Some personal news, highlights and lessons

Some personal news

After more than seven incredible years at Guy's & St Thomas' Foundation , I’m going to be moving on to become the Chief Executive of the Impact Investing Institute .

It really has been a privilege of my career to lead the Foundation, which is such an amazing force for good in the world. And while in some form or another, the Foundation has been around for 500 years, I’d like to think these past seven have been among the more transformational. I couldn’t be prouder of what our team, our partners and our supporters have achieved — not only real change in the world but a change in mindset too. Many more actors outside of the healthcare system now see their role in health. Many more decision-makers are approaching health as an asset, not just a cost.

And if I were to flag the highlights?

First for me would be how we’ve developed a new approach to urban health, working alongside the residents, community groups, businesses and institutions of one of the world’s most vibrant and diverse cities. Together we’ve found practical solutions to some of the most complex health challenges. In all sorts of ways, food environments, transport, construction, jobs, tenancies, schools, debt support and so many other things now look different in our city, and increasingly in cities elsewhere too.

Second would be our groundbreaking commitment to integrating health across all aspects of our ￡1bn endowment. We’ve shown how institutional investors can influence population health at scale — mobilising trillions of pounds of assets to help the world’s biggest food manufacturers sell much healthier products across the globe.

Third would be creating three new fundraising charities (Guy's & St Thomas' Charity, Evelina London Children's Charity and Guy's Cancer Charity) to support the vital and inspiring work of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust. We’ve raised more money than ever before — generous donations that have helped develop new buildings and cutting-edge treatments, as well as support the NHS’s largest staff wellbeing programme.

Fourth would be our role in developing SC1 — the first life sciences district to have health equity at its heart. We’ve backed this vision with planning approval for one of central London’s largest and most ambitious property developments, which will bring thousands of jobs to the area as well as play a critical role in growing the UK’s life sciences industry.

Fifth, which I’m most proud of, is the amazing team we’ve built at the Foundation. We’re now over 150 people of incredibly diverse talents and perspectives, huge purpose and commitment, and much more representative of the city we work in. They really are an outstanding bunch, and I can’t wait to see what they achieve together over the coming years.

And what have I learnt?

That health is entirely a collective endeavour. That as a society we’re far too relaxed about health inequalities and that’s short-sighted, because they impact us all and we can do something about them. That it’s vital we support our National Health Service. And, perhaps most importantly, that progress on health equity is possible — but it won’t happen by itself.

I’ve had a wonderful time shaping the first chapter of our 30-year strategy. We are of course only stewards of these institutions, and change brings opportunities for new energy, ideas, and perspectives. I look forward to seeing my successor lead the Foundation on this important next chapter. The Foundation’s Board, led by the excellent Susanne Given, is appointing an interim CEO and will be finding a long-term successor over the next year.

My own next adventure will be at the Impact Investing Institute. The Institute is an independent, non-profit organisation that works in the UK and internationally. Its goal is to make capital markets fairer and work better for people and the planet. Having spent over a decade in the field of impact investing, I feel privileged to lead the Institute at such an important time. The world faces intense economic, social and environmental challenges, and I have seen first-hand how capital markets can be one of our most effective levers of change. While I’ll be sad to move on from the Foundation, I couldn’t be more excited to work alongside the Chair, Elizabeth Corley, the team and the Institute’s very many partners to achieve that potential.

I start at the Institute in mid-May. Do please get in touch if the mission is yours too. And of course, please drop me a line if you’d like to connect to colleagues at the Foundation.