Ed Smith

Ed is chair of Assura Plc, the leading FTSE250 healthcare property company and adviser to HCA, Cognetivity LLP and other health and life science businesses. He is also chair of Birmingham Health Partners, a collaboration of universities and NHS Trusts in the Midlands.

His past roles include those of chair of NHS Improvement and deputy chair of NHS England, chair of the Student Loans Company, WWF UK, University of Birmingham and Senior independent director of HS2 Ltd.

His first career was at PricewaterhouseCoopers over a 30-yearperiod. Ed is also a leading advocate of sustainability and diversity and acts as a mentor to next generation leaders.