2026 Autumn Meeting Programme

Rhian’s career has spanned more than 40 years, from her medical training in Cambridge and London to her current role as a Consultant in Geriatric and General Medicine at the University Hospital of Wales (UHW), Cardiff. She has established and delivered a range of services, including intermediate care, rapid assessment, continence and menopause. She has also held numerous leadership positions, including Clinical Director for Geriatrics and Rehabilitation at UHW (2000–2012).

Rhian has made a significant contribution to education and training throughout her career. Her roles have included Chair of the BGS Education and Training Committee (2006–2008) and Training Programme Director for Geriatric Medicine in South Wales (2004–2009; 2020–2025), Specialty Training Committee Chair and Associate Head of School of Medicine

Professor Chris Whitty is Chief Medical Officer (CMO) for England, the UK government’s Chief Medical Adviser and head of the public health profession.

Chris is a practising NHS Consultant Physician at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, and a visiting professor at Gresham College.

Chris is an epidemiologist and has undertaken research and worked as a doctor in the UK, Africa and Asia. He was Professor of Public and International Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) before becoming CMO and remains an honorary professor.

Chris was the Chief Scientific Adviser for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) from January 2016 to August 2021, with overall responsibility for the department’s research and development, including being head of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), the government’s major funder of clinical, public health, social care and translational research.

Chris was the interim Government Chief Scientific Adviser from 2017 to 2018, including during the Novichok poisonings. Before that, he was the Chief Scientific Adviser at the Department for International Development (DFID), which included leading technical work on the West Africa Ebola outbreak and other international emergencies.

Prof Amar Shah is the National Clinical Director for Improvement in England, leading the application of continuous quality improvement across England’s health and care system. Amar led the quality approach at East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) for 15 years, from 2011 to 2026 – including over a decade on the Board and executive team as the country’s first Chief Quality Officer. - achieving demonstrable results across key areas of organisational performance, and three consecutive ‘Outstanding’ ratings by the Care Quality Commission.

He is the national improvement lead for mental health at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, chair of the Scientific Advisory Group at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), and honorary professor at the University of York School for Business and Society. He was awarded an MBE by His Majesty the King in 2024 for services to healthcare improvement, and the President’s Medal by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2025 for outstanding contribution to the field of mental health.