivered considerable improvements in services such as stroke and trauma care.
Hannah is a member of the Kings Fund General Advisory Council, a non-executive director for Lantum and a visiting professor at Imperial College London. Hannah is a co-author of the book Healthcare for London: Reflections on Leadership, Lessons and Legacy. And has been recognised as one of the top 100 women in healthcare leadership.
Dr Zahra Safarfashandi
Lead Partner
Zahra Safarfashandi
She specialises in implementing clinical and digital transformation programmes at scale. She has worked across the UK, Europe and the Middle East focused on improving clinical outcomes, workforce productivity and operational effectiveness by leveraging clinical best practice and digital innovations.
Her skills include strategy development, programme management and change management in addition to strong problem- solving skills, communication skills and a broad knowledge of healthcare in the UK and across the Middle East.
Dr Joud Abduljawad
Partner and Chief Medical Officer
Dr Joud Abduljawad
Dr. Joud is recognised for his expertise in clinical performance improvement, integrated care, telehealth, and medical informatics.
He has a proven track record of driving transformative changes and delivering excellent organizational clinical performance. Joud has held various leadership roles both in the United Kingdom and Saudi Arabia across the governmental and private sectors. He has led several transformative programs and initiatives to enhance patient safety, quality of care, and operational efficiency across the healthcare organisations he has served.
Nada Raoof
Director, Middle East
Nada Raoof
Nada Raoof is Director Middle East at CF, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She brings deep expertise in healthcare strategy, institutional excellence, and translating complex vision into measurable outcomes.
At the Saudi Public Health Authority, Nada served as Executive Director of Strategy and Institutional Excellence, leading organisational strategy, performance management, and board engagement. She strengthened institutional governance, improved strategic delivery effectiveness, and secured significant funding for national health initiatives including biosafety, biosecurity, and public health data systems.
Nada also held strategic and project leadership roles at Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 Realisation Office within the Ministry of Health, where she led the development of the National Health in All Policies strategy. She worked closely with the HiAP Ministerial Committee, coordinating across government entities and collaborating with international partners including the World Health Organisation to adapt global frameworks to the Saudi context.
She began her career at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, supporting congressional oversight through evidence-based evaluations of federal programmes. Nada holds a Master of Public Health from The George Washington University.
Ben Richardson
Managing Partner, Life Sciences
Ben Richardson
Over the last two decades Ben has worked across with health systems and life sciences companies on multiple continents. He has worked from national to local levels of health systems on strategy, transformation and development. He has worked in many areas including primary care, diabetes, cardiovascular, cancer, mental health as well as population health management more broadly.
Since 2014 he has supported the development of CF as an award-winning healthcare company operating in management consulting and data services and products.
Over the past two years Ben has led CF work to use data to support the UK’s response to Covid, vaccination of the country, recovery and addressing health inequalities.
Ben’s main focus now is supporting life sciences companies with the uptake of innovation in health systems and in enabling the use of data and digital to transform care and improve outcomes.
Prior to CF, Ben was a Senior Partner at McKinsey, where he served healthcare clients all over the world and led Integrated Care across Europe.
Ben is originally from Canada, and studied at both Princeton and Harvard. Outside of his work, he is an occasional cyclist, a consistent wine enthusiast, and a lover of travel and spending time on the water and in the outdoors.
Vernon Baxter
Associate Partner, Health Investing
Vernon Baxter
Vernon has an extensive background in the UK’s health and social care investment market, reporting on UK M&A activity for over 15 years and convening major industry events. With a network spanning health investors, executives, funders and advisors he previously led Investor Publishing and HealthInvestor UK for over a decade.
Vernon is an Associate Partner at CF, connecting leaders in private equity, healthcare and banking with the team at CF. Vernon brings extensive market intelligence to the team, who advise clients on commercial and operational due diligence, value creation and growth strategy. Vernon also advises a range of stakeholders across health and social care, including HolonIQ, a leading provider of global impact intelligence, having established its healthcare division in 2022.
Nour Mohanna
Middle East Regional Lead
Nour Mohanna
Nour leads our regional office in the Middle East. She has a successful track record in leading and delivering work in the Middle East and the UK. She works at the interface between health systems and life sciences, forging partnerships and leveraging data to drive innovation. With a background in behavioral science and public policy, Nour brings a unique blend of expertise and cultural fluency.
Dr. Rafal Baker
Consultant
Rafal Baker
Rafal is a Consultant at CF, with a PhD in Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences and a Masters in Drug Discovery and Pharmaceutical Sciences, bringing extensive expertise in drug discovery and development. In her consulting role, Rafal has successfully delivered high-impact strategy and implementation projects within Life Sciences and Healthcare, helping clients navigate complex R&D decisions, optimise clinical development strategies, and accelerate time-to-market for innovative treatments, as well as supporting healthcare systems with evidence-based care pathway improvements.
Prior to consulting, Rafal spent several years in pharmaceutical research, developing innovative nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems for neurodegenerative diseases and publishing peer-reviewed academic papers. Her work spanned the entire drug development pipeline, from early-stage discovery through pre-clinical testing and regulatory preparation. As a qualified pharmacist, she brings a unique clinical perspective to her work, understanding both the scientific complexities of drug development and the real-world challenges of delivering treatments to patients.
What drives Rafal in her consultancy role is creating solutions that directly translate into meaningful patient impact, bridging the gap between cutting-edge science and the treatments that can truly make a difference in people’s lives.
Outside of work, you’ll likely find Rafal exploring nature on a hike or bike ride and taking lots of pictures of the scenery that no one will ever see.
Mohsen Alharbi
Business Development Coordinator
Mohsen Alharbi
Mohsen is a Business Development Coordinator at CF, he has a background that blends healthcare, business, and strategy, with experience improving services, managing operations, and supporting growth initiatives.
He is currently pursuing his MBA and is continuously looking for ways to expand his knowledge and apply it across different sectors. He is motivated by opportunities to solve problems, create value, and contribute to meaningful change.
المستشارين
Advisors
Dr Abdulaziz AlAjlan
Advisor
Dr Abdulaziz AlAjlan
Dr Abdulaziz AlAjlan is an accomplished and highly respected dermatopathologist, recognised as one of the leading specialists in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.
He obtained his MBBS from King Saud University, Riyadh (1989) and completed his fellowship in pathology at King Saud University (1997). He earned the FRCPath from the Royal College of Pathologists, UK (1998) and pursued specialty training in dermatopathology at the Ackerman Academy, USA (2000).
Since March 2009, Dr AlAjlan has served as Chairman of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh. He has played a pioneering role in advancing digital pathology, contributing to innovation, expertise development, and research and development initiatives. His academic output includes an extensive record of peer-reviewed publications and books in pathology and dermatopathology.
Dr AlAjlan serves as CF’s expert advisor in pathology and laboratory services, bringing his extensive clinical and research expertise to support healthcare transformation and innovation.
Faraz Farooqi
Advisor
Faraz Farooqi
Faraz is an accomplished healthcare strategy leader with a proven track record of designing health strategies, enabling market access, and shaping compelling value propositions. He brings deep expertise in health technology assessment (HTA), NICE processes, regulatory systems, and international health system strengthening.
Faraz was previously Associate Director at the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), where he oversaw global partnerships, commercial collaborations, and the application of NICE’s evidence-based HTA methodologies in international contexts. Before NICE, he was Head of the Business Unit at the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), leading projects in regulation, clinical trials, and standards for biologics. Earlier in his career, he worked at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute managing large-scale international research collaborations.
He now supports CF’s Middle East practice in advancing evidence-based decision making, building HTA capacity, and advising clients across Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC region.
Fadwa Saad AlBawardi
Advisor
Fadwa Saad AlBawardi
Ms. Fadwa Saad AlBawardi, is a Saudi Arabian Entrepreneur who have established her own Consultancy office (FSAB) to provide consulting services in Digital Transformation, Performance Management, Strategic Planning, Data and AI strategies.
Ms. AlBawardi is a Certified Strategy and Business Planning Professional, as well as an IT/Performance Management Senior Consultant, with more than 21+ years of working experience.
She is a certified trainer as well as an Elsevier reviewer for international AI & technical research papers and articles. Ms. AlBawardi is also a public speaker in several national and international conferences including: United Nations ITU IGF2023 in Kyoto Japan, as well as UN ITU AI for Good Summit 2024 in Geneva Switzerland. In addition, she sponsored UN AI for Good Summit, Geneva, in 2 consecutive years: 2024 and 2025. In addition, she is a trainer with United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). She was also invited as a Virtual Keynote Speaker in Tech Unite Africa 2025, Nigeria.
Ms. AlBawardi is also an Author who have participated in writing several technical international publications, as well, including HiMSS Book of the Year (editions 2007, 2013 and 2018) in USA. She is also a USA Today Bestselling Author, as well as a weekly Columnist, with 200+ articles, in KSA digital journals, mainly about AI and Digital Economy themes.
Dr. Abeer Al Subait
Advisor
Dr. Abeer Al Subait
Dr. Abeer Al Subait is a distinguished leader in healthcare quality, patient safety, and patient experience, currently serving as the Corporate Deputy Executive Director for Quality and Patient Safety and Patient Experience at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. With a robust academic and professional background, she drives transformative initiatives to enhance care delivery and patient outcomes.
Her certifications in Patient Experience from IHLM, ICHOM, Customer Experience, AI in Healthcare Transformation, and a Fellowship from Planetree underscore her expertise in innovative care models.
At MNGHA, she has led transformative healthcare initiatives while serving in multiple leadership roles including Section Head of Advanced General Dentistry (2020-2023), Community Service Committee Chair (2018-2022), and director of various dental programs. She is also a Fellow of the International College of Dentists, active researcher, and lecturer who has presented internationally on public health, patient experience, and AI-driven care solutions.
Dr. Abdullah Alotaibi
Advisor
Dr. Abdullah Alotaibi
Dr. Abdullah Alotaibi is a Family Medicine Physician, serving as the Medical & Operations Director and Head of the Telehealth Department at Manzil Healthcare Services, as well as an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at Majma’ah University. He is PMP® certified, a Fellow of ISQua, and holds an MBA from Hult International Business School.
His work focuses on driving innovation in the healthcare sector in Saudi Arabia, advancing digital health transformation, and building strategic partnerships across the Kingdom.
Global team
فريق عالمي
Catherine Skilton
Managing Partner, Health Systems
Catherine Skilton
Catherine is Managing Partner at CF, leading the Health Systems business and support the continued development of CF as an award-winning healthcare management consulting and data services and products company.
Over the past 20 years, Catherine has supported health and care systems to transform through financial and operational improvement, operating model redesign, mergers, infrastructure investments, integrated care strategy and population health management. She has had a particular focus on the delivery of provider improvement, enabling organisations to use data and digital to improve care and drive sustainable digitally enabled change. She has also worked closely with major Technology and Data companies serving the NHS.
Catherine has worked at all levels of the health and care system in the UK, from national to local and with the NHS and private healthcare organisations. She has particularly worked with Trusts, Integrated Care Systems and NHS Regulators.
Prior to CF, Catherine was a Senior Partner at Deloitte, where she led the local Health Services business and supported NHS and private healthcare clients to transform their performance and operating models.
Catherine has a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Southampton and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales.
Outside of work she lives with her husband and daughter in East Surrey and is a regular hiker, fantasy fiction enthusiast, and occasional artist to fulfil her creative side.
Stephen Donnelly
Partner, Health Systems
Stephen Donnelly
Stephen is a Partner in our Health Systems practice. He brings extensive experience in public sector transformation and will contribute to CF’s engagements with clients both in the United Kingdom and across the EU. He offers comprehensive insight into the health sector, encompassing government, health systems, life sciences, private healthcare, and health investment.
Prior to entering politics, Stephen worked at McKinsey for five years as a consultant, working across Ireland, the UK and the Middle East. Stephen holds a mechanical engineering degree from University College Dublin, a master’s in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School and studied complex systems design at M.I.T. His extensive European networks and policy experience will also support CF’s expansion across the UK, Europe and the Middle East. During his political career, Stephen demonstrated exceptional analytical capabilities and strategic thinking. He was recognised as The Irish Times’ Politician of the Year in 2012 for his contributions on Ireland’s banking crisis.
Vernon Baxter
Associate Partner
Vernon Baxter
Vernon has an extensive background in the UK’s health and social care investment market, reporting on UK M&A activity for over 15 years and convening major industry events. With a network spanning health investors, executives, funders and advisors he previously led Investor Publishing and HealthInvestor UK for over a decade.
Vernon is an Associate Partner at CF, connecting leaders in private equity, healthcare and banking with the team at CF. Vernon brings extensive market intelligence to the team, who advise clients on commercial and operational due diligence, value creation and growth strategy. Vernon also advises a range of stakeholders across health and social care, including HolonIQ, a leading provider of global impact intelligence, having established its healthcare division in 2022.
Jo Andrews
Chief Medical Officer, London and Europe
Jo Andrews
Jo has led clinical services at a regional level, necessitating broad stakeholder engagement, and major service reconfigurations across sites to achieve service sustainability and clinical standards.
At CF, Jo’s major areas of interest are clinical strategy development, pathway and transformation, and workforce planning. Engaging and developing clinical leaders is at the heart of his approach to each of these, and improving the lives of patients and staff in healthcare is what energises him at work.
Away from CF, Jo is a keen cook, enthusiastic member of his local amateur dramatic society and reluctant follower of Tottenham Hotspur. He lives in Sussex with his wife and adult sons, as well as an assortment of animals who regularly appear on conference calls.
Phil Livingstone
Director, Health Systems
Phil Livingstone
Phil brings over 10 years of consulting experience working with NHS commissioners, providers and care systems. Phil has a particular interest in the development of Integrated Care Systems, working at place, provider collaborative and system-wide levels. He helps people connect population need with strategic priorities, care model design and collaborative working. He also supports work on population health management and organisational design. Phil also acted as a tutor on the NHS Leadership Academy, supported senior managers and clinical leads to develop their leadership capabilities.
Prior to CF Phil worked at KPMG in the UK advising NHS clients. He has a PhD in neuropharmacology and is a qualified management accountant.
Outside of work Phil enjoys running several times a week, getting through as many books as possible and travelling again now that the pandemic is receding.
Christian Adams
Director, Health Systems
Christian Adams
Christian is a Director at CF, and part of the Health Systems consulting team. Christian has worked in and around the NHS for the past 20-years, including nearly a decade of experience in healthcare consulting. He brings a wealth of operational and financial expertise, having supported Trusts across the country – from productivity to elective pathway improvement and financial transformation.
He thrives on working collaboratively in teams, applying creative thinking to help clients solve longstanding and complex challenges. He has worked with Trusts across the NHS including Royal Free London, Barts Health, the London Ambulance Service, Oxleas and Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals.
Coming from a family of artists, he is passionate about the music of New Orleans and enjoys daily runs.
Ioannis Katsoulis
Director, Life Sciences
Ioannis Katsoulis
Ioannis is Director for the CF Life Sciences practice, bringing over 12 years of experience in global market access, pricing, and health policy research, with a strong track record of delivering strategic insights across top pharmaceutical and biotech companies. Throughout his consulting career, Ioannis partnered with various functional teams to optimise the value proposition of therapies by demonstration of benefits for patients and healthcare systems.
Most recently, Ioannis served as Associate Principal at IQVIA, leading value communications and pricing engagements across therapy areas. Prior to IQVIA, he held roles of increasing responsibility at different consultancies including Evidera and ICON, where he developed health technology assessment (HTA), market access and pricing insights for medicines across their lifecycle. His work has informed evidence generation plans, launch readiness, and global market access and pricing strategy.
His expertise spans evidence generation planning and synthesis, real-world evidence studies, and strategic payer and physician key opinion leader engagements across major global markets, with a focus on the EU4 markets, the UK, US, China and Japan. His published work covers a broad range of topics on the use of real-world data for HTA and payer decision-making reflecting a commitment to advancing evidence-based policy and strategic market access for innovative therapies.
Samantha Streicher
Chief People Officer
Samantha Streicher
Sam Streicher is our Chief People Officer at CF. Sam brings over 15 years of expertise in strategic people leadership and healthcare consulting from McKinsey & Company, where she has held senior global talent roles and served as an Associate Partner.
During her tenure at McKinsey, Sam led Talent for the global health, public sector and social sector practice and established and led the global Strategic Talent Planning function, giving her deep expertise in building high-performing teams, developing organisational capabilities and solving strategic talent issues. Prior to this, as a consultant, she co-led the UK Integrated Care Service Line for McKinsey’s health systems and services practice, working with a range of health clients focused on transformation, organisation and strategy. Her work spans multiple geographies including the UK, Europe, Middle East and Africa, providing her with a global perspective on talent management and healthcare transformation. She is deeply passionate about people and health.
Sam holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and an MBA with concentrations in change management and strategy from London Business School. This combination of technical rigour and strategic business acumen positions her uniquely to lead CF’s people agenda as the firm continues its rapid growth and evolution.
Feargus Murphy
Head of FP&A
Feargus Murphy
Rohit Bhimbat
Head of Finance
Rohit Bhimbat
Rohit Bhimbat is Head of Finance at CF, bringing over 20 years of financial leadership experience across multinational and SME environments, most recently in medical communications. There, he led financial management for a global agency group overseeing planning, forecasting, budgets and reporting, with a strong focus on using financial insights to drive growth and transformation.
CIMA qualified with a BA (Hons) in Accounting & Management, Rohit is well placed to support CF’s continued growth. Outside of work, he’s a proud dad and keen sports fan, playing and watching football, cricket, tennis, and more recently padel.
Antonia Alley
Head of CEO Office
Antonia Alley
Antonia is responsible for the running of the CEO’s office, supporting the Chief Executive to deliver her corporate and client commitments. She has experience in various parts of the healthcare sector including academia, law, and the NHS. Antonia joined CF from the Chief Nursing Officer for England’s Strategy and Policy Unit where her work involved developing professional strategy and policy across regulation, workforce, and supporting NHS England’s Covid-19 emergency response.
Antonia studied Philosophy BA at Durham University, has an MSc in Mental Health Ethics and Law from King’s College London, and completed a Health Policy PGDip at Imperial College.
Outside of work, Antonia loves travelling, yoga, and finding London’s best Sunday roasts.
Libby Dixon
Senior Manager
Libby Dixon
Yemi Oviosu
Senior Manager
Yemi Oviosu
Yemi enjoys keeping fit by playing and coaching football regularly.
Dr. Ozlem Yildiz
Senior Manager
Dr Ozlem Yildiz
Prior to her consulting roles, Ozlem was an Assistant Professor of Operations Management at the University of Virginia’s Darden Business School, where she conducted research on healthcare process optimisation and queueing theory, taught MBA programmes, and gave talks and seminars in conferences and business schools globally. Combining her consulting and academic experience, Ozlem is deeply passionate about capability building and empowering teams to take ownership of their improvement journey.
Joanna Craven
Data Operations Manager
Joanna Craven
Jo brings a research-driven approach to solving complex data challenges across industries.
Jacqueline Roberts
Senior Manager
Jacqueline Roberts
Jacqueline is a Manager at CF, where she leads projects to assess the cost-effectiveness and impacts of new healthcare policies, interventions, and therapies. She has extensive experience in delivering partnership-driven research through effective collaboration with government bodies, research institutes, and community organisations. Additionally, she is an Adjunct Research Fellow at the University of Queensland’s Centre for the Business and Economics of Health, where she has contributed to significant reforms in the Australian healthcare sector.
Angharad Thomas
Manager
Angharad Thomas
Angharad is a Manager at CF with particular interests in the wider determinants of health and health inequalities. At Carnall Farrar, Angharad has analysed organisational structure and helped highlight opportunities for improvement and, more recently, supported the NHS response to COVID-19. She joined CF after graduating with a Bachelors in Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge, where her studies allowed her to pursue her interest in the Anthropology of Medicine.
Lisi Hu
Manager
Lisi Hu
Lisi is a Manager at CF and is a surgeon by background, with experience across multiple systems, organisations and specialities in the NHS, ranging from primary care to acute trusts and specialist tertiary centres. During her clinical career, her passion for improving healthcare was seen in the numerous projects she led, which focused on improving safety, efficiency and outcomes for patients.
At CF, Lisi has worked on projects ranging from workforce strategy to developing a case for change, as well as offering ongoing clinical insight on many other projects.
Outside of work, Lisi enjoying bingeing on true crime documentaries and finding new places to eat. She is also on a mission to add a puppy to her life.
Jack Goodall
Manager
Jack Goodall
Jack is a Manager at CF with a focus on supporting the development and realisation of strategic plans, particularly in the context of system productivity. Prior to joining CF, Jack worked in a similar capacity at healthcare and life sciences consultancy Lexica where he specialised in healthcare planning and strategy. Jack has significant experience working with stakeholders across the NHS to develop their priorities, improve operational efficiency and support decision making on capital investment.
Notable projects include cost-saving and efficiency programmes on both the provider and commissioner side which contributed towards addressing financial shortfalls and ensuring in-house capability to sustain efforts; support to a major strategic programme focused on increasing the spread and adoption of innovation to design a selection process and engage with localities to develop an innovation operating model; and helping to shape the development of a national tool to support operational flow at a system level.
Ellen Teesdale
Business Development Manager
Ellen Teesdale
She founded and led the firm’s healthcare practice, managing a diverse range of clients to facilitate the successful integration of innovation into healthcare systems, such as cancer therapeutics and novel biopharmaceuticals. Her work included successful fundraising rounds at the Series A stage and commercial agreements with large corporations.
Madison Earle
Business Development Manager
Madison Earle
Madison is the Business Development Manager for Life Sciences. She is a Harvard University graduate with a concentration in Neuroscience and a secondary in Global Health & Health Policy.
Her role as CF will be focusing on strategic growth initiatives and partnership development.
Tom Brogden
Manager
Tom Brogden
Tom is a Senior Consultant who joined CF following his studies where he developed a passion for tackling health inequalities within the health system. Since joining CF, he has worked on a review of children, young people, maternity and neonatal services across North Central London and has been involved in the marketing corporate function. Outside of work, Tom enjoys cooking, socialising with friends and playing rugby on a Saturday.
Maddie Housden
Senior Data Scientist
Maddie Housden
Maddie is a Senior Data Scientist who joined CF after graduating from the University of Exeter with a degree in Natural Sciences. Maddie has a background in data science and analysis and is experienced working with large and complex datasets. At CF, Maddie conducted the analysis which quantified the healthcare resource utilisation of patients with a rare disease by linking national cohort registry data with NHS datasets to support a NICE approval. She also has experience building statistical models to analyse the impact of policy implementation on patient pathways.
Molly Llewyn-Smith
Senior Consultant
Molly Llewyn-Smith
Molly originally trained as a Vet, studying at the University of Cambridge. In her spare time, she enjoys pottery, cooking, and the occasional run.
India Triay Palazuelo
Senior Consultant
India Triay Palazuelo
India is a Consultant who joined CF after a degree in Neuroscience from the University of Oxford and a masters in International Health Management from Imperial College London. She is passionate about improving access to healthcare and reducing health inequalities. Since joining CF, she has worked on projects including the development of NHSE’s operational flow tool and the creation of an elective orthopaedic care unit in North West London. In her spare time, India enjoys travelling and spending time with friends.
Rachel Ibbott
Senior Consultant
Rachel Ibbott
Rachel joined CF as an Analyst after completing a Master’s degree in Population Health Sciences. Here she was able to explore interests in health inequalities and social epidemiology, alongside developing quantitative skills in health data analysis. Since joining CF, she has contributed to a nationwide digital elective recovery programme, working alongside NHS colleagues to support project management and operational delivery. Outside of work, she plays the violin in a local orchestra, and enjoys cycling at the weekend – particularly the coffee stops!
Dr. Daniel Huntley
Senior Consultant
Dr. Daniel Huntley
During his career, Daniel has both led and worked within teams on several quality improvement projects which have improved patient safety and outcomes. Notable examples include improving safety in the operating theatre as well as improving the care of diabetic patients. Daniel is looking forward to working on many impactful projects to deliver improvements across the wider healthcare system.
Elise Kearsey
Senior Consultant
Elise Kearsey
Elise is a Senior Consultant who joined CF after completing a degree in Biomedical Sciences at The University of Edinburgh.
Here, she was able to explore her interest in health inequalities and improving access to medicines particularly in the context of marginalised groups.
Since joining CF she has worked across both regional and national level, including a redesign of a Trust wide Operational Pressures Escalation Levels framework and a comprehensive review of a transfer of services.
Outside of work Elise enjoys playing for the CF netball team, cooking new recipes and trying out food spots across London.
Jack Rowlandson
Senior Consultant
Jack Rowlandson
Jack Rowlandson, a Senior Consultant at CF, graduated in Biological Sciences and has a background in Healthcare Technology. This experience has ignited his passion for the healthcare industry and fostered a strong focus on patient care. At CF, Jack has contributed to a review of children, young people, and maternity services across North Central London, and has conducted detailed analytical evaluations of services in both Newcastle and Devon.
Beyond work, Jack enjoys cooking, socialising with friends, and keeping fit through playing various sports, including rugby, football and athletics.
Ellie Langton
Senior Consultant
Ellie Langton
Since joining CF, Ellie has worked on projects including a cost-saving and efficiency programme at a commissioner level to address financial shortfalls, meet targets, and build internal capability for sustained impact.
Outside of work, Ellie enjoys staying active, spending lots of time outdoors, and trying out new food spots across London.
Frederick Bennett
Senior Consultant
Frederick Bennett
Freddie is a Senior Consultant, bringing over 8 years of NHS experience spanning clinical practice as a Physiotherapist and operational management. Throughout his career, he has led and worked within teams focused on cost improvement programmes and service efficiencies.
Since joining CF, Freddie has worked on the case for creating a group model for the Norfolk and Waveney Acute Hospital Collaborative, led the methodology and sprint design for the Value for Patients programme at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, and supported the delivery of the Federated Data Platform across England.
Alisa Kamynina
Consultant
Alisa Kamynina
Alisa is a Consultant at CF, with a PhD in cardiovascular research and over a decade of expertise in life sciences. Before moving into consultancy, Alisa spent more than ten years in academia, conducting research on cardiovascular disease, hypertension, heart failure, and metabolic conditions such as obesity and diabetes. This background gives her a strong foundation in translating complex data and insights into practical solutions for healthcare challenges. Now in her consultancy role, Alisa focuses on supporting healthcare systems and life sciences organisations with evidence-based strategies. She has a particular interest in integrating research and data-driven approaches to improve patient outcomes and advance innovative therapies and care delivery.
Outside of work, Alisa enjoys rock climbing, taekwondo, and learning how to sail.
Sarah Sharer
Data Scientist
Sarah Sharer
Sarah, a Data Scientist at CF, is driven by a passion for data-driven insights. With a background in mathematics and currently pursuing a master’s degree in health data science at University College London (UCL), she brings a strong foundation in quantitative analysis. Since joining CF, she has worked on projects across health systems and life sciences, using statistical methods and mathematical models on a variety of NHS datasets. Additionally, she has contributed to developing CF’s internal data products. Outside of work, Sarah enjoys cooking, spending time with friends, and exploring new cycling routes.
Matt Brown
Consultant
Matt Brown
Matt is a Consultant who joined CF after finishing his Masters degree in Civil Engineering at the University of Cambridge. He is passionate about tackling health inequalities and developing innovative solutions to improve NHS service provision and productivity. During his time at CF, Matt has worked with NHSEI and HEE to develop a national workforce supply and demand model, as well as supporting NHSX and the Scottish Chief Scientific Office to scope out opportunities for using routinely collected data within clinical trials. Outside of work, you will more than likely find Matt in the gym or watching sport.
Jonathan Wise
Consultant
Jonathan Wise
Jonathan comes from a clinical background, having attended Imperial College School of Medicine, completing his Foundation Training in hospital, then working in a COVID vaccination centre before joining CF as an analyst in 2023. His work so far has involved supporting the roll-out of an FDP elective recovery tool to a hospital trust, and he has also been part of a team working with ICBs across an NHS region to support development of their 3-5 year strategy. Outside of work, Jonathan enjoys hiking, cycling and spending time with friends.
Sophie Lee
Consultant
Sophie Lee
Sophie joined CF after completing her master’s degree in Population Health at University College London and bachelor’s degree in Global Health and Social Medicine and King’s College London. She is passionate about improving access to healthcare and addressing health inequalities across society.
At CF, Sophie has worked on the transition and delivery of the NHS Federated Data Platform and more recently supported the case for collaboration amongst acute trusts in the South West Region.
Outside of work, Sophie enjoys travelling, taking dance classes, and exploring new coffee shops around London.
Dr Colette Russell
Consultant
Dr Collette Russel
Colette is a healthcare and life sciences Consultant at CF. She graduated in medicine from Cambridge University, during which time she also completed an intercalated degree in biological and biomedical sciences. She worked as a junior doctor in a busy district general hospital in an area of high deprivation index, strengthening her pre-existing interest in the social determinants of health. She brings academic research experience from her medical background, as well as clinical experience from both acute and community environments.
Katie Maloney
Consultant
Katie Maloney
Katie is a Consultant at CF with a Master of Arts in History and Politics from the University of Missouri, USA, where she studied on the Oxford Fellowship. She received her Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Oxford. After leaving education she completed an internship with the then Shadow Minister for Science, Innovation & Technology, where she researched the work of the previous Science, Innovation & Technology Select Committee (2019-2024)
Yiannis Stirling
Consultant
Yiannis Stirling
Yiannis is a Consultant at CF with over three years of NHS and management consulting experience, and additional analytical experience across the public sector, including DHSC. Yiannis is an expert in digital and data consulting and is adept in a broad range of analytical software and methodologies. He has delivered digital transformation projects on national, regional and trust levels, including successfully implementing a high-impact FDP product into four London trusts concurrently.
Cherizza Choi
Consultant
Cherizza Choi
Cherizza is a Consultant at CF, with a master’s degree in Population Health Sciences from the University of Cambridge. She brings a strong academic foundation and extensive experience working with both public and private sector clients in the UK and internationally, including the Hong Kong Health Authority and Saudi Arabia Ministry of Interior. Prior to joining CF, Cherizza worked at a healthcare and life sciences consultancy Lexica, where she specialised in healthcare planning and strategy.
She developed clinical briefs and strategic cases and contributed to multiple projects within the New Hospital Programme (NHP). She has significant experience collaborating with stakeholders across the NHS to develop their priorities, shape strategic options, and improve operational efficiencies. Cherizza grew up in Hong Kong and also speaks Mandarin and Cantonese.
Zoe Saunders
Consultant
Zoe Saunders
Zoe Saunders is a Consultant at CF, having joined from FTI Consulting, where she supported Life Sciences clients on a variety of transformation projects. Her experience includes helping organisations manage significant change, both in deal contexts and through broader initiatives to improve business performance.
She holds a degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Bath and spent her placement year in Eli Lilly’s Public Affairs team, where she was responsible for shaping the UK commercial landscape ahead of product launches.
Florence Cadby
Consultant
Florence Cadby
Florence is a Consultant at CF, with proven experience in clinical and non-clinical roles within the NHS, she has a track record of building trusted partnerships. Prior to joining CF, Florence completed a Masters in Healthcare Management at Manchester and Birmingham Universities.
Danyal Sarwar
Analyst
Danyal Sarwar
Sraavya Kocherlakota
Technical Data Analyst
Sraavya Kocherlakota
Alice Taylor
Analyst
Alice Taylor
Alice is an analyst at CF and holds an MSci Chemistry from the University of Bristol. She brings strong critical thinking and analytical skills, along with a methodical approach to problem solving. Her prior research experience in the pharmaceutical industry has given her an insight into the challenges faced by the life sciences sector. Alice also has well-developed quantitative skills and a particular interest in how data can be used to inform complex healthcare decisions.
Anna Lashley
Analyst
Anna Lashley
Anna is an Analyst who studied Biological Sciences at Durham University with a strong background in utilising analytical skills and scientific thinking to support strategic transformation. She has experience in digital transformation within an NHS Trust, alongside completing best practice research to inform strategy. This is complemented by previous shadowing experience in both clinical and pharmaceutical environments, providing effective knowledge to apply to complex healthcare and life sciences challenges.
Jonathon Staples
Analyst
Jonathon Staples
Jonathon Staples is an Analyst at CF with a background in Biochemistry, bringing strong analytical and scientific thinking skills to complex life science and healthcare challenges. Jonathon brings a clear, collaborative approach to turning complex data into actionable insight, leveraging past experiences to maximise the client outcome.
Ivan Markov
Analyst
Ivan Markov
Ivan is an Analyst at CF with a degree in Economics and Management from King’s College London. He led digital transformation initiatives, focusing on digital education delivery during the Covid-19 pandemic, collaborating closely with key stakeholders. Ivan is purpose- and results-driven and sees healthcare consulting as a way to create collective value by leveraging his analytical prowess to drive efficiency and improve patient outcomes. His expertise spans digital data, advanced analysis, workplace agility and adept stakeholder management, enabling strategic insights to support impactful decisions.
Sam Pilling
Analyst
Sam Pilling
Sam Pilling is an Analyst at CF, with a strong foundation in mathematics and a keen analytical mindset. He holds a master’s degree in mathematics from Durham University, which enhanced his problem-solving skills and his ability to utilise data. He has a proven track record of supporting Integrated Care Systems with data-driven insights, performance reviews, and strategic planning.
Oleh Morshna
Project Coordinator
Oleh Morshna
Oleh is a Project Coordinator with a CAPM certification by PMI. Outside of work Oleh enjoys jogging, going to museums and spending time with friends.
Caroline Pitt
Communications Manager
Caroline Pitt
Gauri Patel
Communications Executive
Gauri Patel
Victoria Cody
Senior Executive Assistant
Victoria Cody
Victoria is a Senior EA at CF with over 10 years experience in administration and managing c level executives.
Victoria is passionate about driving change in the healthcare system through supporting the leadership and project teams. She has worked on many projects from NHS, Life Sciences to International such as Qatar, ABPI, and the Isle of Wight.
Outside of work, Victoria is a mum of Luca and likes to explore UK destinations together, especially those with wildlife.
Hayley O’Keeffe
People Advisor
Hayley O'Keeffe
Hayley is People Advisor at CF. Originally from Ireland, she began her career in healthcare as a nurse, where she developed a passion for helping people and healthcare. This experience sparked her passion for supporting people, which led her to transition into HR. Hayley brings her blend of backgrounds and experiences to CF to contribute towards making a positive and meaningful experience for all our teams.
In her spare time, she enjoys running, travelling, cooking and spending time with friends.
Our Advisors
المستشارين
Matthew Swindells
Chair
Matthew Swindells
Matthew is responsible for chairing the board focused on corporate governance, board process and supporting the Chief Executive in achieving the organisation’s purpose and objectives in line with its ethos and values.
Matthew is the Chair of the Board for the four acute hospitals that make up the the North West London Acute Collaborative – Chelsea and Westminster Foundation Trust, Hillingdon Foundation Trust, Imperial College Hospital Trust and London North West Hospital Trust. He also runs his own consultancy, MJS Healthcare Consulting, through which he provides strategic advice on digital transformation in global healthcare to a small number of innovative companies.
He has spent his entire career in healthcare, most recently as Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer for the NHS in England. In this role he led the NHS’s operational management, emergency response, major transformation programmes and the creation of Integrated Care Systems, to move the NHS away from a market system towards population health management. He was also responsible for the development of the NHS’s digital strategy and launch of the NHS app, which enables people to access their GP health record and provides the national vaccine passport.
Haseeb Ahmad
Board Member and Life Sciences Advisor
Haseeb Ahmad
Haseeb has over 25 years of life sciences leadership experience and a distinguished record of creating multi-billion dollar brands from primary care to rare disease, across mature and growth markets. He was most recently President for Novartis Europe having previously been President for Novartis Gene Therapies in the US. Prior to this, he was the Global Head of Value & Access and Commercial Development at Novartis and then Managing Director of Novartis UK, Ireland & Nordics. While at Novartis, Haseeb also acted as Government Advisor for Innovation Expert Group and acted as President and Chairman for ABPI prior to that. Before joining Novartis, he held a long career with MSD including country Managing Director roles in Ireland and Greece.
Throughout his career, Haseeb has built and led high-performing teams including at leading pharmaceutical companies. He is also a vocal advocate and industry ambassador for expanding access to innovative medicines.
Dorinda Hickey
Life Sciences Advisor
Dorinda Hickey
Dorinda has over 15 years’ consulting experience as a market access specialist; with expertise in pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement, healthcare policy analysis, advocacy, payer engagement and value communications.
Prior to consulting Dorinda had a long career at Novartis where she held positions in business unit and country management, including Head of Oncology and Dermatology for Novartis UK, Head of Business Intelligence and Director of Healthcare Marketing. She has broad consulting and corporate experience in market access, marketing strategy and clinical development in a variety of therapy areas including Haematology, Endocrinology, Neurology, Mental Health, Respiratory Medicine, Cardiology, Organ Transplantation and Infectious Diseases.
Dorinda has developed industry leading mass market promotional campaigns and award winning programmes in the areas of Dermatology and Sexual Health. She has an MSc in Health Economics from the London School of Economics and a PhD in Haematology from Trinity College Dublin.
Gary Ford
Life Sciences Advisor
Gary Ford
Gary is an internationally renowned clinical researcher whose research has transformed the care of stroke patients in the NHS and worldwide, developing the Face Arm Speech Test and leading implementation of thrombolysis and thrombectomy for stroke. He is one of seven NIHR Research Legends, as well as a chair on multiple national academic institutes. Gary has extensive knowledge of health and research ecosystems with skills to respond rapidly to local and national priorities.
Dr Oliver Harrison
Life Sciences Advisor
Dr Oliver Harrison
Oliver is a health technology leader; he builds high-performing teams and has a unique track-record delivering business performance and driving health innovation from concept to commercialisation to multinational scale. With over two decades of experience in digital transformation, and healthcare AI, he brings a cutting-edge and mission-driven approach to addressing mental health challenges.
As an academic psychiatrist, Oliver brings deep clinical and technical knowledge, and as a Certified Public Health Expert, he prioritises data-driven strategies, and user-centred design to create impactful healthcare innovations and business success.
Dr Steve Laitner
Life Sciences Advisor
Dr Steve Laitner
Steve is a General Practitioner with a Public Health and Clinical Leadership background. He was an architect of the Accountable Lead Provider model whilst working at the Department of Health, where he was also National Clinical Lead for Shared Decision Making.
His work also covers new models of care delivery such as telephone triage, referral triage, self-management support, care coordination, case management and care planning. He supports commissioners and providers to develop new programmes of care. His clinical interests include primary care, frail elderly, care planning, self-care support, GP access, patient leadership and shared decision making.
Pinder Sahota
Life Sciences Advisor
Pinder Sahota
Pinder has over 30 years of experience in the life sciences and medical devices sector spanning the whole lifecycle from assets in phase 1/2 to post-patent management and launching brands into established markets as well as building market sectors. The experience covers Global and Regional Commercial Leadership roles as well as extensive Operational Leadership roles at a country affiliate level having worked for Novo Nordisk, Smith & Nephew, AstraZeneca, GSK and Sanofi in the UK, Switzerland, Belgium and Poland. Success in senior leadership roles has been achieved by building high performing teams and highly engaged organisational cultures.
Most recently Pinder was the UK General Manager for Novo Nordisk seeing the company through a period of high growth and launching brands in diabetes, obesity and rare diseases. During his time at Novo Nordisk, Pinder was elected as President of the ABPI and also served as Chairman of the Confederation of Business Industry’s (CBI) Health Council and their UK Competitiveness Committee.
